Carib Scope

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  • New investment opportunities between Barbados, Guyana in the works

    New investment opportunities between Barbados, Guyana in the works

    Against the backdrop of 60 years of independence for both Caribbean nations, Barbados and Guyana have taken two landmark steps to deepen regional cooperation and integration, rolling out a simplified cross-border travel regime and unveiling plans for a people-centric joint investment fund.

    The flurry of activity began on Monday, when the two governments formally introduced a new travel arrangement that eliminates the requirement for passports for travel between the two countries. Under the new rule, eligible citizens of Barbados and Guyana can now cross the border using only a valid national identification card, with the full system launch scheduled for July 1 to give airlines and relevant stakeholders sufficient time to update their processes and adapt to the new regulation. The day after the announcement, during a press conference held as part of Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee independence celebrations at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados made history as the first Barbadian citizen to enter Guyana using a digital national ID under the new framework.

    Following the travel reform, the two leaders used the Tuesday press conference to announce a new initiative that goes beyond people movement: the proposed Trident Arrow Investment Fund. This innovative fund is designed to open up direct investment opportunities in major national and regional infrastructure and development projects to ordinary citizens of both countries. Unlike traditional large-scale investment vehicles that primarily attract institutional investors, the Trident Arrow fund will allow everyday people to become direct stakeholders in cross-border development, while also earning competitive returns on their contributions.

    Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley framed the dual announcements as a tangible, people-first advancement in Caribbean regional integration. “This initiative represents another significant step forward in regional cooperation, south-south collaboration, and people-centred governance,” Mottley said. “As our two nations mark 60 years of Independence, it is fitting that we take this step together. This is the kind of practical integration that Caribbean people can feel in their daily lives.” Mottley also shared her vision for scaling these reforms, expressing hope that the ID-based travel arrangement will eventually be expanded to other Caribbean countries as regional cooperation efforts continue to progress.

    Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali echoed this sentiment, framing the growing partnership as a core part of a broader vision for a fully connected, united Caribbean community. “As Guyana and Barbados celebrate 60 years of Independence, this initiative symbolises not only the enduring friendship between our nations, but also our shared vision for a more connected, accessible, and united Caribbean community,” Ali noted.

    Public reaction to the new travel rule in Bridgetown, Barbados’ capital, has been largely positive, with many residents describing the reform as a long-overdue change that removes a major barrier to cross-border movement. Some residents, however, pointed out that high airfare costs between the two countries still remain a significant obstacle for many casual travelers. Economist Professor Don Marshall, speaking to local outlet Barbados TODAY, framed the travel reform as more than just a convenience: he argued it will act as a powerful catalyst for deeper regional integration and increased cross-border investment, unlocking new commercial opportunities for businesses and workers across both nations.

    Additional details about the structure and implementation timeline of the Trident Arrow Investment Fund, as well as further logistical information for the new ID-based travel system, are expected to be released to the public in the coming weeks, ahead of the full July 1 rollout of the travel arrangement. The dual announcements mark a clear deepening of already growing ties between the two countries, which have steadily expanded cooperation in recent years across trade, tourism, public health, labor mobility, and cross-border investment.

  • A proactive and urgent regional strategy to address the threat of El Niño

    A proactive and urgent regional strategy to address the threat of El Niño

    As climate forecasts warn of an extreme El Niño event unfolding across the globe this year, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) — a region that underpins global food security by feeding billions of people worldwide — faces an unprecedented dual crisis: the extreme weather event paired with an ongoing global fertiliser shortage that threatens to upend agricultural production, destabilize rural economies, and erode social fabric across much of the region.

    Individually, each of these stressors already presents severe challenges for LAC’s agricultural sector. When combined, however, they threaten to create a catastrophic perfect storm that will disrupt livelihoods for millions of small and medium-sized producers and push dozens of nations closer to widespread food insecurity.

    International meteorological forecasts have placed the probability of a strong El Niño developing in 2024 at exceptionally high levels, and its impacts are projected to be deeply uneven across the region. While parts of the Southern Cone, including key grain-producing regions of Argentina and Brazil, may see boosted rainfall and recovering crop yields, the outlook is far grimmer for other parts of LAC. Central America, the Caribbean basin, and northern South America face elevated risks of extreme weather disruption: some areas will be battered by catastrophic flooding and heavy unseasonal rains, while others will grapple with prolonged, debilitating drought and chronic water scarcity. The greatest source of uncertainty, analysts note, is the potential for this El Niño to reach far greater intensity than historical events, amplifying all associated risks.

    For these at-risk subregions, the consequences are already well-documented by recent history: diminished crop yields, widespread total crop loss, reduced livestock productivity, broken agricultural supply chains, and skyrocketing food prices are all but guaranteed if no preemptive action is taken. These impacts will add up to billions of dollars in unplanned costs for both producers and consumers, and directly push millions into deeper food insecurity. Beyond immediate production shocks, the long-term ripple effects in rural communities often include unsustainable producer debt, increased out-migration from rural areas, and widespread nutritional decline among vulnerable populations.

    For small and medium-sized agricultural producers, who make up the majority of food producers across much of LAC, this overlapping crisis creates impossible planning conditions. Unpredictable climate patterns make basic decisions — what crops to plant, how much capital to invest, what volume of fertiliser to apply — far too risky to navigate confidently. When fertiliser prices rise or supply becomes unreliable, many producers have no choice but to cut fertiliser application rates, reduce the total area of land they plant, or switch to lower-yielding, less nutrient-demanding crops — all choices that immediately cut total food production and raise market prices.

    Unlike past eras when climate events like El Niño and its cool counterpart La Niña could only be tracked after they emerged, modern forecasting technology gives the region the ability to anticipate these events, their impacts, and their long-term consequences far in advance. It is no longer acceptable, argues Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), for governments and stakeholders to limit their response to reactive emergency action only after drought has taken hold, floods have destroyed communities, crops have been lost, and prices have spiked. Preemptive, early action to minimize harm is not just possible — it is an imperative.

    To that end, Ibrahim calls for immediate progress toward a coordinated, proactive regional resilience strategy. The core of this strategy must be a broad hemispheric dialogue focused on building agri-food resilience, bringing all key stakeholders to the table: national governments, multilateral international organizations, small and large producer associations, the global financial sector, academic research institutions, and private industry. The shared end goal of this dialogue is to build robust regional anticipation capabilities that can protect both agricultural production and rural livelihoods.

    In this effort, international technical cooperation bodies have a unique and critical role to play. With existing cross-border coordination frameworks, deep ties to national governments, producer networks, private industry, and multilateral financial institutions, these organizations can facilitate the creation of regional cooperation agreements, drive preemptive proactive response planning, and coordinate emergency aid and cross-border solidarity efforts if crises do emerge.

    A number of actionable public-private collaboration mechanisms can be advanced immediately to address the dual crisis. These include establishing dedicated regional coordination platforms for climate and agricultural risk management; negotiating pre-crisis supply agreements with fertiliser producers and logistics firms to guarantee consistent access to inputs for vulnerable regions; developing innovative climate-focused financial instruments in partnership with public and private banking institutions; expanding access to affordable climate risk insurance for small producers; and rolling out joint technological adaptation programs tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized agricultural operations.

    Private sector participation is not a secondary concern — it is essential to making these resilience strategies viable and scalable across the region. Chemical fertiliser companies, large agribusiness operations, commercial banks, technology developers, and agricultural export chains all hold core capabilities that are required to build shared agricultural resilience that benefits all producers.

    Another top regional priority must be strengthening early warning systems and turning raw climate data into actionable, user-friendly decision-making tools for producers. While LAC generates vast amounts of high-quality meteorological and agricultural data that holds immense value for risk planning, this information rarely reaches on-the-ground producers in a timely, accessible format — a gap that must be closed immediately to reduce avoidable losses.

    Other core objectives for regional coordination include accelerating the widespread adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties, scaling up efficient water management infrastructure and practices, and integrating advanced digital technologies — including GPS mapping, agricultural drones, and soil moisture sensors — into mainstream agronomic management strategy across the region.

    Ibrahim emphasizes that the dual crisis, while severe, also presents a generational opportunity: the chance to build a new system of agri-food governance rooted in cross-regional cooperation, innovative technology, and forward-looking risk planning, rather than reactive emergency response.

    As a region that produces food for billions of people across the globe, protecting LAC’s agricultural productive capacity is far more than a domestic economic challenge. It is a strategic priority for global development, rural social stability, and the long-term food security of the entire world.

  • Ministry of Health monitoring Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

    Ministry of Health monitoring Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

    An ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has prompted public health monitoring across global and regional bodies, with authorities in Grenada moving quickly to reassure residents that the Caribbean nation faces no immediate danger from the virus.

    The outbreak, which has already been confirmed by World Health Organization experts in the affected DRC region, has spurred coordinated international action to control transmission and prevent cross-border spread. In response to this developing public health event, Grenada’s Ministry of Health has activated continuous monitoring protocols, staying aligned with updates from the WHO and regional health partners.

    Dr. Shawn Charles, Grenada’s Chief Medical Officer, stated that public health officials have been fully briefed on the evolution of the outbreak and are maintaining close communication with both the WHO and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to track any changes in risk assessment. To date, the WHO has classified the risk of Ebola spreading to Caribbean nations, including Grenada, as very low, a finding that local health authorities have echoed to calm public concern.

    Charles emphasized that the Ministry of Health remains fully vigilant and unwaveringly committed to protecting the health and safety of all Grenadian residents. Active surveillance systems are already in place and fully prepared to mount a rapid response should any suspected case emerge, he added. For the time being, the ministry has issued three key public health guidelines for citizens to follow:
    First, maintain consistent preventive hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing with soap and water and adherence to safe food handling protocols. Second, stay updated on the situation through official announcements released by the Ministry of Health, rather than unvetted third-party sources. Third, avoid the spread of unconfirmed misinformation by only trusting information shared by official public health bodies.

    The ministry has committed to sharing timely, transparent updates with the public as new details about the outbreak emerge, ensuring residents remain informed without unnecessary panic. This statement follows standard public health protocol for emerging global outbreaks, prioritizing both preparedness and clear communication to maintain public confidence.

  • Youth voices drive engaging discussions at IICA Grenada’s 2026 Accountability Seminar

    Youth voices drive engaging discussions at IICA Grenada’s 2026 Accountability Seminar

    On May 20, the Grenada Cricket Stadium played host to the 2026 IICA Grenada Accountability Seminar, a landmark gathering centered on the critical theme of advancing youth development in agriculture. Bringing together young aspiring producers, government leaders, agricultural industry stakeholders, and global and regional development partners, the event carved out dedicated space to unpack actionable strategies for expanding and deepening youth engagement across Grenada’s agricultural sector, while also giving the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) a platform to share its progress on ongoing support for the island’s national agricultural development goals.

    Opening the proceedings, Gregg Rawlins, IICA’s representative for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), laid out the institution’s comprehensive eight-pillar regional strategy designed to empower and engage young people in agriculture across the Eastern Caribbean. The framework prioritizes four core priorities: strengthening interconnected youth agricultural networks, expanding equitable access to cutting-edge training and digital agricultural technology, backing youth-led agri-entrepreneurship, and shaping enabling policy environments that remove barriers to youth participation. Looking ahead to next steps in Grenada, Rawlins confirmed IICA’s commitment to partnering with the national government and other local stakeholders to launch a dedicated national youth in agriculture network, building on recent OECS regional youth-focused initiatives to drive the strategy’s implementation on the ground.

    Hon. Lennox Andrews, Grenada’s Minister for Agriculture, Lands and Forestry, reinforced the national government’s unwavering commitment to positioning young people as the central driving force of the country’s agricultural transformation. This transformation, Andrews emphasized, will be rooted in agricultural modernization, climate-smart production practices, youth entrepreneurship, and value-added processing that boosts profit margins for young producers. To deliver on this commitment, the minister outlined a suite of targeted interventions aimed at removing the most common barriers young people face: expanded access to affordable land, tailored financing options, hands-on skills development, and support for innovative production practices. He detailed ongoing skills training offerings already available through the government’s extension services and dedicated youth desk, including short courses covering crop and livestock production, protected agriculture, and industry-standard good agricultural practices. The Fisheries Division, he added, offers specialized training for young fishers in safe product handling and value-added processing, while partnerships with regional institutions including IICA and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) have already delivered training in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable water management, drought and pest-resilient crop varieties, and effective use of climate data for farm planning. In a major policy announcement, Andrews revealed the government’s plan to acquire 102 acres of agricultural land, which will be subdivided into plots and made exclusively available to young people seeking to enter or expand their operations in the sector.

    Senator Seville Francis, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sport, further outlined the range of government-backed support programs designed to help young people access critical agricultural resources, skills training, and business development support. Francis noted that young farmers registered with national extension services or included on the official national farmers registry are eligible for a range of in-kind support, including free seeds, planting materials, fertilizer, irrigation equipment, one-on-one technical advice, and connections to formal regional and international markets. For young entrepreneurs with viable business plans, she added, financing and tailored entrepreneurial support for agricultural ventures is available through the Grenada Development Bank and broader national micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) support initiatives.

    A core highlight of the seminar was its open, interactive format, which gave young farmers and agri-entrepreneurs direct access to policymakers and development partners to raise the specific challenges they face and collaborate on solutions. A youth-led dialogue facilitated by young farmer Bevon Charles centered on the most pressing barriers to entry and growth — particularly limited access to affordable land and affordable financing — while also highlighting untapped opportunities in technology-driven innovation and value-added processing. Attendees explored a range of emerging high-growth sub-sectors that hold particular appeal for young producers, including digital agriculture, hydroponics, climate-smart production technologies, drone applications for farm management, protected agriculture, and local value-added processing, all of which can boost profitability and make agriculture a more attractive career path for young Grenadians.

    Additional program contributions included a presentation from Cindy Lewis, project manager for the Grenada Young Entrepreneurs in Agriculture and Agribusiness Project, who outlined ongoing efforts to boost national agricultural output through targeted financial grants for small-scale producers and professional certification opportunities for young agricultural workers. One of the most significant outcomes of the seminar was renewed collective momentum to establish the long-discussed national Youth in Agriculture Network, a dedicated platform for advocacy, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among young people working across the agricultural sector. Work on the network is already underway under the CDF Young Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Project, with ongoing technical and strategic support from IICA.

    Gregory Delsol, IICA Grenada’s technical specialist, also updated attendees on the progress of two key ongoing IICA initiatives on the island: the construction of a climate-friendly solar-powered sea moss drying facility, and the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) Alliance Water Conservation and Improved Irrigation Project, which aims to boost water security for Grenadian farmers amid growing climate volatility. Coordinators from the Caribbean Climate Responsive Agriculture Forum (CCRAF), who were on island for the forum’s “CCRAF on the ROAD” outreach series, also used the occasion to recognize participants who successfully completed the Beginner to Business (B2B) three-part entrepreneurship webinar series for young producers.

    By the close of the seminar, all participating stakeholders reached a shared conclusion: sustained cross-sector collaboration between the national government, regional institutions, youth-led groups, development partners, and the private sector is essential to building a more inclusive, resilient, and innovative agricultural sector that can attract and retain the next generation of agricultural leaders in Grenada. Attendees unanimously emphasized that investing in youth empowerment in agriculture is not just a priority for young people — it is a critical foundation for long-term food security, ongoing innovation, and climate resilience across Grenada’s entire agri-food system.

  • Shirley Chisholm Primary on a roll in netball tournament

    Shirley Chisholm Primary on a roll in netball tournament

    The National Sports Council’s Pedialyte Sport Primary School Netball competition continued to unfold at the Dover playing field in Christ Church on Wednesday, with defending champions Shirley Chisholm Primary maintaining their flawless unbeaten streak through two matches on matchday.

    Competing in the competitive Carolyn Sinclair/Marion Johnson-Hurley Zone, the Vauxhall-based side delivered two dominant performances to extend their winning run. First, Shirley Chisholm Primary secured a solid 9-3 victory over St Christopher Primary, before following up that win with a 7-3 defeat of St Lawrence Primary.

    St Lawrence Primary quickly shook off their second-half slump against the defending champions to claim a comfortable win in their second outing of the day, outpacing Arthur Smith Primary to notch a 7-1 victory that gets their campaign back on track.

    Christ Church Girls’ Primary also enjoyed a strong day of results, putting together two wins and one draw across their three matches. The side opened with an 8-1 rout of St Christopher Primary, then earned a tight 2-1 win over Bay Primary, before settling for a 2-2 draw against St Paul’s Primary.

    Arthur Smith Primary experienced mixed fortunes across their two matches on Wednesday. The team kicked off their day with a clear 4-1 win over St Gabriel’s Primary, but could not carry that momentum into their second game, falling 5-2 to Bay Primary.

    St Gabriel’s Primary also had an up-and-down day of netball action. After falling to Arthur Smith, the squad fought to a 3-3 draw with St Paul’s Primary, before pulling off a narrow 2-1 upset win over Bay Primary to close out their matchday.

  • Semi-pro football season 3 starts in June

    Semi-pro football season 3 starts in June

    After two years of steady growth, Saint Lucia’s Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL) is set to launch its third competitive season on June 27, 2026, with a sweeping series of upgrades designed to elevate the domestic game and grow long-term talent development. The upcoming season was officially unveiled to league stakeholders and media on May 27 at Castries’ Bel Jou Hotel, where organizers outlined new leadership, increased player compensation, expanded digital access, and a restructured second division ahead of the opening kickoff.

    Leading the revamped league is new chief executive Alvin Malaykhan, who stepped into the top administrative role following the departure of former CEO Francis “Parry” Daniel. During the launch event, Malaykhan confirmed that the season will open with a doubleheader of matches at Vieux Fort’s Philip Marcellin Grounds. The opening day’s headline fixture will be a Community Shield clash between two-time Tier 1 champions La Clery and 2025 Tier 2 winners Anse La Raye, followed by a hotly anticipated local derby between Vieux Fort North and Vieux Fort South that organizers expect to draw a large community crowd.

    A core priority for the 2026 season is boosting investment in players and infrastructure, with increased financial backing coming from key supporters including Saint Lucia’s central government and the National Lotteries Authority. Dr. Uralise Delaire, permanent secretary in the Department of Youth Development & Sports and SPFL board chair, explained that player monthly stipends will now be tied to performance metrics including on-field discipline, training attendance and punctuality, while overall monthly funding for Tier 1 districts has risen sharply to an average of $25,000 per district, up from just $13,190 in the league’s inaugural season. Across all 10 competitive leagues, total seasonal investment will reach approximately $1.5 million, or $250,000 per month.

    Alongside increased funding, the SPFL is demanding higher standards of professionalism from all participating teams, administrators and district leagues. “We expect clubs and our district leagues to honour schedules, meet administrative deadlines, and adhere to all league regulations,” Malaykhan said. “We are pushing for better pre-season preparation, stronger team branding, more meaningful fan engagement, and a greater commitment to player welfare and development. This league belongs to every stakeholder in Saint Lucian football, and we are building something that will outlast any one of us.”

    For local sports leaders, the SPFL serves as far more than a entertainment product — it is a platform for holistic youth development. Sports Minister Kenson Casimir emphasized that the league’s core mission is to support young male athletes to grow both on and off the pitch. “We have already begun working with key stakeholders to deliver programs focused on psychosocial development, financial literacy and personal growth for our players,” Casimir noted. “This opportunity is not just about kicking a ball. Every player should ask themselves this season: Am I using this platform to become a more productive member of our society? If after all this public and private investment, we do not help our young men grow into better citizens, all of this effort will have been for nothing.”

    Lyndon Cooper, president of the Saint Lucia Football Association, echoed that sentiment, calling on every person involved in the league — from players and coaches to officials and medical staff — to uphold the sport’s integrity as the association works toward its long-term goal of full professionalization of football in Saint Lucia. “Everyone involved has an obligation and a responsibility to protect the integrity of the game, both on and off the pitch,” Cooper said. “We must safeguard the steady growth we have already built to reach our ultimate goal.”

    On the competitive side, the 2026 season brings a major restructuring of the lower tier to increase competitive intensity. The top Tier 1 division will play a full 90-match schedule over six months, concluding with the final in January 2027. The second division, rebranded as the Super League, will now operate as two groups of five teams each, a change that Malaykhan says will create “greater intensity” and “higher competitive stakes” for teams vying for promotion.

    Off the pitch, the SPFL is rolling out a suite of technological upgrades to improve accessibility and fan experience. The league has expanded its technical staff from five to eight full-time roles, and for the first time, all registered players will receive personal insurance coverage. Fans will be able to follow live updates, stats and schedules via the Tournify app to make the competition more interactive, while select matches will be streamed to a global audience via the FIFA+ streaming platform, putting Saint Lucian semi-pro football in front of international viewers for the first time.

  • Gov’t orders VINLEC to cut fuel surcharge to contain power bills

    Gov’t orders VINLEC to cut fuel surcharge to contain power bills

    Amid a sharp global uptick in oil and fuel prices that is driving soaring energy costs worldwide, Prime Minister Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has rolled out a package of targeted, temporary policy measures designed to block crippling spikes in electricity bills for residential households and small local businesses. The interventions were formally announced during a nationally broadcast address Wednesday focused on the country’s mounting economic pressures and the growing cost-of-living crisis hitting ordinary citizens.

    Friday opened his address by warning that rising fuel costs for power generation have already pushed up the fuel surcharge added to monthly utility bills, and without urgent government action, electricity costs would become financially unbearable for large swathes of the Vincentian population. He noted that VINLEC, the country’s state-owned national electricity provider, had already recorded a roughly 29% jump in fuel surcharges during the first quarter of this year, and that costs would continue climbing without intervention.

    At the center of the government’s three-month cost containment plan is a full waiver of two key taxes on diesel purchased exclusively for electricity generation: the customs service charge and the national excise tax. Friday emphasized that this policy represents a deliberate short-term sacrifice of public revenue, with the government expected to forego approximately $1.65 million in income over the three-month period. All savings generated by the tax waiver will be passed directly to consumers, rather than retained by the utility, he confirmed. “We as government are absorbing part of the blow, so that ordinary Vincentians do not have to absorb them all by themselves,” Friday stated, adding that the goal is to cap or even lower monthly electricity bills for end users.

    In addition to the tax relief, the government is mandating that VINLEC share the burden of elevated global fuel prices with consumers through a tiered discount program for fuel surcharges that activate once surcharges cross specific price thresholds. Friday framed this framework as a model of partnership and shared responsibility between the public sector, the state utility, and private citizens.

    Under the mandatory discount scheme, if the per-kilowatt-hour fuel surcharge exceeds EC$0.71, VINLEC is required to apply a 50% matching discount to the fuel portion of the cost calculation. If the surcharge rises even higher, crossing EC$0.77 per kilowatt-hour, the utility must cover 100% of any additional increase for residential customers. “This intervention means relief on utility bills and protection against runaway increases,” the prime minister said.

    Friday repeatedly stressed that protecting electricity affordability is foundational to protecting overall household financial stability and small business viability across the country. Unchecked electricity price growth would force families into impossible choices between covering basic needs, he argued, noting: “It means the difference between a bill that remains manageable and one that forces families to choose between electricity and groceries, both essential.”

    For small enterprises — from barbershops and tailors to neighborhood grocers, restaurants, bakeries, and small local manufacturing operations — the price controls will protect existing jobs, keep operating margins sustainable, and allow businesses to keep consumer prices affordable, the prime minister added. By capping electricity costs, the government also aims to slow the transmission of higher generation costs into the broader prices of goods and services, including food and products that rely heavily on power for refrigeration, lighting, and machinery.

    Beyond these short-term relief measures, Friday used the address to lay out the government’s medium- and long-term strategy to eliminate St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ exposure to volatile global fuel markets: accelerating a national transition to renewable energy, with a particular focus on utility and residential solar power. The administration already maintains a full 100% tax waiver on solar photovoltaic systems to encourage adoption, and Friday said the current crisis has only increased the urgency of this shift. “The current crisis is an opportunity, forced upon us, to move aggressively towards renewable energy production, especially solar,” he said.

    The transition will require updating national legislation to modernize regulations for electricity production and distribution, and Friday confirmed that VINLEC will be expected to take a leading collaborative role in driving this transition forward. The government is also engaged in ongoing discussions with regional partners through blocs including CARICOM and ALBA to negotiate more stable long-term government-to-government energy arrangements that strengthen regional energy security.

    The electricity relief package forms just one pillar of a broader 90-day cost-of-living strategy the government is rolling out to address rising prices across key household expenses. The wider plan also includes temporary interventions for pump fuel, cooking gas, freight charges, and food prices, including cuts to excise taxes and a 50% reduction in the customs service charge on imported petroleum products. These broader fuel measures are designed to cap price increases for gasoline and diesel at no more than $5 per gallon, a change that complements electricity price controls given the country’s reliance on diesel for both power generation and ground transport.

  • PM calls for deeper trade and investment cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean

    PM calls for deeper trade and investment cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean

    Thousands of attendees gathered at Victoria Park in Grenville, Grenada, on Monday to mark African Liberation Day, where top political and community leaders used the commemorative platform to push for transformative, mutually beneficial economic and social collaboration between the African continent and Caribbean nations. Opening with a keynote address, Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell framed closer cross-Atlantic cooperation as a catalyst for inclusive growth, innovation, and long-term sustainable development across both regions. Mitchell outlined a wide range of under-tapped areas for partnership, spanning creative arts, formal education, cultural industries, tourism, heritage preservation, youth exchange programs, and technological collaboration. Noting Grenada’s deep historical roots as part of the broader African diaspora, the Prime Minister emphasized that the island nation is fully committed to forging a modern, dynamic relationship with Africa built on equal mutual respect, shared ancestral history, and a collective commitment to unlocking new opportunities for all citizens. Mitchell articulated a bold, forward-looking vision for the future of Africa-Caribbean relations, stating that Grenada eagerly anticipates the day when seamless, meaningful connectivity between the two regions becomes a daily reality. “We long for the day when young Grenadians can study, trade, create and innovate with young Africans as naturally as they engage with North America and Europe,” Mitchell said. “We long for the day when African and Caribbean businesses can move goods, services, ideas and investments across the Atlantic with greater ease, confidence and purpose.” Aligning with the 2024 event theme “African Rooted, Diaspora Rising, Identity Reclaiming,” Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture Minister Adrian Thomas echoed Mitchell’s call, stressing the critical need for younger generations to reconnect with their ancestral identity and shared history. Thomas pushed back against long-standing colonial narratives, noting that Africa is far more than a ancestral homeland for diaspora communities—it is a dynamic continent brimming with untapped economic opportunity, groundbreaking innovation, vibrant cultural creativity, and enormous growth potential that represents the future for people of African descent worldwide. He argued that the time has come for African and Caribbean peoples to build their own independent systems and define their own collective worth, rejecting reliance on external powers to address systemic challenges rooted in a painful history. “Africa and the Caribbean must no longer sit idle and beg others to solve the very problems created by slavery, colonialism, exploitation, unfair trade and unjust global systems,” Thomas said. “We cannot continue to outsource our destiny. We cannot continue to wait for others to rescue us. We cannot continue to complain about the chains while refusing to break them.” St Andrew South-West Parliamentary Representative Lennox Andrews extended a warm welcome to visiting African delegations in attendance, encouraging guests to explore Grenada’s deep ties to African heritage across the country’s tri-island territory. Andrews invited delegates to visit iconic historical and cultural sites tied to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, including Leapers Hill, Belmont Estate, and the smaller sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. He also urged visitors to engage directly with local communities and experience unique Grenadian cultural traditions rooted in African heritage, such as Big Drum Dancing and Shakespeare Mas. Dr. Stephen Onigbinde, President of the Nigerian Community in Grenada and an Assistant Professor at St. George’s University School of Medicine who has served six years as a pro bono consultant at Grenada’s General Hospital, added that the process of reclaiming collective identity requires open, honest examination of history—including the devastating legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonial rule. “The ability to look at history books and tell ourselves something is not right here, not out of hatred, but understanding that it is our responsibility to tell our own story,” Dr. Onigbinde explained. He also emphasized the urgent need to educate younger generations on the full, unfiltered truth of their ancestral heritage and collective identity. Beyond formal speeches and policy discussions, the African Liberation Day celebration in St Andrew featured a full slate of cultural programming, including live music, traditional dance performances, drumming circles, poetry readings, and artistic showcases, with participation from both local Grenadian community groups and visiting African representatives. The event was organized under the auspices of Grenada’s Ministry of Tourism.

  • PM Defends Cut to Fuel Dealer Margins

    PM Defends Cut to Fuel Dealer Margins

    Amid unprecedented skyrocketing fuel prices that have pushed pump costs to as high as $15 per gallon in Belize, Prime Minister John Briceño has publicly defended his administration’s controversial decision to slash profit margins for domestic fuel dealers, while signaling that large multinational oil companies operating in the country will be the next group called upon to make concessions to ease consumer burden.

    In a morning press interview, Briceño laid out the government’s rationale for the policy change, emphasizing that every stakeholder across the fuel supply chain must contribute to absorbing the strain of global price volatility. “As a government, we feel that everybody has to do their part. Consumers are doing their part because they’re paying more. The government has been cutting taxes. So it was only reasonable or fair for the dealers also to take a cut,” the prime minister stated.

    Under the new adjustment, dealer margins have been reduced to less than $1 per gallon. Briceño acknowledged that fuel dealers overwhelmingly favor retaining higher margins, but argued that the current market dynamic has rendered the 2004 margin formula obsolete. That original framework was designed when fuel prices were far lower, and as global costs have surged in recent years, dealer margins have grown far larger than policymakers ever anticipated when the formula was established.

    “It was never foreseen back then that the prices would go to thirteen and fifteen dollars. So the higher the price was, the bigger their margin is,” he explained. He added that he received correspondence from a former Texaco executive confirming that Belize’s fuel dealer margins were already among the highest in the entire Central American region, even before the latest price spikes.

    Turning next to major operators including Puma and Sol, Briceño accused the large oil firms of increasing indirect costs for dealers – such as facility rent and percentage cuts on in-store sales – as fuel prices have climbed, effectively siphoning off a share of dealer profits already. Briceño said it is now time for these large corporations to make their own concessions to help lower consumer costs, noting that upcoming discussions between the government and company leadership will address this issue. “I think it is also incumbent on the companies to make some adjustments, and maybe that’s a discussion we’re supposed to be having,” he said.

    When pressed on criticism that the margin cut violates the 2004 formal agreement between the government and fuel dealers, Briceño offered a straightforward response: “We could argue every day whether we did or not. The point is we need to set the price.” He added that while dealers have sent formal correspondence to his administration raising objections, he has not yet reviewed the document. The prime minister expressed confidence that a constructive resolution will be reached, noting that he does not expect dealers to shut down operations in protest. “I believe that cooler heads will prevail. I don’t see them wanting to close down their gas stations,” he said.

    Briceño also disclosed new data on the government’s existing fuel-related relief measures, revealing that the administration has already cut more than $60 million in fuel taxes so far in 2026, with total projected tax cuts for the year expected to land between $60 million and $80 million. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing to lower fuel prices as global market conditions improve, but noted that the government will eventually need to recover a portion of lost fuel tax revenue to maintain critical public social programs that support low-income and vulnerable Belizean communities. These programs include universal free education, student scholarships, national school feeding initiatives, and affordable housing projects targeted at single-mother households. “Free education, scholarships, the feeding programme, housing for mostly single mothers — we have to help the poor people,” he emphasized.

  • $25M Spent, Still No “Rightful Magic Recipe” Against Sargassum

    $25M Spent, Still No “Rightful Magic Recipe” Against Sargassum

    For years, Belize has poured millions of dollars into countering an escalating threat to its coastline: massive, unchecked invasions of sargassum seaweed that smother popular beaches, cripple local tourism, and upend life in coastal communities. Yet despite the steady flow of funding and dozens of proposed solutions, government officials confirm no viable, scalable fix has emerged to turn the tide against the growing crisis.

    Andre Perez, Belize’s Minister of Blue Economy and representative for the rural southern region, recently shared the grim reality of the country’s anti-sargassum efforts in an interview with local outlet News 5. While dozens of entrepreneurs and innovators have pitched a wide range of strategies for repurposing and removing the invasive seaweed, none have delivered a permanent, workable resolution.

    “The truth is, nobody has cracked that perfect magic recipe that tells us exactly how to eliminate this problem,” Perez explained. He emphasized that the only truly effective approach to stopping sargassum damage requires intercepting and removing the dense floating mats of seaweed out on the open ocean, before they can drift ashore. Once sargassum washes up onto beaches, it quickly begins to rot, creating foul odors, driving away tourists, and disrupting coastal ecosystems. Without a reliable at-sea collection system, the damage continues unabated.

    To date, the financial toll of the crisis has already been steep. Perez confirmed that the island town of San Pedro alone has spent $25 million on ongoing beach cleanup efforts to clear rotting sargassum from its shorelines. For other hard-hit coastal communities including Hopkins, Caye Caulker, Seine Bight, and Placencia, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) provides up to $10,000 per month to support local cleanup work. Even with this consistent funding and effort, however, the sargassum invasions keep intensifying.

    The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently rates large stretches of Belize’s coastline as facing “High Coastal Risk Levels” for sargassum wash-ups, and long-term forecasts indicate the 2026 season will bring even worse conditions than previous years.

    In response to the crisis, a handful of pilot programs in southern Belize are testing experimental strategies to turn the invasive seaweed into usable products, including agricultural fertilizer, decorative art, construction bricks labeled “sarga-blocks”, and sand supplement for public works projects. These initiatives prioritize ecological at-sea collection to prevent sargassum from reaching shore in the first place. While Perez praised these exploratory efforts as welcome steps forward, he acknowledged that none of the programs have yet demonstrated they can work at scale to solve the crisis. “We have yet to see it working,” he stated of the ongoing trials.