Carib Scope

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  • Toddler Killed in US Latest Heavy Strikes on Iran: Report

    Toddler Killed in US Latest Heavy Strikes on Iran: Report

    After a five-day lull in military action, the United States has restarted large-scale airstrikes against targets inside Iran, triggering a rapid escalation of tensions across the Middle East that has raised fears of broader regional conflict.

    According to Iranian state media reports, the latest round of American strikes hit a residential structure on Qeshm Island, a key strategic and population center off Iran’s southern coast. The attack left a local couple dead along with their two-year-old toddler, marking the latest incident of civilian harm in the escalating confrontation between the two nations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force, also confirmed that three of its service members were killed in the strikes.

    US Central Command (CENTCOM), the American military command overseeing operations in the Middle East, confirmed it launched the “heavy wave” of strikes late Wednesday. The operation was framed as a direct response to an Iranian missile assault on US military personnel stationed in Jordan that occurred one day prior. CENTCOM noted that the strikes targeted approximately 50 IRGC-affiliated sites across Iran, including weapons storage facilities for missiles and drones, military command and control hubs, and coastal defense emplacements that have been a longstanding focus of American intelligence and military planning.

    In the hours following the US strikes, Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks that impacted territory in both Jordan and Kuwait, amplifying regional spillover risks. Jordanian military officials confirmed they successfully intercepted multiple incoming Iranian missiles, preventing widespread casualties. However, in Kuwait, local authorities reported one fatality after an Iranian missile struck a building owned and operated by a Chinese company, drawing in a third-party commercial entity to the escalating conflict.

    Despite the sharp escalation of military hostilities, diplomatic channels have not been completely severed. Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that ongoing negotiations with Omani diplomats centered on security and shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz are continuing as scheduled in Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with roughly a fifth of global oil shipments passing through the waterway, making its security a core priority for the entire global energy market.

    Alongside the new military strikes, the United States has also expanded economic pressure on Iran, announcing new sanctions targeting two Iranian companies. US officials accuse the firms of coercing commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay unauthorized insurance fees as a condition of transit, a practice Washington has decried as illegal harassment of international shipping.

  • Grenada youth symposium strengthens regional justice initiative

    Grenada youth symposium strengthens regional justice initiative

    On July 10, the Grenada Trade Centre Annex played host to a landmark regional youth event that brought legal education directly to the next generation of Caribbean leaders. More than 100 young people based in Grenada gathered in person for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) and Justice Education Society (JES) Youth Symposium, with additional participants from across the Eastern Caribbean joining virtually to take part in the day of learning and dialogue.

    Funded by the Government of Canada through the five-year, $4.5 million Judicial Strengthening for the Eastern Caribbean (JES-EC) Project administered by Global Affairs Canada, the symposium forms part of an expanding regional Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) initiative. The project, which operates across Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, aims to strengthen access to justice, boost legal empowerment, and build institutional capacity across the Eastern Caribbean, with a specific focus on expanding legal literacy for marginalized groups including women, youth, and vulnerable communities. This Grenada event follows on the success of a 2025 youth symposium held in St Lucia, with additional planned gatherings in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the coming months.

    The event opened with a welcome from Her Ladyship the Honourable Justice Paula Gilford, Senior Resident Judge for Grenada, followed by a keynote address from Her Ladyship the Honourable Margaret Price-Findlay, Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Price-Findlay’s presentation centered on the core role of the judiciary and the critical function of a robust justice system in upholding and protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens.

    Throughout the day, participants engaged in hands-on interactive sessions led by sitting judges, practicing attorneys, youth advocates, law enforcement officials, and justice sector practitioners. The sessions covered a wide range of practical legal topics that directly impact young people in the region, including business and entrepreneurship law, property rights and estate planning, alternative dispute resolution through mediation, addressing cyberbullying, community policing frameworks, prevention of gender-based violence, and strategies for making informed positive life choices. The agenda also integrated spoken-word performances, open networking sessions, and facilitated group discussions that created space for young attendees to share their own perspectives and lived experiences, while reinforcing the core values of active citizenship and respect for the rule of law.

    In remarks following the event, Chief Justice Price-Findlay emphasized that youth outreach is a foundational investment in the future of regional governance. “Youth outreach is essential to the effectiveness of this public education programme, as these young people will go on to become the future leaders of our countries — leaders who will influence every sector, whether economic, social or political. It is our intention to better educate young people about the judiciary and the court system as a whole, as a crucial element in the governance of their countries. We also hope that they, in turn, will play a part in educating others, including family members, friends, schoolmates and other persons with whom they interact,” she said.

    Michele Gibson, Senior International Assistance Officer at Global Affairs Canada, highlighted Canada’s long-standing commitment to advancing the rule of law and democratic governance across the Caribbean. “Canada believes that young people are essential partners in advancing the rule of law, strengthening democratic values, and preventing violence in their communities. Through our support for the JES-EC Project, we are investing in opportunities that equip youth with legal knowledge, leadership skills and the confidence to become agents of positive change. When young people understand their rights and responsibilities and have a voice in shaping their communities, they help build safer, more inclusive and more resilient societies,” Gibson explained.

    Lyndel Archibald, Project Director for the JES-EC Project, credited the cross-sector partnership for the event’s success, noting that collaborative investment in youth legal education builds a durable foundation for fair governance across the region. “We are pleased to collaborate with the ECSC and grateful to the Government of Canada for investing in our youth. This partnership ensures that young people across the region gain the tools to understand the justice system, and receive the knowledge and values to lead with fairness and justice. Together, we are building a foundation for informed citizens and stronger communities,” Archibald said.

    Many youth attendees left the symposium feeling inspired and equipped to drive change in their own communities. One participant shared their takeaway from the event: “The highlight of the Youth Symposium for me was the opportunity to engage with passionate young leaders, exchange ideas, and learn from experienced facilitators and speakers. I especially appreciated the discussions on youth leadership, regional collaboration, and creating innovative solutions to challenges affecting young people. The networking opportunities and the sense of unity among participants were truly inspiring and motivated me to continue making a positive impact in my community and country.”

    For the ECSC, the symposium reflects a growing institutional commitment to expanding access to justice beyond the walls of the courtroom, through intentional outreach, education, and open dialogue with regional communities. By creating direct pathways for young people to engage with justice sector professionals, the initiative fosters greater public trust and understanding of the judicial system, while empowering the next generation to take on active roles as informed citizens and community advocates. The initiative also advances Canada’s broader strategic goal of strengthening regional security and stability, as legal literacy is recognized as a core pillar of just and resilient societies. With the Grenada event completed, organizing partners are now preparing to bring the same model of interactive legal education to youth in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the months ahead, advancing their shared vision of a more legally empowered, engaged, and equitable Eastern Caribbean.

  • Senator Dr. Clarke says Extradition Amendment Bill strengthens Federation’s ability to combat cross-border crime

    Senator Dr. Clarke says Extradition Amendment Bill strengthens Federation’s ability to combat cross-border crime

    BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – July 30, 2026 – As lawmakers in Saint Kitts and Nevis consider updates to the country’s extradition rules, Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke has emerged as a prominent backer of the Extradition (Amendment) Bill 2026, framing the proposed legislation as a critical, long-overdue update to the federation’s ability to tackle transnational crime without compromising fundamental citizen protections.

    Clarke threw her full support behind the bill while seconding it during a July 30 sitting of the country’s National Assembly, noting that the amendments are crafted to reinforce the federation’s legal infrastructure at a time of unprecedented global interconnectedness. Today, criminal suspects routinely cross international boundaries to escape prosecution, Clarke explained, and outdated national laws have not kept pace with this shifting landscape.

    “Crime no longer respects borders. Persons who commit serious offences move between countries with an ease that our laws must be able to match,” Clarke told the assembly. “When such a person comes to our shores, this Federation must be able to answer the request of a country with which we have entered into a treaty. And when a person commits a serious offence here, against our people, our communities, and then flees, we must be able to bring that person back to face our own courts.”

    At its core, the bill is a technical update that modernizes how evidence from countries requesting extradition can be submitted to Saint Kitts and Nevis’ domestic courts. Clarke emphasized that the change only adjusts procedural rules for evidence presentation, not the rigorous legal standard that courts must apply to approve any extradition request. Under the new framework, requesting countries will be permitted to submit evidence as certified official records authenticated by their relevant competent authorities – a format aligned with standard practice across most of the globe.

    “It changes the form in which evidence may be presented. It does not change the standard our courts must apply,” Clarke clarified.

    To address public concerns about potential overreach, Clarke explicitly reassured citizens that the amendments do not erode judicial oversight or weaken existing constitutional safeguards. All final extradition decisions will remain the exclusive purview of the country’s independent judiciary, she confirmed, with no executive branch minister or government official granted the power to order an extradition without formal judicial approval.

    Beyond improving crime-fighting capacity, Clarke argued that a modern, functional extradition framework is key to upholding Saint Kitts and Nevis’ standing as a responsible global actor. Honoring existing extradition treaty commitments, she noted, strengthens the federation’s international credibility, protects its vital financial sector, supports long-term economic stability, and reinforces public confidence in the country’s justice system.

    Clarke described the proposed changes as a modest but meaningful technical adjustment, one that preserves judicial control of extradition processes while allowing the federation to meet its binding international obligations in the global fight against transnational crime. She closed by commending Attorney General Hon. Garth Wilkin and his entire legal team for developing and advancing the legislation, and reaffirmed her full endorsement of the bill.

  • Attorney General: extradition reforms will close legal gaps and strengthen justice system

    Attorney General: extradition reforms will close legal gaps and strengthen justice system

    BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – In a significant update to the country’s legal architecture, the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis has approved the Extradition (Amendment) Bill 2026, a legislative overhaul designed to modernize the federation’s cross-border crime-fighting capabilities, align domestic extradition rules with global standards, and reinforce the integrity of the national justice system.

    Attorney General Garth Wilkin, who also serves as Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, introduced the bill during the July 30 parliamentary sitting, laying out the core need for the reforms. The amendments respond directly to a critical evidential gap that emerged after the original Extradition Act came into force in 2025, he explained. Prior to this change, domestic rules did not formally recognize the certified “record of the case” – the standard, internationally accepted format that requesting nations use to submit evidence in modern extradition proceedings. By updating legislation to allow courts to accept this format, Wilkin noted, Saint Kitts and Nevis brings its extradition framework in line with widely adopted global best practices.

    Addressing concerns that the changes could erode individual legal protections, Wilkin emphasized that the amendments only adjust the form of evidence submitted to courts, not the strict judicial standards that evidence must meet. “What changes is the form in which the evidence may be placed before the court. What does not change is the standard that evidence must meet,” he said, stressing that all existing constitutional safeguards for individuals and the required burden of proof for extradition remain fully intact. The reforms do not weaken protections, but rather bring outdated procedural rules into alignment with modern international practice.

    Wilkin added that effective cross-border cooperation against transnational serious crime relies on reciprocal compliance among treaty partners. This legislative update will put Saint Kitts and Nevis in a stronger position to fulfill its obligations under existing international extradition treaties, improving the country’s ability to secure the return of fugitives accused of major offenses to face justice in requesting jurisdictions, while also honoring reciprocity commitments that allow the federation to request the return of fugitives from other nations.

    “Reciprocity is the currency of international criminal cooperation, and this bill puts us in good standing to spend it,” Wilkin told the assembly.

    The reforms were not developed in isolation: they draw on 12 months of practical experience with the 2025 Extradition Act, targeted consultations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and a review of successful frameworks already implemented by regional neighbors including Jamaica and Guyana. Following debate, the bill was passed by the National Assembly, cementing a updated legal structure for international criminal cooperation that remains fully overseen by the judiciary and consistent with Saint Kitts and Nevis’ constitution.

  • Europe’s football associations threaten World Cup boycott over FIFA investment plan

    Europe’s football associations threaten World Cup boycott over FIFA investment plan

    In a dramatic standoff that has sent shockwaves through global football, all 55 national football associations under the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have passed a unanimous resolution to boycott every FIFA-run competition — including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup — if FIFA moves forward with its controversial plan to sell minority ownership stakes in top tournaments to private investors.

    The unanimous decision was reached during an emergency virtual gathering convened by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, coming just days after FIFA publicly unveiled plans to launch a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), that would open the door for outside private capital to acquire minority holdings in FIFA’s most high-profile competitions. According to reporting from the BBC, which first broke details of the unanimous vote, the boycott will go into effect if the plan, spearheaded by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, secures approval from a majority of FIFA’s 211 global member associations. The first major opportunity to test UEFA’s hardline stance could come as early as October, during the upcoming Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs.

    In a uncompromising official statement released immediately after the emergency meeting, UEFA emphasized that its 55 member associations remain unified in total opposition to the proposal. “We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors,” the statement read. “The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies… No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”

    Major European national governing bodies have already lined up to reinforce UEFA’s position. The Football Association of England reaffirmed its full solidarity with fellow European associations, with a spokesperson noting that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.” The Scottish Football Association echoed this support, while raising sharp concerns over the lack of transparent consultation and poor governance practices that have defined the development of FIFA’s proposal.

    While UEFA only represents roughly a quarter of FIFA’s 211 total member associations, European football commands unparalleled influence in the global game: European nations have claimed victory in 13 of the 23 men’s World Cup tournaments held to date, and at the most recent 2026 edition, six of the eight quarter-finalists — including eventual champion Spain — were European sides.

    Under the terms of FIFA’s plan, FFE would be created to manage all commercial and event operations for FIFA’s flagship competitions, with outside investors invited to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes in the new subsidiary. Multiple sources familiar with the plan, cited by the BBC, indicate that Infantino has offered every one of FIFA’s 211 member associations up to $40 million in direct payments if they vote in favor of the proposal, with an initial $20 million payout available to associations that approve the plan by the September 19 deadline.

    The proposal still requires a majority vote from FIFA’s global membership to move forward. If approved, the BBC reports that U.S.-based venture capital firm Thrive Eternal — founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law — is poised to lead the investor group backing FFE.

    UEFA has not only rejected the substance of the proposal but also lashed out at the process FIFA has followed to advance it, accusing the global governing body of drafting the plan in secret without conducting any meaningful consultation with member confederations. In its statement, UEFA labeled the initiative “irresponsible and indefensible,” arguing that FIFA has effectively issued a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum to national associations in exchange for financial incentives.

    “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football,” UEFA said, per the BBC. The European body added that the proposal amounts to “governance by intimidation” and “an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.”

  • Online platforms enhancing social services delivery in Saint Kitts and Nevis

    Online platforms enhancing social services delivery in Saint Kitts and Nevis

    The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has marked a key milestone in its public sector modernization drive, with the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs completing a full digitization of its social service delivery systems that is already expanding access to critical support for citizens and residents across the two-island nation.

    The latest step in this digital transformation came on July 28, 2026, when officials launched online registration for the country’s popular School-Based Assistance Programme. The initiative covers four high-impact forms of student support: Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) fee waivers, high school textbook loans, private early childhood education subventions, and school uniform assistance. Eligible applicants can now complete the entire initial application process online, eliminating the need for in-person visits to government offices.

    Minister of State for Social Development Senator Isalean Phillip outlined the progress of the digitization project during the July 30 sitting of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ National Assembly, noting that the shift to digital systems has fundamentally reshaped how the ministry serves the public.

    “I’m pleased to say that the ministry was able to introduce digital platforms like JAD Cash to improve access, convenience, and efficiency for clients who have been approved for benefits,” Phillip told the legislative body. “Applications for programmes can now be completed remotely. The Budget Boost Wallet was revolutionary in the way we were able to provide e-cash transfers to individuals to use to purchase food and pay for utilities.”

    Beyond making access easier for applicants, digitization has also improved internal government operations by centralizing all service records and program data in a unified digital ecosystem, Phillip added. The full integration of the ministry into the national digital framework aligns with the country’s broader Sustainable Island State Agenda, a whole-of-government strategy to modernize public services and drive sustainable development across all sectors.

    “Digitisation underpins our Sustainable Island State Agenda because digitisation is a thrust for all of government,” she said. “We are very pleased at the ministry to say that we have been able to complete our digitisation process, where the entire ministry is part and parcel of the online ecosystem and our service delivery has improved.”

    Officials are now urging eligible families and students to submit their “Request for Services” applications for the School-Based Assistance Programme through the ministry’s official portal at www.socialdevelopment.gov.kn/school-based-assistance-programme as soon as possible. After an initial application is received, a ministry officer will contact the applicant to guide them through the final steps of the registration process. This report is based on a press release from the Saint Kitts and Nevis Information Service, originally published by SKNVibes.com.

  • UNICEF and Caribbean Climate Change Centre forge five-year partnership to protect children from climate impacts

    UNICEF and Caribbean Climate Change Centre forge five-year partnership to protect children from climate impacts

    In a formal signing ceremony held at the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) headquarters in Belmopan, Belize, UNICEF and the regional climate body have launched an ambitious five-year strategic partnership designed to shield Caribbean children and young people from the accelerating harms of the global climate crisis. The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a formal collaborative framework centered on embedding the unique needs of children into every level of regional climate policy and action. For years, Caribbean communities have grappled with a sharp rise in the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, including destructive hurricanes, widespread flooding, prolonged droughts, and record-breaking extreme heat. For children across the region, these events have triggered cascading harm: interrupting access to education, cutting off critical healthcare services, contaminating safe drinking water supplies, undermining nutrition programs, and breaking down child protection systems that vulnerable young people depend on. As UNICEF Representative Sajid Ali emphasized during the ceremony, the climate crisis is far more than an environmental issue—it is a fundamental violation of children’s rights. “Children are among those least responsible for the climate crisis yet they bear some of its greatest consequences,” Ali noted. This new partnership, he explained, will prioritize centering children in regional climate policies, investments, and programming, while reinforcing the essential public services and systems that children rely on daily. Under the terms of the agreement, the two organizations will work in lockstep to advance child-sensitive climate governance across the Caribbean. Key priorities include building climate resilience into core social systems, from education and healthcare to nutrition, water access, and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. The collaboration will also scale up child-focused social protection programs, expand community-level disaster preparedness initiatives, support targeted research on child climate vulnerability, coordinate global climate resource mobilization, and share evidence-based knowledge on building child-centered climate resilience. CCCCC Executive Director Dr. Colin Young highlighted that children and youth have long been overlooked in climate resilience planning, both across the Caribbean and globally. He noted that UNICEF’s decades-long track record of advancing child rights and centering young people in climate action aligns perfectly with the CCCCC’s strategic priorities, filling a critical gap that has gone unaddressed for too long. “This Memorandum of Understanding sets out the framework for the work we will do together and allows us to combine our expertise to ensure that children are at the heart of climate action,” Young said. “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with UNICEF and to draw on its extensive experience working with children and youth across the Caribbean and in Belize.” One of the flagship components of the new partnership will focus on transforming climate-resilient sanitation systems across the region’s most vulnerable communities. Leveraging UNICEF’s deep technical expertise in WASH programming, the initiative will advance evidence-based policy advocacy, build local technical capacity, facilitate cross-community knowledge sharing, and unlock targeted climate financing to upgrade and protect sanitation infrastructure for at-risk populations. Beyond infrastructure and service delivery, the partnership will also expand leadership opportunities for children and young people—with a specific focus on including adolescent girls and marginalized youth groups. The organizations aim to empower young people to build the skills they need to actively participate in climate solution design, contribute to national and regional public policy debates, and lead grassroots advocacy efforts for climate action. This joint initiative brings together UNICEF’s global mandate to protect and advance child rights with the CCCCC’s role as the leading coordinator of regional climate action in the Caribbean. The shared end goal is to build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable region where every child can grow and thrive, even as the impacts of climate change continue to intensify.

  • Public Health: Dengue cases reach 185 as respiratory illnesses remain stable

    Public Health: Dengue cases reach 185 as respiratory illnesses remain stable

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The nation’s Ministry of Public Health has issued its latest weekly epidemiological bulletin confirming that all locally endemic communicable diseases remain contained across the country, with sustained low transmission rates and ongoing proactive public health surveillance.

  • Arajet and Centro León extend alliance to showcase Dominican art internationally

    Arajet and Centro León extend alliance to showcase Dominican art internationally

    In Santo Domingo, three leading Dominican institutions have announced the renewal of a groundbreaking collaborative agreement aimed at amplifying the global profile of Dominican art and culture, while expanding access to visual arts education across the region. The Eduardo León Jimenes Foundation, Centro León, and low-cost Caribbean airline Arajet have extended their original partnership, first launched in August 2024, to deepen their shared work of showcasing Dominican and Caribbean creative talent to international audiences.

    Over the course of their initial collaboration, the three organizations have already made significant inroads in bringing Dominican cultural work to global stages. Their joint projects have reached seven countries across the Americas: Ecuador, Guatemala, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the United States. Key initiatives supported by the partnership include the Curando Caribe cultural program, which centers Caribbean artistic narratives, and the prestigious Eduardo León Jimenes Art Competition, a long-running platform that elevates emerging creative voices from the region.

    Under the terms of the renewed agreement, the partnership will expand its focus to develop new cross-cultural exchanges, large-scale international exhibitions, accredited academic programs, and targeted global outreach campaigns. A new consumer-facing component will also bring Dominican culture directly to air travelers: Arajet passengers will gain access to exclusive curated cultural experiences, allowing them to engage with local art and heritage both in-flight and through destination-based activations. Arajet will continue its core support for Centro León’s rotating gallery exhibitions, community cultural events, and international artist exchange programs.

    The official signing ceremony brought together the leadership of all three partner institutions. Signatories included Víctor Pacheco Méndez, CEO and founder of Arajet; María Amalia León, president of the Eduardo León Jimenes Foundation; and María Luisa Asilis, executive director of Centro León, marking a formal commitment to the next phase of their cultural collaboration.

  • Alejandro Fernández to conclude six-year tenure as Superintendent of Banks

    Alejandro Fernández to conclude six-year tenure as Superintendent of Banks

    SANTO DOMINGO — The top official leading the Dominican Republic’s national banking regulation announced Wednesday he will depart his post this summer, bringing a close to six years of leadership at the nation’s top financial oversight body. Alejandro Fernández W., who has served as Superintendent of Banks since 2018, shared the timeline of his planned exit in a public farewell address, confirming his final day in office will fall on August 16.

    In his statement, Fernández extended public thanks to Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader for the opportunity to lead the critical regulatory agency, framing the role as a foundational platform to push forward transformative reforms to the country’s national financial system. He opened up about the timeline of his decision, noting that he formally submitted a request to President Abinader in early April asking that his current term not be renewed, adding that the choice to step away was reached collaboratively with his family.

    Beyond his acknowledgment of the president’s support, Fernández also dedicated thanks to the full technical team at the Superintendency of Banks, as well as members of the national Monetary Board, highlighting the consistent collaboration and shared commitment to public service that marked his entire time in the role. No official announcement has yet been shared regarding who will be appointed to fill the vacant superintendent position once Fernández departs.