Carib Scope

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  • Another setback for Equity Insurance appeal as tribunal delays hearing

    Another setback for Equity Insurance appeal as tribunal delays hearing

    Equity Insurance Company Limited’s latest legal bid to reverse the Financial Services Commission’s (FSC) decision to shut down the firm hit a major procedural hurdle this Monday, when preliminary disagreements pushed back the start of its high-stakes appeal hearing and pushed the final substantive proceeding out to mid-October.

    The case, which was originally scheduled to open before the three-member Financial Services Appeals Tribunal (FSAT), was entirely consumed by pre-hearing procedural disputes that will now be sorted out at a dedicated case management conference slated for July. Following guidance from FSAT chair Justice Christopher Blackman, a retired High Court judge, both legal teams for the insurer and the regulator agreed that the window of October 12 to 16 is the appropriate timeframe to schedule the full substantive hearing.

    Alongside pushing back the main hearing, the tribunal issued three key procedural rulings on Monday. First, it formalized the deferral of the substantive appeal to October. Second, it delayed a separate application by Equity Insurance to amend its official appeal grounds, after the company’s supporting affidavit was found to contain factual inaccuracies. Third, it formally dismissed a “statement of protest and reservation of rights” submitted by the insurer as procedurally inappropriate.

    Explaining the dismissal of the protest statement, Justice Blackman noted that the document included a false claim that the company had been forced to work on separate winding-up proceedings while the appeal was pending. He clarified that a prior High Court order issued by Justice Dr. H. Patrick Wells on April 10 explicitly paused all winding-up actions until the FSAT ruled on the appeal, leaving no valid foundation for the protest.

    Equity Insurance, represented by senior counsels Alrick Scott KC and Larry Smith KC, has pushed back against the tribunal’s rulings. Scott rejected the finding that the amendment application was defective, arguing that the application notice explicitly and thoroughly addressed the specific seventh ground for appeal that the tribunal flagged as missing from the affidavit.

    “We reject the suggestion that the application is defective, because we dealt specifically with the specific ground in our notice of application,” Scott told reporters following Monday’s proceedings. He also defended the insurer’s decision to file the protest statement, noting that it was intended to formally document the company’s objections over the tribunal’s failure to order document disclosure, as well as what the firm calls an unreasonably tight hearing timetable.

    Scott emphasized that the timetable set by the tribunal, which was appointed only in February, was always unrealistic for a complex, high-stakes commercial appeal. He added that a late affidavit filed by the FSC on Sunday, on behalf of restructuring manager Craig Waterman, also contributed to the need to reschedule the full hearing. Waterman was present at Monday’s proceedings in his official capacity as the regulator-appointed restructuring lead for the struggling insurer.

    Senior Counsel Garth Patterson, representing the FSC, backed the tribunal’s dismissal of the protest statement, calling the unusual filing unnecessary. Patterson, who has 40 years of experience in legal practice, said he had never encountered such a document being submitted to an appeals tribunal in his career, and agreed with Justice Blackman that it was redundant to the tribunal’s record.

    Monday’s procedural dispute is the latest chapter in a months-long legal battle between the insurer and the national financial regulator. The conflict dates back to March, when the FSAT rejected the FSC’s request to suspend Equity Insurance’s appeal entirely. At that time, FSC attorney Amanda Best had asked the tribunal to pause the appeal while a separate High Court application to wind up the insurer moved forward.

    That separate High Court application was ultimately dismissed by Justice Dr. H. Patrick Wells in a 77-page ruling. Justice Wells found that the FSC had failed to establish a clear legal basis for immediate winding-up, and warned that forcing liquidation at that stage would undermine the statutory appeal process. He did leave the door open for the FSC to renew its application after the FSAT rules on the current appeal, and noted that the regulator could ask the court for guidance if the appeal process suffers unreasonable delay.

    The entire dispute traces back to August of last year, when the FSC seized regulatory control of Equity Insurance, citing long-standing unresolved breaches of multiple financial sector laws and ongoing risks to the policyholding public.

  • Grenada’s alcohol use reality

    Grenada’s alcohol use reality

    As we mark Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a critical, underdiscussed link between harmful alcohol use and declining psychological well-being demands urgent public attention. While common conversations about alcohol and health tend to focus on physical harms such as liver disease, throat cancer, and withdrawal symptoms, a far more insidious threat often flies under the radar: the lasting damage alcohol inflicts on mental health.

    Data from the World Health Organization collected in 2018 paints a stark picture for the Caribbean nation of Grenada, where the average man consumes five times more alcohol than the average woman. This stark gender gap raises pressing questions about why so many men turn to drinking, and what role alcohol plays in shaping their mental health outcomes.

    To unpack this issue, it is first important to acknowledge the multifaceted role alcohol plays in communities around the world, including Grenada. For many, alcohol is a centerpiece of social connection, a marker of adult autonomy that people proudly defend, and a core economic driver that supports livelihoods across the hospitality, retail, and agriculture sectors. It is widely celebrated as a social lubricant that eases awkwardness, dissolves unnecessary inhibitions, and creates space for people to relax and enjoy time together. It is this very social acceptance, however, that opens the door to its hidden harms.

    For men in particular, alcohol often becomes intertwined with male social bonding. It provides a socially acceptable excuse to gather, a cover to drown unspoken sorrows and downplay deep-seated fears, and a crutch that makes it easier to open up about daily struggles like work stress, strained relationships, and overwhelming responsibilities. At first glance, this seems like a helpful release: alcohol offers quick, convenient temporary relief, which keeps people coming back to it again and again. But that relief is nothing more than an illusion of escape. It fades quickly, and in its place comes growing dependence that erodes long-term well-being.

    This analysis does not claim that all alcohol use is inherently harmful. Countless people across Grenada and globally consume alcohol responsibly, within healthy limits. But this widespread responsible use has a side effect: it desensitizes communities to the more dangerous impacts of harmful drinking, allowing those harms to grow unchecked.

    Harmful alcohol use damages more than just the drinker’s physical health. It tears apart families, robs young boys of stable male role models, and eats away at already tight household budgets that could cover basic needs. While alcohol lowers inhibitions to create a sense of freedom, those inhibitions often serve a critical purpose: they keep people from making reckless, life-altering decisions that lead to regret, everything from drunk driving to violent outbursts. Even more damaging to mental health is the way alcohol masks underlying pain: it temporarily numbs the stress and hardship of daily life, but it also robs people of the chance to confront their challenges, seek meaningful help, and build emotional resilience. In a context where overall mental health awareness is already low, drinking away anxiety becomes a way to sweep problems under the rug. Drowning sorrows translates to denying the very real symptoms of depression, particularly when men feel they have nowhere else to turn for support.

    The biggest unspoken danger of all is addiction. Alcohol is classified medically as a drug — one that is deeply socially normalized and often seen as harmless, but a drug nonetheless. The temporary relief it provides is powerful but deceptive: instead of easing the pain people chase, it leaves them feeling worse than before. Over time, it alters brain chemistry and actively worsens underlying mental health conditions, both in the immediate term and over the course of a lifetime. These are often conditions that people do not even realize they are living with, or are actively trying to outrun.

    The public health risk becomes even more acute when framed against Grenada’s unique systemic gaps. For more than a decade, the nation has operated without a dedicated rehabilitation center to support people struggling with addiction. Many communities already carry an unmeasured, unaddressed burden of mental health distress, and for most people, the most accessible social outlet remains the local rum shop. When the systemic support people need is not available, it is far easier for harmful drinking patterns to take root, and far harder for men to reach out for help when alcohol has already damaged their mental health.

    This piece comes from Dr. Ishma Harford, a medical doctor and Commonwealth Scholar completing a master’s degree in Health Analysis, Policy and Management. “The Health Imperative” is an educational, politically neutral column focused on health, health systems, and their broader societal impacts. NOW Grenada does not take responsibility for opinions or statements shared by contributing authors.

  • Clayton Jeffery Pleads Guilty to Scalding Sister with Boiling Water

    Clayton Jeffery Pleads Guilty to Scalding Sister with Boiling Water

    A Bolans resident has entered a guilty plea to a violent assault charge that left his own sibling with life-altering injuries and months of painful recovery. Clayton Jeffery admitted in court on Monday to intentionally wounding his sister in the unprovoked October 29, 2023 attack, which unfolded in public along a residential road in the community.

    Court documents and prosecution accounts detail a chilling sequence of violence: Jeffery armed himself with a kettle full of boiling water, chased his fleeing sister down the street, and caught up to her before pouring the scalding liquid directly across her back. After the woman collapsed to the ground from the burn pain, Jeffery continued his assault, kicking and punching her repeatedly before local bystanders stepped in to stop the attack and call for emergency assistance.

    The victim was rushed immediately to a local hospital for urgent care, where clinicians diagnosed her with third-degree burns across her back, a fractured left leg, and a broken right hand. She required three weeks of inpatient hospital treatment to stabilize her injuries, followed by an additional eight months of forced bed rest at home as she worked to regain her health. What makes the attack even more shocking, court records confirm, is that there was no pre-existing argument or conflict between the two siblings before the violence erupted.

    Jeffery later told investigating officers that he had been tipped off by neighbors to rumors about his personal life, and he incorrectly assumed his sister was the person who had spread the gossip. That misplaced anger was the sole trigger for the brutal attack, according to his statement to police.

    Following Monday’s guilty plea, the High Court has scheduled Jeffery’s sentencing hearing for July 20, where he will face a judge’s determination of the penalty for his violent crime. The case has drawn local attention to the devastating harm that can stem from unchecked anger and unconfirmed gossip, even within immediate family units.

  • Bee scherpt aanpak spookambtenaren aan: salarissen sneller geblokkeerd

    Bee scherpt aanpak spookambtenaren aan: salarissen sneller geblokkeerd

    Suriname’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Marinus Bee, is launching an aggressive campaign to eliminate systemic waste in the country’s civil service, targeting so-called “ghost employees”, public workers who reside abroad while continuing to collect full government salaries, politically appointed unqualified staff, and idle civil servants who collect pay without reporting for work.

    Addressing lawmakers during budget deliberations, Bee emphasized that the government cannot sustain unlimited public spending on workers who contribute no labor to state institutions. “Public funds are meant to support services that benefit all Surinamese, not to line the pockets of people who do not hold up their end of the agreement,” the minister stated.

    The crackdown is already underway, leveraging the mandatory national civil servant registry to conduct rigorous cross-checks of all active public employees. Any worker who fails to verify their employment status after repeated official notifications will have their salaries immediately halted or frozen. Authorities are also conducting a full audit of national payrolls to root out duplicate payments and unauthorized compensation, with Bee confirming that multiple cases of individuals collecting two or even three simultaneous government salaries have already been uncovered.

    In collaboration with the country’s Border Management System, authorities are also cross-referencing border exit data with active payroll records to identify public servants who have left Suriname permanently, failed to return from extended international stays, and remain on government payrolls. Bee estimates that roughly 2,000 civil servants currently fall into this category. Early progress has already been seen: a number of affected employees have voluntarily resigned after learning of the ministry’s ongoing investigation, the minister reported.

    Going forward, enforcement will be significantly tightened, Bee confirmed. The government will no longer conduct prolonged searches for employees who cannot be located or have provided false residential addresses. Salaries for unresponsive workers will be blocked much faster, forcing employees to come forward to formalize their employment status to restore pay. The ministry is also considering the launch of an anonymous tip line, allowing ordinary citizens to submit information about public servants who have lived abroad for years while still collecting government salaries.

    Bee framed the crackdown as a core part of a broader, long-overdue reform of Suriname’s entire civil service system. For decades, he explained, the public sector has been misused as a political tool, particularly during election cycles. Political parties have hired thousands of supporters to reward loyalty, with no actual vacant positions available and no requirement that hires meet basic job qualifications. After changes in government, ousted political appointees have often been sent home without work but continue to collect full salaries.

    “Let’s be honest: we do not need 51,000 civil servants,” Bee said. The end goal of reforms is to build a smaller, more efficient, performance-focused public sector, where workers are hired and retained based on professional competence rather than political loyalty.

    To ease the transition, the minister plans to reassign surplus public workers to other ministries and public entities that are facing staffing shortages where possible. He is also exploring the design of voluntary early retirement incentive packages to encourage workers to exit the public sector willingly. Most importantly, Bee noted that the savings generated by closing these costly payroll “leaks” will be redirected to raise compensation for active, hardworking civil servants – particularly underpaid strategic groups including teachers and healthcare workers.

  • Antigua and Barbuda May Need Higher Water Rates, Browne Warns

    Antigua and Barbuda May Need Higher Water Rates, Browne Warns

    The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is facing a growing fiscal dilemma over its water supply, as Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that gradual rate increases may be unavoidable in the coming years. The revelation came during Browne’s weekly public radio segment *Browne and Browne* on Saturday, where he outlined the heavy financial burden the government already carries to keep running the country’s water systems.

    Each year, the Antigua and Barbuda government pours an estimated 40 million Eastern Caribbean dollars into direct subsidies for water production and distribution, costs that have surged as the country has shifted away from traditional groundwater extraction to far more energy-intensive reverse osmosis desalination. Unlike pulling water from natural underground aquifers, desalination requires specialized infrastructure, large amounts of energy, and ongoing maintenance that drive production costs far higher. To prevent consumers from absorbing the full brunt of these expenses, the state has stepped in to cover the gap, but the strain on public finances is becoming unsustainable.

    Even with this pressure, Browne emphasized that the government has no plans to implement sudden, drastic rate hikes that would disrupt household budgets. Instead, he framed any future changes as modest, manageable adjustments that align with the actual value of the resource Antiguan and Barbudan consumers receive. For context, he pointed to the current flat rate structure: consumers currently pay $22 for access to 1,000 gallons of water, and even a potential increase to $30 would still represent an affordable rate for the volume provided.

    Beyond balancing the government’s books, Browne noted that fairer pricing also serves a critical public goal: encouraging water conservation at a time when the country is battling one of the most severe multi-year droughts it has seen in decades. The prime minister argued that artificially low water prices have incentivized wasteful use, even amid the ongoing dry spell. He cited the persistent practice of residential lawn watering as one example of unnecessary water use that cheap pricing enables.

    As climate conditions push Antigua and Barbuda to deepen its reliance on desalination to guarantee a consistent water supply for residents, responsible consumption will only grow in importance, Browne added. Currently, the government is already pouring investment into upgrading water distribution infrastructure and expanding the country’s reverse osmosis production capacity to address long-standing gaps in service and the ongoing impact of the drought. Moving forward, Browne stressed that any future rate adjustments will be crafted to strike a careful balance: keeping water accessible and affordable for all households, while acknowledging the real costs of producing and delivering this essential resource in a small island nation that must increasingly turn to desalination.

  • Tropical Weather Outlook: Tuesday, 23 June 2026 (8 am)

    Tropical Weather Outlook: Tuesday, 23 June 2026 (8 am)

    The Meteorological Services under the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA) and the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA) have released an active tropical weather update for the tropical North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, covering a designated area of special interest spanning 10–20°N latitude and 40–65°W longitude. As of the latest advisory, two distinct tropical waves are currently moving westward across the Atlantic basin, with varying levels of convective activity and forecast impacts for the region.

    The first system, labeled Tropical Wave 1, is a disturbance originating in the central Atlantic. Its center is positioned along the 58°W meridian, stretching southward from 16°N latitude. The wave is progressing westward at a steady speed of approximately 15 knots. Meteorological observations show scattered moderate convection, with isolated strong thunderstorm activity concentrated between 06°N and 10°N latitude, and between 53°W and 60°W longitude. Based on its current forward momentum, forecasters project the core axis of Tropical Wave 1 will pass over the island nation of Grenada between later this evening and Wednesday. As the wave moves across the island, residents can expect an increase in overall cloud cover and scattered shower activity through the period.

    The second system, Tropical Wave 2, is located further east across the tropical Atlantic, centered near the 46°W meridian and extending southward from 15°N latitude. This wave is moving slightly faster than its central Atlantic counterpart, tracking west at speeds between 15 and 20 knots. Scattered moderate convective activity has been observed for this system, confined between 06°N and 09°N latitude between 44°W and 52°W longitude. Unlike Tropical Wave 1, current meteorological modeling and conditions do not support the development of tropical cyclone activity from this system over the next 48 hours.

    This official advisory notes that the next scheduled update on the activity of these tropical waves will be issued to the public at 2 pm.

    This weather advisory is published in partnership with NOW Grenada, which notes that it holds no liability for opinions, statements, or third-party contributor content included in public advisories. Users may report any inappropriate content related to these updates through official reporting channels.

  • CAF commits US$10 billion to boost regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean

    CAF commits US$10 billion to boost regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean

    Against a backdrop of rising global geopolitical instability, shifting trade patterns, and economic volatility, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has announced a landmark $10 billion investment initiative set to run through 2031, aimed at accelerating deepened regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

    The commitment was formally revealed by CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados at the conclusion of the International Forum on Regional Integration, hosted by CAF in the Colombian coastal city of Cartagena in May. The high-level gathering assembled a diverse cross-section of stakeholders: senior government officials, leaders from multilateral development bodies, private sector executives, academic experts, and regional development partners to collectively chart actionable strategies for advancing cross-border cooperation across the LAC region.

    Caribbean stakeholders took a prominent role in the forum’s discussions, with senior representatives in attendance including Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Ian Durant, Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank; Martín Portillo, Chief Engagement Manager for Central America and the Dominican Republic at the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF); and Natalie McGuire, Curator at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society.

    Per CAF’s official announcement, the $10 billion allocation will be directed to eight high-priority sectors critical to integration: cross-border physical and digital infrastructure, intra-regional trade expansion, food security, renewable energy transition, sustainable tourism, technological innovation, logistics network modernization, and cross-border mobility. The overarching goals of the investment are to close persistent development gaps between regional economies, upgrade connectivity across the region, and strengthen LAC’s global competitiveness at a time of unprecedented global economic uncertainty.

    Díaz-Granados framed deepened regional integration as a non-negotiable strategic imperative for LAC nations to build long-term resilience, drive shared growth, and improve their global positioning. In his remarks at the forum, he noted that growing geopolitical frictions, fragmented global trade systems, volatile financial markets, and widespread macroeconomic uncertainty have sharply increased the urgency for coordinated regional action. He emphasized that closer integration will empower LAC countries to secure stronger positions in global value chains, speed up the transition to low-carbon energy systems, strengthen domestic and regional food security, and adapt to rapidly shifting global production trends.

    “Integration is the answer to protecting our strategic ecosystems, creating jobs, addressing informality, and defending the democratic values that underpin our coexistence, freedom, and future,” Díaz-Granados stated.

    A key deliverable from the Cartagena forum was the signing of the *Declaration on the Convergence of the Processes and Mechanisms of Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean* by 15 major regional institutions. Signatories included the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), among others. The declaration calls for a more coordinated, strategic approach to integration by aligning the priorities, resources, and expertise of existing regional bodies, eliminating redundant efforts, and unlocking new opportunities for cross-organization collaboration.

    CAF’s new investment pledge builds on the institution’s 30-year track record of backing regional integration efforts. To date, the development bank has approved 118 credit operations totaling $16.73 billion for integration-focused projects across the region. Over the past five years alone, CAF has scaled its support to target priority areas including cross-border physical connectivity, productive sector development, digital transformation, regional energy integration, and environmental conservation.

    In closing, Díaz-Granados stressed that the region must move beyond strategic planning and accelerate the delivery of tangible integration projects. “Regional integration has already achieved important progress, but it must now enter a more ambitious phase of implementation. Fewer barriers, more infrastructure. Fewer diagnoses, more projects,” he said.

  • Merrymen co-founder hailed as cultural pioneer after death

    Merrymen co-founder hailed as cultural pioneer after death

    Barbados has lost one of its most influential cultural ambassadors after the passing of Sir Charles Emile Straker, the legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist who took the island’s homegrown music to a global audience. The 90-year-old, who had been in poor health for an extended period, died in the early hours of Friday.

    Straker was the last surviving original founding member of the Merrymen Trio, the group he co-established in 1962 alongside fellow musicians Robin Hunte and Chris Gibbs, which would later become widely known simply as The Merrymen. His death prompted an outpouring of tribute from across the country, including from the political group Friends of Democracy (FOD), which honored his decades-long legacy of shaping Barbadian cultural identity.

    In an official statement released to the public, Ricky Williams, FOD’s spokesperson for sports and culture, celebrated Straker as a towering figure in Caribbean music whose work left an indelible mark on generations of listeners both at home and abroad. Over his decades-long career, Straker wrote and performed dozens of chart-topping hits, the most famous of which is the global fan favorite “Big Bamboo”. Williams confirmed that the track earned unprecedented international acclaim for Barbadian music, holding the number one position on multiple European music charts for 18 straight weeks.

    A defining feature of Straker’s artistry was his instantly recognizable vocal style, and his commitment to centering Bajan culture in the group’s work. A key innovation he brought to The Merrymen’s song catalog was integrating the traditional pennywhistle into their arrangements, reimagining the instrument to fit distinctly Barbadian musical styles. Beyond his crossover hit, Straker crafted many tracks that celebrated local life and Barbadian heritage, including fan favorites such as *Beautiful Barbados*, *Nutseller*, and *Gary Sobers*.

    Williams also highlighted how The Merrymen broke new ground for Caribbean culture on the global stage, booking performances at some of the world’s most iconic and prestigious performance venues. These included New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden, and two of London’s most celebrated cultural spaces: the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. The group’s trailblazing global tour culminated in a landmark performance as the half-time entertainment at Super Bowl XIII in 1979, one of the most-watched sporting events in the United States at that time. Playing for a live stadium audience of 80,000 people, the band introduced Barbados’ unique indigenous folk music to millions of television viewers tuning in from across the globe.

    “In passing of this giant, we have been left with an irreplaceable vacuum,” Williams said in his statement. “Sir Charles will be deeply missed by all who loved his music and the work he did for our country. On behalf of Friends of Democracy, we extend our deepest condolences to Sir Charles Emile Straker’s family and loved ones at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”

  • Ministry of Tourism and DDA to host inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4

    Ministry of Tourism and DDA to host inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4

    The Caribbean island of Dominica is preparing to launch its first ever public Wellness Fair, a landmark event jointly organized by the country’s Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) to celebrate the island’s growing reputation as a global nature-centric wellness destination.

    Scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2026, the full-day event will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the UWI Global Campus, and carries the fitting theme “Be Well in Nature”. As the flagship activity of the 2026 Tourism Awareness Program — which itself operates under the broader banner “Wellness by Nature” — the fair will unite a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, from independent wellness practitioners and local wellness businesses to certified service providers and community wellness organizations.

    At its core, the initiative is designed to integrate holistic wellness practices into daily life for attendees, highlighting the interconnected roles of preventive healthcare, regular physical movement, balanced nutrition, intentional stress management, and deep connection to the natural world in supporting long-term well-being. Beyond positioning Dominica as a leading wellness travel hub, the fair also carries a domestic mission: to empower local residents to adopt and sustain healthier daily habits, while showcasing the full breadth of homegrown wellness talent and offerings available across the island.

    Attendees can expect a packed schedule of complimentary activities and experiences tailored to all levels of wellness interest. The lineup includes free basic health screenings, one-on-one wellness consultations with local experts, live fitness demonstrations, high-energy cardio jam sessions, open-level yoga classes, and interactive educational exhibits highlighting the local wellness sector. Unlike many industry events, the fair creates dedicated space for direct conversation between attendees and practitioners, giving visitors the chance to ask questions, explore local products and services, and connect with ongoing wellness resources available year-round in Dominica.

    A key highlight of the event is a series of educational informational sessions led by local specialist speakers. Topics cover the full spectrum of holistic health, including evidence-based nutrition guidance, practical stress reduction techniques, mindfulness practice, chronic disease prevention, physical fitness planning, personal development, and emotional wellness. Organizers designed these sessions to deliver actionable, practical knowledge that attendees can immediately implement in their own daily routines, rather than focusing solely on abstract discussion.

    To add an extra layer of excitement for attendees, the event will also host multiple prize giveaways through public draws. Grand prizes include round-trip airfare donated by two regional carriers, FRS Express des Îles and Sunrise Airways. Additional high-value giveaways include tickets to the 2026 World Creole Music Festival, one of Dominica’s most anticipated annual cultural celebrations, giving winners the chance to experience the island’s iconic cultural scene alongside their wellness-focused visit.

    Marva Williams, CEO and Director of Tourism at the Discover Dominica Authority, emphasized that the fair reflects the shared commitment of the DDA and Ministry of Tourism to embed wellness into both the island’s tourism identity and local community life. “Wellness is one of the defining experiences that sets Dominica apart. Through Wellness Fair 2026, we are creating an opportunity for residents and visitors to connect with local wellness professionals, learn practical ways to improve their well-being and experience the many ways wellness is naturally woven into life on the Nature Island,” Williams said. “We encourage everyone to join us on July 4 at the UWI Global Campus and take advantage of the free services, information sessions and activities available throughout the day.”

    Admission to the 2026 Wellness Fair is completely free and open to all members of the public, with both local residents and traveling visitors welcome to attend all activities. Organizers have noted that spaces in the specialized informational sessions are limited, so interested guests are encouraged to reserve their spots in advance via the official registration link: https://forms.gle/RcWAuJ1aJB6T5HvV8.

  • Anthony Stuart Delivers Financial Management and Leadership Session for Youth

    Anthony Stuart Delivers Financial Management and Leadership Session for Youth

    On June 22, Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Youth Affairs hosted a targeted youth development workshop focused on two critical pillars for young professional growth: practical financial management and principled ethical leadership. Following the event, department officials publicly extended their gratitude to the session’s lead speaker, veteran financial and business consultant Anthony Stuart, as well as local coordinator Kelly-Ann Boatswain, for making the engaging, skill-focused session a success. Officials also highlighted the foundational support of the program’s two major sponsors, the Sandals Foundation and Flow Antigua, whose contributions turned the community-focused initiative from a planned project into a tangible, impactful event for local youth.

    A native of Antigua, Stuart brings unparalleled professional expertise to this youth outreach work, boasting more than three and a half decades of hands-on experience spanning the finance, banking, insurance, and business development sectors. His academic and professional credentials underscore his authority in the field: he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Economics, a Master of Business Administration with a specialized focus on Finance, and holds professional certifications as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. Beyond his private consulting work, Stuart also serves as a business lecturer at the School of Business and Management at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, giving him extensive experience translating complex financial concepts for emerging professionals.

    Stuart’s cross-sector career background further enriches his perspective for youth audiences: he has held leadership and technical roles in both the public and private spheres, including stints with Antigua and Barbuda’s Customs Department and Audit Department. He previously served as Executive Director of the St. John’s Development Corporation, and currently works as Senior Financial and Business Consultant at Personal Financial Solutions, a locally owned Antiguan consultancy firm.

    For the Department of Youth Affairs, this workshop is far more than a one-off community event. It is part of a sustained, ongoing strategy to arm young Antiguans and Barbudans with the practical, real-world skills they need to thrive in modern workplaces and launch their own ventures. Beyond hard financial skills, the program prioritizes fostering a culture of ethical decision-making, strong leadership capabilities, and entrepreneurial ambition among the nation’s youth. Department representatives emphasized that the ongoing program continues to deliver long-term value, nurturing innovation, ethical practice, and professional resilience among the next generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs across Antigua and Barbuda.