Carib Scope

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  • ‘Prepare to target the Cuban market’- President Ali tells Guyanese, Jamaican business executives

    ‘Prepare to target the Cuban market’- President Ali tells Guyanese, Jamaican business executives

    On Saturday, June 20, 2026, just 48 hours after Cuba unveiled a landmark package of market-oriented economic reforms that open the door to expanded private sector activity and increased foreign investment, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has called on the country’s domestic private sector to seize the emerging regional opportunity by building local vehicle assembly lines. Speaking at the Georgetown launch event for Chinese vehicle brands Foton and Jetour, hosted by local automotive firm CAM Motors, Ali urged the newly formed joint venture between CAM Motors, Jamaica’s ATL Automotive, the Continental Group of Companies, and Guyana-based MMKJ Inc to move forward with establishing a regional assembly hub on Guyanese soil.

    Ali told attendees that he has already tasked MMKJ Inc director Vishok Persaud and his team with conducting a feasibility study to turn Guyana into a central assembly base for the growing range of new vehicle brands entering the Caribbean market. “We have the capacity to support full-scale assembly lines, and we can hit the critical market mass we need if we collaborate to scale up our regional footprint,” Ali said. “We have to look ahead – Cuba is opening its economy, and Haiti is also moving toward reopening its markets, which creates massive new demand we can meet from here.”

    Beyond the newly opening Caribbean markets, Ali noted that the hub could also tap into underutilized demand in neighboring northern Brazil and the Dominican Republic, a large Spanish-speaking Caribbean economy that offers additional growth opportunities. To set the stage for these investments, he emphasized that the Guyanese government has already put in place a supportive ecosystem for manufacturing and assembly, including investor-friendly regulatory policies, competitive tax structures, low energy costs, accessible digital infrastructure, and direct government backing for new industrial projects.

    Ali framed the assembly hub initiative as a core part of Guyana’s long-term economic strategy to diversify beyond its booming oil and gas sector, building a more resilient and sustainable economy that generates broad-based growth beyond the energy industry. “This is the kind of transformative project that will carry our economy past reliance on oil and gas, and move us solidly into long-term, inclusive sustainability,” he said.

    Cuba’s reform package, announced by President Miguel Diaz-Canel on June 18, 2026, represents the most sweeping opening of the Cuban economy in decades, rolled out in response to years of economic pressure and mounting external challenges. As reported by Al Jazeera, the plan expands permitted private enterprise activity across multiple sectors, introduces new measures to attract foreign direct investment – including investment from Cuban nationals living abroad – paves the way for private real estate development, allows for the conversion of state-owned enterprises into privately held shareholding companies, and permits private banks to enter a financial sector that has long been exclusively state-controlled.

    Persaud, the MMKJ director, confirmed that the joint venture is committed to supporting Guyana’s local content goals, beyond just building out vehicle assembly infrastructure. The partnership will not only deliver after-sales support and service for vehicle owners across the country, but also act as a domestic partner to embed local participation across the automotive supply chain. “This project lets us fully deliver on our local content legislation, expand domestic private sector participation, and ensure that Guyanese businesses get to take part in every layer of this growing industry,” Persaud said.

    Ali added that shifting domestic consumer demand in Guyana already creates a strong foundation for a new vehicle assembly sector. Rising incomes have left more Guyanese with greater disposable income, driving a steady shift away from imported used Japanese vehicles toward brand-new cars and commercial vehicles. “We are already seeing a rapidly expanding market for new vehicles among both private consumers and domestic businesses, that demand is only going to grow as our economy expands,” he noted. To support this market shift, the Guyanese government already eliminated the 14 percent Value Added Tax on vehicles with engine sizes of 1500 CC and larger earlier this year, cutting purchase costs for consumers and stimulating new vehicle sales.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Achter de schermen van het WK

    Derde helft WK 2026: Achter de schermen van het WK

    When match cameras cut out and stadium crowds fade away, a whole other rigorous schedule begins for World Cup-starred footballers. The 90 minutes of on-pitch action only makes up a small fraction of their daily lives during the tournament. Behind the closed doors of opulent team hotels and heavily secured training complexes, every moment revolves around physical recovery, tailored nutrition, tactical strategy and mental preparation.

    From custom-built meal plans and ice baths to tactical video breakdowns, on-staff sports psychologists and carefully scheduled rest periods, no detail is left to chance. But how much personal freedom do these elite athletes actually get during their stay? Can their partners come to visit? Are they allowed to leave the compound to explore the host city? Do national team managers even dictate when players must put away their phones?

    For fans who assume a scheduled day off at the World Cup equals sleeping in and lazy relaxation, that assumption could not be further from the truth. In most squads, the daily routine kicks off early in the morning, even on supposed rest days. After a light breakfast, players go through routine medical checks, where physiotherapists and team doctors evaluate each athlete’s physical condition. Readouts of muscle tension, resting heart rate and post-match recovery metrics are then used to map out the rest of the day.

    For players who logged heavy minutes in the previous fixture, the entire day will center almost entirely on active recovery. Reserve players, by contrast, complete more intense training sessions to maintain their match fitness and rhythm ready for when they are called on. An on-field training session rarely lasts longer than 90 minutes, but every activity surrounding that block of work is tied directly to match preparation.

    Team nutritionists build individual eating plans for every player, tailored to their on-pitch position, body composition and the physical load they endure on match week. Carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and hydration intake are all tracked and adjusted with extreme precision. Even the exact time a player eats each meal is part of the carefully constructed tournament plan.

    After training wraps up, what is arguably the most critical part of the day begins: recovery. Ice baths, deep tissue massages, guided stretching, physiotherapy, and even whole-body cryotherapy help the body repair damaged muscle tissue as quickly as possible. Some players wear compression garments to reduce soreness, or sleep with wearable sensors that track the quality of their nightly rest. Even one extra percent of full recovery can be the difference between winning and losing a tight knockout match.

    Mental fitness gets equal attention from top national squads. Nearly all elite competing teams now bring a dedicated sports psychologist to the tournament, whose job is to help players cope with the enormous pressure of a World Cup, the weight of expectation from millions of fans back home, and the tension of high-stakes moments like a decisive penalty or a sudden-death knockout clash.

    At the same time, coaching staff spend hours on video analysis. Players and coaches watch footage of both their own recent performances and their upcoming opponent’s matches together to spot exploitable weaknesses. Tiny details, such as a striker’s preferred running channels or how a defender approaches one-on-one duels, can prove decisive on match day.

    That said, there is still intentional space carved out for relaxation and downtime inside team hotels. Players unwind with table tennis, billiards, video games or group movie nights. Some prefer quieter activities like listening to music, reading a book, or calling family back home for an extended chat. While social media is a central part of most modern footballers’ personal lives and brands, many national managers restrict usage during the tournament to cut down on unnecessary distractions.

    One of the most common questions fans have about World Cup camp life is whether partners and family members are allowed to stay or visit with players. Rules vary widely from nation to nation. Some national federations only allow visits during pre-scheduled windows, while others give players more flexibility to see family after the group stage of the tournament finishes. Almost all teams aim to strike a careful balance between giving players relaxed downtime and keeping the squad fully focused on the competition.

    What many fans also do not see is that far more people work behind a World Cup squad than just the 26 players named to the official tournament roster. Doctors, physiotherapists, sports scientists, nutritionists, video analysts, kit managers, psychologists, security staff and press officers all make up a support team that often numbers more than 60 people. Their work stays largely out of the public eye, but it is irreplaceable to a national team’s chances of success.

    To outside observers, a non-match day might look like a quiet period of rest for the squad. But behind the scenes, it is a meticulously orchestrated process where every single detail matters. Because at the highest level of the sport, a World Cup is not won only during the 90 minutes on the match pitch—it is won in every hour of preparation and recovery before and after kickoff.

  • Minister Abiamofo: Local content bij Zijin groeit, aandeel Surinaamse bedrijven neemt toe

    Minister Abiamofo: Local content bij Zijin groeit, aandeel Surinaamse bedrijven neemt toe

    Suriname’s growing local engagement in its gold mining sector has taken a positive step forward, with new data showing increasing local employment, rising local leadership representation, and growing contract values for domestic businesses at Chinese mining firm Zijin. Minister David Abiamofo of the Ministry of Natural Resources shared these updated figures during budget debates in the National Assembly of Suriname Friday, outlining steady progress in the company’s local content initiative.

    According to Minister Abiamofo, Zijin currently provides direct employment to roughly 1,690 Surinamese workers across its operations. An additional 1,400 Surinamese earn indirect income through the company’s network of local suppliers and contractors, meaning the firm supports a total of more than 3,000 local jobs across the country.

    The most notable gains have come in leadership and technical roles, which have historically been dominated by foreign personnel at large international mining projects in the country. Abiamofo confirmed that 25% of all senior management positions at Zijin’s Suriname operations are now held by local Surinamese professionals. That share jumps to 49% for mid-level management roles, while 95% of frontline supervisors and 83% of technical staff are recruited from the local workforce. All entry-level operational roles and internal support positions are currently filled exclusively by Surinamese workers.

    Minister Abiamofo acknowledged that a small number of highly specialized positions still rely on foreign experts, due to the specific experience and industry certifications required for these niche roles that are not yet widely available among the local workforce. However, he emphasized that this is a temporary gap that will continue to narrow as local workers gain more on-the-job experience and specialized training through the company’s capacity building programs.

    Beyond direct employment, the value of contracts awarded to Surinamese domestic businesses has also increased considerably, climbing from $163 million U.S. dollars to $192 million U.S. dollars in recent years. Correspondingly, the share of contracts going to foreign-based companies has declined as local suppliers have expanded their capabilities to meet the mining firm’s needs.

    Despite the positive progress, Minister Abiamofo stressed that local businesses must maintain competitive standards to retain these opportunities. “Quality, reliability, and competitiveness remain the deciding factors for contract awards,” he said. “Local companies cannot rely solely on long-standing working relationships to secure ongoing work; they must continue to deliver value that matches or exceeds what international firms can offer.”

    The updates come as Suriname continues to push for greater local benefits from its natural resource sector, a core driver of the country’s national economy. Local content requirements have become a key policy priority for the government, aimed at ensuring resource extraction delivers long-term inclusive economic growth rather than just short-term revenue.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Curaçao sleept punt uit het vuur tegen Ecuador: 0-0

    Derde helft WK 2026: Curaçao sleept punt uit het vuur tegen Ecuador: 0-0

    A dramatic Group E CONCACAF Gold Cup clash in Kansas City ended goalless on June 20, as Curaçao put on a defensive masterclass to hold Ecuador and leave both nations still in contention for a spot in the tournament’s next round. Coming into the fixture, both sides had dropped points in their opening group matches, making a result critical to retain any hope of advancing. Officiated by Chinese referee Ning Ma, the matchup was always poised to be an open, attacking contest from the opening whistle, and it delivered on that promise.

    Ecuador got off to a blistering start, nearly grabbing an early lead within the first three minutes. Star forward Enner Valencia got a clean shot off toward goal, only for his effort to deflect off Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room, bounce off the crossbar, and clear the bar. That early chance set the tone for the entire 90 minutes: Ecuador dominated possession, launched 16 shots on goal, but failed to find the back of the net, with every attempt either blocked by Curaçao’s defense, saved by Room, or sent narrowly off target.

    Curaçao’s first dangerous threat came in the 8th minute, when Sherel Floranus broke past Ecuador’s backline on a counterattack, but his finish drifted just wide of the post. In the 14th minute, Pedro Vite had one of Ecuador’s best chances of the first half to break the deadlock, but his low shot curled just inches past the far post. Six minutes later, Valencia had a golden opportunity from point-blank range, but Room reacted quickly to stop the close-range effort, securing the clean sheet through the first half. Before halftime, Curaçao had its own best opening of the half, as Junior Bacuna found space in the box, but his shot went wide of Ecuador’s goal. When the halftime whistle blew, the score remained locked 0-0, with Room putting in a man-of-the-match first-half performance to keep his side level.

    The second half followed the exact same pattern as the first: Ecuador continued to throw men forward, piled on the pressure, and generated multiple chances, but still could not beat Room. In the 50th minute, Moises Caicedo tested Curaçao’s goalkeeper with a stinging long-range shot, but Room read the effort well and gathered it comfortably. After the hour mark, Curaçao began to push forward more aggressively, creating a handful of chances of its own against an Ecuador side committed to all-out attack, but neither side could find the breakthrough. In the final 15 minutes, Ecuador launched a relentless full-scale offensive to find a late winner, but Curaçao’s defense held firm, blocking every attempt and clearing every dangerous cross. When the final whistle blew, the scoreline remained unchanged, finishing 0-0.

  • MSF suspends operations at the Isaïe Jeanty maternity hospital in Haiti

    MSF suspends operations at the Isaïe Jeanty maternity hospital in Haiti

    A deepening humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Haiti’s most densely populated urban neighborhood after international medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) announced the full suspension of life-saving services at the Isaïe Jeanty Maternity Hospital, a key healthcare facility serving the Cité Soleil area of Port-au-Prince. The shutdown, which took effect on the morning of June 19, comes after more than a week of escalating violent clashes between rival armed groups that have turned the surrounding district into a combat zone.

    Tensions began to spike on the night of June 13-14, when open fighting erupted across three adjacent neighborhoods: Belekou, Fort-Dimanche, and Quai Jérémie. The violence quickly spilled over into the Chancerelles neighborhood, where the MSF-supported maternity hospital is located. Stray gunfire has repeatedly struck the hospital’s outer walls, sending waves of panic through the local population and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes in search of safety. By the evening of June 15, more than 100 displaced people, the majority women and children who escaped the fighting, had taken shelter within the hospital compound, where MSF teams were able to provide them with clean drinking water. One of those displaced was a woman who suffered a leg wound from a stray bullet while on hospital grounds; MSF medics provided immediate on-site treatment, while additional casualties from the clashes were treated at MSF’s separate medical facility in the Tabarre district of the capital.

    Local authorities were the first to suspend their operations at the site on the morning of June 16, after fighting intensified further. MSF teams remained on location for three additional days, working with reduced staffing to deliver emergency care, stabilize injured and pregnant patients, and arrange transfers to other functioning medical facilities across Port-au-Prince. As the security situation continued to deteriorate, however, MSF made the difficult decision to evacuate all remaining staff and shut down all hospital activities permanently for the time being.

    Speaking on the suspension, Nicolas Tessier, MSF’s Head of Mission in Haiti, described the impossible conditions medical teams had been working under. “We have tried to provide a minimum level of lifesaving support to people with a reduced team and limited capacity,” Tessier explained. “We treated several women who managed to reach the maternity hospital despite the insecurity, including one who gave birth to twins. But today we can no longer continue: the hospital is riddled with bullet holes, our teams are exhausted, and it has become extremely difficult for ambulances to refer patients and find facilities able to receive them.”

    The shutdown of the facility has pushed an already catastrophic healthcare situation in Cité Soleil over the edge. The neighborhood is home to roughly 300,000 residents, and even before the latest wave of violence, access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare was already extremely limited across the area. Thousands of pregnant women had already been forced to deliver babies at home in unsafe, unsanitary conditions, dramatically raising their risk of life-threatening obstetric complications. With the Isaïe Jeanty hospital now closed, access to such care has become virtually non-existent, leaving local women with almost no viable options to get safe medical treatment.

    This is not the first time MSF has been forced to halt services in the area due to gang violence. Back in May, the organization suspended operations at its general hospital in Cité Soleil, located just a few kilometers from the maternity facility. As gang-related violence continues to spread and security conditions worsen across the region, the entire local healthcare system is now at risk of total collapse. MSF has issued an urgent call for armed groups to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilian lives and infrastructure, and allow medical teams unimpeded access to treat people in desperate need of care.

  • Environment : Massive and illegal sand mining on the banks of the Massacre River

    Environment : Massive and illegal sand mining on the banks of the Massacre River

    During a reforestation initiative close to the shared border wall separating the Dominican Republic and Haiti, senior environmental officials from the Dominican Republic have sounded the alarm on widespread unauthorized sand mining operations taking place along the Haitian bank of the Massacre River.

    Armando Paíno Henríquez, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, publicly outlined the scale of the ongoing activity this week, noting that unlicensed extraction has been a persistent problem for years. According to Henríquez, teams of Haitian workers travel to the river regularly, harvesting tons of sand manually with basic buckets before stockpiling the material on riverbanks. The mined sand is then loaded onto commercial trucks and distributed to buyers across northern Haiti for construction and other uses.

    In his remarks, Henríquez emphasized that the illegal activity is concentrated on the Haitian side of the waterway, placing it formally under Haitian jurisdiction per international border agreements. To address the issue, his ministry has already initiated coordination with Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, and is preparing a formal briefing to share with Haitian national authorities, even amid well-documented institutional instability and governance gaps in Haiti currently.

    The ministry’s first step toward resolving the crisis will be to open diplomatic discussions with Haitian officials, to lay out the full scope of the unregulated extraction and its cross-border consequences. Henríquez stressed that while the environmental harm is being generated on Haitian territory, the negative impacts spill over to communities on both sides of the border, including the Dominican border city of Dajabón and surrounding regions.

    Uncontrolled large-scale sand mining fundamentally alters the Massacre River’s natural riverbed, he explained. The activity triggers severe riverbank erosion, disrupts critical aquatic and riparian ecosystems, and dramatically increases the risk of catastrophic flooding for low-lying settlements on both sides of the international border. Without coordinated intervention from both governments, Henríquez warned, the environmental damage will only worsen over time, putting local communities and shared natural resources at growing risk.

  • Gopal wil sportaccommodaties weer onder beheer van overheid; forse investeringen

    Gopal wil sportaccommodaties weer onder beheer van overheid; forse investeringen

    Suriname’s Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Lalinie Gopal, has announced a sweeping policy shift that will return most sports venue management to government oversight, alongside a multi-million dollar infrastructure upgrade program aimed at revitalizing the country’s sports sector.

    Speaking during parliamentary debate on the ministry’s budget in the National Assembly, Gopal argued that the current model, which has handed control of most public sports facilities to private foundations over recent decades, is no longer sustainable and is holding back the sector’s growth. She told lawmakers that real-world implementation of the private foundation model has repeatedly shown that public interest is not always prioritized by independent managers, creating systemic barriers to equitable access and long-term development.

    Under the proposed new management framework, Gopal said the government will reassert a central coordinating role to unlock new investment, while structuring revenue sharing to benefit both state authorities and facility operators. The preliminary plan outlines a 60/40 revenue split, with 60 percent of all generated income going to on-site managers and the remaining 40 percent allocated to the national government. Gopal emphasized that clear government ownership and governance is a critical prerequisite for attracting international donor funding, noting that many global funders have been unwilling to commit resources to projects where management and ownership structures remain ambiguous.

    The policy overhaul is designed to address longstanding gaps in maintenance, improve management transparency, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth of national sports infrastructure, according to the minister.

    Alongside the management restructuring, Gopal unveiled a large-scale investment package to upgrade existing facilities and build new community sports spaces across the country. The centerpiece of the infrastructure program is the full rehabilitation of seven artificial turf pitches located in different regions, alongside planned renovations to multiple existing sports complexes, construction of new public swimming pools, and modernization of outdated venues.

    Two new multi-purpose community centers are also currently under development in the Para and Commewijne districts, designed to host not only competitive and recreational sports, but also youth programming and broader community development activities. Additional investments will go toward upgrading public playgrounds and purchasing new equipment for national sports federations, with the goal of lowering barriers to grassroots sports participation and giving local clubs the resources they need to expand their programming.

    Gopal highlighted the upcoming rehabilitation of the public swimming pool in Nickerie as a key early project, noting that work is set to begin shortly thanks to funding from a joint development partnership with the government of India.

    Ultimately, the minister framed the dual reforms of management restructuring and infrastructure investment as a core investment in Suriname’s youth. By upgrading facilities and standardizing governance, the government aims to boost national sports participation rates, expand development opportunities for young athletes, and ensure equitable access to quality sports infrastructure across all regions of the country.

  • 2026 World Cup : Migné’s press conference after the defeat against Brazil (video)

    2026 World Cup : Migné’s press conference after the defeat against Brazil (video)

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage has delivered another decisive outcome for Caribbean side Haiti, whose tournament hopes all but ended following a lopsided 3-0 defeat to five-time champion Brazil at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on June 19. In the immediate aftermath of the result, Haitian head coach Sébastien Migné addressed reporters to share his perspective on the match, the performance of his squad, and the final group fixture still to come.

    Opening his remarks, Migné acknowledged the heavy weight of disappointment hanging over the camp, even against an opposition as formidable as Brazil, currently ranked fifth in the global FIFA rankings. Despite the lopsided scoreline, he was quick to highlight the fighting spirit his players demonstrated throughout the 90 minutes. “The disappointment is immense tonight, even if the opponent is Brazil [5th in the world],” Migné told reporters. He added that his squad proved they belonged on the sport’s biggest international stage, saying: “We bent, but we didn’t break.”

    The result confirms Haiti’s elimination from knockout stage contention, but the team still has one remaining group match to play against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, scheduled for June 24 at 6:00 p.m. local US/Haiti time at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Rejecting any calls for his side to approach the fixture with complacency, Migné framed the upcoming match as a valuable opportunity for his players to test their skills against another elite global opponent. Morocco, currently the top-ranked men’s national team on the African continent, represents another high-profile test that Migné says his squad is ready to embrace.

    Shortly after Migné’s press conference, the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) released an official public statement addressing the result and responding to the reaction of Haitian fans worldwide. The federation acknowledged that the outcome did not match the expectations of the Haitian football community, recognizing that the disappointment felt by supporters across the country and beyond is entirely understandable.

    “Football can bring joy, but also tears. On Friday, the result of the match was not what we all hoped for, and we understand the disappointment of every Haitian supporter,” the statement read. Even with the underwhelming result, the FHF emphasized that it remains deeply proud of the Grenadiers, who have carried Haitian national pride onto the world stage despite a challenging qualification and tournament run. “The road has not always been easy, but our respect for these courageous men who fight tirelessly for their homeland remains undiminished,” the federation added.

    Looking ahead to the final group fixture against Morocco, the FHF noted that the team will take key lessons from the defeat to Brazil to improve in their final outing, with one final match to play to represent Haitian football. The federation closed its statement by thanking the national team’s loyal fanbase for its unwavering support through both winning and difficult stretches of the campaign, ending with the rallying cry: “We are all Grenadiers!”

  • Chain Snatcher caught in tape

    Chain Snatcher caught in tape

    A serial street thief who targeted women walking through crowded residential corridors of a mid-sized city has finally been taken into custody, after weeks of coordinated police work aided by widely circulated closed-circuit television footage. The suspect, who has been linked to at least seven separate chain-snatching incidents over the past two months, was identified by members of the public after local law enforcement released grainy but recognizable surveillance clips to local media and community social media groups last week.

    The string of offenses had left residents on edge, particularly elderly women and female commuters who often travel alone through the busy market area where most of the thefts occurred. In each incident, the snatcher would grab gold chains from victims’ necks from behind, before fleeing on a speeding motorcycle before bystanders could react. The total value of stolen property is estimated to exceed $12,000, according to police statements.

    Within 48 hours of the footage being published, three separate tipsters contacted police to provide the suspect’s name and common hangouts, leading to a sting operation that arrested the man late Saturday night as he prepared for another attempted theft near a local bus station. Police have recovered three of the stolen chains, and are working to trace the remaining stolen items that were reportedly sold to a local pawn shop. Investigators also noted that the suspect has prior convictions for similar theft offenses dating back to 2019. Local community leaders have praised the collaborative effort between police and residents, highlighting the role of public surveillance in solving petty street crime quickly.

  • Clothesline display sparks conversation on challenges facing men and boys

    Clothesline display sparks conversation on challenges facing men and boys

    In the heart of Castries at Derek Walcott Square, a unique public art installation — strings of clotheslines strung across the green, holding everyday garments for men and boys of all ages — has become an unexpected catalyst for open, vulnerable dialogue about the rarely centered struggles of men across Saint Lucia.

    Organized earlier this week by the Department of Gender Affairs under the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons, the interactive display is part of a series of lead-up events for Father’s Day, and aligns with the ministry’s newly launched national campaign, *Fathers Who Care: Men Raising the Next Generation*. Unlike traditional awareness events that rely on lectures or printed materials, the unassuming clothing installation was designed to draw the curiosity of everyday passersby, turning a casual stop in the public square into an opportunity for reflection and connection.

    Janey Joseph, Director of the Department of Gender Affairs, explained that the project grew out of a longstanding gap in public discourse: issues facing men and boys are often sidelined in conversations about social development and gender equity, even as they grapple with unique, unaddressed barriers to personal and familial well-being. “The clothing display worked exactly as we hoped it would — it caught the eye of people who would otherwise never stop to engage with this topic, and gave us a natural opening to talk about what men in our country actually go through,” Joseph shared in an interview after the event. “Our goal was to create a low-pressure public space where people could unpack what fatherhood really means, celebrate the critical role fathers play in children’s lives, and talk openly about the hurdles that hold too many men back.”

    To the team’s delight, public response — especially from men in attendance — far exceeded initial expectations. Dozens of participants opened up about their personal experiences as fathers, guardians, and young men navigating social expectations of masculinity, with many openly acknowledging the gaps in support they face to show up as the parents they aspire to be. “What struck us most was how many men were hungry for this space,” Joseph noted. “They didn’t hold back — they talked about the pressures they feel, the uncertainty they experience when raising kids, and how little access they have to resources that are made for them.”

    The impact of the day extended beyond just conversation: one participating father was directly connected to a local development partner that offers specialized parenting guidance and support for men, delivering on the campaign’s core goal of turning dialogue into tangible action. “That is exactly the kind of outcome we worked toward,” Joseph said. “It’s one thing to talk about issues — it’s another to connect someone to the help they need to thrive as a parent.”

    Joseph emphasized that the initiative marks a critical shift in Saint Lucia’s approach to gender equity and social development, marking a growing recognition that supporting men and boys is not an afterthought, but a core component of building a more inclusive society. “As a department and a ministry, we know that men and boys face challenges that are specific to their experiences,” she explained. “These issues matter, and they deserve intentional attention. When we talk about gender equality, lifting up men and boys isn’t separate from that work — it’s essential to building stronger families, healthier communities, and a country that leaves no one behind.”

    Moving forward, the clothing display is just one piece of the ongoing *Fathers Who Care* campaign, which has a broader mandate to promote responsible, supported fatherhood, strengthen intergenerational family bonds, and expand access to resources for men as they take on roles as parents, mentors, and positive community role models.