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  • Grenada RISING – Foundational Learning Programme launched

    Grenada RISING – Foundational Learning Programme launched

    On August 25, 2026, Grenada’s Ministry of Education officially launched the pilot phase of the transformative Grenada RISING – Foundational Learning Programme during a ceremony hosted at St David’s Catholic School in Belle Vue, St David. Developed as a cross-sector collaborative response to a persistent national literacy crisis, the initiative marks a deliberate shift in policy to guarantee that every child in the country achieves functional reading, writing, and reading comprehension skills by the age of 9.

    The programme is the product of a multi-stakeholder partnership between the Government of Grenada (the lead policy owner), SUMMA (the Laboratory of Education Research and Innovation for Latin America and the Caribbean), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the Grenada Private Sector Alliance for Education, the Rassmuss Foundation, and Pratham International. Each partner brings specialized expertise and resources to address the root causes of low literacy outcomes across the country’s education system. Core components of the initiative include equipping classroom teachers with evidence-based literacy instruction strategies, providing sustained in-school coaching for educators, and rolling out targeted family engagement supports to build a culture of reading across communities and homes. Karreen Francis-Gulston, an experienced literacy coordinator, has been appointed to lead the programme as national coordinator.

    Lorraine St Louis-Nedd, Permanent Secretary for Educational Administration, opened the launch by emphasizing the urgent need for systemic intervention, citing recent data from Grenada’s Minimum Competency Test (MCT). The assessment revealed that two-thirds of current students fail to meet basic literacy competency requirements – a gap that does not end at primary school. St Louis-Nedd noted that literacy struggles follow students into secondary education, and have created measurable challenges for the national workforce, with local employers consistently reporting that new graduates lack the foundational reading and writing skills required for open positions. “It’s not something we are proud of, but this statistic has been a wake-up call,” she said. “Enough is enough. This programme brings all stakeholders together to do something different, to turn the tide on low literacy – and this launch is that turning point.”

    SUMMA, the regional education research laboratory with more than 10 years of experience partnering with education ministries across Latin America and the Caribbean, will lead technical coordination for the pilot. Javier Gonzales, PhD, Director and Co-Founder of SUMMA, highlighted the central role of literacy as a foundational human right that unlocks access to all other social and economic opportunities. Gonzales stressed that while education innovation continues to evolve, the success of the programme will depend on human connection, not digital tools or artificial intelligence. “Everything we are doing with Grenada RISING centers on the interaction between teachers and students,” he explained. “It is not about technology or AI. It is the human, caring work of teachers that will deliver the outcomes we seek, and level the playing field for all children.”

    The Rassmuss Foundation contributes its evidence-based Jumpstart methodology, which has already delivered proven improvements in literacy outcomes in Chile and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Stefan Franken, General Director of the Rassmuss Foundation, noted that early gaps in literacy have long-lasting impacts on lifelong outcomes, limiting employment prospects and social mobility well into adulthood. “International evidence is clear: if a student does not reach a comprehensive level of reading proficiency by the critical early age, they struggle to build all other skills through school and life,” Franken said. “This puts Grenada at the forefront of what modern education needs to prioritize.”

    The pilot phase of the programme will be implemented across eight participating primary schools: Holy Innocents Anglican School, Mt. Moritz Anglican School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Samaritan Presbyterian School, St David’s Catholic School, St George’s Anglican Junior School, St Martin de Porres Catholic School, and St Patrick’s Catholic School. At the launch ceremony, formal partnership agreements were signed with the principals of each school to confirm their commitment to the initiative. Andrea Phillip, CEO of Grenada Schools Inc., and the two participating school principals also delivered remarks at the event.

    Global and regional partners bring additional proven resources to the effort: Pratham International, one of the world’s largest non-profit education organizations, contributes its Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, a widely tested intervention that has helped struggling readers accelerate progress and close proficiency gaps quickly. The Global Partnership for Education provides both core funding and global technical expertise in foundational learning improvement. The newly formed Grenada Private Sector Alliance for Education, launched in May 2026, mobilizes private sector investment for the initiative, with GPE matching private donations in kind. To date, the alliance has raised more than US$425,000 to support programme activities.

    The launch event was attended by senior Ministry of Education officials, technical implementation teams, school leaders, classroom educators, and representatives from all partner organizations. Following the official launch, the programme will immediately move into the pre-implementation phase, focusing on the training and preparation of all frontline implementation staff, including instructional coaches, mentors, management teams, and participating classroom teachers.

    Officials from all stakeholder groups emphasized that the pilot is the first step in a national commitment to universal foundational literacy, with the goal of scaling successful outcomes across the entire education system once the pilot phase is complete.

  • PNCR’s business arm’s debt to City Hall now GY$20 million on Congress Place property

    PNCR’s business arm’s debt to City Hall now GY$20 million on Congress Place property

    As of Tuesday, 1 September 2026, new details have emerged regarding an outstanding property tax debt tied to the business affiliate of one of Guyana’s main political opposition groups. Multiple informed sources confirm that Maikwak Limited, the commercial arm of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), currently carries an unpaid rates and taxes liability of between GY$20 million and GY$25 million connected to its Congress Place property.

    The current debt figure comes after a comprehensive reassessment of the account carried out earlier in 2026, which cut a previously reported massive debt of roughly GY$6 billion down to the smaller current sum. Accounting adjustments that drove this reduction include a series of interest waivers granted to Maikwak over multiple years that had not been properly incorporated into earlier debt calculations. Sources note that the company had already made payments aligned with the approved waivers, and the updated assessment simply corrects the historical accounting error to reflect the accurate outstanding balance. As of press time, full details of the total amount Maikwak has paid to date have not been publicly released.

    There remains a split in official positions regarding the debt: while one insider insists the PNCR-affiliated firm must immediately settle the full outstanding amount, a senior City Hall official confirmed that no formal payment demand has yet been served to Maikwak for the adjusted balance.

    In a separate development, City Council has recently implemented a broad change to its debt calculation rules, scrapping the long-standing policy of daily compound interest on unpaid taxes in favor of a simpler simple interest structure. However, council insiders confirmed this new, more lenient regime will not be applied retroactively to Maikwak’s debt. The firm is not eligible for the adjusted interest terms, and officials have ruled out any further consideration of extending the policy to this account.

    The news comes just one week after PNCR leader Aubrey Norton publicly announced that the party’s business arm had been reactivated to generate critical internal revenue for the political organization, bringing new public attention to the entity’s financial standing.

  • COMMENTARY: Does a bone tumor always mean cancer?

    COMMENTARY: Does a bone tumor always mean cancer?

    A diagnosis of a bone tumor often triggers immediate fear of cancer, but medical experts clarify that not all abnormal cell growths in bone are malignant. Drawing on decades of clinical experience at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, pediatric oncologist Dr. Wendy Allen-Rhoades breaks down key facts about bone tumors, including their varied presentations, common types across age groups, and modern care options that have improved patient outcomes in recent years.

    A bone tumor is defined as an abnormal cluster of cell growth within bone tissue. While some are malignant (cancerous) — which can invade surrounding bone, weaken its structure, and spread to other regions of the body — many are benign (noncancerous). Benign tumors often require only regular monitoring to watch for changes, rather than immediate aggressive treatment. “Hearing that an imaging scan detected a bone tumor or lesion can be incredibly scary, but the good news is that the majority of these growths are not cancer,” Dr. Allen-Rhoades explains. “The critical first step is getting a precise diagnosis of your specific tumor type, so your care team can tailor the right approach to your needs.”

    One key distinction Dr. Allen-Rhoades emphasizes is the difference between primary bone cancer and metastatic cancer that has spread to bone from another site. Cancers are always named for their origin location: for example, lung cancer that spreads to bone remains lung cancer, rather than being classified as bone cancer. Similarly, bone cancer that spreads to the lungs is still categorized as bone cancer.

    Common presenting symptoms and when to seek care
    Bone or joint pain is an extremely common complaint, and most cases are caused by noncancerous issues such as overuse injuries or muscle strain. But certain patterns of pain warrant a medical workup, Dr. Allen-Rhoades notes: pain that gets progressively worse over time, does not improve with rest or basic care, wakes patients from sleep, or occurs alongside other red flags such as localized swelling, persistent fever, unexplained weight loss, or noticeable limping.

    For children and adolescents, Dr. Allen-Rhoades warns against automatically writing off persistent bone pain as growing pains. “While growing pains are common in young people, ongoing discomfort that interferes with sports, school, or daily activities should always be checked by a provider,” she says. Persistent back pain is also unusual in children and requires evaluation. Another major warning sign is a broken bone that occurs after minimal or no trauma, as many malignant tumors weaken bone structure over time, making fractures far more likely.

    In many cases, bone tumors cause no obvious symptoms at all, and are discovered incidentally when imaging tests such as X-rays are ordered for an unrelated issue like a sports injury. In these instances, Dr. Allen-Rhoades clarifies that the injury did not cause the tumor; it simply led to testing that revealed a pre-existing growth that had not caused any problems yet.

    Common bone cancer types by age
    There are three primary types of malignant bone cancer, each with distinct patterns of occurrence and treatment approaches:
    1. **Osteosarcoma**: This cancer develops in cells that form new bone tissue, and it is the most frequently diagnosed type of primary bone cancer. It occurs most often in teenagers and young adults, and most frequently develops in the long bones of the leg, though it can also appear in arm bones. Standard treatment typically combines surgical removal of the tumor with chemotherapy.
    2. **Chondrosarcoma**: This cancer originates in cartilage cells, and while it usually develops inside bone, it can sometimes grow into surrounding soft tissue. It is most common in middle-aged and older adults, and most often appears in the pelvis, hip, and shoulder. The primary treatment is surgical removal of the cancer. Small, slow-growing chondrosarcomas in the limbs are sometimes treated with a curettage procedure, where surgeons scrape cancer cells from the bone then use extreme cold or chemicals to kill any remaining cells. The bone is then repaired with a bone graft or bone cement if needed.
    3. **Ewing sarcoma**: This cancer forms in bone or the soft tissue surrounding bone, and it primarily affects children and young adults. It most often develops in leg bones and the pelvis. Standard treatment plans usually combine chemotherapy with surgical removal of the tumor.

    For benign bone tumors, treatment recommendations depend on the growth’s effects: if the tumor does not cause pain, limit movement, or weaken bone structure, it can often be monitored without any intervention. If it does cause problems, surgical removal is typically effective. For malignant tumors, treatment plans may combine surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a multimodal approach tailored to the specific cancer type and stage.

    Modern innovations improving care outcomes
    Recent medical innovations have significantly improved treatment outcomes for patients with malignant bone tumors. 3D-printed models of a patient’s specific tumor and surrounding anatomical structures allow surgeons to plan precise removal procedures ahead of time, reducing risk and improving complete tumor removal rates. Proton beam therapy is another advance that lets clinicians deliver higher targeted doses of radiation to tumors without causing unnecessary damage to nearby healthy tissue.

    Risk factors and the importance of specialized care
    Currently, the exact cause of most primary bone cancers is unknown, and there is no proven way to prevent the disease. Identified risk factors include certain rare inherited genetic syndromes such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome and hereditary retinoblastoma, pre-existing bone conditions such as Paget’s disease of bone and fibrous dysplasia, and prior radiation therapy or certain types of chemotherapy for other cancers.

    Because bone tumors are relatively rare, Dr. Allen-Rhoades stresses that seeking care from a multidisciplinary team with specialized experience in diagnosing and treating these conditions is critical. Radiologists, pathologists, orthopedic surgeons, and medical oncologists work together to confirm an accurate diagnosis and build a personalized treatment plan that fits each patient’s needs.
    “If you’ve been told you have a bone tumor or lesion, try not to jump to the worst possible conclusion,” Dr. Allen-Rhoades says. “Most bone tumors are benign, and even malignant bone cancer can often be treated successfully. If you have persistent pain, an abnormal imaging finding, or symptoms that worry you, don’t ignore them. Reach out to your care team. An accurate diagnosis is the first critical step toward getting the right care for you.”

  • UWP sustains pressure on Frederick and SSDF, calls for Board to resign

    UWP sustains pressure on Frederick and SSDF, calls for Board to resign

    A political storm has been brewing in Saint Lucia this week, after Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announced the immediate placement of Housing Minister Richard Frederick on administrative leave, tied to ongoing questions surrounding the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF). The sudden decision has sparked pushback from the country’s main opposition party, the United Workers Party (UWP), which is questioning whether the government has disclosed the full truth behind the minister’s sudden departure from his post.

    In his official announcement Monday, Pierre explained that Frederick would step back from all Cabinet responsibilities and ministerial duties “until further notice.” The Prime Minister framed the move as a proactive step to safeguard transparency and eliminate any perception that Frederick could improperly sway the ongoing review of the SSDF. He was also careful to emphasize that the administrative leave does not equal a finding or admission of wrongdoing on the minister’s part.

    However, the opposition has rejected the government’s official narrative, arguing that the public has not been given the complete picture of what led to Frederick’s suspension. On Tuesday, senior UWP member Titus Preville doubled down on the party’s demands, calling on Prime Minister Pierre to authorize a full, independent public investigation into the affairs of the SSDF.

    Speaking at a UWP-hosted press conference, Preville laid out the opposition’s requirements for any credible probe. He stressed that the investigation must be led by a team of investigators with the appropriate professional expertise, full institutional independence, and the operational capacity to carry out a thorough review. Preville also pushed back against any behind-closed-doors proceedings, insisting that the investigation’s terms of reference—especially the full scope of what the probe will examine—must be released publicly for the sake of accountability.

    Preville further called for the SSDF’s sitting Executive Director and full board of directors to temporarily step aside from their roles to facilitate an unimpeded investigation. He framed this request as a standard, reasonable expectation in any high-stakes inquiry of this nature. Echoing the exact logic Prime Minister Pierre used to justify placing Frederick on leave, Preville argued that removing the SSDF’s current leadership would eliminate any risk of perceived or actual influence over the probe’s outcomes.

    To ensure the investigation enjoys cross-party legitimacy, the UWP has also proposed that both the ruling government and the Leader of the Opposition collaborate to agree on the final terms of reference for the independent inquiry, setting the stage for a process that all political stakeholders and the general public can trust.

  • Pakistan wint slag over Induswateren bij Den Haag, maar dreiging vanuit India blijft

    Pakistan wint slag over Induswateren bij Den Haag, maar dreiging vanuit India blijft

    On a landmark ruling delivered in The Hague, the five-judge panel of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has unanimously ruled that the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan remains fully binding under international law, and India has no legal right to unilaterally suspend the agreement. This marks the first time an international judicial body has formally addressed the legal validity of India’s 2025 suspension of the treaty, a decision that has plunged downstream Pakistan into deep uncertainty over its most critical water resource.

    The dispute traces back to April 2025, when New Delhi announced it would suspend the 60-year-old water-sharing pact in response to a deadly terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir. India framed the suspension as permanent until Pakistan takes “credible and irreversible” action to end cross-border militant attacks, a charge Islamabad has repeatedly and categorically denied. Following the suspension, Pakistan initiated arbitration proceedings at the PCA in March 2026, arguing it had no avenue to enforce compliance with the treaty without a formal international ruling on its standing.

    India consistently rejected the PCA’s jurisdiction in the case, declined to participate in the proceedings, and did not respond to the court’s invitations to present its argument. Oral hearings were held at the Peace Palace in The Hague from April 26 to 28, 2026, with only Pakistan in attendance. The court’s panel examined every public argument New Delhi put forward to justify the suspension, including claims of sovereign right, Pakistan’s alleged refusal to renegotiate the treaty, ties to terrorism, and shifting circumstances such as population growth, rising demand for clean hydropower, and climate change.

    In its final ruling, the PCA rejected all of India’s claims, affirming that no provision of international law permits a state to unilaterally suspend a binding treaty on the basis of sovereign claims. The ruling explicitly reaffirms India’s obligation to adhere to all terms of the agreement, including regulations governing the construction and operation of hydropower projects along the Chenab, Indus and Jhelum rivers that flow from Indian-administered Kashmir into Pakistan. The Baglihar Dam, one of India’s most high-profile run-of-river hydropower projects on the Chenab River, has been a long-running point of contention between the two nations.

    Within hours of the ruling being announced, India issued an official statement rejecting the judgment, calling the tribunal “illegally constituted” and confirming that its suspension of the treaty would remain in place until Pakistan meets its demands to end cross-border militant support. For Pakistan, the ruling delivers a clear diplomatic and legal victory, though its practical impact on the ground remains uncertain.

    Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the decision, and called on India to immediately implement the ruling and comply with all of its binding obligations under the treaty. Ahead of the ruling, Dar had already called for a resumption of technical dialogue and transparency on water sharing, a process India has halted since 2023. Pakistan’s formal demands for compliance include an immediate meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission, the bilateral body established by the treaty to manage water issues, the resumption of joint inspections of projects, and the sharing of hydrological data that India has ceased providing.

    International law experts note that while the ruling strengthens Pakistan’s position significantly, there is no binding enforcement mechanism comparable to a United Nations Security Council resolution to compel India to comply. Ahmer Bilal Soofi, an international law expert and former Pakistani federal minister, pointed out that the ruling gives Pakistan a solid legal foundation to consider proportional countermeasures under international law. Sikander Ahmed Shah, a professor of international law at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, emphasized that India’s refusal to participate in the proceedings does not undermine the ruling’s legal weight, which carries significant normative standing in the international community.

    For Pakistan, the suspension of the treaty has been framed as an existential threat to the country’s water and food security, which is heavily dependent on the waters of the Indus river system. Over 200 million Pakistanis rely on water from the Indus and its tributaries for irrigation and drinking water, making predictability of river flows a core part of the state’s survival framework, according to Commissioner Shah. Senior Pakistani politicians have framed the dispute as far more than a technical disagreement, labeling it the “weaponization of water” by India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly stated that every drop of water rightfully allocated to Pakistan under the treaty is a red line, and warned that any action violating Pakistan’s water rights or sovereignty will meet a forceful response.

    Not all analysts share the alarm, however. Hydrology expert Hassan Abbas has pushed back against the framing of an immediate existential threat, noting that geographic realities and the design of Indian hydropower projects limit India’s ability to cutoff water flows. Most Indian dams on the tributaries are run-of-river projects with limited water storage capacity, meaning India would face catastrophic domestic flooding if it attempted to block all downstream flow, Abbas explained. He also criticized Pakistan’s long-standing focus on large mega-dam projects, and argued that more efficient irrigation management would be a cheaper and more effective solution to boost the country’s water security amid growing demand and climate change. The dispute leaves the future of one of the world’s most critical transboundary water agreements hanging in the balance, with no clear path forward to resolve the impasse.

  • Caribbean energy leaders to convene in the Bahamas to strengthen regional collaboration and drive solutions for the Caribbean’s energy transition

    Caribbean energy leaders to convene in the Bahamas to strengthen regional collaboration and drive solutions for the Caribbean’s energy transition

    The Caribbean’s foremost gathering dedicated to advancing clean and resilient energy systems is set to convene in Nassau next year, as organizers prepare for the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference & Exhibition.

    Scheduled to run from October 18 to 22 at the iconic British Colonial Nassau, this year’s event is hosted by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) in partnership with two local Bahamian energy leaders: Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC). Around 200 key stakeholders spanning utility executives, energy industry experts, government policymakers, regulatory bodies, international development partners and innovative solution providers will gather under the central theme “Empowering Progress: Strategic Policy and Planning for the Energy Transition”.

    Across the five-day event, attendees will dive into the most urgent energy challenges facing small island developing states across the Caribbean. Core discussion topics will cover critical priorities for the region: scaling up renewable energy integration into existing grids, expanding battery energy storage capacity, upgrading aging grid infrastructure to boost reliability, advancing geothermal energy development, optimizing remaining conventional generation assets, strengthening energy systems against climate-driven extreme weather, testing emerging clean energy technologies, and updating outdated policy and regulatory frameworks that slow transition progress.

    Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director of CARILEC, emphasized the non-negotiable role of cross-regional collaboration in moving the Caribbean’s energy goals forward. “The Caribbean cannot advance its energy transition in silos,” Bertin explained. “CARILEC’s core mission is to unite our regional energy community to exchange on-the-ground lessons, deepen collaborative partnerships, and co-develop practical, actionable solutions to the barriers that continue to hold back progress. Holding CAREC 2026 in The Bahamas creates a unique space to merge regional technical expertise with local implementation experiences, so we can collectively advance solutions that speed up the transition across every island in our region.”

    For The Bahamas, which has already committed to a bold national target of 30% renewable energy generation by 2030, hosting the conference marks a key milestone in the country’s transition journey. BPL Chief Executive Officer Toni B. Pratt shared the country’s excitement to welcome regional peers. “As our energy sector continues to make tangible progress toward our 2030 renewable goal, we are thrilled to open our doors to colleagues from across the Caribbean for this critical gathering,” Pratt said. “CAREC 2026 gives us a valuable platform to share our own best practices, exchange lessons from on-the-ground projects, highlight the progress we have made across our island chain as we roll out our national renewable energy roadmap. We are eager to strengthen collaboration across the region and showcase The Bahamas’ work as we all work toward a more sustainable, reliable energy future.”

    Nikita Mullings, Chief Operating Officer of GBPC, echoed that sentiment, noting Grand Bahama island’s own progress in clean energy adoption. “Grand Bahama Power Company is proud to stand as a co-host for CAREC 2026 and welcome energy leaders and stakeholders from across the Caribbean to our home,” Mullings said. “Grand Bahama has already made meaningful advances in integrating renewable energy, creating new opportunities to add cleaner generation while making our grid more reliable and resilient to climate shocks. CAREC is the perfect platform to share these on-the-ground experiences, exchange proven best practices, and explore actionable solutions to shared challenges from renewable integration to energy storage to grid modernization. We look forward to working alongside BPL, CARILEC and the wider energy community to strengthen regional partnerships and deliver a more sustainable energy future for all of the Caribbean.”

    A highlight of the 2026 conference will be a dedicated industry exhibition, where companies will display cutting-edge renewable energy technologies, climate-resilient grid solutions, and emerging innovations tailored to the unique energy needs of Caribbean island nations. Organizers have issued a special call for Bahamian domestic companies and solution providers to book exhibition space, giving them a unique opportunity to connect with regional buyers and partners and showcase their local expertise to the broader Caribbean energy community.

    To encourage local participation, organizers have introduced a special discounted registration rate of $1,000 USD for attendees based in The Bahamas. A limited number of sponsorship and exhibition booth opportunities are still available for organizations looking to engage with attendees. For full registration details and updated information on the conference program, interested parties can visit CARILEC’s official website at carilec.org or reach out to the CARILEC Events Team directly at events@carilec.org.

    As the Caribbean faces growing threats from climate change and rising global energy costs, accelerating the transition to domestic renewable energy has become a top regional priority. CAREC 2026 aims to deliver more than just discussion: organizers are focused on creating a space for actionable collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term partnership building that will translate into tangible progress across the region in the years ahead.

  • ACB Caribbean’s Patricia Farrell Among Three to Complete CAB-UWI Scholarship Programme

    ACB Caribbean’s Patricia Farrell Among Three to Complete CAB-UWI Scholarship Programme

    GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia – September 1, 2026 – The Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) is marking a key milestone in its investment in regional talent, celebrating the successful graduation of three exceptional early-to-mid career professionals from its collaborative CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme. The initiative, a flagship educational benefit for staff at CAB member organizations, aligns with the industry body’s long-standing mission to strengthen the Caribbean financial services sector through targeted professional development.

    Against a backdrop of rapid global change in financial regulation, digital banking and risk management, the Caribbean financial sector faces growing pressure to cultivate skilled leaders who can navigate evolving market challenges. To address this gap, CAB partnered with The University of the West Indies (UWI), one of the Caribbean’s most respected higher education institutions, to create the scholarship scheme. The program opens access to accredited higher education opportunities for eligible employees of CAB’s member organizations, removing financial barriers to advanced learning that can help professionals advance their careers and contribute more effectively to their firms.

    By investing in upskilling existing workers and nurturing emerging talent, the CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme works to build a pipeline of capable current and future leaders for the region’s financial industry. It equips participants with the specialized knowledge and practical skills required to succeed in today’s fast-evolving, globally connected financial landscape, ultimately strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of the entire Caribbean banking and financial services sector.

    The three graduates being recognized for their achievement span a range of critical subfields within the regional financial industry. Patricia C. Farrell, Credit Administration Manager at ACB Caribbean, completed her degree in 2025. Rochelle Alphonse, Senior Manager of Tax and Operations at Grant Thornton East Caribbean, also graduated in 2025. Ashley Pickwoad, Senior Supervisor in the Credit Risk Unit at Heritage Bank Limited, marked the milestone with his 2026 graduation.

  • New education initiatives aim to boost student, teacher support

    New education initiatives aim to boost student, teacher support

    As students and educators across the country prepare to return to classrooms for a new academic year, the Ministry of Education has announced a bold suite of targeted initiatives designed to uplift school communities, expand learning access, and create more inclusive pathways for young people to reach their potential.

    In an official back-to-school address delivered Monday evening, Education Minister Kenson Casimir framed the new policy package as a shift toward more intentional, student-centered and educator-focused governance for the national education system. At the top of the ministry’s priorities is addressing the often-overlooked crisis of teacher mental health and occupational burnout, a challenge that has strained school communities globally in recent years.

    To give both teaching staff and students extended time to recharge mid-semester, a new midterm break has been formally added to the national school calendar. Casimir emphasized that the well-being of educators is inextricably linked to the quality of learning outcomes for students, directly addressing the teaching workforce to affirm: “Your mental health matters, your well-being matters, and you matter.”

    Beyond calendar adjustments, the ministry is expanding on-site psychosocial support for school communities by adding eight new school counselors and two additional full-time social workers to staff across the country. These new hires will bring much-needed mental health resources to students and staff who have long faced shortages of support personnel in many education systems.

    To tackle the persistent issue of student absenteeism, which has grown into a major barrier to learning post-pandemic, the ministry has recruited two dedicated truancy intervention officers. Unlike traditional truancy staff that only track and record unexcused absences, these new officers will take a proactive, holistic approach: they will engage directly with disconnected students and their families to address root causes of disengagement and support learners in returning to regular classroom participation. “We cannot simply record these absences,” Casimir explained, adding that the core goal of the role is to rebuild connections between young people and their education.

    A flagship new program, titled Educational and Skills Pathways for At-Risk Youth, will also launch this academic year to serve both current students and young people who have already left the education system. The initiative is designed to provide targeted knowledge and hands-on vocational training that help participants re-engage with formal education, access job-specific training, or enter the workforce directly. Casimir stressed that the program is rooted in the principle that young people thrive on different timelines and through different routes, and divergent pathways do not equate to diminished potential. The program forms a core part of the ministry’s broader strategy to reduce the number of young people who become permanently disconnected from learning opportunities.

    To advance whole-child development beyond core academic instruction, the ministry is also pushing to expand extracurricular and co-curricular enrichment activities across all schools, with a target that every campus will host at least one student-led enrichment club by the end of the academic year. Casimir argued that effective education cannot be limited to traditional textbook and classroom learning, and that schools must create space for young people to explore and nurture their unique talents. “Education must develop the whole child,” he said, noting that school campuses across the country are home to emerging musicians, entrepreneurs, athletes, debaters and scientists who need intentional opportunities to grow their skills outside of core classes.

    Finally, the ministry plans to establish a new National Parent-Teacher Community Association to strengthen coordinated collaboration between homes, schools and local community groups. Casimir noted that when all three stakeholders align their efforts to support students, young people see meaningful improvements in attendance, engagement and academic outcomes, making the association a key complementary piece of the broader reform package.

  • PM Browne Impressed by New Cruise Port Development Ahead of November Opening

    PM Browne Impressed by New Cruise Port Development Ahead of November Opening

    As the Caribbean tourism industry continues its post-pandemic rebound, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has offered glowing praise for the ongoing construction of the nation’s new state-of-the-art cruise port, confirming the landmark facility remains on track to welcome its first visitors this November.

    During a recent on-site inspection of the development project, Browne walked through the newly completed passenger terminals, reviewed the expanded docking infrastructure, and met with construction crews and project managers to discuss the final stages of work. He told reporters after the tour that he has been deeply impressed by the pace of work, the quality of craftsmanship, and the attention to detail that has gone into every aspect of the facility. When complete, the port will be able to accommodate the world’s largest modern cruise ships, a capability that the existing port infrastructure has never been able to support.

    The new cruise port is one of the Browne administration’s flagship infrastructure investments aimed at supercharging Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector, which accounts for more than 60% of the nation’s gross domestic product and employs a majority of the local workforce. Project leaders noted that the development has already created hundreds of local construction jobs, and once operational, it is expected to generate thousands more permanent positions in tourism, hospitality, retail, and port services across the island.

    Browne emphasized that the expanded port capacity will allow Antigua to capture a larger share of the growing global cruise market, which has seen record bookings in 2024 as travelers resume international leisure travel. He added that the facility will also include new public amenities, including a waterfront promenade, local craft retail spaces, and improved access for local residents who use the area for recreation.

    Despite early concerns about supply chain delays that impacted infrastructure projects across the globe over the past three years, the project’s developers confirmed that all key materials have been delivered on schedule, and the construction is running slightly ahead of the original timeline. That puts the November opening date firmly within reach, with final testing and cosmetic finishing work set to be completed by the end of October. Local business leaders have already expressed optimism that the new port will drive a significant increase in visitor spending, boosting the incomes of small business owners across the island from taxi operators to restaurant workers and souvenir vendors.

  • Eight Students Receive Rotary Sunrise Scholarships

    Eight Students Receive Rotary Sunrise Scholarships

    On September 1, 2026, eight outstanding high school students in Belize received prestigious scholarships through a long-running collaborative program between the Rotary Club of Belize Sunrise and global energy firm Puma Energy, marking seven years of the partnership’s commitment to expanding educational access across the country.

    This year, roughly 15 students submitted applications for the competitive awards, which were presented to the selected recipients during a formal recognition ceremony. At the event, leadership representatives from both partnering organizations delivered remarks urging the new scholars to remain focused on their academic journeys and leverage the full range of support the program provides.

    Adelaide Sabido, past president of Rotary Sunrise, emphasized that the initiative is far more than a recognition of past academic success. “This scholarship is not only a reward for what you have already accomplished. It is an investment in what we know you are capable of achieving,” Sabido told the assembled recipients and guests.

    Unlike many traditional scholarship programs that only provide one-time financial aid for tuition and school materials, the Rotary Sunrise-Puma Energy initiative offers holistic ongoing support. Rotary Club president Maynor Larrieu explained that program coordinators track each recipient’s academic progress throughout the year. Scholars struggling with core subjects including mathematics and English can access free additional tutoring, and the program also provides dedicated support for students’ mental wellness needs.

    For the 2026 recipients, the award has already made a tangible difference in their lives and their families’ financial stability. Ari Salano, a student at Anglican Cathedral College, shared that the scholarship has motivated him to push harder toward his long-term goals while reducing the financial strain his family has faced covering education costs. Mitchaelyn Fuller, an aspiring physician attending St. Catherine’s Academy, echoed that sentiment, noting the support eases the burden on her single mother, who manages school expenses alongside daily household bills.

    Freddie, a representative from Puma Energy, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to the initiative, noting that the seven-year collaboration centers on investing in education to nurture the next generation of Belizean community and national leaders. “You were chosen because of your talents, drive, and potential,” Freddie told the new and returning scholars in his congratulatory remarks.

    As Belize has expanded access to free public education in recent years, the scholarship program has adapted its offerings to meet evolving student needs, Larrieu explained. Rather than focusing solely on tuition coverage, the Rotary Club now targets complementary support gaps, including funding for extracurricular activities and other unmet educational requirements that free public education does not cover.

    The program also maintains continuous support for students who received awards in previous years, with some recipients who first joined the initiative during primary school now advancing into high school. Larrieu noted that the program adjusts its level and type of support as students progress through different stages of their education, with the end goal of helping students graduate and go on to become engaged leaders in their local communities.

    In closing, Sabido challenged the new scholarship recipients to not only advance their own education but also to pass on the support they have received once they achieve their own goals. “One day, you will be in a position to open a door for someone else. When that day comes, open it wide,” she said.