Carib Scope

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  • Dominican AI aviation initiative SARA wins Most Disruptive Award at Women in Tech LATAM 2026

    Dominican AI aviation initiative SARA wins Most Disruptive Award at Women in Tech LATAM 2026

    An innovative Dominican artificial intelligence solution built exclusively for the global aviation sector has captured international acclaim, taking home the prestigious Most Disruptive Award at the 2026 Women in Tech LATAM Awards, held August 27 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

    Developed by veteran Dominican air traffic controller Olga Isabel Pérez Encarnación in partnership with digital creative firm Nolim Studios, SARA — short for System for Aviation With Real-time AI — beat four other Latin American finalists to claim the top prize in its category. The award not only recognizes the project’s groundbreaking innovation but also qualifies it to represent the entire Latin American region at the 2026 Women in Tech Global Awards, scheduled to take place later this year in Paris, France.

    Unlike generic AI tools, SARA is purpose-built as a smart assistant for aviation stakeholders. It delivers instant, verified access to critical aeronautical data, equipping air traffic controllers, pilots, flight dispatchers, and other industry professionals with actionable insights to streamline day-to-day decision-making. Developers highlight that the system prioritizes speed, reliability, and traceability for all information provided, while directly addressing a longstanding industry pain point: the heavy cognitive load that comes with sorting through and processing massive volumes of scattered aeronautical data.

    Beyond its functional innovation, the tool carries meaningful cultural legacy: its name was chosen to honor Sara Castaños, the first woman to work as an air traffic controller in the Dominican Republic.

    Currently, SARA is undergoing real-world testing and evaluation by aviation professionals and students across six countries. The project also forms the foundational research base for an international academic proposal exploring the responsible and effective integration of artificial intelligence into aviation operations. Following its recent award win, the development team is now refining a new production version of the tool, which is set to launch first in the Dominican Republic and the United States. Longer-term plans also include rolling out specialized AI training workshops for aviation workers, with a focus on building technical literacy, critical thinking, and responsible AI adoption across the industry.

    This is not the first time SARA has earned global recognition. In 2025, the project won the first phase of the ENAIRE Open Innovation International Business Ideas Competition, hosted by Spain’s national air navigation authority, where it outperformed more than 70 competing submissions from across the world.

    The Women in Tech LATAM Awards are a regional initiative of Women in Tech Global, an international non-profit founded by Ayumi Moore Aoki dedicated to advancing women’s and girls’ participation and leadership in technology and STEAM fields.

    During her visit to Cartagena for the awards ceremony, Pérez Encarnación also led a community-focused educational outreach activity at local Cecilia Porras School, where she introduced students to hands-on aviation and technology learning materials. The donation included a prototype air traffic control board game, an educational coloring book explaining aerodrome movement zones and flight instruments, and a flight simulation joystick developed by Andrés Carpio Andújar, a finalist from the second edition of *Quiero Ser Piloto*. Attendees also got to experience robotics and virtual reality demonstrations and screenings of *Quiero Ser Piloto* episodes, and all materials were donated to the school to support ongoing STEM learning.

    These outreach efforts align with Pérez Encarnación’s broader mission to expand accessible aviation education under the Master The Skies and *Quiero Ser Piloto* brands, which operate with support from Editora El Nuevo Diario and other local partners.

    With more than 10 years of on-the-job experience as an air traffic controller at the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Pérez Encarnación brings unique insider expertise to the project. She holds dual degrees in Air Traffic Control Technology from the Higher Academy of Aeronautical Sciences (ASCA) and Social Communication from Universidad O&M, and works as a journalist specializing in science, technology, innovation, and aviation, allowing her to connect industry expertise with public outreach.

    She is also the creator and executive producer of *Quiero Ser Piloto*, a televised aviation competition that provides training opportunities and scholarships for young people pursuing aviation careers. The program, produced in partnership with Editora El Nuevo Diario and co-produced by Irving Novas, was named runner-up at the 2024 Air Traffic Management Awards, presented at Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.

  • Weather Update: COE expands yellow alert amid heavy rain from tropical wave

    Weather Update: COE expands yellow alert amid heavy rain from tropical wave

    Authorities in the Dominican Republic have ramped up weather preparedness measures, expanding the yellow-level weather alert to five regions – including the capital’s National District – as an active tropical wave approaches the Caribbean nation, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) confirmed this week. A further 16 provinces remain under a lower-level green alert as forecasters track the system’s evolving impacts on local weather conditions.

    The National Meteorological Office (INDOMET) reports that the tropical wave has already begun to steadily boost atmospheric moisture levels across the country, while northeasterly trade winds persist across the region. This combination of weather conditions is projected to trigger widespread downpours, scattered severe thunderstorms, and sudden strong wind gusts across much of the affected territory.

    Current numerical weather prediction models forecast total rainfall accumulation between 50 and 100 millimeters across alert zones, with some isolated pockets potentially seeing even higher precipitation totals. Officials have warned that the heavy rainfall creates a elevated risk of urban flash flooding, especially in low-lying communities, along roadside drainage corridors and other major transit routes that are prone to waterlogging during intense rain events.

    The five jurisdictions placed under yellow alert, the second-lowest alert tier that calls for heightened preparedness, are Santo Domingo Province, the National District, San Cristóbal, Monte Plata, and Peravia. The 16 provinces maintaining green alert status, a lower-level warning that urges general precaution, are Samaná, San José de Ocoa, San Pedro de Macorís, Sánchez Ramírez, Espaillat, Puerto Plata, Santiago Rodríguez, Valverde, Azua, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Altagracia, La Romana, María Trinidad Sánchez, Dajabón, and Monte Cristi.

    In a public advisory, COE has urged all residents living in alert zones to remain closely tuned to official weather updates from government agencies and implement basic precautionary measures to reduce flood-related risks. Specifically, officials warned the public against attempting to cross swollen rivers, streams, or ravines with fast-moving elevated water levels, and urged people to avoid recreational use of beaches and other coastal bathing areas throughout the alert period.

    For maritime activity, COE noted that unsafe sea conditions are expected along the country’s Atlantic coastline between Cabo Engaño and Cabo Francés Viejo over the coming 24 to 72 hours. Operators of small, fragile, and medium-sized vessels have been advised to avoid non-essential travel and navigate with extreme caution if they must put to sea, due to the rough sea conditions forecast tied to the tropical wave.

  • Nepal haast zich om vastzittende arbeiders te redden; dodental boven 900

    Nepal haast zich om vastzittende arbeiders te redden; dodental boven 900

    A catastrophic natural disaster triggered by a glacial collapse on the Nepal-China border has left a trail of destruction, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving thousands unaccounted for, with cross-border rescue efforts underway to reach hundreds of workers trapped in blocked hydropower project tunnels.

    The disaster struck last Wednesday, when a sudden glacial collapse sent an unprecedented surge of ice, rock, and mud crashing down into river valleys below. The resulting flash floods and landslides devastated communities on both sides of the border, blocking roughly a dozen hydropower project tunnels with debris and leaving more than 900 construction workers trapped inside, according to Nepalese authorities.

    As of the latest update, Nepalese disaster management officials confirm 903 people have been killed across the country, with another 4,247 still listed as missing. On the Chinese side of the border in the Tibet Autonomous Region, official records show at least 16 people have died, and 546 remain unaccounted for. Chinese state media also reports that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are among those missing in Tibet. In addition to the trapped hydropower workers, around 500 employees of Nepal’s Truck and Container Association are also still missing, local media reports confirm.

    The International Committee of the Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people have been displaced or otherwise affected by the disaster, which Chinese authorities have linked to the broader impacts of climate change on glacial systems in the Himalayas. Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah has described the event as an “unprecedented and devastating natural disaster” that has stretched the country’s emergency response capacity to its limit.

    Nepalese authorities have launched a full-scale emergency operation to reach trapped workers and recover victims, with nearly 21,000 security personnel and volunteer rescue workers working around the clock to clear debris and open access routes. Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet noted that the massive volume of mud and rock debris blocking access to the tunnels presents an extraordinary operational challenge. While many damaged roads have been cleared for traffic, roughly 40 kilometers of highway have been completely washed away, slowing the delivery of emergency supplies and rescue equipment to affected areas.

    In response to the crisis, Nepal has accepted specialized rescue support from both China and India, drawing on regional expertise to reach workers trapped in the blocked tunnels. China has deployed nine professional tunnel rescue experts to Nepal and shared real-time satellite imagery of the disaster zone to help Nepalese teams plan operations. China has also committed more than 2,100 rescue workers and allocated 220 million yuan (approximately 33 million USD) to disaster relief efforts, with emergency supplies airdropped to cut-off areas and Chinese soldiers using specialized detection equipment to locate potential survivors. Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued multiple calls for maximum rescue efforts to locate and assist missing people.

    Difficult conditions, including unstable weather and the threat of outburst flooding from a newly blocked glacial lake, have forced multiple pauses in rescue operations. However, local authorities confirmed that weather conditions improved on Monday, allowing search and rescue work to resume across the disaster zone.

    In Nepal’s Chitwan district, where mass burials for recovered victims have been held, grieving families are still searching for information on missing loved ones. Hundreds of unidentified remains have been interred in shallow mass graves due to hot, humid weather that accelerates decomposition, and mortuaries in the capital Kathmandu are operating beyond capacity, forcing families to search for missing relatives across multiple city hospitals.

  • TicketTing Denies Involvement in Unauthorised Transactions Appearing on Customers’ Bank Accounts

    TicketTing Denies Involvement in Unauthorised Transactions Appearing on Customers’ Bank Accounts

    Ticketing services provider TicketTing Inc. has launched an official investigation after dozens of customers flagged unrecognized charges listed under the company’s name on their personal bank statements, the firm confirmed in a public statement released Friday, August 28.

    The unexplained charges are limited to customers who hold payment cards issued by an unnamed local financial institution in Antigua and Barbuda, according to the company. Affected account holders have told TicketTing that they have no record of purchasing goods or services from the firm, despite the transactions appearing on their monthly statements under the TicketTing Inc. brand.

    After an initial internal review, the ticketing company has pushed back on any connection to the charges. The firm confirmed in its statement that none of the suspicious transactions were initiated by its internal systems, and TicketTing has not received any revenue from the unrecognized charges. “After conducting internal investigations we can confirm that these transactions were not initiated by TicketTing nor have we accepted any funds for them,” the company said.

    As of the statement’s release, TicketTing noted that it has not received any formal explanation from the involved bank about the root cause of the mislabeled charges. The company did, however, confirm that it has verified the bank is aware of the issue and is actively working to correct the erroneous transactions and resolve customer concerns.

    TicketTing has chosen not to release additional identifying details about the involved bank, nor has it disclosed the number of impacted customers, the total dollar value of the suspicious charges, or the timeframe during which the transactions first appeared. The company extended its sympathy to customers who have been inconvenienced by the unexplained activity and pledged to publish new public updates as more information becomes available through the ongoing investigation.

    This incident surfaces at a time when Antigua and Barbuda is already facing growing public concern over unauthorized financial transactions and electronic fraud across the country’s banking sector. Earlier this year, local law enforcement issued a public warning after reporting a sharp uptick in customer claims of unexpected, unrecognized charges on their accounts. Police urged all bank customers to build a habit of regularly reviewing their account activity and immediately report any mismatches or suspicious transactions to their financial service providers to speed up resolution.

  • OPEN LETTER: What happened to the questions? A response to Roosevelt Skerrit’s comments at the Dominica Labour Party executive meeting on August 29

    OPEN LETTER: What happened to the questions? A response to Roosevelt Skerrit’s comments at the Dominica Labour Party executive meeting on August 29

    On August 29, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit addressed members of the Dominica Labour Party executive committee, and his remarks during that gathering have now prompted a critical public open letter calling out unaddressed questions raised by opposition voices and ordinary citizens across the island. The letter, published as a response to Skerrit’s comments, opens by calling out the prime minister’s reference to a 60-year-old resident who has never cast a ballot in any Dominican general election. The author of the open letter emphasizes that all opinions and assertions laid out in the piece are entirely their own, and do not represent the official stance of Dominica News Online, the outlet that published the correspondence. Beyond the specific anecdote Skerrit shared during the party meeting, the letter argues that the prime minister has failed to directly respond to a growing list of unresolved questions of public interest. These questions, the author contends, touch on matters of governance, public spending, and policy direction that directly impact the daily lives of Dominican voters from all demographics, regardless of their voting history. The author pushes back against what they frame as attempts to deflect scrutiny by focusing on the voting record of individual critics, noting that even citizens who have not participated in past elections retain the right to raise concerns about the current administration’s performance. The open letter makes a direct call for Skerrit and the Dominica Labour Party government to engage in transparent, substantive dialogue, rather than sidestepping legitimate questions from the public. Political observers note that the exchange comes as the country continues to navigate ongoing economic and social challenges, with public scrutiny of government actions becoming an increasingly prominent feature of national political discourse. While the full original text did not elaborate on all specific unanswered questions, the open letter itself marks a growing public demand for greater accountability from the island’s top elected official.

  • Criticisms overlook ‘two fundamental aspects’ of Chatham Bay sale — PM

    Criticisms overlook ‘two fundamental aspects’ of Chatham Bay sale — PM

    A heated political debate has erupted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) over the ruling government’s decision to sell 100 acres of coastal land at Chatham Bay, Union Island, with Prime Minister Godwin Friday pushing back hard against critics of the transaction. In an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, Friday outlined what he calls two core, non-negotiable pillars of the agreement that critics have repeatedly ignored: the entire parcel is being sold explicitly for permanent conservation purposes, and the government retains a two-year option to repurchase the land at the exact original sale price.

    The land has been transferred to AHRA LLC, a locally registered company based in SVG, according to details of the agreement. The transaction injects EC$53 million directly into the national treasury, while placing permanent environmental protections at the heart of the land’s future use. Binding legal covenants are included in the deal to safeguard Chatham Bay’s unique natural ecosystems and biodiversity, restricting any large-scale commercial development on the site.

    The criticism has been led by Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves, who has questioned the sale price by referencing a historical valuation of the property. Friday countered that Gonsalves’ comparison is fundamentally misleading, noting that the outdated valuation was calculated for a proposal to develop the land into a large hotel and resort — a completely different use case than the restricted conservation mandate in the current agreement.

    Friday also pointed out a key contradiction in the opposition’s position: Gonsalves’ own administration, which held power for 24 years, explicitly rejected a conservation-focused approach for Chatham Bay in favor of pursuing resort development. Despite that decades-long policy priority, the proposed major resort project never moved forward. In that time, the previous administration also acquired southern lands on Union Island for foreign hotel development; Friday confirmed that shortly after finalizing the Chatham Bay sale, his government returned those lands to local Union Island residents.

    Framing the transaction as a balanced new approach to national asset management, Friday emphasized that SVG does not have to choose between environmental protection and sound fiscal governance. He argued that conservation itself holds tangible value for the island nation, pushing back against the idea that every ecologically significant coastal parcel must be intensively developed for tourism to deliver benefit. “A country such as ours needs environmental investment and tourism development, and this Government will continue to pursue both. But responsible development also means recognising that not every beach, forest or environmentally significant piece of land must be intensively developed to have value. Conservation has value, too,” Friday said.

    The prime minister noted that this type of conservation-focused transaction, while new to SVG, has a proven track record across the Caribbean and beyond. He cited Belize’s 2021 Blue Bond, a landmark debt-for-nature swap that cut the country’s national debt by 12% of GDP while freeing up millions of dollars for marine conservation as a successful regional precedent.

    Friday also contextualized the decision within the severe fiscal challenges his administration inherited after taking office in November. Gonsalves’ previous government left SVG with a public debt burden equal to roughly 113% of GDP, a figure that has placed intense strain on the government’s ability to fund core public priorities including healthcare, development programming, and public sector reform. Proceeds from the Chatham Bay sale will be directed to key national priorities: debt reduction, fisheries management, expanded land and marine conservation efforts, climate resilience initiatives, and government efficiency reforms.

    “ We are protecting Chatham Bay. We are securing significant value for the Vincentian people. We have retained an important buy-back safeguard, and we are using our national assets responsibly as we confront the substantial debt burden we inherited. That is the responsibility of Government: to know where we should develop, where we should invest and where we should preserve. Chatham Bay is worth protecting, and protecting it does not mean it cannot also deliver value for the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” Friday concluded.

  • Hetmyer hundred bests Knight Riders

    Hetmyer hundred bests Knight Riders

    The 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered another thrilling twist on August 31, as Shimron Hetmyer’s historic innings carried the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a nine-run DLS victory over hosts Trinbago Knight Riders at Queen’s Park Oval, extending the Warriors’ perfect unbeaten run to start the tournament and ruining Trinbago’s Independence Day celebration.

    The match was hit by weather disruption from the outset. After Trinbago’s PowerPlay bowling unit got off to a dream start, reducing the Warriors to 22 for 2 off less than six overs with early dismissals of top-order stars Glenn Phillips and Shai Hope from Akeal Hosein and debutant seamer Lahiru Kumara, a heavy rain shower forced a lengthy delay. When play resumed, the match was trimmed to 16 overs per side — a change that would completely shift the momentum of the game, especially for Hetmyer, who was playing his 100th career CPL match.

    After a brief settling-in period following the break, Hetmyer found his rhythm immediately, racing to a half-century and putting Trinbago’s bowling attack under relentless pressure. The hosts’ season-long bowling weakness was on full display: their experienced spinners have carried the unit through the 2026 tournament, but their seamers have consistently lacked penetration, a gap Hetmyer exploited ruthlessly. In the 13th over, he hammered debutant Kumara for 30 runs, exploding into the closing stages of the innings alongside all-rounder Romario Shepherd. The pair combined for a blistering 85 runs off the final four overs, turning a modest start into a mammoth total. It was during this late rally that Hetmyer equaled the CPL record for the fastest century, reaching the milestone in just 40 deliveries before finishing unbeaten on 111 off 43 balls. The Warriors closed their innings at 185 for 5, leaving Trinbago Knight Riders with an adjusted target of 182 runs under the DLS method.

    In chase, the hosts got off to a solid start before a stunning turning point: Glenn Phillips pulled off a spectacular one-handed boundary catch to remove star opener Sunil Narine, catching even Phillips off guard. Colin Munro, Narine’s formidable opening partner, fell shortly after to off-spinner Mohammad Nabi, leaving the Knight Riders two key wickets down early.

    Nicholas Pooran injected much-needed momentum into the Trinbago chase, smashing seven boundaries including four sixes to shift pressure back onto the Warriors. But Nabi struck again, removing Pooran for 43 caught out, triggering a collapse of wickets. With the required run rate climbing rapidly, Trinbago batsmen were forced to attack recklessly, leading to cheap dismissals for Jyd Goolie, Justin Greaves, and Akeal Hosein.

    Alex Hales remained the Knight Riders’ last hope, producing a brilliant counter-attacking innings of 55 that included seven maximums and kept the hosts in the hunt until the final overs. His innings ended when Shamar Joseph clean-bowled him, leaving Romario Shepherd to defend 24 runs off the final over for the Warriors. Shepherd closed out the win comfortably, securing the result that keeps the Warriors’ 100% win record intact through the early stages of the 2026 CPL tournament.

  • Irish and Joseph Complete ICAO-Certified Air Traffic Services Training

    Irish and Joseph Complete ICAO-Certified Air Traffic Services Training

    Antigua and Barbuda’s air traffic management sector has marked a key milestone in professional development, as two senior air traffic services specialists have graduated from an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-accredited Training Developers Course. This achievement represents a major leap forward in the country’s ability to cultivate skilled aviation personnel and uphold the rigorous global safety and operational standards set by the international aviation regulator.

    Cecilia Irish and Wesley Joseph, the two certified professionals, received formal congratulations from Eugene Silcott, the Acting Chief of the country’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) division. Silcott emphasized that the successful completion of the intensive training program is a landmark accomplishment not only for the two officers themselves but for the entire Air Traffic Services Unit that serves the island nation’s growing aviation sector.

    Beyond individual professional advancement, Silcott explained that the new ICAO certification checks a critical box for national regulatory compliance. It also positions the local Air Traffic Services Unit to operate as a fully modern, professionally competent, and internationally aligned air traffic management organization, meeting all global benchmarks for operational excellence.

    The specialized knowledge and instructional skills Irish and Joseph gained through the course are set to deliver long-term benefits to Antigua and Barbuda’s aviation ecosystem. Moving forward, their new expertise will drive the ongoing improvement of the unit’s in-house training programs, support the continuous professional development of existing and new staff, and ultimately reinforce the safety and efficiency of air navigation services across the country’s airspace.

    Silcott also used the occasion to highlight the critical role of ongoing government investment in the air traffic sector. He noted that sustained public funding and policy support are indispensable to building workforce capacity, maintaining consistent regulatory alignment with international rules, and ensuring Antigua and Barbuda’s national aviation system retains its compliance with global standards long into the future.

    While Silcott acknowledged that there is still additional work to be done to further strengthen the sector, he expressed unwavering confidence that with continued government backing and the existing strong commitment of the unit’s workforce, the Air Traffic Services Unit will continue to make steady, meaningful progress in improving its services.

    “Congratulations once again to Mrs. Irish and Mr. Joseph on this well-deserved achievement,” Silcott reiterated in closing, renewing his gratitude to the government of Antigua and Barbuda for its consistent investment in the growth and development of the nation’s aviation industry.

  • Six Antigua and Barbuda Customs Officers Complete Regional Training Course

    Six Antigua and Barbuda Customs Officers Complete Regional Training Course

    Six officers of the Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Department have marked a key professional milestone by successfully finishing the 2026 Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council Junior Officer Online Training Course. The graduates who completed the rigorous program are Davier Joseph, Renisha Charles, Takisha Joseph-Shadrach, Maranda Williams, Pauline Mack and Jahvene Charles.

    Officials from the department confirmed that the region-wide training initiative covered a comprehensive suite of core competencies critical to modern customs operations. Core modules included foundational and advanced topics ranging from standardized customs procedures and international trade legislation to targeted risk assessment, cargo valuation, cross-border trade frameworks, professional ethics and integrity, enforcement tactics, and strategic border protection.

    The program was specifically designed to address growing regional security needs by boosting the technical knowledge and on-the-job professional capabilities of junior customs personnel, equipping them to more effectively carry out their core duties of customs regulation and border security. In an official statement congratulating the six graduating officers, the Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Department highlighted the participants’ consistent dedication, strict discipline, and ongoing commitment to growing their professional skills.

    “Their achievement strengthens our collective capacity to Secure and Serve with excellence,” the department noted in its statement.

    This capacity-building training arrives at a moment when customs agencies across the Caribbean are ramping up coordinated efforts to reinforce their enforcement and border security infrastructure. In recent years, regional cooperation frameworks have increasingly prioritized targeted capacity building, improved cross-agency risk management, enhanced intelligence sharing, and coordinated action to crack down on all forms of illicit trafficking across shared borders. The Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Department operates under the nation’s Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance, with a core mandate to oversee all national customs administration functions.

  • The Maria Holder Memorial Trust Backs A New Restaurant Creating A Pathway Into Hospitality Employment For Autistic Young People

    The Maria Holder Memorial Trust Backs A New Restaurant Creating A Pathway Into Hospitality Employment For Autistic Young People

    A groundbreaking dual-purpose initiative, combining a fully operational artisan pizzeria and lounge bar with a vocational training program for autistic young people, is set to open in Mount Tabor, John Hughes, after the Blue Dragonfly Foundation secured major backing from The Maria Holder Memorial Trust.

    Unlike traditional training programs, this new venture will operate as a fully functional commercial restaurant, complete with a full menu, standard public opening hours, and paying customers. What makes the project unique is its integrated support model: all trainees will work alongside experienced Autism Job Coaches and Support Specialists, who will provide ongoing mentorship as participants build core professional skills across front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Trainees will gain hands-on experience in everything from food preparation and hygiene compliance to table service, inventory management, and customer interaction.

    The restaurant will source fresh produce from an existing adjacent hydroponic farm, run by the Blue Dragonfly Foundation’s sister social enterprise. This farm-to-table partnership expands the scope of training, giving participants a second working environment to develop sustainable agricultural skills alongside their hospitality training.

    Every detail of the venue has been designed with autistic sensory needs in mind, a key consideration that sets the space apart from standard commercial restaurants. Carefully calibrated lighting, adjusted acoustics, and a thoughtful layout work together to minimize sensory overload for both staff and diners. For moments when a break is needed, an on-site quiet Learning Center and dedicated Sensory Room offers a regulated, safe space to reset, while also providing autism-friendly visual learning resources to build communication and professional skills.

    Caroline Hopton, CEO and founder of the Blue Dragonfly Foundation, emphasized the transformative potential of the project for the local autistic community. “We are enormously grateful to The Maria Holder Memorial Trust for backing our Restaurant and Hospitality Training Center for autistic young people,” Hopton said. “As hospitality makes up a major portion of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, this program creates a critical, accessible pathway to long-term employment, both within our restaurant and farm social enterprises, and through our partner businesses across the country’s wider hospitality sector.”

    Hopton highlighted the unmet need the initiative addresses, noting that uncertainty about post-school life is a universal worry for autistic people and their families. “Many autistic people have never been able to access appropriate education and are at home with no support and no purpose, which takes a heavy toll on their mental health and self-esteem, and on that of their families and caregivers,” she explained. “The Restaurant and Hospitality Training Center is an important first step in changing this by bringing hope and real opportunity to autistic people and their families in Antigua and Barbuda.”

    The Blue Dragonfly Foundation is a registered non-profit organization based in Antigua and Barbuda, focused on delivering vocational training and supported employment opportunities for autistic young people and adults. The organization is developing an integrated campus in Mount Tabor, John Hughes, which will include the new hospitality training restaurant, the hydroponic produce farm, and the sensory-friendly learning space. The foundation launched its first flagship social enterprise, the Blue Dragonfly Thrift & Gift Store, in 2022.