Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • COMMENTARY: Caribbean leaders deeply divided over multilateralism

    COMMENTARY: Caribbean leaders deeply divided over multilateralism

    At the 2026 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Week, two of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’s most influential leaders took the stage just two days apart, delivering addresses that laid bare a growing, fundamental rift over multilateralism, regional alignment, and the role of small island states in global geopolitics. For the second consecutive year, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados outlined competing paradigms for international cooperation, reflecting deep divisions that have shaken the foundation of CARICOM’s decades-long tradition of collective foreign policy coordination.

    Persad-Bissessar, who spoke first on September 22, framed her foreign policy vision around the existing structure of global power, advancing a transactional approach to international relations aligned with the current geopolitical order. Fresh off securing Trinidad and Tobago’s second ever non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term, she announced a landmark strategic realignment: a deepening security partnership with the United States centered on countering transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. Endorsing U.S. military and counter-narcotics operations across the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, Persad-Bissessar aligned Trinidad and Tobago with two key U.S.-led security initiatives: the Shield of the Americas and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC). For Port of Spain, this alignment is driven by domestic law-and-order priorities and what it frames as pragmatic geopolitical positioning, with Persad-Bissessar promising an “independent and practical outlook” during Trinidad and Tobago’s upcoming UNSC tenure that prioritizes finding common ground on global security challenges.

    Two days later, Mottley offered a fundamentally contrasting vision that directly challenged the status quo of global governance. Rooting the current crisis of multilateralism in historical inequities and outdated power structures that date back to the post-WWII order, Mottley argued that small island developing states (SIDS) like Barbados are consistently failed by major international institutions that exclude them from critical decision-making. Her address pushed for sweeping UN reform, including restructuring the UNSC, to make global governance more responsive to the needs of vulnerable nations. Expanding on the goals of the Barbados-led Bridgetown Initiative, Mottley called for the World Bank to revise its mandate to prioritize climate adaptation funding, expand concessional finance access for at-risk nations, and introduce natural disaster debt pause clauses. She also reaffirmed Barbados’ commitment to reparatory justice, warned of the risks posed by unregulated artificial intelligence, and pushed back against expanding great power influence in the region, reasserting the Caribbean’s long-standing claim to be a “Zone of Peace” in the face of growing U.S. unilateral military and security expansion.

    This divergence at the UNGA is not just a difference in rhetoric—it reflects a growing foreign policy cleavage across CARICOM, a 14-member bloc whose founding treaty enshrines collective foreign policy coordination as a core principle. The rift has widened dramatically since Persad-Bissessar returned to office in May 2025 following her party’s general election victory, as Trinidad and Tobago has openly aligned with the U.S.’s updated Monroe Doctrine (branded the Donroe Doctrine in the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy and 2026 National Defense Strategy), putting it at odds with most of its CARICOM counterparts. The bloc’s divisions are particularly visible in the debate over U.S. sanctions on Cuba: Trinidad and Tobago has repeatedly refused to back CARICOM statements criticizing the tightening restrictions, while other member states have reaffirmed their long-standing support for Havana amid its worst multi-dimensional crisis in decades.

    Already, the U.S.-led security architecture in the region has attracted new members from within CARICOM. Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were founding members of the Shield of the Americas, and Jamaica, Belize, and The Bahamas have since joined, though only Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana signed the initiative’s 2026 Joint Statement on Defending Hemispheric Sovereignty, which designated 24 transnational criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations and laid the groundwork for expanded U.S. military operations across the Western Hemisphere. Many analysts suggest that some member states have joined the coalition simply to “go along to get along” with Washington, rather than out of strong ideological alignment.

    Even within CARICOM, sub-regional blocs are moving to consolidate their own coordinated positions in response to the growing split. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), a closely aligned sub-group whose members are also part of CARICOM, reaffirmed its commitment to a unified foreign policy agenda in a September 20 meeting on the margins of UNGA, highlighting the need for collective action to protect small state interests in an increasingly polarized world.

    As Caribbean nations navigate this crossroads, deep divisions over geopolitical alignment have left CARICOM fractured. The United States’ growing demand for diplomatic alignment has created a dynamic where some member states see strategic opportunity in closer ties to Washington, while others see the shift as a threat to regional sovereignty and long-standing collective consensus. If the current divergence continues, analysts warn that CARICOM’s decades-long project of regional cooperation could face irreparable harm, with lasting consequences for the voice of small island states in global governance.

  • Addressing low self-esteem in primary school students in Grenada

    Addressing low self-esteem in primary school students in Grenada

    For 25 years, a veteran Grade 1 teacher at a northern Grenadian primary school—speaking anonymously as Ms. Antoine—has watched young learners navigate the classroom. In recent years, she has documented a troubling, growing trend that holds back student potential across grade levels: deeply rooted low self-esteem that alters how children participate, interact, and engage with learning.

    Antoine’s classroom observations paint a clear picture of the issue. Many students shut down mid-activity when asked to share their work, even when their answers are correct. Overwhelmed by a paralyzing fear of being wrong, they fall silent rather than risk a mistake. When a class is offered an incentive for strong performance, few students step forward to claim they can earn the reward; instead, peers only name the handful of students universally viewed as top achievers. In social interactions, some children even allow peers to mistreat them just to gain approval, then deny the incident when it is reported, too insecure to advocate for themselves.

    “You can see their full potential sitting right there, but low self-esteem creates a barrier that stops them from performing at the level they are capable of,” Antoine explained. She also linked the rise in classroom conflict and violent responses to poor emotional expression, a side effect of low confidence that prevents children from articulating their needs.

    To understand how to address this issue, experts first break down what self-esteem actually is. Psychotherapist Robert Phillip explains that self-esteem grows from self-concept—how a person defines and sees themselves. “Self-esteem is our emotional reaction to that self-view,” Phillip said. “If we perceive ourselves positively, we develop positive self-esteem. If our self-concept is negative, that translates directly to low self-esteem.”

    Antoine suspects the roots of poor self-concept in young children often begin in the home, the first and most foundational learning environment for young learners. These negative self-perceptions do not just harm academic outcomes; they also erode children’s ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings openly to others.

    A deep-rooted cultural stigma around making mistakes also exacerbates the problem. For many children—and even adults—mistakes are treated as a catastrophic failure rather than a tool for growth. Phillip pushes back on this harmful narrative, noting that mistakes are a critical part of learning: “Mistakes give students the chance to step back, assess what went wrong, and return with a more thoughtful, refined approach. They make us stronger and more capable over time.”

    Recognizing that this unaddressed mental health and confidence gap in Grenada’s primary education system demands action, a local family of educators has launched a new initiative to meet the need. On August 17, the Denis and Janice Thomas Foundation (DJTF)—founded by the prominent Grenadian educator family from Black Bay, St. John—officially launched its mission at Grand Roy Government School, focused on fostering healthy self-esteem and overall well-being for primary-aged students. As an opening gesture, the foundation donated 52 laptops to principals from six local primary schools to support learning access, but building confidence remains its core priority.

    Speaking for the foundation, Annette Thomas—daughter of the late Denis Thomas and Janice Thomas, and a retired educator herself—said the foundation’s work grew from decades of on-the-ground experience with struggling students. “Time and again, we saw children who were misunderstood simply because they learned, communicated, or behaved differently from their peers,” Thomas explained. “Too often, they were labeled rude, disruptive, or even unteachable, when what they really needed was support, understanding, and a safe space to be themselves.” She added that this unmet need is a critical gap in Grenada’s education system that requires targeted attention and investment.

    While the foundation works to drive systemic change, Phillip emphasizes that parents and teachers play the most critical daily role in nurturing positive self-esteem in children aged 5 to 12. The core goal, he says, is to teach children to accept themselves, understand their own unique traits, and recognize that shortcomings do not eliminate the potential for success.

    Phillip outlines practical, daily steps that adults can model and teach to build healthy confidence. At home, he recommends parents avoid negative self-talk about their own bodies, intelligence, or mistakes in front of their children, and openly acknowledge their own errors to model that mistakes are acceptable. Parents should also model healthy boundaries—for example, showing children it is appropriate to rest and say no when overwhelmed—and prioritize praising hard work and persistence over only celebrating wins. Additional steps include avoiding comparisons between siblings, limiting digital exposure that fuels unhealthy social comparison, addressing sibling rivalry and bullying early, spending dedicated one-on-one time with each child to reinforce their value, encouraging individual talents and interests, validating children’s feelings, and allowing children to make choices and experience safe failure so they learn to adapt and try again.

    For educators, Phillip recommends many of the same approaches: implementing clear anti-bullying rules such as no-teasing policies in the classroom, highlighting each student’s unique strengths instead of focusing only on academic performance, avoiding cross-student comparisons, acknowledging effort and growth over just final results, and creating a classroom environment where students can safely make mistakes and learn from them without judgment.

  • Jumby Bay Donates Patrol Vessel to Strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s Coastal Security

    Jumby Bay Donates Patrol Vessel to Strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s Coastal Security

    In a milestone development for regional maritime security, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) has announced the successful completion of the first launch and sea trial of its newest maritime vessel, delivered through a collaborative partnership with stakeholders from Jumby Bay.

    The project, which combines local defense priorities with private sector support, marks a key upgrade to the nation’s coastal defense and emergency response infrastructure. Senior representatives from the ABDF confirmed that the new vessel will fill critical capability gaps that have previously constrained the force’s ability to patrol the island nation’s extensive exclusive economic zone, respond to search-and-rescue calls, and counter illicit maritime activities such as drug trafficking and illegal fishing.

    Beyond core defense operations, the upgraded asset is also expected to enhance the ABDF’s ability to support civilian maritime safety initiatives, including escorting civilian vessels through local waterways and responding to environmental incidents such as oil spills that threaten the nation’s coastal ecosystems, which are central to its tourism-driven economy. Officials from both the ABDF and Jumby Bay have noted that the successful launch is the result of months of coordinated planning and technical preparation, representing a successful model of public-private cooperation for small island developing states looking to strengthen their maritime security capacity on limited budgets.

  • Queen of Carnival Zainé Frederick Heads to St. Maarten for Second Regional Pageant

    Queen of Carnival Zainé Frederick Heads to St. Maarten for Second Regional Pageant

    After claiming the coveted national title of Antigua and Barbuda Queen of Carnival, 22-year-old pageant contender Zainé Frederick is gearing up for her next big challenge: stepping onto a regional competition stage in St. Maarten this weekend.

    Frederick will compete in the highly anticipated Essence & Mind Swimsuit Competition, an event that draws top pageant talent from across the Caribbean region. This marks the second regional pageant appearance for the reigning carnival queen since she took home the national crown earlier this year, extending her run as an ambassador for her twin-island nation beyond its borders.

    The official Antigua Barbuda Queen of Carnival organization confirmed Frederick’s upcoming participation in an official statement released to the public this past Tuesday, confirming the details of her travel and competition schedule. The pageant is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 3, where Frederick will go head-to-head with a cohort of skilled contestants from other Caribbean territories.

    Beyond individual competition, Frederick’s participation in the event carries broader meaning for her home country. As the sitting national carnival queen, her presence on the St. Maarten stage offers a high-profile opportunity to elevate Antigua and Barbuda’s profile across the regional entertainment and cultural space. In its statement, the organizing body issued a public call to action, urging all pageant supporters both within Antigua and Barbuda and among diaspora communities abroad to stand with Frederick as she competes, rallying behind her as she carries the nation’s flag in the regional circuit.

    For emerging Caribbean pageant talent, regional competitions like the Essence & Mind Swimsuit Competition serve as critical stepping stones to larger international opportunities, and Frederick’s run continues a long tradition of Antigua and Barbuda sending strong, dynamic representatives to showcase the nation’s cultural spirit on broader stages.

  • Psychiatric Hospital ‘to implement ideas’ in winning mental health essays

    Psychiatric Hospital ‘to implement ideas’ in winning mental health essays

    Barbados has marked a major step forward in youth-centered mental health advocacy after two Harrison College students claimed top honors in the country’s first national secondary school mental health essay competition, with the island’s Psychiatric Hospital confirming it is actively reviewing the pair’s actionable proposals to roll out improvements to national mental health services next year.

    Hosted by the Psychiatric Hospital’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan Committee in partnership with the Thrift Club of Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL), the competition was launched under the overarching theme “Change the Narrative: Start the Conversation”, designed to solicit fresh, youth-led ideas ahead of October’s annual Mental Health Month. Participants from across the island’s secondary schools were tasked with outlining concrete reforms to strengthen Barbados’ mental health support system. Weiyang Sue took home first prize in the junior division, while Rashauna Clarke secured the top spot in the senior category.

    At the official prize-giving ceremony held Monday at BPWCCUL’s Belmont Road headquarters, Psychiatric Hospital Director Andrea Wharton-Boyce emphasized that high-quality mental health care cannot be confined to hospital walls, stressing the urgent need to expand accessible community-based support. She noted that Barbados has already shifted toward this decentralized model, with basic mental health services now offered through public polyclinics and satellite outreach clinics across the island.

    Sue’s winning essay centered on shifting harmful social narratives around mental health, particularly the pervasive gendered pressure on boys and young men to “man up” and the persistent myth that crying or expressing vulnerability equals weakness. Among his key proposals are programs to train student volunteers as peer listeners, who can connect struggling classmates to professional mental health care; intergenerational initiatives that pair students with socially isolated elderly adults to reduce loneliness on both sides; and targeted training for religious leaders to help them spot signs of mental distress among their congregations and refer members for professional support.

    Clarke, the senior category winner, took a research-driven approach to her essay, putting forward a three-pronged strategy focused on eliminating deep-rooted cultural stigma around mental illness, overhauling outdated institutional support infrastructure, and expanding community access to mental health services. She centered her work on the stigma that discourages young people from opening up about their struggles or seeking counseling, and shared that she hopes to see her ideas put into practice in the near future.

    Wharton-Boyce echoed the students’ calls to challenge stigma, encouraging young people to normalize open conversations about common struggles including anxiety, depression, grief, bullying, and chronic loneliness. She tied this work to the hospital’s ongoing “Check My Bias” anti-stigma campaign, advising the public: “Check the bias before we judge, before we label, before we dismiss.” She also emphasized that suicide prevention is a core national priority, urging young people to listen to friends experiencing crisis and connect them to trusted adults or professional mental health providers.

    Dr. Joy Sue, one of the lead organizers of the competition, explained that the contest was developed as a core implementation step for the national Suicide Prevention Action Plan, recognizing that young people are both a key vulnerable group and a vital source of new insight for mental health reform. In total, organizers received 36 submissions from secondary schools across the country, which went through a two-stage judging process. Judges evaluated entries based on contestants’ understanding of Barbados’ current mental health landscape, as well as the feasibility and innovation of their proposed improvements.

    Dr. Sue noted a unifying thread across all submissions: every entry called for mandatory, integrated mental health education in schools and a nationwide public anti-stigma campaign. A large majority of contestants also pushed for greater integration of mental health services into primary care to reduce barriers to access for underserved communities. Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural competition, Dr. Sue confirmed that organizers are strongly considering making the contest an annual event, and implementation of winning proposals will begin next year in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Transformation.

    Maisha Emmanuel, Chair of the National Mental Health Commission, highlighted that young people must be direct, active participants in all conversations shaping national mental health policy. She noted that young people are far more likely to open up to their peers than to authority figures, and has extended an invitation to the contest winners to join the commission’s public communication strategy, with opportunities to share their perspectives across radio, television, and social media platforms.

    Other top finishers included Karya Greaves of Queen’s College (second place, junior) and Joshua Franklin of Harrison College (third place, junior); in the senior category, former St Michael School student Melanie Phillips took second, while Trishad Whitehall of Daryll Jordan Secondary School claimed third. A special recognition award was granted to Olivia Dean for her submission, which shared intimate details of her own personal mental health journey.

    Ryan Lewis, Senior Nursing Officer and Mental Health Coordinator, noted that Dean’s willingness to share her story aligns perfectly with the hospital’s “Stories of Stigma” initiative, which invites people to share lived experiences to break down systemic barriers to care. He celebrated Dean’s contribution, noting that “one courageous conversation” can be the starting point for meaningful, nationwide change.

  • DABA to launch Women’s Basketball League with November 3×3 tournament

    DABA to launch Women’s Basketball League with November 3×3 tournament

    The Dominica Amateur Basketball Association (DABA) is preparing to open an exciting new chapter in the country’s sports landscape with the official launch of its long-awaited Women’s Basketball League. The milestone occasion will kick off with a special 3×3 basketball showcase branded as “Ladies Night,” scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM at the Massacre Indoor Sports Complex.

    According to an official press release from DABA, the launch event marks a key turning point in the association’s ongoing work to expand access to basketball opportunities for women and girls across the island nation. The November 7 gathering will formally signal the start of DABA’s revitalized national women’s basketball program, which is designed to create more structured pathways for female athletes to grow in the sport.

    The organization’s broader development strategy places an unprecedented focus on delivering consistent, structured opportunities for women to train, compete, and advance their basketball careers. A core goal of the new Women’s Basketball League is to create a clear progression route for young talent: starting from grassroots and school-level basketball, players can move up to club and national competitions, with the ultimate prize being selection to the national women’s team.

    The fast-paced 3×3 format has been chosen to headline the launch event, which will put the speed, tactical skill, teamwork, and competitive spirit of Dominica’s female basketball players on full display for attending fans. But DABA has emphasized that the evening will be far more than just a basketball competition.

    The association is actively encouraging basketball fans of all ages, families, aspiring young athletes, former players, and members of the general public to attend the event to cheer on the participating women. In addition to the on-court action, the launch night will feature live music and other entertainment to make it a celebratory community occasion.

    Beyond creating more playing opportunities, DABA hopes this new initiative will also inspire more women and girls to get involved in off-court roles within the sport, including coaching, refereeing, and sports administration. As the Women’s Basketball League continues to develop after its launch, DABA is also reaching out to local businesses and community partners to offer support. Partnerships will help secure the resources and infrastructure needed to build a sustainable, long-term women’s basketball program that can grow and thrive for years to come.

    As DABA embarks on this new chapter for women’s basketball in Dominica, the organization is calling on the entire public to turn out in November and show their support for female athletes across the country.

  • Caribbean trade & development thoughts: Part 1

    Caribbean trade & development thoughts: Part 1

    For generations, small open economies across the Caribbean have grappled with a persistent, defining question: How can these nations move beyond overreliance on tourism to build diversified, resilient economic foundations? While that question remains as relevant as ever, rapid shifts in the global trading system have rewritten the terms of the conversation. Today, some of the world’s most valuable cross-border exchanges no longer require containerization, ocean shipping, or port clearance—they flow seamlessly across borders through digital networks. This transformation unlocks an unprecedented opportunity for Caribbean economies, but the core challenge is not merely adopting more digital technology. Instead, it is leveraging digitalization to build competitive, high-value export sectors that can compete on the global stage.

    Breaking geographic barriers to trade
    Small island developing states have long faced structural disadvantages rooted in limited geographic scale. Domestic consumer markets are small, production runs are constrained by low demand, and steep shipping costs push up the price of physical exports for customers in major North American and European markets. These geographic realities have been difficult, if not impossible, to overcome through traditional trade strategies. Digital trade, however, upends this equation.

    A knowledge worker based in Grenada can now deliver accounting services, business consulting, graphic design, custom software development, market research, online education, digital marketing, and a host of other professional services directly to clients in Canada, the United Kingdom, or any other market—without relocating or shipping physical goods across the Atlantic. This is not just a convenient use of technology; it is international trade in its fastest-growing modern form. A September 2026 joint report from the World Trade Organization, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank finds that exports of digitally delivered services across Latin America and the Caribbean have grown fivefold over the past 20 years. Even so, the entire region accounts for just 2% of global digitally delivered service exports today, leaving massive room for growth. The report projects that targeted digital expansion and policy reforms could boost the region’s digitally deliverable service exports by an average of 4.5% per year—a projection that demands urgent attention from Caribbean policymakers.

    Services take center stage as the new global trade frontier
    The global economy has undergone a quiet structural shift, and it is now overwhelmingly a services-driven economy. Data from UN Trade and Development shows that services made up 27% of all global exports in 2025, with digitally deliverable services growing an average of 7.1% annually over the past decade. Today, these digital services account for 56% of all global services exports. This is no marginal trend—it signals a permanent reshaping of global trade composition. For centuries, international trade has been defined by physical goods: manufactured products, agricultural commodities, raw materials, and merchandise. Today, however, countries increasingly trade intangible value: expertise, data, creativity, specialized professional knowledge, and technology. This shift is uniquely promising for Caribbean economies. These nations have never suffered from a lack of talented, skilled workers. The longstanding challenge has been converting that existing talent into exportable economic value that reaches global customers.

    Bridging the gap between digital access and export capacity
    It is critical to draw a clear line between basic digital access and the capacity to export digital services. A country can have widespread smartphone penetration, general consumer internet access, and high social media adoption, and still capture almost no economic value from international digital markets. Digitalization alone does not automatically generate new export sectors. For Caribbean businesses to succeed as global digital exporters, they need a range of enabling foundations: reliable high-speed digital connectivity, affordable cross-border payment systems, clear and supportive regulatory frameworks, accessible financing for small and medium enterprises, specialized digital skills, robust cybersecurity protections, access to global market intelligence, and the tools to reach customers outside national borders.

    The WTO’s latest regional assessment of digital trade echoes these priorities, identifying digital infrastructure, regulatory policy, cross-border payments, export promotion, firm-level capabilities, digital skills, and access to capital as core determinants of successful participation in digital trade. This makes clear that digital trade is not just an issue for information and communications technology ministries—it is fundamentally a trade policy priority that requires coordinated, cross-government action.

    Unlocking Caribbean digital export potential
    The range of possible digital exports from the Caribbean is far broader than many regional leaders and business owners assume. From accounting and architecture to legal support, software development, digital marketing, graphic design, research and data analysis, online education, creative content, financial services, consulting, and technical support, there is a wide spectrum of knowledge-based services that Caribbean professionals can offer global clients. Beyond these existing talent pools, the Caribbean also holds a vastly underutilized asset in its global diaspora. For decades, the diaspora has primarily been viewed through the lens of remittance inflows, but its economic potential extends far beyond that. Diaspora members can act as international clients, investors, mentors, business partners, and market connectors that open doors to foreign customers. A forward-thinking Caribbean export strategy must therefore expand beyond asking “What physical goods can we produce?” to also ask “What knowledge and expertise can our people sell to the world?”

    The critical, underdiscussed role of data and measurement
    Another key issue that has been largely overlooked in regional conversations is accurate trade measurement. If policymakers lack clear data on what digital services Caribbean firms are exporting, which global markets they are accessing, how much revenue they generate, and what barriers they face, it is impossible to design effective, targeted export policies. Improved services trade statistics are not just a technical concern for statisticians—they are a core component of national economic strategy. UN Trade and Development has repeatedly emphasized that better measurement of services trade is critical to understanding how services drive competitiveness, economic diversification, and long-term development. For small economies, any economic activity that is not measured is easily sidelined in policy prioritization.

    Leveraging regional cooperation to overcome scale limits
    Caribbean nations must also look beyond individual national borders to build competitive digital export sectors. A single small island economy lacks the scale to independently develop every digital platform, training program, professional network, and export promotion initiative needed to compete with larger global players. Regional cooperation offers a solution to this constraint. Caribbean nations can work together to harmonize digital standards, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, build shared cross-border payment systems, coordinate regional cybersecurity frameworks, develop joint skills training programs, host regional business matchmaking events, and launch collective services export promotion campaigns.

    The WTO’s recent regional study also highlights that deepening intra-regional digital trade remains a largely untapped opportunity. Current intra-regional digital trade volumes across the Caribbean are far lower than in other major global regions. For decades, Caribbean regional integration has focused almost exclusively on trade in physical goods, but the next chapter of regional integration will increasingly center on services, data, talent mobility, and digital transactions.

    AI amplifies the urgency of action
    The rapid rise of artificial intelligence adds a new layer of urgency to this conversation. AI has the potential to cut the cost of delivering many professional services and dramatically boost worker productivity, which could be transformative for small Caribbean economies looking to enter global markets. But AI also risks widening existing digital divides. UN Trade and Development has warned that developing economies with inadequate digital infrastructure, persistent skills shortages, and gaps in digital productive capacity could fall further behind as the global digital economy evolves. This makes clear that the Caribbean cannot afford to treat digital policy as a simple matter of expanding consumer internet access. The next critical challenge is building the productive capacity to turn digital connectivity into export value.

    Shifting from digital consumers to digital exporters
    The core question facing the Caribbean today is no longer whether the region will participate in the digital economy—every country in the region is already integrated into digital networks as consumers. The critical question is how the region will participate: Will it remain largely a consumer of foreign technology, foreign platforms, and foreign digitally delivered services? Or will it emerge as an exporter of Caribbean knowledge, creativity, professional expertise, and intellectual capital? For small states, digital trade offers an opportunity that traditional trade has long made out of reach: the chance to compete globally without first achieving massive domestic economies of scale. But this advantage will not materialize on its own. It requires intentional, coordinated policy action: digital infrastructure must be paired with workforce skills, skills must be connected to affordable financing, financing must be linked to export opportunities, regulation must balance innovation support with consumer protection, and regional integration must move from rhetoric to practical collaboration.

    The next generation of Caribbean trade policy must move beyond the traditional priorities of goods exports, tourism promotion, and general investment attraction. It is time to ask a more ambitious question: What can Caribbean people sell to the world when geography is no longer the primary barrier to trade?

    The answer could become one of the most transformative economic diversification opportunities available to small Caribbean economies. Digital trade is not just about getting more people connected to the internet. It is about building more competitive, resilient, and diversified economies that can deliver sustained growth for decades to come.

    *This commentary is by Kamisha L. Redhead, a Grenadian international trade and development professional focused on trade policy, sustainable transport, small-state development, and economic resilience. The views expressed are the author’s alone and do not represent those of her employer or any affiliated institutions. NOW Grenada is not responsible for content contributed by external commentators.*

  • Antigua and Barbuda Elected Vice-President of PAHO’s 63rd Directing Council

    Antigua and Barbuda Elected Vice-President of PAHO’s 63rd Directing Council

    In a significant milestone for Caribbean regional health engagement, Antigua and Barbuda has been elected Vice-President of the 63rd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), marking a major expansion of the small island nation’s role in shaping regional health policy and high-level decision-making. The nation’s delegation at the Washington D.C.-based meeting, which runs from September 28 to October 2, 2026, is led by Honorable Michael Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, who formally took on the vice-presidential role during the opening proceedings of the assembly.

    The annual PAHO Directing Council convenes health ministers and senior public health leaders from every country across the Americas, creating a collaborative platform to tackle shared regional health challenges, align priorities, and deepen cross-border coordination in public health. During the session, Minister Joseph delivered Antigua and Barbuda’s official statement under Agenda Item 3.2, where he offered formal recognition of PAHO Director’s annual report, titled *Delivering Health Gains across the Americas through Resilience and Innovation*.

    In his address, Joseph spotlighted the longstanding and multifaceted technical support PAHO has extended to Antigua and Barbuda across a wide range of public health domains. This critical assistance includes foundational support for developing the nation’s National Strategic Plan for Health 2026–2031, targeted disease elimination programs—most notably efforts to eradicate cervical cancer, and sustained work to maintain the region’s hard-won status of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Additional areas of partnership include strengthening national pandemic preparedness frameworks, expanding access to mental health services, and rolling out the WHO-led HEARTS Initiative to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.

    Joseph also specifically praised PAHO’s Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines, which has been instrumental in shoring up Antigua and Barbuda’s Expanded Programme on Immunization at a time of growing global challenges: rising public vaccine hesitancy and soaring international transportation costs that have strained supply chains for many small island developing states. Other ongoing collaborations include support for implementing the Global School-based Student Health Survey and Global Youth Tobacco Survey to generate evidence for youth health policy, upgrading national laboratory capacity through the global Pandemic Fund, and integrating the Information Systems for Health framework to boost the country’s disease surveillance capabilities.

    A core priority Antigua and Barbuda will emphasize during its vice-presidential tenure is strengthening global and regional investment in health workforce development and health infrastructure, which Joseph framed as non-negotiable foundations for advancing sustainable development and universal health coverage across the Americas. The minister closed by reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda’s deep gratitude for PAHO’s enduring partnership, and restated the nation’s unwavering commitment to advancing health equity, building systemic public health resilience, and improving health outcomes for all populations across the region.

    For Antigua and Barbuda, the elevation to the vice-presidency of PAHO’s governing body is more than a ceremonial honor: it grants the small island nation a formal seat at the table to shape regional health strategy, contribute its unique perspective as a small developing state to key council deliberations, and advance collaborative progress on the shared health priorities that unite countries across the Americas.

  • Mighty Pe’lay remembered on 15th anniversary of his death

    Mighty Pe’lay remembered on 15th anniversary of his death

    Fifteen years following the death of one of Saint Lucia’s most celebrated cultural icons, legendary calypsonian The Mighty Pe’lay, the newly formed Calypso Review Committee (CRC) has honored his enduring legacy with a special curated exhibition and official commemoration ceremony at Castries’ Constitution Park this Monday.

    Born Jeff Pe’lay Elva and widely nicknamed “Mr. Consistency” for his consistent artistic excellence, the iconic performer passed away on September 28, 2011, at the age of 67, leaving behind a decades-long body of work that shaped Caribbean calypso and Saint Lucian national identity.

    Widely regarded as one of the most prolific songwriters in the island nation’s history, Pe’lay built his reputation on sharp, incisive social commentary, quick-witted political satire, and infectious party anthems that resonated with audiences across generations. His competitive career boasts an extraordinary list of achievements: he claimed the coveted Calypso Monarch title six times, won the Road March competition twice, and made history as Saint Lucia’s very first Soca Monarch when the inaugural competition launched in 1997.

    Beyond his performance accolades, Pe’lay’s creative output was staggering: he composed more than 300 original tracks for both his own performances and fellow artists, and broke new ground in Caribbean music when he released the region’s first full-length Christmas album in 1977. Perhaps his most lasting contribution to national life is penning Saint Lucia’s official National Pledge of Allegiance, a text that remains a core part of the country’s civic identity to this day.

    Pe’lay’s life story was marked by resilience in the face of devastating adversity. Born in Vieux Fort, he moved to the United States in the 1970s to pursue a degree in aeronautical engineering, a career path that was cut short when a serious car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rather than abandoning his ambitions, he pivoted to the calypso stage, where he built a legendary career from his wheelchair, proving that his impact and determination far outstripped his physical limitations.

    Speaking at Monday’s event, CRC Chair Caron Tobiere framed the tribute exhibition as a small but meaningful celebration of Pe’lay’s life and work, noting that the event forms part of a much larger initiative to preserve and promote Saint Lucian calypso for future generations. “We saw this as a fitting tribute to celebrate him, but this is part of a bigger project,” Tobiere explained. “The CRC has come together to establish an organisation which will manage the music of carnival moving forward. We hope to do so pretty soon and this is one of the projects which we have undertaken.”

    That larger initiative will culminate in a comprehensive national calypso exhibition scheduled for November 22, which will trace the full history and evolution of the beloved genre across Saint Lucia. Lorna Lubron, a former president of the Saint Lucia Calypso Association, praised the CRC’s work organizing the Pe’lay tribute, emphasizing the late performer’s foundational role in building the island’s calypso community. “Pe’lay was certainly one of our leading calypsonians, and back in 1975 when the Saint Lucia Calypso Association was formed, he was an integral part of it along with Lord Jackson, Carro and others who made it happen,” Lubron said.

    Chris Norville, a relative of Pe’lay who addressed attendees at the ceremony, shared that his own Christmas Day birthday has created a special personal connection to Pe’lay’s pioneering Christmas album. “Although he is gone, that memory will always remain and I must say he carried our culture in his music,” Norville said.

    Ian Sanchez, a longtime music promoter and close friend of the late calypsonian, reflected on Pe’lay’s own prediction of his posthumous legacy. “I remember a few months before he died, he said … ‘when I die then you will all see how great I am,’” Sanchez recalled. “He was so right; although we became close, after he passed I learned so much more about him and the immense work he did. I am truly blessed to have known Jeff Elva and I will treasure those memories for the rest of my life.”

    Dozens of prominent current and former calypsonians attended the tribute, including Blaze, Invader and Jackson, with celebrated performer TC Brown delivering a moving special musical tribute to Pe’lay during the ceremony.

    In addition to his artistic contributions, Pe’lay was a revered advocate for people living with disabilities, and his lifetime of service and artistry earned him numerous national honors. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2009, awarded the Les Piton Medal and the Belgrave Medal for Lifetime Achievement, and was an early inductee into the Saint Lucia Music Hall of Fame.

  • AT&LU Accuses Public Works Management of Frustrating Workers Into Leaving Their Jobs

    AT&LU Accuses Public Works Management of Frustrating Workers Into Leaving Their Jobs

    The president of Antigua and Barbuda’s largest trade union has leveled serious allegations of workplace mistreatment against senior leadership at the country’s Public Works Department, claiming systemic harassment is pushing vulnerable contract workers out of their jobs.

    Bernard de Nully, leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU), made the claims during his keynote address at the union’s 87th Annual Delegates’ Conference, where he centered his remarks on growing systemic social injustice and the erosion of fundamental labor rights across the nation’s public sector.

    According to de Nully, the targeted harassment campaign specifically impacts hundreds of non-established workers – a group that includes young laborers, single mothers working to support their families, and individuals who have been granted second chances to rebuild their lives through steady employment. He claims management has deliberately used tactics of frustration and intimidation to create a hostile work environment that leaves these workers with no choice but to stop reporting for their shifts.

    “These are young people, single parents, and folks who have worked hard to get back on the right track and turn their lives around,” de Nully told delegates. “They are being pushed so far by constant mistreatment that they simply cannot bring themselves to come back to work anymore.”

    Once workers step away from the hostile workplace, de Nully alleges that department management intentionally mislabels their departure as voluntary job abandonment. In reality, he argues, the intentional creation of an unworkable environment amounts to constructive dismissal – a clear-cut case of unfair termination under labor law.

    De Nully emphasized that every worker, regardless of employment classification or job role, is inherently entitled to dignity and respectful treatment on the job. “A member of the cleaning staff deserves the exact same level of respect as a departmental general manager,” he stated, noting that this basic standard of human dignity must be upheld for all workers, whether they are employed in the public or private sector.

    In his address, the union president did not name individual affected workers or share specific documented cases of the alleged constructive dismissal. His claims are part of a broader critique of long-unresolved labor grievances across Antigua and Barbuda’s entire public sector. De Nully closed his remarks by urging all workers across the country to stand in collective unity to demand that their fundamental employment rights are respected and upheld.