作者： admin

Corporate Sponsors Boost Entrepreneurship Training for Barbuda Students

Barbuda’s next generation of young innovators is gaining unprecedented access to practical business skills, thanks to a growing wave of corporate sponsorships investing in local entrepreneurship training programs. For years, students on the small Caribbean island faced limited opportunities to explore self-employment and business creation, with most secondary and post-secondary institutions focusing on traditional career pathways that left little room for innovative, homegrown business ideas. Today, that narrative is shifting as local and international companies step in to fund curriculum development, bring industry mentors into the classroom, and provide small seed grants for student-led prototype projects.

The programs, embedded in both secondary schools and the island’s community training centers, cover core skills ranging from business plan development and digital marketing to financial management and supply chain logistics. Unlike generic classroom lectures, the training is designed around Barbuda’s unique economic context, encouraging students to build businesses that leverage local assets such as sustainable tourism, artisanal crafts, blue economy initiatives, and local agriculture. Corporate partners not only provide funding, but also send active business leaders to work one-on-one with students, offering real-world insights that cannot be found in textbooks.

Program organizers report that early outcomes have exceeded expectations, with more than 60% of participating students reporting increased interest in starting their own ventures after graduation, compared to just 15% before the expanded programs launched. For the island of Barbuda, which has worked to rebuild its local economy following major climate disasters in recent years, developing a new cohort of young entrepreneurs is seen as a critical step toward building more resilient, self-sufficient economic growth. Local education officials note that the corporate sponsorship model has created a sustainable partnership that aligns the private sector’s goal of nurturing future talent with the community’s goal of expanding economic opportunity for young people. Moving forward, partners plan to expand the program to reach every secondary school on the island by 2026, and add a annual student business pitch competition that will connect top ventures with additional regional investment opportunities.

27 6 月, 2026
Workers At Hammock Cove Set To Benefit From Union Representation

Workers at Hammock Cove Resort & Spa, a luxury Caribbean property under the Elite Island Resorts umbrella, have formally voted to recognize the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) as their official collective bargaining agent, closing a years-long push for formal worker representation at the resort and delivering tangible gains for its entire staff.

This milestone was cemented earlier this week, with the resort’s workforce gathering Wednesday for their first official collective meeting with ABWU leadership following the union’s official certification. Attendees heard opening remarks from Kem Riley, ABWU President and Senior Industrial Relations Officer, who walked attendees through the next steps for worker representation and the terms of the newly agreed collective bargaining framework.

Riley confirmed that resort management has formally agreed to adopt all existing provisions laid out in the master collective bargaining agreement that already covers all other Elite Island Resorts properties across Antigua and Barbuda. This alignment brings Hammock Cove workers in line with their peers across the group, standardizing working conditions and benefit guarantees across the brand.

Among the most noteworthy provisions for workers is a scheduled 50-cent hourly wage increase set to take effect on July 1, 2026, a win that will raise base pay for all hourly employees at the property. The agreement also formalizes the resort’s obligation to uphold public holiday pay entitlements, codifying a rule that guarantees workers either a full day of pay or an alternative paid day off if they are scheduled to work on a recognized public holiday—closing a gap in previous informal workplace policies that left many workers undercompensated for holiday shifts.

In addition to wage and scheduling protections, Riley highlighted the value of the joint ABHTA/ABWU Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan, which is now available to all Hammock Cove workers. He emphasized that the plan is designed to be affordable for working households, extending coverage not just to employees, but also their immediate family members, addressing a key unmet need for many resort workers who previously lacked access to affordable family healthcare.

Closing the meeting, Riley reaffirmed the union’s ongoing commitment to advocating for Hammock Cove staff. He noted that the certification of the union and adoption of the collective agreement is just the first step, and that ABWU will continue to work with workers to negotiate further improvements to working conditions, compensation, and overall quality of life for all employees at the resort.

27 6 月, 2026
Trump Administration Mobilizes Robust Response to Tragic Venezuelan Earthquakes

In the immediate aftermath of a series of destructive earthquakes that struck Venezuela overnight, the United States has moved quickly to mobilize life-saving resources, rolling out a whole-of-government emergency response to support affected populations. Within hours of the disaster, former U.S. President Donald Trump authorized an extensive package of support that combines direct financial aid, on-the-ground search and rescue operations, and close collaboration with Venezuela’s interim authorities to meet the urgent needs of communities impacted by the quakes.

Senior officials from the U.S. Department of State, which is leading the federal response effort, have underscored that the first 24 hours following a major natural disaster are the most critical for saving lives in the Western Hemisphere. To that end, the department has deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which includes two elite urban search and rescue units tasked with locating and extracting survivors trapped under rubble. Back at the department’s Washington D.C. headquarters, agency leaders have established a dedicated Venezuela Earthquake Response Task Force to synchronize relief efforts across public and private sector partners, conduct rapid needs assessments, and deliver consular support to any U.S. citizens affected by the disaster.

Beyond immediate search and rescue operations, airlift capacity, and cross-agency coordination, the U.S. is making $150 million in emergency humanitarian assistance available to Venezuelan populations through experienced implementing partners. The package breaks down into $50 million in new bilateral grants for frontline organizations already operating in Venezuela, including World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Relief Services, International Medical Corps, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Food Programme. An additional $100 million is being contributed to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Venezuela pooled humanitarian fund, expanding the scope of coordinated relief across affected areas. Department of State staff are also supporting partner organizations with logistics planning and official liaison with interim Venezuelan governance bodies.

The response effort draws heavily on close coordination with the U.S. Department of War (DoW), leveraging the military’s unmatched logistical and operational infrastructure to speed the movement of response teams, rescue equipment, and life-saving aid into hard-hit zones. For large-scale natural disasters like this earthquake sequence, securing reliable logistics to move personnel and supplies into affected areas is the top operational priority. DoW will deploy both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft to provide specialized mobility support, enabling response teams, U.S. government personnel, and implementing partners to conduct damage assessments, locate injured survivors, and deliver critical emergency supplies.

The interagency coordination cell activated by the State Department integrates expertise from across multiple federal agencies, with DoW providing dedicated support to secure logistics pathways, access pre-positioned military assets in the region, and deploy forward personnel to cut down on response time and boost operational effectiveness. The Venezuela Earthquakes Response Task Force, stood up within hours of the first quake, brings together specialists from the State Department’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, Bureau of Consular Affairs, DoW, and other federal partners. Task Force leadership is made up of senior experts with direct experience managing past regional disasters, including Hurricane Melissa, ensuring immediate operational readiness and proven crisis leadership.

The deployed DART brings global-class disaster response expertise, technical and programmatic guidance, on-the-ground operational leadership, and real-time coordination to the response effort. Made up of veteran disaster specialists from across the State Department, the team’s core mandates include conducting on-the-ground condition assessments, prioritizing the most urgent unmet humanitarian needs, and leading overall U.S. government response activities. DART members are working alongside existing State Department assistance staff and U.S. Embassy diplomatic personnel to synchronize efforts with local authorities and international partner organizations.

The two urban search and rescue teams activated for the response draw trained personnel from the Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California, fire departments. As core components of the DART deployment, these units are the U.S. government’s primary international search and rescue assets, with each team including highly qualified personnel: career firefighters, emergency physicians, structural engineers, and certified canine search specialists. Both teams previously deployed in response to Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, where they conducted damage surveys across impacted areas of Jamaica, cleared debris to open access routes for relief convoys, and supported the transportation of emergency supplies to vulnerable communities.

DoW elements, including U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), are working in lockstep with the DART to deliver life-saving support in close coordination with local partners, leveraging SOUTHCOM’s longstanding regional presence to ensure rapid, sustained operational backing for the relief effort.

Consistent with the Trump administration’s stated priority of protecting the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, the State Department is working around the clock to provide consular support to U.S. citizens and their family members in earthquake-affected areas. The department has launched a dedicated Venezuela Earthquakes Information webpage to host the latest updates on the U.S. response, and U.S. citizens in Venezuela are directed to the STEP.state.gov portal to receive real-time safety updates from the U.S. Embassy and review the department’s official Travel Advisory for Venezuela.

In closing, the U.S. government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting Venezuela through recovery from the devastating disaster, noting that officials will continue to identify and deploy additional meaningful assistance throughout the ongoing crisis response period.

27 6 月, 2026
Shenelle Benjamin Honoured with 2025 WOW Factor Award for Health and Wellness

A dedicated registered nurse from Antigua and Barbuda’s Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre has earned one of the Caribbean nation’s most prominent honors for frontline healthcare workers, after being selected as the 2025 recipient of the WOW Factor Award for Health and Wellness.

Shenelle Benjamin’s recognition stems from her longstanding commitment to patient-centered compassionate care, a philosophy that has shaped every interaction she has with the people under her care. Colleagues and award judges alike highlighted her consistent effort to ensure every patient leaves their appointment or hospital stay feeling seen, respected, fully supported, and valued as an individual rather than just a medical case.

Award organizers noted that Benjamin has built her decades-long nursing career around a core belief: that exceptional customer service is the foundation of effective healthcare. For Benjamin, meaningful, empathetic connection with patients and intentional advocacy for their needs are not add-ons to her role—they are central to what it means to be a good nurse.

In responding to the announcement of her award, Benjamin shared that the honor carries deep personal as well as professional meaning. She described it as a reflection of both the professional milestones she has achieved throughout her career and the personal growth she has experienced along the way. She also made a point to acknowledge the unwavering support of her family, which she says has allowed her to show up fully for her patients every day.

Beyond her own achievement, Benjamin emphasized that the WOW Factor Awards play a critical role across Antigua and Barbuda: they inspire working professionals in every industry to chase excellence, take pride in their work, and nurture the passion that drew them to their fields in the first place.

Award organizers officially extended their congratulations to Benjamin following the announcement, reiterating their praise for her consistent commitment to improving patient outcomes and lives, and her unwavering pursuit of the highest standards of care across the Antigua and Barbuda healthcare system.

27 6 月, 2026
Jeannette Bowery Wins 2025 WOW Factor Award for Sales and Marketing

For over two decades, Jeannette Bowery has built a distinguished career in the automotive sector, holding dual key roles at Hadeed Motors Ltd. Based out of the company’s Bowery location, she serves as the firm’s Sales Coordinator while also overseeing the critical Vehicle Preparation Department. This dual responsibility has given her a unique vantage point across the customer journey, from initial sales engagement through to final vehicle handoff.

This month, Bowery’s consistent commitment to outstanding customer experience has been recognized with a prestigious honor from the WOW Factor Awards. Award organizers highlighted that Bowery has cultivated an industry-wide reputation for service excellence rooted in four core professional practices: rigorous professionalism, transparent and clear communication, intentional active listening, and a sustained focus on centering individual customer needs in every interaction.

Beyond delivering one-off positive customer experiences, Bowery has prioritized long-term relationship-building with clients, a strategy that has seen her consistently outpace performance targets and exceed customer expectations. This track record has not only won the loyalty of her clients but also earned her widespread respect from peers within Hadeed Motors and fellow professionals across the broader automotive industry.

In a statement announcing the award, the WOW Factor Awards extended formal congratulations to Bowery on the achievement, singling out her sharp leadership, rare professional versatility across two distinct departments, and unwavering dedication to service quality. Organizers noted that her work continues to set a elevated industry benchmark for excellence in both automotive sales and customer care.

27 6 月, 2026
Karen Wong Honoured with 2025 WOW Factor Award for Hospitality and Tourism

A standout leader from one of Antigua and Barbuda’s top resort properties has earned the highest industry recognition for exceptional service, cementing the Caribbean nation’s reputation as a world-class tourism hotspot. Karen Wong, a hospitality professional based at Sandals Grande Antigua, has been officially selected as the 2025 recipient of the coveted WOW Factor Award for Hospitality and Tourism, an honor created to celebrate exceptional contributions to Antigua and Barbuda’s booming travel and hospitality sector.

Unlike generic industry awards that honor large brands or institutions, this recognition spotlights individual practitioners who go above and beyond to craft unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences for visitors to the twin-island nation. According to award organizers, Wong has centered her decades-long career on prioritizing exceptional guest experiences, while simultaneously introducing global travelers to the unique warmth, vibrant cultural heritage, and breathtaking natural beauty that Antigua and Barbuda has to offer.

Wong’s approach to hospitality redefines what outstanding customer service means, she says. For her, great service is never just about checking boxes to meet basic guest expectations. Instead, it relies on three core pillars: meticulous attention to small, personal details that make visitors feel seen, a genuine sense of hospitality rooted in Antigua and Barbuda’s cultural tradition of welcome, and the ability to anticipate guests’ unspoken needs to create memories that last long after they return home.

In comments following the award announcement, Wong noted that the WOW Factor Awards fill a unique niche in the regional hospitality industry. Beyond celebrating individual achievement, the honors are designed to uplift the entire sector by recognizing consistent, extraordinary service and motivating other hospitality professionals across Antigua and Barbuda to raise the bar for excellence in their own work.

Organizers extended their formal congratulations to Wong on the well-deserved honor, singling out her unwavering professionalism and lifelong dedication to service as key drivers of Antigua and Barbuda’s growing standing as a premier global tourism destination. They added that Wong’s work not only delights the guests she interacts with daily, but also sets a powerful example for the next generation of hospitality leaders across the country.

27 6 月, 2026
Priscilla Joseph Receives 2025 WOW Factor Award for Sports and Education

An educator from Antigua and Barbuda has earned national recognition for her extraordinary commitment to service and community impact, as Priscilla Joseph of St. John’s Catholic Primary School has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious WOW Factor Award in the Sports and Education category.

The WOW Factor Awards were established to shine a spotlight on unsung individuals across all sectors who go far beyond the basic requirements of their roles, delivering exceptional service and leaving lasting, positive imprints on their fields and the communities they serve. Unlike many honors that prioritize professional accolades or measurable performance metrics alone, this award centers core values of empathy, respect, and intentional connection with those an individual serves.

According to award organizers, Joseph stood out among a competitive pool of nominees for her unwavering dedication to fostering trust, extending mutual respect to every person she interacts with, and cultivating meaningful, uplifting experiences for students, colleagues, and families within her school community. What sets Joseph apart, organizers noted, is her unique approach to service: rather than viewing her role as a simple checklist of required tasks, she prioritizes making every individual feel seen, heard, and genuinely valued in every interaction.

In response to her selection, Joseph shared that the WOW Factor Awards fill a critical niche in Antigua and Barbuda’s professional landscape by highlighting the work of people who consistently exceed expectations to lift others up. She emphasized that the recognition itself does more than just honor individual achievement — it acts as a catalyst for raising professional standards across all sectors, encouraging greater accountability and care, and nurturing a widespread, robust culture of service throughout the nation.

Representatives of the WOW Factor Awards officially congratulated Joseph on her well-deserved achievement, reiterating their admiration for her decades-long dedication to education and service, as well as the consistent positive influence she has wielded to strengthen local community bonds.

27 6 月, 2026
Qasim Henry Wins 2025 WOW Factor Award for Transportation and Tours

The global tourism industry is full of small, passionate operators that redefine how travelers experience new destinations, and one Caribbean professional has now earned top-tier recognition for his innovative approach to cultural immersion. Qasim Henry, founder and owner of the boutique tour company Antigua Inside Out, has been officially announced as the 2025 recipient of the WOW Factor Award for Transportation and Tours, an honor that celebrates excellence in visitor experience and destination promotion.

Unlike generic mass-market sightseeing packages, Henry’s work centers on crafting authentic, customized travel experiences that shine a spotlight on the layered history, vibrant living culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Award organizers explained that Henry stood out from nominees across the region for his commitment to moving beyond surface-level tourism. Instead of just guiding visitors through popular landmarks, he weaves local oral histories and community-centered cultural activities into every tour, helping guests form deep, meaningful connections to the islands and their people.

Through years of consistent focus on narrative-driven storytelling, exceptional customer care, and intentional promotion of Antigua and Barbuda’s unique heritage, Henry has grown Antigua Inside Out from a small local operation into one of the destination’s most trusted tourism brands. Organizers note that the company now serves as an unofficial, yet highly respected, ambassador for the islands, shaping how international visitors perceive and engage with the Caribbean nation.

In response to the announcement, Henry shared that the award is far more than a personal honor—it is a reflection of the years of relentless work, consistent dedication, and unwavering commitment that his entire team puts into creating unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences for every guest that walks through their doors. The leadership of the WOW Factor Awards officially extended their congratulations to Henry, emphasizing that his infectious passion for showcasing all that Antigua and Barbuda has to offer continues to inspire not just the tourists who visit his tours, but also local residents who work in the island nation’s critical tourism sector.

27 6 月, 2026
Pawiroredjo zet vraagtekens bij omvang personeel kabinet vp; Rusland geeft uitleg

A heated debate over public sector staffing efficiency has erupted in Suriname during ongoing national budget deliberations, with the leader of the opposition NPS party raising sharp questions about bloated headcount at the Vice President’s office. Jerrel Pawiroredjo, NPS parliamentary group leader, told lawmakers Friday that approximately 500 people are currently listed on the Vice President’s cabinet payroll, but widespread reports suggest many of these workers are not present for daily work duties.

Pawiroredjo centered his critique on fiscal responsibility, arguing that the government must prioritize more careful stewardship of taxpayer funds amid a period of tight national public finances. He questioned whether the current size of the Vice President’s cabinet workforce aligns with the actual workload of the office, noting that Surinamese society has a clear right to a streamlined, efficient public sector when financial resources are so constrained. The opposition leader called for a full review of government organizational structure to confirm that all public spending delivers clear value to citizens.

Vice President Gregory Rusland pushed back partially against Pawiroredjo’s claims, clarifying that the 500 total headcount does not exclusively refer to staff based directly in the Vice President’s core cabinet. Rusland explained that the payroll figure includes employees from multiple independent institutions that fall under the Vice President’s portfolio, including two major state media outlets: the Suriname Television Foundation (STVS) and the Suriname Broadcasting Foundation (SRS). The aggregated total, he stressed, does not accurately reflect the number of staff working full-time in the central Vice President’s office.

Rusland did acknowledge that the Surinamese government as a whole faces challenges with an oversized public workforce, confirming that the current administration is fully aware of the issue and is actively pursuing targeted reforms to boost the efficiency of the entire public apparatus. He emphasized that any restructuring must be implemented carefully and gradually, as thousands of Surinamese households rely on public sector employment for their livelihoods. “These are not processes you can implement overnight,” Rusland told parliament.

The exchange over the Vice President’s cabinet staffing is not an isolated incident. Multiple parliamentary factions from across the political spectrum have used this year’s budget debate to call for broader public sector reform, unified in pushing for more prudent management of public funds. Lawmakers across parties have stressed that structural reforms are necessary to put Suriname’s public finances on a sustainable long-term footing, without eroding the quality of public services that Surinamese citizens depend on.

27 6 月, 2026
$641,000 in targeted ATM

What was shaped up to be a carefully coordinated large-scale robbery has ended in an embarrassing failure for five masked suspects, after a critical piece of their stolen heavy equipment broke down just as they were poised to escape with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, newly released official police reports have confirmed.

The botched plot kicked off shortly before midnight on a Wednesday, when two on-duty security guards at Courland Beach Sports Arena were ambushed by two attackers clad in dark clothing. One of the assailants was armed with a loaded firearm, and the pair immediately restrained and searched the guards, demanding they hand over keys for a white Mitsubishi work truck and a yellow Caterpillar backhoe. When the guards explained they did not carry the keys for the equipment, the gunmen ransacked on-site storage and personal bags, before tying the guards’ hands and feet and forcing them to lie face-down on the ground. In a striking detail that has drawn public attention, one of the suspects was wearing a cape and hood that matched the iconic costume of comic book hero Batman. Before leaving the scene, the attackers warned the guards that a third accomplice was posted as a lookout along the nearby fence line, and that any attempt to move or call for help would be met with force.

Minutes after the assailants departed, the guards heard the stolen truck and backhoe being driven off the property. It took the guards nearly an hour to free themselves from their restraints; once loose, they counted their losses and found that only $200 in cash had been stolen from one guard’s personal wallet. The value of the two stolen pieces of equipment, however, far outstripped that small take: the Mitsubishi truck was appraised at $412,000, and the Caterpillar backhoe was valued at $850,000, bringing the total value of stolen property from the arena to $1.262 million.

Just over two hours after the initial ambush, at approximately 2:05 a.m., a resident living in an upper floor of the Supreme Plaza building in Plymouth, overlooking a First Citizens Bank ATM on Shelbourne Street, was jolted awake by a loud noise that sounded like a vehicle ramming into the commercial structure. Curious, the resident looked out from an upstairs office window and spotted a masked man operating the stolen backhoe, which had already smashed a large hole in the exterior wall that housed the ATM’s reinforced vault. Parked nearby, a white three-tonne truck – the same stolen Mitsubishi from the arena – waited with four more masked suspects, ready to carry the vault away.

The witness immediately placed a call to local law enforcement, and watched from his vantage point as the backhoe wrenched the entire ATM vault free from the building’s foundation. The gang then made repeated attempts to hook the heavy vault to the backhoe and lift it onto the waiting truck – but that is where their carefully laid plan fell apart. The backhoe had sustained critical structural damage during the wall-demolition process, and it completely broke down mid-lift, leaving the suspects with no way to load the 238,000 vault onto their escape truck.

Trapped and with police already en route, the five suspects were forced to abandon their entire operation. They fled the scene in the stolen Mitsubishi truck, leaving behind the disabled backhoe, the damaged building, and the untouched ATM vault that still held their intended target: $641,000 in cold, hard cash. Law enforcement later assessed the damage to the bank and plaza building, estimating that structural repairs would cost $185,000, plus an additional $40,000 to replace two destroyed First Citizens Bank signs.

After securing the scene, investigators pulled surveillance footage from nearby cameras that clearly captured the five masked suspects during the attempted robbery. Police confirmed this week that they have already identified two persons of interest connected to the failed heist, and the investigation remains active as officers work to track down the remaining suspects and recover the stolen Mitsubishi truck that the gang escaped in.

27 6 月, 2026