Carib Scope

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  • FTC to launch online complaint tracking system

    FTC to launch online complaint tracking system

    Barbados’ Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is advancing its consumer protection services with a major digital transformation and a push for expanded regulatory authority, as the agency marked its 25th year of operation during a public open day at its Green Hill headquarters on Friday. In an address to attendees, FTC Chief Executive Brian Reece outlined the agency’s key upcoming changes, centered on a new cloud-based digital case management system designed to cut red tape and improve accountability for consumer complaint handling.

    Reece confirmed that the new case management platform, set to launch in the coming months, will be integrated into a fully updated FTC website, giving consumers 24/7 access to file complaints, communicate directly with FTC consumer advocates and staff, and track the progress of their claims in real time. Unlike the agency’s current paper-reliant processes, the system will create full transparency around complaint timelines, letting consumers know exactly how far along their case is and what steps remain to resolution. This level of visibility, Reece noted, will also hold the FTC itself accountable for delivering timely, effective results for the public.

    The website overhaul is already underway to accommodate the new digital services, with the full launch of both the upgraded site and case management system expected within months. Beyond digital improvements, Reece also revealed that the FTC is actively pursuing legislative changes to expand its regulatory mandate. Currently, the agency only oversees fixed-line telecommunications services, but the FTC is pushing to add mobile service quality and broadband performance to its area of oversight, a move that would reflect the changing digital needs of Barbadian consumers.

    Addressing public awareness of the FTC’s work, Reece said that overall Barbadians have a solid understanding of the agency’s core mission, but emphasized that ongoing public education remains a top priority. Events like the 25th anniversary open day, he explained, are designed not just to share information about existing services, but also to gather feedback from consumers on how the FTC can adapt its work to meet emerging needs.

    The open day event featured partner displays and presentations from a range of relevant Barbadian agencies, including Barbados Light & Power, the Barbados Water Authority, Flow (Cable & Wireless), the Financial Literacy Bureau, Mission Barbados, and the Barbados National Standards Institute, among others. Reece noted that the collaborative event was structured to let the public engage directly with both FTC leadership and the utility and business agencies that are the source of many consumer complaints. The FTC handles a wide range of claims, from utility service issues to disputes over business practices such as warranty terms and consumer business contracts, and Reece reiterated that the agency’s core approach balances the interests of both consumers and ethical business operators.

    As the FTC enters its 26th year of operation, the planned digital upgrades and regulatory expansion mark one of the most significant overhauls to the agency’s services since its founding, positioning it to better serve a modernizing Barbadian economy.

  • MIA roept hulp samenleving in bij opsporing Burke en ontsnapte Colombiaan

    MIA roept hulp samenleving in bij opsporing Burke en ontsnapte Colombiaan

    On July 18, the Meldpunt Informatie Anoniem (MIA), Suriname’s anonymous crime reporting hotline, issued urgent Red Alerts for two high-priority fugitives linked to large-scale organized criminal activity, warning the public of the risks they pose and calling for community assistance to locate them. The first fugitive, Gene Juliano Joël Burke, is a person of interest connected to one of the largest drug seizures in recent Surinamese history, which intercepted more than 1,800 kilograms of cocaine. Authorities have charged Burke with three key offenses: participation in a transnational criminal organization, violating Suriname’s Opium Act, and breaking national firearms regulations. Most critically, MIA has publicly classified Burke as armed and dangerous, emphasizing that he poses a direct threat to public safety if confronted by civilians. While multiple suspects have already been taken into custody in connection with the cocaine seizure, the investigation remains active as law enforcement continues to hunt for all remaining fugitives linked to the smuggling operation.

    The second Red Alert targets 58-year-old Colombian national Jorge Eliecer Ariza Ortega, who escaped from the holding cell block at the Keizerstraat police station under still-unexplained circumstances. Ariza Ortega was being held in pretrial detention as a suspect in a major organized crime and drug trafficking investigation, facing identical charges to Burke: membership in a criminal syndicate, large-scale drug trafficking, and illegal firearms possession. As of the Red Alert’s issuance, law enforcement has no solid leads on Ariza Ortega’s whereabouts. In response to the escape, three police personnel – one full-duty officer and two trainee officers who were assigned to the night shift when the escape occurred – have been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into how the breakout was possible.

    Ariza Ortega is no stranger to high-profile drug investigations: he was among the suspects arrested in February’s so-called “semi-submarine case”, an operation targeting a major smuggling ring that used a custom-built semi-submersible vessel to move cocaine across regional waters. When law enforcement raided the ring’s operations, officers seized the homemade semi-submarine, multiple illegal firearms, and eight 200-liter barrels of aircraft fuel – supplies believed to be intended for smuggling operations. Several suspects fled during that initial raid, and law enforcement has conducted multiple arrests over the intervening months, but Ariza Ortega’s escape has marked a major setback to the years-long investigation.

    To accelerate the manhunt, MIA is calling on all members of the public to share any information they may have about the two fugitives’ current locations. Anonymous tips can be submitted via telephone at (+597) 84-70223 or by email to report@meldpunt.sr. The organization stressed that public cooperation is a critical component of successful fugitive operations, noting that community input not only helps law enforcement take dangerous suspects off the street but also upholds broader public safety across the country.

  • Government validates Medium-Term Action Plan 2027–2029

    Government validates Medium-Term Action Plan 2027–2029

    On July 14, 2026, the Government of Grenada marked a critical step forward in its long-term national development strategy with the successful completion of the Medium-Term Action Plan (MTAP) 2027–2029 Validation Retreat, held at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort. Convened under the central theme “Validating Priorities for Resilient and Transformational Development,” the gathering brought together a cross-section of senior government stakeholders: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, full cabinet membership, permanent secretaries, department heads, special policy advisors, and senior technical officials. Their collective task was to review, refine, and formally validate the draft MTAP ahead of its formal submission to the Cabinet for final approval.

    The 2027–2029 MTAP functions as the government’s core operational framework, designed to translate the high-level long-term goals laid out in the 2020–2035 National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) and the administration’s Vision 75 initiative into coordinated, actionable work across all branches of government. Developed over months of wide-ranging consultations with hundreds of government ministries, departments, and agencies, the draft plan outlines 200 targeted priority actions spanning 13 distinct economic and social sectors, plus seven cross-cutting thematic areas that will steer the government’s development agenda across the next three-year term.

    In his opening keynote address to retreat participants, Prime Minister Mitchell reaffirmed the administration’s steadfast commitment to delivering tangible, systemic transformation across Grenada through disciplined implementation, strengthened public institutions, and intentional cross-stakeholder collaboration. He emphasized that the MTAP must be more than a symbolic planning document, stressing that it should deliver measurable improvements to the daily lives of all Grenadians through robust execution, clear accountability mechanisms, and a laser focus on delivering results.

    The prime minister also outlined a selection of flagship initiatives that will anchor the plan’s work to shape Grenada’s future trajectory. These include the high-profile Project Polaris and Project 500 infrastructure and development schemes, the planned rollout of new Education Centres of Excellence, the country’s ongoing transition to renewable energy, a national digital transformation agenda, and a suite of other strategic investments aligned directly with the goals of Vision 75.

    Cabinet Secretary Carvel Lett, in her official welcome to attendees, underscored that the successful delivery of the MTAP’s outcomes will rely on three foundational pillars: unified collective leadership, coordinated whole-of-government action, and clear ownership of priorities by individual ministries, departments, and agencies. She urged participants to leverage the retreat’s collaborative format to ensure the final plan is pragmatic, achievable, fully aligned with the government’s core strategic priorities, and matched to the country’s available resource allocations.

    Over the course of the one-day retreat, participants worked through a structured agenda to validate sector-specific priorities, performance metrics, baseline data, outcome targets, and implementation timelines. The gathering also created space to identify opportunities to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation, tighten accountability frameworks, and streamline delivery arrangements for priority projects. Breakout working groups focused specifically on developing practical, collaborative approaches to cross-sectoral implementation, acknowledging that most of the country’s most pressing national priorities require input and coordination from multiple government institutions.

    In the wake of the retreat, individual ministries, departments, and agencies are now moving forward with final revisions to their sections of the plan, incorporating all refinements and adjustments agreed upon during the gathering. The fully finalized MTAP 2027–2029 will be submitted to the Cabinet for formal review and approval by the end of July 2026. Once authorized, the plan will guide all government planning, budget allocation, project implementation, and performance monitoring activities for the three-year period from 2027 to 2029.

  • Judge urges jurors to uphold law, civic responsibility

    Judge urges jurors to uphold law, civic responsibility

    As the Supreme Court No. 4 prepares for its annual summer Assizes break, High Court Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell has delivered a stirring call to sitting jurors, positioning active citizen participation as the foundational pillar of a functional, orderly society. In her address to the panel, the judge framed jury service as far more than a mandatory civic chore — it is a critical line of defense against the erosion of shared moral principles that hold communities together.

    “We live in an era where standing for core principles is non-negotiable,” Justice Smith-Bovell told jurors. “Without a collective commitment to upholding what is morally right, society risks unraveling into anarchy and chaos. Every juror holds a choice: take a stand to reinforce the values that keep our communities safe, or acquiesce to shifting norms and open the door to widespread disorder.”

    Beyond outlining the broader stakes of civic participation, the judge laid out clear expectations for how jurors should approach their decision-making duties. She emphasized that all verdicts must be rooted exclusively in the evidence presented during trial, rather than swayed by personal emotion, implicit bias, or misplaced sympathy. “We never ask a jury to convict someone without proof,” she explained. “It is the state’s responsibility to present solid evidence, and it is your responsibility to set aside your personal feelings and render a decision based only on the facts before you. If you fail to do that, we all lose — eventually, no one will be safe in their own homes.”

    Reflecting on her own role on the bench, Justice Smith-Bovell rejected the idea that judges are removed from the everyday risks of crime and insecurity that face all residents. Like any other citizen, she shops for groceries, fills up her car at the gas station, and visits local beaches — she is not immune to the societal challenges that impact the community. Even so, she noted, judicial duty demands impartiality and courage: “I swore an oath to carry out my work without fear or favor. If I allowed fear of crime to cloud my judgment, I would be failing at the job I was appointed to do, just as you would fail if you let personal feelings override your oath.”

    The judge extended her call for civic responsibility far beyond the walls of the courtroom, arguing that every citizen has a daily role to play in reversing declining social standards. She urged jurors to carry their commitment to order and morality into their daily lives, from correcting misbehavior in young children to speaking out against actions that erode community safety. “This isn’t just a responsibility you have when you walk into this court,” she said. “If society is getting worse instead of better, every one of us has to pitch in to fix it. When you see a six-year-old walking down the street cursing and acting out, it’s your job as a citizen to stop them and correct that behavior.”

    Looking toward the future, Justice Smith-Bovell urged jurors to consider the intergenerational consequences of inaction on declining social norms. “You will have children and grandchildren,” she said. “Ask yourselves what kind of country we will leave them in 10 years if we continue on this current path. This work is about making society safe for everyone, not just for today.”

    In closing, the judge clarified that the core mission of the court is not punishment for its own sake, but the delivery of fair, impartial justice. She noted that she has regularly dismissed cases when the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence, a practice she said reflects the court’s commitment to fairness above all. “My goal is never to lock people away,” she explained. “My goal is to see that justice is done. Whether that means convicting and holding someone accountable or acquitting them when evidence is lacking, the only priority is doing what is right. It all comes down to fairness, no matter the circumstances.”

  • CARDI Launches Inaugural Agricultural Research and Innovation Symposium

    CARDI Launches Inaugural Agricultural Research and Innovation Symposium

    On July 8, 2026, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) inaugurated its first-ever Agricultural Research and Innovation Symposium (ARIS) in a landmark event that united a diverse cross-section of regional stakeholders. Researchers, government policymakers, smallholder and commercial farmers, international development partners, and private sector agribusiness representatives gathered from across the Caribbean to explore cutting-edge, science-backed strategies for building a more food-secure and climate-resilient regional agricultural sector.

    Organized around the central theme “Advancing Agricultural Innovation for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Food Systems”, the symposium functions as an annual recurring platform to disseminate CARDI’s latest research outputs and deepen cross-institutional collaboration among groups dedicated to transforming the Caribbean’s aging, vulnerable agricultural landscape.

    In his opening address, CARDI Board of Governors Chairman Hon. Lennox Andrews, who also serves as Grenada’s Minister of Agriculture, emphasized that sustained investment in agricultural research and innovation is non-negotiable for the region to tackle its growing set of interconnected agricultural challenges. “Climate change impacts, evolving pest and disease outbreaks, and sudden global market disruptions leave us no choice but to embrace science, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration as core tools to secure the future of Caribbean agriculture,” Andrews stated. “The research showcased at this symposium proves CARDI’s unwavering commitment to developing practical solutions that boost farm productivity, strengthen regional food systems, and lift the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across every island nation.” He added a critical call to action: “If we expect CARDI to continue delivering these life-changing solutions for our region, we must ensure it has the sustained financial resources and policy support required to carry out its mandate.”

    CARDI Executive Director Ansari Hosein framed the symposium as a transformative milestone for the 50-plus-year-old regional institution, marking the launch of a new regular tradition of stakeholder engagement. “This symposium brings our research teams from across 14 member states together to share the results of two years of on-the-ground research conducted in our member countries, and most importantly, it creates space for direct dialogue with the farmers, policymakers, development partners and private sector actors that our work serves,” Hosein explained. “Our core goal is to move research beyond the walls of the laboratory and deliver tangible, on-the-ground benefits for food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and agricultural competitiveness across every corner of the Caribbean.” He reaffirmed that CARDI’s ongoing research agenda remains centered on building robust, resilient, innovative, and sustainable agri-food systems that align with the region’s collective food security targets.

    Speaking on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministerial Advisor Ravi Pooran Maharaj praised CARDI for establishing the first dedicated regional forum for agricultural scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange. “The Caribbean’s future food security hinges on our collective ability to turn laboratory research into real, on-farm action,” Maharaj noted. “This symposium provides a critical space where researchers, policymakers, innovators, and practicing farmers can exchange ideas, build long-term partnerships, and speed up the adoption of transformative technologies that will reshape agriculture across Trinidad and Tobago and the entire Caribbean.” He emphasized that agricultural innovation is no longer a discretionary investment but an existential necessity, highlighting the outsized role of climate-smart farming techniques, improved drought- and pest-resistant crop varieties, precision agriculture tools, and sustainable land management practices in building food systems that can withstand climate shocks.

    Michelle Anne Thomas, Permanent Secretary in Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, welcomed the symposium as a key mechanism to strengthen ties between regional research institutions and government bodies. “The complex, interconnected challenges facing Caribbean agriculture cannot be solved by any single group – they demand deep, sustained partnerships between researchers, policymakers, and producers,” Thomas said. “By creating structured opportunities to share actionable knowledge and practical solutions, initiatives like this symposium ensure that scientific evidence informs public policy, strengthens national agricultural programs, and delivers meaningful benefits for both farmers and consumers across the region.”

    The three-day symposium featured three technical sessions that highlighted CARDI’s ongoing research across its 14 member states, addressing the region’s most urgent agricultural priorities. Research presentations covered a range of locally focused initiatives, including assessments of the commercial production potential for white potatoes in Grenada and tropical wheat varieties adapted to Belize’s climate. Additional studies outlined innovations in production practices for lettuce, corn, silage, dasheen, and black-eyed peas, all designed to cut the Caribbean’s heavy dependence on imported food and animal feed, a major drain on regional foreign exchange.

    The event also put a spotlight on CARDI’s expanding work in digital agricultural innovation. Presentations explored strategies to increase youth participation in commercial agriculture, new digital platforms for optimized livestock feed management, artificial intelligence-powered tools for rapid crop disease diagnosis, and emerging digital technologies that can strengthen agricultural extension services and help farmers make more data-driven on-farm decisions.

    Across all sessions, the research presented reinforced CARDI’s core mission: to deliver practical, science-based solutions that advance regional food and nutrition security, improve smallholder farmer livelihoods, and boost the global competitiveness of Caribbean agricultural products. This article was distributed via the CARDI network; NOW Grenada holds no responsibility for contributor opinions, statements, or third-party content included in this report.

  • Sir Garfield Sobers (1936-2026) Cricket figures mourn ‘man of grace, greatness’

    Sir Garfield Sobers (1936-2026) Cricket figures mourn ‘man of grace, greatness’

    The global cricket fraternity is in mourning this week following the death of one of the sport’s most iconic figures, Sir Garfield Sobers, the National Hero of Barbados, who passed away at 89 at his home on Friday after a period of illness, just 11 days shy of his 90th birthday. Tributes have poured in from across the world from commentators, administrators and players alike, all celebrating Sobers’ unparalleled legacy both on and off the pitch.

    Veteran cricket commentator Joseph Reds Pereira, who watched Sobers play on multiple occasions and later built a close friendship with him after his retirement, shared his earliest memories of the all-rounder. As a young cricket-mad boy, Pereira stayed up late to listen to radio commentary of the 1961 opening Test, where Sobers scored a brilliant 132 runs, an innings that still stands out in his memory as one of the most special performances he has ever witnessed. Pereira first saw Sobers play in person in 1955, and the pair grew much closer during the 1978 Kerry Packer World Series Cricket in Australia, where Sobers served as a relaxed, charismatic ambassador for Caribbean cricket. Pereira recalled how Sobers would casually reach out to arrange a round of golf, a hobby the legend remained passionate about long into retirement. One of Pereira’s most cherished memories is watching Sobers take the pitch alongside fellow West Indies great Rohan Kanhai at Bourda in Guyana, an experience he described as watching two kings of the game walk out to bat.

    The news of Sobers’ death broke mid-play during the annual Sir Garfield Sobers Under-19 Cricket Tournament, a youth competition he founded 32 years ago that is hosted across Barbados, including at Queen’s College. Ricky Clarke, the tournament’s co-ordinator, called the news devastatingly hard to process, having worked closely with Sobers since the legend invited him to join the event in 1991. Clarke remembered Sobers’ remarkable grace, a quality that defined his character long before he earned national hero status. He emphasized that Sobers took a deeply hands-on approach to running the tournament, which has nurtured multiple generations of young cricketers, including the iconic Brian Lara, who competed in the event early in his career, along with dozens of top young players from across the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. Clarke echoed the widespread belief across the sport that Sobers is unequivocally the greatest cricketer of all time, noting that his status as a Barbadian National Hero is a perfectly fitting honor for a man who gave so much to his country and the global game.

    Commentator Wayne Holder shared that he felt like he had lost a close family member when he heard the news, noting that Sobers is such a core part of Barbadian national identity that the entire country has lost a beloved member of its extended family. Reflecting on Sobers’ well-known humility despite his global fame, Holder recalled a chance early-morning encounter decades ago at Enid’s Bar in Baxters Road, where both men stopped in for patties. When Holder introduced himself as a young fan, Sobers made time for him, and from that point on always recognized and greeted Holder on every subsequent meeting across the years.

    Andy Payne, president of Maple Cricket Club and a graduate of the Sir Garfield Sobers Schools Competition, shared personal memories of Sobers’ kindness off the pitch. Beyond cricket, Sobers was a dedicated golfer who represented Barbados in the sport from the 1970s through the 2010s, and founded the Sir Garfield Sobers Festival of Golf, where he served as patron. Early in Payne’s career, when he worked in tourism and struggled to get time off to compete in domestic cricket, Sobers personally intervened with Payne’s employer to argue that the young rising player deserved the opportunity to play. Like others, Payne summed up Sobers’ legacy simply: for his contributions to cricket, tourism and Barbadian national life, he will always be remembered as the greatest of all time.

    On the pitch, Sobers’ statistical achievements remain staggering decades after his retirement. He represented the West Indies in Test cricket between 1954 and 1974, playing 93 matches, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78, and taking 235 wickets at an average of 34.03, proving his dominance as one of the sport’s greatest all-rounders. In 1958, he hit an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan, a record that stood as the highest individual Test score for more than 36 years. He made another piece of history in 1968, when captaining Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in first-class cricket, he became the first batsman ever to hit six sixes in a single over.

  • Police mark first UWI-accredited crime scene training course

    Police mark first UWI-accredited crime scene training course

    A landmark collaboration between the Barbados Police Service (BPS) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) has reached a historic milestone, graduating its first group of formally accredited crime scene investigators – a development set to elevate evidence handling protocols and reinforce the judicial readiness of the island nation’s policing efforts.

    The newly launched Basic Crime Scene Investigation and Management programme, the product of this cross-sector partnership, marks a major step forward in boosting the professional standards of law enforcement in Barbados, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Adrian Broomes. Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the Regional Police Training Centre, Broomes emphasized that the initiative reflects the police force’s ongoing commitment to nurturing highly skilled investigative personnel equipped to meet the complex demands of 21st-century policing.

    Over the course of the intensive training programme, participants mastered a comprehensive curriculum covering every critical domain of modern crime scene work. Core modules included crime scene logistics management, scene preservation protocols, detailed evidence documentation, trace and biological evidence collection, traffic collision investigation, latent fingerprint development, DNA evidence handling, forensic photography, digital and electronic evidence processing, ballistics fundamentals, and best practices for presenting evidence in judicial proceedings. During the ceremony, DCP Broomes presented the top graduate award to Sergeant 1364 Roz’Marie Ward-Waterman. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt)

    Broomes noted that these covered skills form the foundational backbone of contemporary policing and functional criminal justice systems. Reminding graduating investigators of the weight of their public mandate, he stressed that law enforcement personnel are entrusted with three core responsibilities: serving the Barbadian public, safeguarding local communities, and conducting all investigative work with unwavering integrity, impartiality, respect for individuals, and steadfast adherence to the rule of law.

    Public trust in policing, Broomes added, hinges entirely on the ability of investigative work to withstand rigorous judicial scrutiny. “Every crime scene is unique, each holding its own critical narrative that can make or break a case,” he said. “But regardless of the circumstances, our methods must be consistent, rooted in cutting-edge practice, and above all, completely beyond reproach.”

    Reflecting on the programme’s incremental growth, Broomes explained that the training initiative began as an internal BPS effort in 2021, expanding gradually through successive training cohorts before this year’s milestone. “This is our third iteration of the course, and it stands as a significant historic milestone because it represents the first formal collaborative effort with the University of the West Indies,” he said.

    Far from being a merely symbolic partnership, the collaboration merges frontline operational policing expertise with UWI’s established academic excellence, with the goal of cultivating investigators who are not just practicing officers, but also lifelong learners equipped to integrate academic research, theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based practices into their daily work, Broomes explained.

    The formal partnership with UWI demonstrates the BPS’s firm commitment to investing in its workforce, elevating professional standards across the force, and strengthening its ability to serve the public with integrity, he added. “By aligning our training with the University of the West Indies, we are affirming that policing is not just a vocation – it is a professional discipline rooted in rigorous knowledge, ethical practice, and continuous professional development,” Broomes said.

    Looking ahead, Broomes expressed optimism about the future of the partnership, noting that transformative progress consistently emerges when frontline law enforcement and academic institutions collaborate. He added that he anticipates more expansive and impactful joint initiatives between the BPS and UWI in the coming years.

  • UWI expands ethics training as healthcare evolves

    UWI expands ethics training as healthcare evolves

    Against a backdrop of rapid global transformation in healthcare – driven by breakthrough technologies, shifting public expectations and emerging public health challenges – The University of the West Indies (UWI) at Cave Hill has announced a major update to its medical training curricula, centering expanded medical ethics education to reinforce physician professionalism and deepen patient-centered engagement. Faculty leadership outlined the changes Friday during the opening of the 25th annual Sir Errol Walrond Scientific Symposium, hosted at Bridgetown’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

    Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of the UWI Cave Hill Faculty of Medical Sciences, told attendees that the institution regularly revises its training programs to align with the evolving demands of 21st-century healthcare, equipping graduates with the competencies they need to practice modern medicine. The most significant curricular change, Cohall confirmed, is the strengthening of ethics training for undergraduate medical students, which adds two new academic credits dedicated to the subject at the fourth-year level. While ethics has long been part of medical training at the institution, the revision re-centers the topic as a core, formal requirement, with repeated reinforcement before students enter their fifth and final year of clinical training.

    Cohall explained that the curriculum update was a direct response to feedback from key stakeholders, including the Barbadian government, the general public and industry partners, all of whom have called for greater focus on respectful doctor-patient communication and consistent professional conduct across clinical settings. “We have certainly heard comments from our key stakeholders about the state of engagement between our trainees – both undergraduate and postgraduate – and patients across all clinical and community care spaces,” Cohall said. “We conducted an internal review of all our programs and implemented targeted adjustments to ensure we stay aligned with our core mission: that the interaction between the public and emerging healthcare practitioners is consistently respectful, patient-centered and professional.”

    In addition to the curricular changes, Cohall announced that stand-alone ethics conferences are now a mandatory requirement for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students at the faculty. To date, the events have drawn far more participation than the institution’s own trainee body: the last two conferences attracted more than 160 attendees total, including practicing clinicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals from across the region. “We don’t want this critical training to be limited only to our medical students,” Cohall noted, acknowledging the cross-professional benefit of expanded ethics education.

    Beyond ethics training, Cohall highlighted ongoing investments to strengthen the faculty’s research capacity, built through strategic external partnerships and targeted grant funding. One key collaboration is with the Sick Kids Initiative, which supports the Shaw Centre of Pediatric Excellence; the partnership has recently funded a new full-time research fellow position at the centre. The faculty currently runs five active catalyst research grants, bringing cutting-edge, community-relevant research projects to both academic and public health spaces in Barbados.

    Cohall challenged medical trainees and residents to pursue transformative research that directly shapes clinical practice and health policy, rather than studies that only generate disconnected data. “One of the key gaps we have identified repeatedly is that we need transformative research from our residents,” he said. “We don’t want research that just counts beans – we want work that changes how care is delivered.” Cohall added that he expects research presented at this year’s symposium will not only secure academic publication but also drive tangible improvements to local healthcare delivery and clinical practice.

    Barbados Minister of Health Senator Lisa Cummins echoed that call in her opening remarks to the symposium, which honors the legacy of legendary Barbadian surgeon Sir Errol “Mickey” Walrond. Cummins framed the work of medical training and research as a foundational investment in the future of regional healthcare, noting that progress emerges at the intersection of evidence-based policy, ethical practice, empirical research and intentional implementation.

    She challenged researchers and trainees in attendance to consider their own professional legacy, following in Walrond’s footsteps by building the “institutional scaffolding” that will support future generations of clinicians and improve population health outcomes. “What is the role of everyone in this room in developing solutions to the pressing healthcare problems we face today?” Cummins asked. “How will you carry forward Sir Errol Walrond’s legacy by carving your own path, and building a foundation that those who come after you can stand on?”

    The minister also reminded attendees that healthcare’s core mission is centered on the people it serves, warning that losing that focus undermines all research, policy and system reform work. “Any time we lose sight of the people on whose behalf we work, research, shape policy and introduce reforms, we have lost sight of the entire point of our work,” she said.

    Cummins also emphasized that medical training must adapt to a host of disruptive forces that are reshaping global healthcare at an unprecedented pace, from technological innovation to climate change. “We are not operating in a vacuum today. Innovations and new interventions are changing our field at breakneck speed: artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we deliver care, genomics is rewriting what precision medicine means, robotics is redefining surgical practice, and climate change is creating public health emergencies that most classic medical textbooks never even considered.” Cummins concluded, “Change is happening. It is already here, and more change is still coming.”

  • Cuba Solidarity Fund reaches landmark $200,000

    Cuba Solidarity Fund reaches landmark $200,000

    A grassroots solidarity movement in Grenada has hit a major milestone in its campaign to support Cuba amid a deepening humanitarian crisis, with the Cuba Solidarity Fund crossing the $200,000 threshold on July 15. All organizational costs for the three months of fundraising activities across the island nation have already been covered, meaning every dollar raised will go directly to relief efforts for the Cuban people.

    The fundraising drive has been a truly nationwide effort, with events hosted across every parish of Grenada, plus the smaller island territories of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Community groups organized a diverse slate of activities: a formal dinner at the Grenada Trade Centre, a major concert, three separate community breakfasts in Town, Mt Moritz, and StPaul’s, a combined health fair and breakfast in the capital St George’s, a raffle, community barbecue and motorcade in St Patrick, an evening soiree dedicated to Cuba in St Andrew, two back-to-back breakfasts and an additional raffle in St David. Volunteers also ran donation collections at hundreds of churches across the entire country, with more contributions still being processed.

    Church communities have accounted for the two largest individual donations to the fund. The Roman Catholic Church contributed $61,469.29, while the Seventh Day Adventist Church donated $32,572.00, both deposited to the fund’s bank account this week. Additional contributions have already arrived from the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, with more church donations expected to be finalized within the next seven days. Two of the largest standalone fundraising events, the May 6 dinner at the Grenada Trade Centre and the May 15 soiree at St Andrew’s Rainbow Inn, generated a combined net profit of just over $50,000.

    The campaign launched in April 2026 with an official media briefing, timed to coincide with the 47th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Grenada and Cuba on April 14. It is led by Citizens for Cuba, a non-partisan, citizen-led coalition open to all residents, united by the shared goal of helping Cuba address its worsening humanitarian emergency.

    Cuba has faced growing hardship in recent months, compounded by more than six decades of U.S. economic blockade that has been exacerbated by tightened sanctions. The country is currently suffering acute shortages of fuel, basic food staples, and critical medical supplies. Widespread, extended blackouts have become a daily reality across the island, and dozens of urgent, life-saving medical procedures have been forced to be canceled, resulting in multiple preventable deaths.

    For Grenadians, the campaign is an opportunity to repay decades of selfless support Cuba has given to their nation. Cuba’s most iconic contribution to Grenada is the construction of the country’s international airport, but it has also provided hundreds of university scholarships for Grenadian students and deployed dozens of Cuban medical specialists across multiple disciplines to strengthen Grenada’s public health infrastructure.

    Operating under the theme “Grateful Grenada Gives Back to Cuba,” the drive has drawn support from across all sectors of Grenadian society, with donations flowing through community organizations, churches, trade unions, and direct individual contributions. Direct donations can still be made to the campaign via the Humanitarian Relief Inc. account at the Grenada Co-operative Bank, account number 11302334. The solidarity drive remains ongoing, with two additional recent events held: a combined breakfast and lunch hosted by the St Paul’s Sports and Culture Organisation on June 20, and a luncheon organized by the Technical and Allied Workers Union on July 3. More donations from trade unions and additional church groups are expected within the next week.

    Citizens for Cuba has issued a statement of deep gratitude to every organization and individual across Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique that has contributed to the initiative, noting the broad cross-section of society that has backed the effort. When all outstanding pledges and donations are collected within the next two weeks, organizers project the total fund will reach an impressive $250,000, a testament to the widespread gratitude of the Grenadian people for their long-standing ties to Cuba.

  • PM Browne Celebrates Daughter’s UK Master’s Graduation

    PM Browne Celebrates Daughter’s UK Master’s Graduation

    One of the most defining moments for any parent comes when they watch their child cross a major academic finish line, and for Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, that moment recently unfolded thousands of miles from home in the United Kingdom.

    Browne made the journey across the Atlantic to take part in Britney Browne’s graduation ceremony, where his daughter was conferred a Master of Science degree in International Business from Anglia Ruskin University, one of the UK’s growing modern higher education institutions. In an exclusive interview with local outlet Antigua.news following the ceremony, the head of government called the occasion among the most personally gratifying experiences of his entire life.

    The prime minister did not hold back in celebrating his daughter’s years of effort that led to this milestone, emphasizing that her advanced degree was not the result of luck, but of consistent grit, late nights of study, and unwavering dedication to her academic goals. Beyond the personal family celebration, Browne used the moment to reaffirm a long-held core belief: that investing in education remains the single most valuable commitment that both individual families and entire nations can make. For families, it opens doors to new opportunity and upward mobility; for countries, it builds a skilled, competitive workforce that drives long-term growth, he argued.

    Browne also shared a message of encouragement for young people across Antigua and Barbuda, saying he hopes Britney’s achievement will inspire the next generation to pursue advanced tertiary education and never settle for anything less than their personal best. Even amid the relentless demands of leading a small island nation, the prime minister stressed that making time for this family event was non-negotiable, noting that the day served as a powerful reminder that family priorities hold equal weight to public responsibilities for leaders and ordinary citizens alike.