作者： admin

Caribbean leaders demand urgent climate finance and debt relief

In a high-stakes address delivered on behalf of the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) borrowing member nations in Nassau, Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has issued a urgent, impassioned call for coordinated regional action and sweeping global financial reform to confront the overlapping crises of extreme climate vulnerability and unsustainable sovereign debt that threaten the Caribbean’s future.

Addressing a gathering of senior regional leaders that included Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis, CDB President Daniel Best and central bank governors from across the region, Dr. Friday spoke against the backdrop of the conference theme “Forging the Caribbean’s Future: Strategic Solutions for Uncertain Times”. He opened by framing the region’s current challenge as a navigation through turbulent global shifts, noting that long-standing geopolitical alliances are strained and widely accepted global norms are being challenged without clear, reassuring resolutions for small island nations.

Dr. Friday pulled back the curtain on the severe economic constraints strangling Caribbean economies, laying bare the region’s chronic debt crisis. Nine of the CDB’s borrowing member nations carry central government debt-to-GDP ratios that exceed the 60 percent prudential threshold, he revealed, and in his own country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that figure surges past 113 percent. This crippling debt load, he emphasized, severely erodes governments’ capacity to fund critical public investments that would drive inclusive growth and shield the most vulnerable communities from cascading global price shocks—including spiking fuel costs, rising shipping expenses and a shrinking global aid landscape.

Beyond the debt crisis, Dr. Friday drew urgent attention to the catastrophic funding gap holding back the region’s efforts to build climate resilience. While Caribbean nations require an estimated $14 billion annually to implement comprehensive climate adaptation, mitigation and response measures, the region currently mobilizes less than 10 percent of that total. “It is therefore imperative that our development partners become more adaptive, more responsive, and willing to provide highly concessional financing and dedicated resources for loss and damage that will not worsen a bad debt situation,” he argued.

Despite the systemic barriers the region faces, Dr. Friday offered measured praise for the CDB’s long-standing role as a critical pillar of regional development. He highlighted tangible, impactful projects supported by CDB investment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including the modernization of Kingstown’s port, nationwide school improvement initiatives, and expanded rural road infrastructure that have strengthened the country’s ability to withstand climate shocks. When targeted institutional capital is paired with local community expertise, he noted, it delivers transformative change: improving lives, strengthening local communities and building the climate-resilient economic assets the region needs to thrive.

Looking ahead to the immediate challenges on the horizon, Dr. Friday reminded delegates that the Caribbean is entering the 2026 hurricane season still recovering from the devastating damage inflicted by Hurricanes Beryl in 2024 and Melissa in 2025. To build long-term, multi-dimensional resilience across environmental, economic and social systems, he laid out a clear strategic framework for the CDB’s future priorities, centered on aggressive economic diversification.

Dr. Friday urged regional states to pursue emerging growth opportunities, including widespread digitalization of public services, expansion of renewable energy development modeled on the geothermal projects already underway in Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis, and investment in value-added agro-processing to boost domestic food security and reduce reliance on volatile global import markets.

To turn this ambitious agenda into action, Dr. Friday called for rapid institutional reform within the CDB to address the region’s persistent implementation gap, which has delayed progress on critical initiatives for years. “We must move swiftly to implement the transformative reforms to eliminate friction and drive our institution forward,” he insisted. He closed with a direct appeal to all CDB shareholders and international non-regional partners to fully back the bank’s new strategic direction and provide robust support for the 11th replenishment of the Special Development Fund (SDF 11)—a facility he described as “the lifeblood of concessional financing for the region’s vulnerable members.”

Ultimately, Dr. Friday urged regional and global leaders to make choices that will lay the groundwork for “a stable, inclusive, and thriving Caribbean that is sustainable for generations to come.”

3 6 月, 2026
Suriname verliest icoon van de inheemse keramiekkunst

The Caribbean and Surinamese art world is mourning the loss of one of its most influential Indigenous ceramic voices, Cornelly Aloema, who died at the age of 77 following a brief period of illness. The celebrated ceramist and potter passed away in a local hospital, leaving behind a decades-long legacy that reshaped Surinamese ceramic art and lifted up Indigenous craft traditions.

Born in the Galibi community in Marowijne district, Aloema built her new life alongside her husband Thomas Sjinga in 1975, when the couple settled at the Onoribo plantation in Para. It was not long before her innate artistic talent caught the eye of Luciël Becker, a prominent local artist and philosopher, who first introduced her work to the wider artistic community through Wild Coast Art Gallery. From that starting point, Aloema carved out a singular artistic path, building on centuries-old Indigenous pottery traditions to evolve into a groundbreaking innovator in the medium. Beyond functional daily ware, she created striking decorative vases and one-of-a-kind art objects that earned her international recognition and a loyal global following.

Aloema’s work was defined by her unwavering commitment to artisanal, tradition-centered practice. She sourced all her materials directly from natural surroundings: raw clay, plant-based natural pigments, tree bark, and natural resins, and fired every piece using the traditional open-wood fire technique passed down through generations of Indigenous potters. For decades, her creations were regularly featured in exhibitions hosted by Art Gallery Wi Eygi Du, which confirmed her death and shared details of her final arrangements.

Beyond her individual artistic output, Aloema’s greatest contribution came through her mentorship and inspiration for emerging creators. She mentored and encouraged generations of Indigenous potters across Suriname, helping to strengthen and grow ceramic craft practices within multiple Indigenous communities across the country. Her work earned widespread institutional recognition for her contributions to Surinamese art: she was awarded the Honorary Order of the Palm by former Surinamese president Ronald Venetiaan, and most recently received a distinguished award from the Stichting Grani Fiti Yu Moy Misi in 2023.

With Aloema’s passing, Suriname has lost one of the most important contemporary representatives of Indigenous art and culture. Art Gallery Wi Eygi Du confirmed that Aloema will be laid to rest on Tuesday, as the art community gathers to honor her life and legacy.

3 6 月, 2026
Eight charged after police operation in Castries communities

A coordinated multi-unit law enforcement sweep across three Castries neighborhoods in Saint Lucia has yielded major results, with eight people facing criminal charges—including one suspect previously wanted for an alleged armed robbery. The operation, carried out May 28 by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit, drew support from three additional specialized departments: the Criminal Investigations Department, Central Intelligence Unit, and Tactical Response Unit, according to an official police statement released Wednesday.

The enforcement action targeted properties across Wilton’s Yard, Belair, and Dierre Fort, where officers executed multiple search warrants as part of the operation. At a Wilton’s Yard residence, law enforcement recovered a stash of suspected cannabis alongside growing cannabis plants, and took 21-year-old Ishon Joseph into custody.

In Dierre Fort, search warrants turned up additional quantities of suspected cannabis and more cannabis plants. Police arrested six people there: 21-year-old Naheem Samuel, 45-year-old Thecla Joseph, 46-year-old Marcus Joseph, 21-year-old Leon James (also known by the alias “Tikko Bolom”), 36-year-old Ryan Louis (alias “Spartacus”), and a 17-year-old minor whose name is being withheld due to his age.

The third targeted neighborhood, Belair, led to the capture of a high-priority suspect: 31-year-old Kerius Polius, who goes by the alias “Shortcrop”. Polius was already wanted by police in connection with an armed robbery that took place on Castries’ Darling Road on May 7.

One day after the operation, on May 29, seven of the eight suspects—Ishon Joseph, Samuel, Thecla Joseph, Marcus Joseph, James, Louis, and the juvenile—were formally charged with three cannabis-related offenses: cannabis cultivation, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Six of the seven charged individuals made their first court appearances at the First District Court shortly after charges were filed, where each was granted bail set at $1,500 on a personal recognizance bond. Ishon Joseph appeared at the same court on June 1, and entered a guilty plea to all three charges against him. In response, the court handed down a $4,200 fine, a one-year probation term, and ordered that the fine must be paid within six months, with a default sentence of six months in prison for non-payment.

For the high-profile suspect Polius, formal charges were not filed until June 2: he faces two counts, one of robbery and one of unlawful possession of ammunition without a valid license. Polius made his initial court appearance the same day charges were filed. The court set bail at $5,000 for the robbery count and $10,000 for the ammunition possession count, which he has been granted.

3 6 月, 2026
Discover Dominica Authority appoints new Destination Marketing Manager

The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), the governing body behind the Caribbean island nation’s tourism development, has announced the appointment of seasoned Caribbean tourism executive Wendy Lake to the role of Destination Marketing Manager, with her tenure officially starting on June 1, 2026.

In an official press release published by the DDA, the organization laid out the core priorities of Lake’s new role: leading the design and execution of high-impact strategic marketing projects that will elevate Dominica’s standing on the global travel stage and drive consistent, sustainable growth in annual visitor arrivals to the island.

Lake brings 16 years of hands-on industry experience across the Caribbean tourism sector to her new position. Her professional background spans a diverse range of critical tourism marketing functions, from crafting cohesive destination branding identities and conducting in-depth market trend analysis to building productive stakeholder relationships and developing hyper-targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with core traveler segments. Over the course of her career, she has partnered extensively with both public sector tourism agencies and private sector hospitality businesses to deliver successful tourism infrastructure projects and large-scale promotional initiatives.

Academically, Lake boasts a robust credential set rooted in marketing and business management, all earned from the University of the West Indies’ St. Augustine campus in Trinidad. She graduated with distinction with a Master of Science degree in International Strategic Marketing, and holds an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Management Studies with a supplementary minor in Economics. She also completed professional certification in Administrative Professional Secretaryship from the same institution.

The DDA emphasized that Lake’s cross-cutting experience across tourism operations, end-to-end project management, and destination marketing has given her a nuanced, highly practical understanding of shifting global travel market conditions and evolving consumer travel preferences — a skill set that is increasingly valuable in a post-pandemic global tourism landscape.

In her new role as Destination Marketing Manager, Lake will take charge of the DDA’s central marketing team. She will lead core organizational priorities focused on refining Dominica’s national tourism brand, expanding mutually beneficial trade partnerships with global travel industry stakeholders, and rolling out data-driven marketing strategies across the island’s key source tourism markets. Her key responsibilities will also include amplifying Dominica’s appeal to international leisure travelers and coordinating all promotional activities across both regional Caribbean and global markets.

Lake’s appointment comes at a time of growing momentum for Dominica’s tourism sector. Global traveler interest in the island has risen steadily in recent years, driven by rising demand for nature-focused, wellness-centered, and adventure tourism experiences — a trend the DDA has actively capitalized on through ongoing international marketing investment.

Marva Williams, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tourism at the Discover Dominica Authority, extended a formal welcome to Lake upon her appointment, and expressed strong confidence in her ability to help the DDA advance its core organizational objectives.

“Wendy’s appointment brings invaluable marketing leadership to our team as we work to sharpen Dominica’s competitive edge in the global tourism market,” Williams noted in her statement. “Her deep industry insight and collaborative working approach will be instrumental in building impactful cross-sector partnerships, strengthening our global brand presence, and positioning our destination effectively in a fast-changing global travel market.”

For her part, Lake shared her excitement about joining the DDA team and contributing to the ongoing growth and evolution of Dominica’s tourism sector.

“I am excited and truly honoured to begin a new chapter as Destination Marketing Manager with Discover Dominica Authority,” Lake said. “I look forward to contributing to the promotion and marketing of beautiful Dominica, showcasing its rich culture, breathtaking natural beauty, authentic one-of-a-kind travel experiences, and warm, welcoming people to the whole world. I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to work alongside the DDA team and our local and international stakeholders to strengthen the destination’s global visibility, foster meaningful long-term partnerships, and support the continued sustainable growth of tourism in Dominica.”

Looking forward, the DDA reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to rolling out strategic marketing initiatives that will strengthen the destination’s global competitiveness, boost annual visitor arrivals, and create long-term, sustainable economic benefits for the island’s local tourism and hospitality industry.

3 6 月, 2026
Missing Chinese cruise passenger found dead after getting lost on St. Kitts hike

Authorities in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis have recovered the remains of a 33-year-old Chinese traveler who vanished while hiking alone on one of the Caribbean island’s most challenging backcountry trails nearly a week prior. The missing hiker, identified as Wang Zyuan, was a passenger on an international cruise that docked at the Caribbean destination, and his disappearance sparked a multi-agency search effort that spanned days across the rugged slopes of Mount Liamuiga.

According to official statements from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Wang set out on a solo hike of the Mount Liamuiga trail on May 27. By the afternoon of the same day, he placed an emergency call to local 911 services, alerting responders that he had become disoriented and lost within the mountain’s dense, uneven terrain. Shortly after that initial call, however, police lost all communication contact with Wang, leaving search teams with few clues to pinpoint his location.

Over the course of the following week, combined search crews from multiple local agencies joined by civilian volunteers carried out exhaustive sweeps of the volcanic peak’s slopes and surrounding wilderness. The search concluded on Monday, when crews located Wang’s body. As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not released any information regarding the cause of death, noting only that the investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing, with further details to be released as they become available.

Located in the northern part of St. Kitts, Mount Liamuiga is a dormant stratovolcano that stands as the highest point on the island, reaching an elevation of nearly 3,800 feet above the Caribbean Sea. The trail leading to the volcano’s crater rim is a popular advertised activity for cruise passengers visiting the island, but the cruise line that promotes the route explicitly warns visitors that it is an extremely strenuous backcountry hike. The trail’s surface is frequently loose, muddy, or slippery due to the island’s tropical climate, creating additional hazards for even experienced hikers venturing out alone.

This report draws on official information from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, with additional contributing reporting from The Associated Press. The story was compiled from reporting based in Los Angeles.

3 6 月, 2026
Cave Hill finishes third at Inter-Campus Games

The University of the West Indies Inter-Campus Games wrapped up recently at the St Augustine Campus in Trinidad, with the Cave Hill Campus securing third place overall after claiming three of the 14 available championship titles. Team manager Aundrea Wharton shared his assessment of the team’s performance in an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, breaking down the results and outlining expectations for future competitions. Wharton confirmed that Cave Hill’s standout wins came in women’s hockey, women’s volleyball, and women’s netball, where all three squads outperformed competing campuses to claim the top podium spot. Despite these strong individual results, Wharton acknowledged that the final overall standing fell slightly short of the program’s pre-tournament projections. “We missed out on two titles we had our sights set on – men’s cricket and men’s volleyball,” he explained. “Our squads in both events finished second, and moving those two positions up from silver to gold would have lifted our overall medal ranking considerably.” That said, Wharton emphasized that the team’s showing was a solid outcome given the unusual context surrounding this year’s restart of the Games. This year’s event marked the first full iteration of the multi-campus competition after COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, and a large majority of Cave Hill’s 130-person delegation had never competed in the UWI Inter-Campus Games before. “Coming into this tournament, almost our entire squad was completely new to the idea of these university games, what they stand for, and the intensity of competition they bring,” Wharton noted. “For these young athletes, this whole experience was a major learning curve that they can build on moving forward.” Looking ahead to the next edition of the Games, scheduled to be hosted by the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados in 2028, Wharton expressed cautious optimism for a stronger result. Roughly 60 percent of this year’s 130 athletes will still be eligible to compete for Cave Hill in four years’ time, and the experience they gained at this year’s tournament will be invaluable, he argued. “Now that they have a first-hand understanding of how hard-fought these Games are, and what it takes to compete for titles, I think we’ll see a very different outcome in 2028,” he said. “Add that to the advantage of competing on home soil, and I know our athletes will be hungry to put on a much better performance for our home crowd.” In the final overall standings, Jamaica’s Mona Campus claimed the first place overall title, with the host St Augustine Campus finishing in second. Wharton also noted that the overall level of competition across all participating campuses was inconsistent this year, a trend he attributes to the post-pandemic restart. “This year felt a little lukewarm across the board, because it’s the first time we’ve been back to full competition after COVID,” he explained. “Many teams hadn’t experienced the intensity of the Games before, so they were still finding their footing. We also saw the debut of Five Islands Campus, which was only founded two years ago and competed in the Inter-Campus Games for the first time ever this year.”

3 6 月, 2026
PM Briceño Blames Breakdown in Parenting for Spike in Violence

In a public address addressing Belize’s escalating wave of violent crime, Prime Minister John Briceño has pushed past surface-level policy debates to identify a breakdown in parenting and community-led youth oversight as the root of the nation’s surging violence, calling for a cross-sector collective response to reverse the trend. Briceño acknowledged that the current State of Emergency (SOE) implemented to curb violence has delivered measurable gains in public safety, but added that even expanded police deployments are limited in their ability to stop individual conflicts before they escalate into fatal or harmful incidents.

Digging into the systemic origins of the violence crisis, Briceño traced the issue to eroding discipline within households and community structures. He argued that modern parents are far less likely to correct harmful or disrespectful behavior in their children, and often react defensively when community members or educators flag problematic conduct. Contrasting the current dynamic with his own childhood experience, Briceño recalled a childhood incident where he was disciplined by his own father for a minor act of disrespect toward a neighbor — a level of shared accountability that he says no longer exists in most Belizean communities. “I don’t think we are as good parents as we were a few generations ago,” Briceño said in his remarks. “Today, when you call out a child to a parent, they want to get upset with you.”

To address this gap in family and community support, Briceño highlighted a proposal from Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley to establish formal parenting clubs as a viable model for Belize to explore. Structured, community-based parenting support, he argued, could help fill the void left by fading informal accountability systems. Beyond exploring the parenting club model, Briceño confirmed the Belizean government is already moving forward with plans to expand access to public childcare centers. The facilities will give working parents a reliable, safe space to leave their children during working hours, an investment Briceño framed as a core component of long-term early childhood development and education strategy.

Closing his remarks, Briceño emphasized that no single government body or institution can resolve Belize’s violence crisis on its own. He called on local media outlets to prioritize positive coverage of successful, strong families to serve as community models, and urged churches, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and government agencies to align their efforts to tackle the underlying causes of violence and rebuild a culture of accountability for young people.

3 6 月, 2026
Flow says it has invested over US$1 million to address network interference in northern Dominica

Caribbean telecommunications provider Flow is moving forward with a $1 million-plus investment purpose-built to resolve persistent mobile connectivity interference that has degraded service for communities across northern Dominica, the company announced in an official press statement.

The issue first came to light several months ago, when Flow’s network monitoring systems flagged unusual performance dips in coverage across the island’s northern region. After weeks of comprehensive technical investigations, the firm traced the root of the disruption to external radio frequency interference originating from a mobile network operator based in neighboring Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory.

From the moment the interference was confirmed, Flow mobilized to mitigate immediate customer impacts, rolling out temporary network adjustments, 24/7 monitoring and iterative testing to keep service as stable as possible while developing a permanent fix. As the centerpiece of its long-term resolution strategy, the company has procured custom-built network upgrade equipment and specialized technical tools that carry a total price tag of more than $1 million. The new hardware is scheduled to arrive in Dominica between June 5 and June 15, 2026, with full installation and testing to follow immediately after delivery. Once the upgrade is fully commissioned, company officials project the solution will completely eliminate the ongoing interference and restore service quality to normal levels for all affected northern communities.

Beyond fixing the current disruption, Flow emphasizes that the investment will also boost overall network resilience across Dominica, cutting the risk of similar cross-border interference events from impacting customer service in the future. This proactive step, the company notes, underscores its commitment to delivering reliable connectivity even for challenges that originate outside of its own managed network infrastructure.

Flow has not worked in isolation to address the issue: the provider has partnered closely with Dominica’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) and the regional Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) from the earliest stages of the investigation. Company representatives praised the ongoing collaboration between local and regional regulators, noting that coordinated multi-stakeholder engagement is critical to resolving transboundary telecommunications issues. While the in-country network upgrade will resolve immediate customer impacts, Flow confirmed that ongoing diplomatic and regulatory engagement with French authorities remains in progress to secure a permanent, long-term solution that addresses the interference at its source.

“From the moment we identified this issue, our teams have worked around the clock to find a fix,” shared Sharon Jemmott, Country Manager for Flow Dominica. “We know how critical consistent, reliable connectivity is for our customers, whether they’re connecting with family, running a business, or accessing emergency services. Even though this problem started outside of our network, we refused to wait for a third party to act. We’ve invested heavily in a solution, collaborated closely with regulators and regional partners, and stayed focused on delivering the high-quality service our customers expect and deserve.”

Flow says it will publish regular public updates as the equipment arrives, installation progresses, and the solution goes live. The company also extended its gratitude to affected customers for their patience, understanding, and continued trust as the resolution process moves forward.

3 6 月, 2026
Belize Gymnasts Bring Home 22 Medals

A young delegation of gymnasts from Belize has delivered a historic performance at one of Central America and the Caribbean’s top artistic gymnastics tournaments, returning home with an impressive total of 22 medals across multiple competition categories.

The multi-day El Salto Team Challenge, hosted this year in El Salvador, ran from May 28 to 31, drawing competitive squads from across the entire Central American and Caribbean region. The Belizean delegation competed under the joint banner of SESA Gymnastics and the Gymnastics Federation of Belize, going up against some of the most promising young talent in the regional gymnastics scene.

Two team members stood out for their exceptional individual achievements: gymnasts Selene Bedran and Adrianna Paz both advanced through qualifying rounds to earn spots in the event finals. Against stiff competition from top-ranked regional gymnasts, the pair held their ground, turning in strong performances that cemented Belize’s growing reputation as an emerging force in regional youth gymnastics.

This 22-medal result marks a major new milestone for the development of gymnastics in Belize, highlighting the success of local training programs and the growing skill level of the country’s young athletic talent. It also sets a new benchmark for future Belizean gymnastics delegations competing in regional international events, inspiring the next generation of young gymnasts across the country.

3 6 月, 2026
Cornelia Ida man charged with murder of mother

A Guyanese construction worker has been formally arraigned on a charge of murdering his own mother, in a case that has drawn local attention to the small West Coast Demerara community of Cornelia Ida. The defendant, 24-year-old mason Greedesh Ramkissoon, whose residential address is listed as Lot 80, Block ‘Y’, Cornelia Ida, appeared before the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, to face the indictable homicide charge.

According to official statements from the Guyana Police Force, the fatal incident that led to the charge took place at the shared family residence on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The victim was identified as 58-year-old Surujdai Kahrui, who worked as a workplace supervisor. Ramkissoon was taken into police custody days after the killing, and formal charges were officially filed against him on May 29, 2026.

During Wednesday’s arraignment hearing, Magistrate Rabindra Singh presided over the proceeding and read the full murder charge aloud to the defendant. Under Guyana’s criminal procedural rules for indictable offenses, Ramkissoon was not required to enter a formal plea at this early court stage. Following the brief hearing, the magistrate ordered that Ramkissoon be remanded into state custody at a prison facility, with no bail granted.

The case has been scheduled for its next procedural hearing on Friday, August 7, 2026, when further developments in the legal process are expected to unfold. Local law enforcement has not yet released additional details about the alleged motive or circumstances surrounding the killing, as the investigation remains ongoing through the pre-trial phase.

3 6 月, 2026