Carib Scope

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  • Prime Minister Skerrit extends appreciation to teachers across Dominica

    Prime Minister Skerrit extends appreciation to teachers across Dominica

    As Dominica observes Teacher Appreciation Day 2026, the island nation’s top leader has highlighted the irreplaceable role that educators play in building the country’s future through their work with young generations.

    In an official public statement released on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit delivered a sincere message of gratitude to every teaching professional working across Dominica. The prime minister emphasized that the consistent contributions teachers make to nurturing and educating the country’s youth form a critical foundation for the nation’s long-term development.

    Skerrit openly recognized the heavy demands that come with a career in education. Unlike many less demanding professions, teaching requires consistent patience, intentional sacrifice, and deep empathy to meet the diverse needs of students, he noted.

    Drawing on his years of interactions with educators across the country, Skerrit shared that he has encountered countless teaching professionals whose unwavering dedication to their students stands out as a powerful example of service. He stressed that truly effective instruction goes far beyond delivering lesson plans: it requires a heartfelt commitment to supporting young people as they grow, develop skills, and work toward achieving their full personal and professional potential.

    The prime minister also pointed out that the impact of a teacher’s work extends far beyond the four walls of a classroom. The guidance, values, and knowledge they instill in young Dominicans shape the long-term trajectory of the entire nation, laying the groundwork for progress across every sector of society.

    Closing his message, Skerrit reiterated his appreciation for the patience, personal sacrifices, and compassionate care that teachers extend to Dominica’s children on a daily basis, and extended his warmest wishes to all educators across the country in conjunction with the national day of recognition.

  • Education Minister Calls on Antigua and Barbuda Students to Stand Against Violence

    Education Minister Calls on Antigua and Barbuda Students to Stand Against Violence

    At the annual Thanksgiving Service hosted by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Education, Education Minister Daryl Matthew has delivered a direct and impassioned appeal to young people across the nation, urging them to stand firmly against violence, foster a culture of mutual respect, and embrace greater personal responsibility for caring for their peers.

    Matthew’s message to the nation’s youth was clear and concise: “Look out for one another. Stand against violence. Choose respect.” This call to action came as the ministry kicked off its 2026-2027 academic year under the overarching theme “Colouring Outside the Lines: Empowering and Transforming Students, Building Safer, Stronger Communities Together.”

    Beyond addressing students directly, the minister emphasized that building safer, more resilient communities is a collective effort that cannot be shouldered by education authorities alone. He stressed that meaningful progress requires active engagement from schools, family households, local churches, government agencies, and every segment of the wider community. The Ministry of Education and individual campuses lack the capacity to create safe learning environments in isolation, he argued, making cross-sector collaboration non-negotiable.

    At the core of Matthew’s address is the fundamental belief that every child has an inherent right to learn in a space where they feel secure on physical, mental, and emotional levels. “Every child in our country deserves to walk through the gates of a school and feel safe,” he stated. The minister expanded on this idea, noting that protecting youth means shielding them from bullying, pervasive fear, and other harmful societal pressures that can derail their development. When students feel safe, he explained, they are far better positioned to focus on learning and reach their full academic potential.

    Matthew also issued a direct challenge to parents across the nation, urging them to move beyond passive involvement and take an active role in their children’s educational journeys. “I invite every parent to be a partner and not a spectator,” he said. Alongside this call for parental engagement, the minister also encouraged local churches and community organizations to partner with schools and offer mentorship opportunities to young people, guiding them through the challenges of growing up in an increasingly complex world.

    Reflecting on what makes strong communities, Matthew argued that their foundation lies in intentional relationships and consistent, everyday investment in the lives of children. This includes teachers paying close attention to students who may be struggling with personal or academic challenges, neighbours checking in on at-risk youth, and parents prioritizing consistent presence in their children’s lives. “Strong communities produce strong children,” Matthew said, “and strong children ultimately become the leaders the country needs.” This closing remark framed the collective effort to build safe learning environments as an investment in Antigua and Barbuda’s long-term future, positioning today’s youth as tomorrow’s decision-makers and community builders.

  • PM calls on Vincies to make solidarity a daily practice

    PM calls on Vincies to make solidarity a daily practice

    KINGSTOWN — As the national flag was raised to officially launch month-long celebrations marking 47 years of independence for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, newly elected Prime Minister Godwin Friday delivered a unifying call to action, urging citizens to embed a spirit of mutual support into daily life rather than reserve it only for national holiday season.

    Friday, who took office in November 2024 as the country’s first new national leader since 2001, framed the anniversary as a moment to reflect on the collective resilience the nation has already proven through past crises, and to carry that same cooperation forward into a new era under his administration. Speaking at Thursday’s opening ceremony in the capital city of Kingstown, he pointed to the country’s coordinated response to two of its most serious recent challenges: the global COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 La Soufrière volcanic ashfall, as lasting examples of the strength that comes from collective action.

    “I have watched how Vincentians smiled behind masks during COVID, and yet we maintained our connections,” Friday said. “We come to each other’s aid, packing boxes and delivering supplies when the ash was still falling.”
    He highlighted the stories of residents who lost all their possessions in those crises and chose to rebuild, noting that their quiet determination is the core of the nation’s enduring character. Breaking down the symbolism of the national flag, Friday explained that the green field does not only represent the country’s lush vegetation and vibrant agricultural sector — it also stands for the unbroken vitality of the Vincentian people.
    Aligning his remarks with 2025’s independence theme, “Hand in Hand, Uplifting our Nation”, the prime minister emphasized that sustained national progress is never the work of a single group, party, generation, or even leader. “It can’t be done by one generation, or by one village, or by one party, or by one person, or even by one prime minister,” he said. “It takes all of us.”
    That collective spirit, Friday argued, should not be limited to the independence celebration period leading up to the official anniversary on October 27. “It is time for us not just to come together at the time of independence, but to do it all year round,” he urged. He noted that everyday life offers constant small opportunities to strengthen community bonds, from greeting neighbors on the street to sharing public transport, working alongside colleagues, or worshiping together.
    “We live with each other every single day, so we have to look out for one another,” he said. “We are at our best when we look out for one another and when we build community by community, village by village, institution by institution.”
    The prime minister added that acts of national uplift do not need to be large, public gestures to matter. “Uplifting our nation also means uplifting one another, not just in the things that people can see and applaud us for, but in the quiet moments when you know you can assist, and you have to make the choice,” he said. “Always choose to help. A helping hand never hurts anyone.”
    To mark the 47th anniversary, Friday issued targeted calls to action for different sectors of national life. He challenged local business owners to spruce up their storefronts and surrounding community spaces through painting and cleanup, and called for targeted improvements to public infrastructure, including local police stations. These small collective efforts, he said, will demonstrate that the nation is committed to moving forward together, and takes the milestone of independence seriously.
    Addressing public servants directly, Friday affirmed that their daily work forms the backbone of the nation, and reminded them of the responsibility that comes with their roles. “The work that you do is valued; the entire nation depends upon you, and we expect nothing but your best, because that is what our people deserve,” he said.
    Framing independence as a hopeful milestone for the country under new leadership, Friday noted that meaningful change does not require rejecting past progress made by previous administrations. Instead, he said, progress should build on the achievements that earlier generations built for the nation. “Not discarding what we have met, but building upon it, and so that our country moves forward,” he explained.
    Energy from young performers at Thursday’s flag-raising ceremony reinforced the importance of centering future generations in national planning, the prime minister added. “We owe it to them to do all we can to make our independence count,” he said. He called on all Vincentians to honor the legacy of the independence movement founders by continuing their work, with the shared goal of building a nation that both the trailblazers of the past and the youth of the future can be proud of.
    After thanking organizers for putting together the opening ceremony, Friday closed his address with a rallying cry for a meaningful 47th independence celebration. “47 and counting. Let’s make it special,” he said.

  • Youth Parliament: Digital push must not leave elderly, disabled behind

    Youth Parliament: Digital push must not leave elderly, disabled behind

    On International Day of Older Persons, which fell on a Thursday this year, the Barbados House of Assembly was temporarily transformed into the island’s National Youth Parliament, where young policymakers took the floor to debate a landmark Digital Transformation Resolution aimed at shaping the country’s digital future. The proposed resolution centers its framework on youth empowerment, expanded digital access, and accelerated technological innovation, laying out a slate of ambitious policy initiatives ranging from mandatory digital literacy and coding education starting in primary school to interactive student-facing school portals, community-led innovation hubs, a national youth tech pass, a nationwide cybersecurity public awareness campaign, and stronger cross-regional digital collaboration through CARICOM.

    While the resolutions passed by the National Youth Parliament carry no formal legal weight unlike binding votes from the sitting House of Assembly, the body’s recommendations are widely recognized as influential in shaping mainstream policy conversations around youth-centered issues. During the debate, two opposition youth parliamentarians raised critical concerns about gaps in the draft text that threaten to marginalize vulnerable populations. Leader of Opposition Business Roshauna Clarke joined opposition member Kamalei Ferdinand-King to argue that the resolution’s narrow focus on youth empowerment overlooks the needs of older Barbadians and people living with disabilities, warning that an unplanned rush to a fully digital society could leave these vulnerable groups behind.

    Clarke emphasized that she could not throw her support behind a proposal that fails to center inclusivity, noting that the resolution is framed as a national plan for digital transformation, not a youth-only initiative. “This resolution is titled ‘Digital Transformation Resolution’; it is not just titled about the youth. What about our old people? What about the disabled? We are living in a time where there are persons who cannot access things because of digital transformation. What about them?” she said. Beyond inclusivity concerns, Clarke also raised pointed questions about the proposal’s practical implementation, flagging unresolved legal, operational, and financial barriers that the draft text fails to address. She famously argued, “Vision without a viable execution is merely an illusion.”

    Clarke specifically called out risks in the proposed Smart System Initiative and junior digital consultant roles, noting that unvetted access to sensitive government data for minors creates unnecessary security risks. In place of these unstructured proposals, she put forward an alternative plan: a formal, closely supervised Information and Communications Technology (ICT) apprenticeship program anchored in academic systems overseen by the Ministry of Education Transformation, with strict role-based access controls to protect sensitive data. She also recommended the creation of a dedicated Digital Transformation Delivery Secretariat housed within the Prime Minister’s Office, arguing that splitting oversight across multiple separate ministries would create bureaucratic gridlock and administrative inefficiencies. “Instead of placing these operational infrastructure burdens on students, we must establish a structured, supervised ICT apprenticeship under the Occupational Training Act,” she stated.

    For his part, Ferdinand-King centered his remarks on a growing but underdiscussed threat to digital safety: cybersecurity fatigue among the general public, as more daily activities and government services move online. “One of the biggest issues when it comes to this digital transformation era is digital security. But one thing we have yet to speak about is the fatigue when it comes to cybersecurity,” he explained, acknowledging that even technologically engaged young people like himself often fall into risky digital habits – including reusing passwords across multiple accounts. He also criticized the overly long, jargon-heavy terms of agreements that users are required to accept to access most online services, calling for simplified, condensed formats that highlight key policy points for ordinary users. “Make it [specific] and show the important points that we are agreeing to. Show us what we need to see so that we understand what we are applicable to and what we aren’t,” he said.

    Ferdinand-King proposed an innovative public awareness strategy: integrating short, interactive cybersecurity knowledge checks into government-provided public Wi-Fi networks, which users complete when accessing the service. He noted that whether users answer correctly or incorrectly, the simple act of engaging with the prompts will build baseline awareness even for people with little prior digital knowledge or limited interest in cybersecurity. He added that this approach would be particularly beneficial for older Barbadians who regularly visit the capital Bridgetown and use public networks there. “It would be helpful to them especially, because they will be forced to see it,” he said. Ferdinand-King stressed that as more personal data and essential services move online, digital security cannot remain a niche concern; it must become a part of everyday public consciousness, noting that “Being online is risky, but being offline is even riskier.”

    The original resolution already includes a call for a national cybersecurity awareness campaign focused on digital safety, personal data protection, and identifying online misinformation, alongside a call for deeper regional collaboration through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The National Youth Parliament, run through the Youth Development Programme under the Division of Youth Affairs, was created to give young Barbadians hands-on experience with parliamentary procedure and policymaking. This year’s sitting was a core event of National Youth Week, carried out under the official subtheme “Youth Today, Leaders Tomorrow!” The week-long initiative, which centers on analyzing pressing national issues and putting forward youth-led policy recommendations, will continue through November 26.

  • Dominica suffer heavy defeat against Guyana in CONCACAF Nations League

    Dominica suffer heavy defeat against Guyana in CONCACAF Nations League

    In a pivotal CONCACAF Nations League Group B clash hosted at Puerto Rico’s Estadio Centroamericano in Mayagüez on Thursday, Dominica’s senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the Bouyon Boyz, suffered a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of Guyana, leaving their group stage campaign in a precarious position.

    Guyana seized control of the match early, building a comfortable two-goal lead before the halftime whistle. Osaze De Rosario opened the scoring for the Golden Jaguars, followed by a second strike from winger Omari Glasgow that extended their advantage going into the break. The momentum remained firmly with Guyana after play resumed, as forward Deon Moore put away a third goal in the 50th minute to widen the gap to three goals.

    Dominica finally broke through for their first goal of the 2026-2027 Nations League campaign in the 75th minute, when striker Troy Jules converted a chance to put his side on the scoreboard. The relief of the opening goal was short-lived, however, as Guyana’s Kelsey Benjamin restored the four-goal lead just minutes later. In stoppage time, Enoch George capped off the win with a fifth goal for Guyana, locking in the final 5-1 scoreline.

    Despite the heavy defeat, Dominica captain Marcus Bredas highlighted bright spots that the side can build on moving forward. Speaking to reporters after the match, Bredas pointed to the team’s improved ability to generate attacking chances and the milestone of their first goal of the campaign as encouraging takeaways from the encounter. At the same time, he was open about the squad’s key shortcoming that led to the lopsided result: a drop in collective discipline immediately after Guyana scored its opening goal.

    “After the first goal, you can see the boys, they lack a bit of discipline, and that’s what happened,” Bredas told reporters. The captain acknowledged that the squad would need to return to the training pitch immediately to address these gaps, shore up defensive lapses, and refocus ahead of their next fixture.

    Luckily for Dominica, the side will not have to wait long to get a chance to redeem Thursday’s result. The two teams are scheduled to face off again in a rematch just three days later, on Sunday, October 4. Bredas emphasized that the squad’s priority is to put the heavy loss behind them, fix the mistakes that led to defeat, and enter the rematch with a focused, determined mindset.

    “The game has passed, so we have to go back on the training ground, fix what we have to fix, and hopefully come out and be victorious in the next match,” he said.

  • UWI Global Campus Re-Accredited for Six Years Through 2032

    UWI Global Campus Re-Accredited for Six Years Through 2032

    A major milestone for open and distance learning in the Caribbean has been achieved, as the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus has been granted full institutional re-accreditation for an additional six-year term, extending its validated quality status through mid-2032. Per the official announcement from the campus’s Antigua and Barbuda branch, the new accreditation cycle will officially run from June 18, 2026, to June 17, 2032. This renewal comes as the institution prepared for the expiration of its prior accreditation, prompting a comprehensive re-evaluation process completed earlier this year. In a move that demonstrates its commitment to transparency and quality improvement, UWI voluntarily initiated an independent external peer review to assess its operations. The full review process includes an extensive internal self-evaluation conducted by the campus, followed by an on-site re-accreditation visit scheduled for March 2026. Previously known as the UWI Open Campus, the Global Campus holds its institutional accreditation through the Barbados Accreditation Council, the regional body responsible for upholding tertiary education quality standards across the area. Its first accreditation, awarded in 2019, covered a seven-year term that was set to conclude on June 17, 2026. Unlike program-specific accreditation that focuses on individual degrees, institutional accreditation conducts a holistic review of a tertiary institution’s governance structures, operational systems, and support services to confirm that the institution as a whole has the capacity to deliver programming and student support that meets or exceeds established regional quality benchmarks. For UWI, the re-accreditation process delivers more than just validation: it provides independent external confirmation that the campus’s operational quality aligns with international standards, while also highlighting targeted areas for future growth and enhancement. With physical regional hubs across dozens of Caribbean nations including Antigua and Barbuda, the UWI Global Campus distinguishes itself from traditional on-campus institutions by delivering the vast majority of its tertiary education coursework through flexible online and distance learning pathways, making higher education accessible to non-traditional students across geographically isolated island communities. In its public statement on the re-accreditation outcome, the Antigua and Barbuda campus emphasized that the successful renewal is a powerful reaffirmation of the entire Global Campus system’s unwavering commitment to delivering accessible quality education, upholding rigorous academic excellence, and pursuing continuous incremental improvement across all areas of operation. This recent achievement follows closely on the heels of a similar milestone for another UWI affiliate: the university’s Cave Hill Campus also secured re-accreditation through 2032 from the Barbados Accreditation Council in a recent decision, marking a period of successful quality validation across multiple UWI campuses.

  • Cupid calls for unity beyond independence month

    Cupid calls for unity beyond independence month

    On Thursday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines officially kicked off its 47th independence anniversary celebrations, with the country’s Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and the Creative Industries Kaschaka Cupid delivering a unifying call to all Vincentians to prioritize collective cooperation and community service as an ongoing commitment rather than a limited-time observance.

    Speaking at the national flag-raising ceremony hosted at the Financial Complex in Kingstown, Cupid unveiled the 2026 independence theme: “Hand in Hand, Uplifting our Nation”. He framed the slogan as a deliberate invitation for cross-generational, cross-community collaboration to advance national development, emphasizing that nation-building cannot be achieved by a single group or individual alone.

    “No single political party, lone individual, isolated community, or one generation can build this nation on their own,” Cupid told attendees. Beyond broad collective action, the theme outlines targeted partnerships: between the national government and its citizens, between younger and older Vincentians, and between the local population and the global Vincentian diaspora.

    Cupid highlighted the mutual value of intergenerational exchange, noting that young people gain critical wisdom from the experience of older generations, while elders can draw fresh energy and creative insight from youth. He also stressed the importance of connecting diaspora communities back to their home country, uniting all Vincentians regardless of their current residence.

    In a key appeal for national cohesion, Cupid urged citizens to prevent divides rooted in politics, social class, or religious belief from overshadowing the shared national identity that unites all Vincentians. “Whatever differences may separate us, whether political affiliation, socioeconomic standing, or creed, we must never lose sight of what binds us as one people,” he said. “This proud nation belongs to every single one of us.”

    The “uplifting our nation” component of the theme is rooted in tangible, practical action rather than rhetoric, Cupid explained. Core priorities include expanding empowerment opportunities for young people, expanding social support for elderly and vulnerable residents, strengthening local community infrastructure, and standing with local workers, creators, and producers across all sectors.

    “To uplift our nation means to educate and empower our young people. It means caring for our elderly and vulnerable neighbors. It means lifting up our local communities, and standing firmly behind our farmers, fisherfolk, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and cultural practitioners,” he said. He added that small, daily acts of contribution add up to meaningful national progress: “Every time we encourage a young person, we are uplifting our nation. Every time we volunteer, support a local business, protect our natural environment, or lend a hand to a fellow Vincentian, we are building a stronger country for everyone.”

    Cupid framed 47 years of independence as both a significant milestone in the country’s history and a reminder of the ongoing responsibilities that come with national self-governance. “Independence grants us the right to shape our own collective destiny, but it also comes with the responsibility to build the kind of nation we want future generations to inherit,” he said.

    The full slate of independence celebrations will be held throughout October, designed to showcase local culture and boost homegrown enterprise across the country. Upcoming events kick off this weekend with a family fun day and the 16th annual KCCU National Dance Festival, followed by a National Day of Prayer on Monday. Other scheduled activities include a national karaoke championship, a public health and wellness fair, a quiz competition for public servants, a national thanksgiving service on October 21, and the Sir Dwight Venner Memorial Independence Lecture.

    A national cultural exhibition and food village will open at Heritage Square on October 23 and run through October 31, featuring a wide range of locally produced art, crafts, and traditional Vincentian cuisine. The cornerstone celebrations — the National Independence Parade and Cultural Extravaganza — will take place on Independence Day, October 27, at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex.

    Cupid extended an open invitation to all Vincentians to participate in the month’s events, encouraging widespread support for local culture and small businesses. “This October, fly our national flag, wear our national colours, shop local, and celebrate our homegrown artists and performers,” he said. He also urged citizens to deepen their knowledge of national history and connect with communities across the country, stressing that the spirit of unity and service should outlast the month of celebrations. “When October ends, don’t let the spirit end with it,” he emphasized.

    Acknowledging that St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to face social and economic challenges, Cupid affirmed that collective action rooted in recognition of shared national interests will allow the country to achieve far more than division ever could. “Our nation can accomplish great things when we recognize that our collective strength is far greater than our individual differences,” he said.

    Closing his address, Cupid called on citizens to honor the legacy of past generations who fought for and built the country, serve their fellow Vincentians in the present, and invest in future progress for coming generations. “Let us honour those who came before us. Let us serve those who stand beside us, and let us continue to build for those who will come after us,” he said.

    Drawing reference to a iconic song closely associated with the country’s 1979 independence, Cupid ended his speech with a unifying message: “We are out to build a new St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The future is definitely in our hands; hand in hand, we lift up our nation.”

  • Antigua and Barbuda Leads Caribbean Push to Fight Illegal Fishing and Track Seafood

    Antigua and Barbuda Leads Caribbean Push to Fight Illegal Fishing and Track Seafood

    In a landmark gathering held on September 28, 2026, at Jamaica’s Ocean Coral Spring Resort during the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) advanced regional ocean governance with a historic package of policy approvals. Chaired by Antigua and Barbuda, the high-level meeting brought together fisheries, aquaculture and blue economy ministers from across the bloc, who backed 12 binding resolutions that set a new sustainable policy trajectory for the region’s critical fishing and aquaculture industry.

    Opening the 17th Special Ministerial Council meeting, CRFM Chair Hon. Randy Baltimore, Minister of State in Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, emphasized the tight alignment between the gathering’s work and the 2026 Caribbean Week of Agriculture theme: “The New F.A.C.E. of Caribbean Food Systems,” which centers on four core priorities: food security, agri-business expansion, climate-smart innovation, and export growth. “Fisheries and the blue economy are non-negotiable pillars of every one of these goals,” Baltimore told delegates. “Our sector does more than feed our populations and deliver critical nutrition: it sustains millions of livelihoods, drives regional trade, and anchors economic stability for coastal communities across the Caribbean. Still, we confront persistent, growing threats: climate change degradation, overpressure on shared marine resources, rampant IUU fishing, and volatile global market shifts that put small-scale fishers at particular risk.”

    Before deliberations, the CRFM Secretariat presented updated, comprehensive sector data to assembled policymakers, offering a clear snapshot of the industry’s current scale and trajectory. CRFM Statistics and Information Analyst June Masters shared that across the bloc’s 17 member states, more than 500,000 people now rely on the fisheries and aquaculture sector for employment, including roughly 133,000 active fishers and 5,000 aquaculture workers. Between 2020 and 2025, Masters reported, every member state recorded consistent, steady employment growth across the sector.

    The new data also revealed a striking shift in the industry’s economic value: the total ex-vessel value of catch from the region’s domestic fleet, which encompasses more than 30,000 vessels and reflects the direct payment fishers receive for their catch, nearly doubled over the five-year period, jumping from US$431 million in 2020 to US$856 million in 2025 – a 99% increase. By contrast, total catch volume grew far more modestly, rising just 14% from 141,000 tons to 160,000 tons over the same window, a trend officials attribute largely to rising global seafood market prices rather than increased extraction.

    Against this backdrop of growing employment and economic value paired with persistent systemic challenges, ministers debated long-term strategic direction for the sector, as well as the capacity needs of both the CRFM Secretariat and individual member states to advance sustainable growth. The Council reviewed findings from a recently completed capacity and training needs assessment, carried out by CRFM in partnership with the GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme under UNESCO auspices. Delegates committed to fast-tracking targeted interventions to close identified capacity gaps across the region.

    The meeting’s defining milestone came with the unanimous approval of three new binding protocols to the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP): the Protocol on Marine Spatial Planning, the Protocol on Aquatic Foods Traceability, and the Protocol on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

    CRFM Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams framed the approvals as a transformative step forward for regional marine stewardship. “Adopting these three new protocols marks a turning point for strengthening governance, boosting long-term sustainability, and building economic resilience for Caribbean fisheries and marine resources,” Williams said. “Together, these frameworks give our member states cohesive, robust regional tools to manage conflicting demands on ocean space, build transparency and consumer confidence in Caribbean seafood, and shield our shared fish stocks from illegal exploitation.”

    Williams added that the new regulations deliver tangible benefits to frontline communities: they protect the livelihoods of law-abiding small-scale and commercial fishers, improve access to premium regional and global export markets, strengthen regional food and nutrition security, and ensure the economic benefits of marine resources are shared fairly and sustainably across current and future generations.

    In closing the special meeting, Chair Baltimore emphasized the power of regional collaboration to address shared challenges. “Our nations confront a host of common threats, but every member brings unique, valuable experience and innovative solutions to this partnership,” he said. “I urge all of us to continue learning from one another, share successful strategies, and follow through fully on the commitments we have made here. That is the only way we will build a stronger fisheries sector and an inclusive blue economy that delivers lasting, equitable benefits to our fisherfolk and coastal communities.”

    Looking ahead, CRFM Ministerial Council representatives will participate in the 127th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) – Agriculture, scheduled for this Friday, which will mark the official conclusion of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Jamaica.

  • Prime Minister Skerrit meets Marigot residents to discuss community priorities

    Prime Minister Skerrit meets Marigot residents to discuss community priorities

    In a deliberate push to strengthen ties between national leadership and local communities, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit led a delegation of government officials to a community social gathering in Marigot Thursday evening. The open forum was designed explicitly to create a space for unfiltered dialogue between local residents and the country’s top decision-makers.

    Unlike formal, scripted government outreach events, this gathering centered the priorities of Marigot’s residents, giving them a rare direct opportunity to lay out their perspectives, raise pressing local issues, and share first-hand accounts of daily life in the area. Over the course of the meeting, participants brought forward a range of personal experiences, lingering community concerns, and ranked their top priorities for government support, all directly to the prime minister and his team.

    For their part, the attending government officials used the occasion to listen actively, moving beyond pre-planned announcements to gain an on-the-ground understanding of which challenges demand immediate policy attention. The conversation also evolved beyond just sharing concerns, as both residents and officials collaborated to brainstorm potential solutions and map out a collaborative path forward for the Marigot community.

    This community engagement is not an isolated event, but part of a sustained government initiative to keep open lines of communication with populations across the country. By creating consistent, accessible opportunities for leaders to hear directly from ordinary residents about their most pressing needs and long-term aspirations, the administration aims to make policy that more closely aligns with the lived realities of the people it serves.

  • North and Northeast : US$47.9 million to boost agricultural productivity

    North and Northeast : US$47.9 million to boost agricultural productivity

    Haiti’s northern regions, long plagued by low agricultural productivity, heightened food insecurity and heightened vulnerability to climate shocks, are set to receive a transformative multi-million dollar investment to upgrade the country’s agri-food sector. On October 1, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) gave formal approval to a $38.7 million grant that will anchor a broader $47.9 million agricultural development initiative targeting Haiti’s North and Northeast departments. The remaining $9.2 million for the project is being contributed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), bringing together two major international development institutions to address systemic challenges in Haiti’s rural agricultural sector. The five-year program, officially named the Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Program in the North and Northeast, focuses on three core priority areas that align with long-term development goals for the region: expanding reliable, sustainable access to irrigation infrastructure, supporting smallholder farmers to adopt climate-resilient agricultural technologies, and strengthening producer organizations and small agri-food businesses across the value chain. The initiative is designed to deliver direct, tangible benefits to a broad cross-section of rural stakeholders in northern Haiti. Approximately 7,800 smallholder producers will see improved access to functional irrigation systems, gain training on climate-adapted farming techniques, and receive ongoing technical assistance to boost their output and income. Beyond individual farmers, the program will extend support to 155 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and producer groups operating in the agri-food sector, providing targeted business development services and matching grants to help these organizations scale their operations. A key inclusion component of the initiative also expands technical and vocational training opportunities for young people in rural communities, creating pathways to stable employment in the growing agricultural sector. Project designers have integrated cross-cutting priorities that address longstanding gaps in rural development in Haiti. The program incorporates comprehensive environmental and social management frameworks to ensure projects do not harm local ecosystems or vulnerable communities, embeds climate resilience into all infrastructure and programming to help the region adapt to shifting weather patterns, and includes intentional mandates to boost the participation of women and young people in the agri-food economy. The ultimate goals of the investment are to raise overall agricultural output in northern Haiti, strengthen the economic livelihoods of rural households, lay the foundation for more sustainable and climate-resilient rural development, and help local communities better withstand the frequent climate-related shocks that have repeatedly disrupted agricultural production in the region. Before the IDB board approved the funding, project organizers carried out an extensive, grassroots consultation process to ensure the program responds to the actual needs of local stakeholders. Over the course of preparation, the development team held discussions with more than 1,000 local farmers, 400 value chain stakeholders, 340 MSMEs, farmer associations, community residents, local government leaders, and national civil society organizations operating across the project area, ensuring local input shaped the program’s design and priorities.