Carib Scope

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  • Union Island mourns beloved educator, historian, and lawyer

    Union Island mourns beloved educator, historian, and lawyer

    In the mid-1990s, decades after Category 5 Hurricane Janet devastated Union Island in 1955, a visionary secondary school teacher named Steve Eugene Stewart gave his students at Union Island Secondary School an unusual research assignment that would leave a lasting mark on both the students and the small island community. Instead of asking them to flip through textbook pages or dig through static encyclopedia entries to study the historic storm, Stewart tasked his class with a far more meaningful project: seek out the island’s oldest residents, visit them in their homes, and record their first-hand memories of the catastrophic 1955 hurricane.

    What many students discovered through the project surprised them. Unlike modern natural disaster early warning systems that rely on televised alerts, radio broadcasts and mobile phone notifications, the only warning Union Island residents received before Janet hit came from leaflets dropped by a low-flying aircraft. Beyond that key historical fact, the interviews exposed young people to far more than just stories of destruction. They heard accounts of extraordinary neighborly solidarity in the aftermath of the storm, and quiet tales of courage from residents who had rebuilt their lives and their home from scratch.

    For Stewart, the project was never just about collecting historical data. It was a deliberate lesson designed to nurture an appreciation for living history, preserve the island’s fading oral storytelling traditions, teach young people to respect their elders, and foster intentional knowledge transfer between generations. The project also benefited the elderly participants: many had not received such focused attention from younger people in years, and the interviews gave them a renewed sense of purpose, showing that their experiences and wisdom still mattered to the island community. Many enjoyed connecting with young people, even walking them through generations of their family bloodlines to strengthen intergenerational ties.

    This project was just one small example of Stewart’s lifelong legacy as an educator and community leader on Union Island. His core mission as a teacher was always to root young people in their local history, connect them to experienced community leaders, and grow a deep, abiding love for their island home. His commitment to his students went far beyond standard lesson plans: on one occasion, he even sat the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exam alongside his students for a subject he had been teaching for years — surprising them all when it was revealed he never held formal certification in the subject himself, choosing to learn alongside his students to better serve them.

    Stewart’s drive to lift up others extended well beyond his own classroom. When other local teachers risked losing their jobs because they lacked required subject certifications, Stewart organized free evening classes to help them pass their mandatory exams. He was also a passionate advocate for local cultural heritage, and a founding member of the Union Island Museum Society, where he led efforts to reclaim historical artifacts from Union Island’s early settler communities that were being held in museums across Europe.

    His influence stretched across nearly every corner of Union Island’s public life. He contributed to the island’s sports, recreation and cultural sectors as a key member of the Easterval festival committee, local NGO O.S.D.E.R., May Day celebration organizing teams, and community drama and arts programs. He dedicated himself to advancing youth opportunities, regularly supporting Union Island students who moved to the mainland for higher education — helping them secure affordable housing during their studies and connecting them to job placements after they graduated.

    An avid writer and public commentator, Stewart penned dozens of articles highlighting influential local figures, little-known historical events, and ongoing policy debates affecting his homeland. He led campaigns to grant official historical heritage status to important older landmarks across the island, including Union Island’s first concrete home near Cross Road, the colonial-era cotton industry old post office building, the historic overseer’s house on Health Centre Hill, and dozens of other culturally significant relics. He even integrated tours of these sites into his teaching to help students connect with their local history firsthand.

    One of Stewart’s final community projects was the restoration of Society Hall, transforming the historic building into a living museum that preserves the story of financial organizing by Union Island’s community of formerly enslaved people. A lifelong advocate for continuous learning, Stewart even began studying law decades into his career as an educator, always reminding his students: “to never stop dreaming, never stop learning, and never stop selling opportunities.”

    An extensive traveler and widely respected thought leader on issues of sustainable island development, efficient governance, and educational reform, Stewart spent his entire life as a champion for positive change on Union Island. From his early days selling newspapers to local residents to representing his country at international forums in Switzerland, he never missed an opportunity to improve life for his fellow islanders. Above all else, Stewart was a man of deep faith, who prioritized sharing the importance of personal spiritual life, led regular Bible study classes at his church, and encouraged everyone he met to build a personal relationship with Jesus.

    This op-ed is written by Nkarlo Alexander, a former student of Stewart’s at Union Island Secondary School, and reflects the personal views of the author, not the official editorial stance of iWitness News.

  • Hopeful Hearts Foundation Donates Examination Kits to Pares Primary Grade 6 Students

    Hopeful Hearts Foundation Donates Examination Kits to Pares Primary Grade 6 Students

    A community-focused charitable organization, Hopeful Hearts Foundation, has launched a new initiative to support graduating elementary students at Pares Primary by donating specially prepared examination kits to all Grade 6 learners. The contribution comes ahead of critical national standardized assessments that will shape students’ next steps in their academic journey, addressing a gap where many low-income families struggle to afford necessary testing supplies.

    Local education representatives have praised the foundation’s effort, noting that the donation does more than just provide physical materials: it also boosts students’ confidence and reduces financial stress for working-class households enrolled at the school. Foundation organizers shared that they developed the project after hearing from Pares Primary teachers about the unmet needs of Grade 6 families, and they hope to expand similar support programs to other neighboring primary schools in the coming academic year.

  • Teheran veroordeelt Amerikaanse aanvallen tijdens staakt-het-vuren

    Teheran veroordeelt Amerikaanse aanvallen tijdens staakt-het-vuren

    Fresh United States airstrikes against targets in southern Iran have triggered fierce condemnation from Tehran, which has branded the military incursion a blatant, severe violation of the fragile ceasefire that has held across the region since April. The strikes come at a critical juncture, just as both Washington and Tehran had begun showing tentative signs of progress in indirect negotiations aimed at forging a broader peace agreement and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil supplies pass.

    Seyed Majid Moosavi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force — the branch of Iran’s military that oversees the country’s ballistic missile and drone programs — issued a stark warning in response to the attacks. He stated that Iran is fully prepared to retaliate against the U.S. aggression, dismissing ongoing diplomatic engagement with Washington as a pure waste of effort. Moosavi added that his force remains on high alert, standing by for formal orders from Iran’s supreme commander to launch any response deemed necessary.

    Even in the wake of the airstrikes, senior Iranian diplomatic officials have continued indirect talks with U.S. mediators in Doha, Qatar. A core sticking point in the current negotiations remains the release of approximately $24 billion in Iranian assets frozen by Western sanctions, which sources close to the talks identify as the final major hurdle to reaching a preliminary agreement. Such a deal would not only work toward ending ongoing regional hostilities but also restore unimpeded commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

    U.S. officials have publicly confirmed the airstrikes, saying the targets included boats suspected of planning to lay naval mines and Iranian missile launch facilities. The U.S. Central Command argued the operation was a defensive measure carried out to protect American troops in the region from imminent threats posed by Iranian-aligned forces. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s stance that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to international shipping under all circumstances.

    Tensions across the Middle East have climbed even higher as Israel escalates its military campaign against the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon. Following an announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli military carried out a series of overnight air raids that Lebanese authorities confirm killed 12 people. Regional analysts broadly view this Israeli escalation as a major complicating factor for the ongoing U.S.-Iran peace talks, creating new uncertainty for a potential deal.

    Lorenzo Kamel, a historian at the University of Turin specializing in Middle Eastern affairs, noted that without outside pressure to rein in Israeli policy led by Netanyahu, any prospective U.S.-Iran agreement will remain extremely fragile. There are also growing regional fears that Iran could retaliate for Israeli strikes in Lebanon by ramping up its own military activities against other regional actors, including the United Arab Emirates.

    The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains highly tense, with Iranian officials repeatedly stating the country is prepared to push back against any U.S.-led blockades or external pressure. Tehran-based analyst Mohammad Eslamy argues the latest U.S. airstrikes are no coincidence: he suspects Washington is deliberately engineering military escalation to force greater concessions from Iran during the ongoing negotiations, shifting the balance of power in Washington’s favor ahead of any final agreement.

  • Wins, Gaps and the Road Ahead for Healthy Food Policy in the Caribbean

    Wins, Gaps and the Road Ahead for Healthy Food Policy in the Caribbean

    Across the Caribbean region, efforts to build more equitable, nutrition-focused food systems have yielded measurable progress in recent years, yet deep-rooted gaps continue to undermine public health outcomes and leave vulnerable communities underserved. For decades, Caribbean nations have grappled with a dual burden of malnutrition: widespread diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, coexisting with persistent food insecurity in low-income coastal and rural communities. These challenges have spurred regional bodies and national governments to roll out targeted healthy food policies aimed at reshaping food environments and improving access to nutrient-dense, local produce.

    Notable policy wins have already transformed regional food landscapes in meaningful ways. Several Caribbean states have implemented mandatory front-of-package warning labels for processed foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat, giving consumers clear, accessible information to make informed purchasing decisions. Some governments have also introduced fiscal measures, including taxes on sugary beverages and processed snacks, while offering subsidies to small-scale local farmers growing fruits, vegetables, and legumes. These initiatives have cut consumption of unhealthy products in multiple markets, and boosted demand for locally grown nutrient-dense foods, supporting both public health and smallholder livelihoods. Regional collaborative bodies, such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), have also streamlined knowledge sharing between nations, helping smaller states adopt evidence-based policies without starting from scratch.

    Despite these advances, significant gaps remain that block widespread, equitable impact. Many policies suffer from weak enforcement, particularly in informal markets where unlabeled processed food is widely sold, and tax loopholes allow vendors to avoid price adjustments that would discourage unhealthy purchases. Infrastructure barriers also persist: inadequate cold storage and transportation networks leave small farmers unable to get fresh produce to urban markets at affordable prices, eroding the impact of agricultural subsidies. Additionally, policy design often fails to center the needs of marginalized groups, including Indigenous communities, low-income households, and remote island populations, who face the highest rates of diet-related illness but are rarely included in the policy development process. The powerful influence of transnational processed food corporations, which invest heavily in marketing unhealthy products across the region, also creates political and economic headwinds that slow policy progress.

    Looking ahead, stakeholders across the region agree that closing these gaps will require coordinated, multi-sector action that prioritizes equity and community leadership. Experts argue that strengthening enforcement capacity, investing in food distribution infrastructure, and increasing community participation in policy design will be critical to expanding the impact of existing initiatives. Moving forward, regional cooperation will also be key: pooling resources for research, supporting small island states with limited administrative capacity, and advocating collectively against industry interference can help Caribbean nations build food systems that deliver better health for all residents. While the road ahead includes significant challenges, the early policy wins across the region provide a strong foundation for future progress.

  • SVG takes part in 28th Caribbean Postal Union Conference in Bahamas

    SVG takes part in 28th Caribbean Postal Union Conference in Bahamas

    As Caribbean nations work to reframe their postal systems for the digital age, a high-level delegation from St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is convening in Nassau, Bahamas, for two landmark regional postal gatherings that run through Friday. The 28th Annual Caribbean Postal Union (CPU) Conference, paired with the 21st Meeting of the Caribbean Council of Ministers of Postal Affairs (CCMPA), has drawn senior leaders, policymakers, regulators, and global postal stakeholders from across the region to tackle the shifting landscape of global postal services.

    Leading the SVG delegation is Major St. Clair Leacock, who holds multiple cabinet roles including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Security, Disaster Management and Immigration, and Minister with oversight of the SVG Postal Corporation. Supporting Leacock as Assistant Head of Delegation is Marlon Bute, the recently appointed chairman of the SVG Postal Corporation Board of Directors. Rounding out the delegation are June Jacqueline Adams Ollivierre, the corporation’s director, and Desiree Robinson, executive secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister.

    Hosted under the overarching conference theme “Leading for Resilience – Transforming Caribbean Post for a Connected Future,” the event brings together cross-sector postal leaders to tackle a packed agenda of pressing industry challenges and opportunities. Key topics on the table include sweeping digital transformation, integration of artificial intelligence into postal operations, streamlining cross-border logistics and transportation, building organizational and operational resilience, advancing trade facilitation, expanding e-commerce integration for postal networks, strengthening cybersecurity defenses, modernizing postal payment systems, deepening regional collaboration, improving disaster preparedness, fostering service innovation, and implementing governance reform.

    For SVG, the timing of the delegation’s participation aligns with a national push to overhaul and revitalize the country’s postal service, a government press release confirmed. The SVG administration is currently ramping up efforts to modernize and reposition the public postal institution to better meet the needs of the country’s residents.

    Leacock has laid out a clear vision for the transformation: strengthening the postal corporation by expanding accessible services, boosting operational efficiency, embedding innovation into core processes, and adapting the organization to the demands of today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, where speed, reliability, flexibility, and customer-centric service have become non-negotiable priorities.

    The minister has also stressed that peer learning from regional and international peers is critical, as postal providers worldwide grapple with shared headwinds: plummeting volumes of traditional letter mail, shifting consumer demands, rising competition from private logistics providers, widespread technological disruption, and the growing market dominance of digital commerce and on-demand rapid delivery networks.

    Bute, an experienced entrepreneur with deep expertise in business development, operational management, customer experience, and organizational leadership, was recently tapped to lead the postal corporation’s board specifically to help chart a new strategic course for the institution during its transformation. Speaking from the conference venue in Nassau, Bute highlighted that the gathering offers SVG an unprecedented chance to gain firsthand insight into the shared challenges, emerging opportunities, and evolving industry dynamics shaping postal services across the Caribbean and beyond.

    “Postal corporations throughout the Caribbean and around the world are operating in a period of tremendous change and disruption. Traditional models are under pressure, consumer expectations are changing rapidly, and institutions must evolve or risk becoming irrelevant,” Bute noted in his on-site comments.

    He emphasized that the SVG government, under Leacock’s leadership, is pursuing a deliberate, strategic turnaround of the national postal service, with the goal of building a more efficient, modern, responsive, and technologically adaptable institution that directly serves the evolving needs of the country’s people and businesses.

    “For us, this conference is an important learning experience and an opportunity to wet our feet, as it were, as we begin charting the way forward. We are fortunate to have the guidance and experience of the director, Mrs. Ollivierre, and the senior staff of the Corporation, but we are also approaching this process with open minds, fresh energy, and a willingness to embrace innovation and reform,” Bute added.

    Over the course of the conference, the SVG delegation will take part in targeted discussions covering a range of priority areas for the country’s reform agenda: deepening regional postal cooperation, improving postal logistics and transportation infrastructure, unlocking new e-commerce opportunities for local businesses, expanding digital postal services, developing postal banking and modern payment systems, streamlining customs processes, securing resilience funding for infrastructure upgrades, advancing governance improvements, and shaping the long-term strategic direction of the regional postal network.

    Going forward, the SVG Postal Corporation reaffirmed its commitment to delivering tangible improvements: upgrading service delivery, cutting operational inefficiencies, modernizing core operations, and exploring new revenue and service opportunities that will build long-term institutional sustainability and position the organization to better serve the SVG public for decades to come.

  • Fisheries Minister announces conch hatchery amidst declining catch

    Fisheries Minister announces conch hatchery amidst declining catch

    On May 25, 2026, Fisheries Minister Conroy Huggins used the platform of the country’s 49th Fisherman’s Day celebrations, held in Little Tokyo, Kingstown, to lay out an ambitious new agenda for the nation’s fisheries sector and blue economy, while sounding an alarm over accelerating declines in two of the region’s most valuable marine species: queen conch and lobster.

    Huggins outlined positive recovery trends for the broader fishing industry in the wake of 2024’s Hurricane Beryl, noting that 2025 total fish landings bounced back to roughly 1.93 million pounds, with an estimated market value exceeding EC$16.3 million. This marks a clear uptick from 2024’s post-hurricane totals of 1.7 million pounds and EC$14.7 million. However, the improvement across the sector masks troubling declines for high-value commercial species: conch landings dropped 17.6% year-over-year, translating to more than EC$0.2 million in lost revenue, while lobster earnings fell 27% for an estimated loss of EC$0.3 million.

    “These realities… remind us that the sea is generous, but its resources are not unlimited,” Huggins told attendees, stressing that the new policy framework will center on science-backed, sustainable resource management to reverse current declines. This marks the second consecutive year that a senior fisheries official has flagged the downward trend in conch populations: last year, then-minister Saboto Caesar announced plans to implement a mandatory closed conch season starting in 2026, alongside broader revisions to the country’s Fisheries Act to establish protected marine replenishment zones. Caesar had already secured government approval for the closed season before Hurricane Beryl made landfall in July 2024, framing the move as an intergenerational responsibility to preserve marine resources for future Vincentian communities.

    To address the conch decline head-on, Huggins announced a new queen conch recovery initiative that will include the construction of a purpose-built conch hatchery and nursery unit on Union Island, with construction set to break ground before the end of 2026. Complementing this project, ongoing coral reef restoration work is underway across all of St. Vincent and the Grenadines through regional and international collaborative partnerships, designed to rebuild critical marine habitats, boost wild fish populations, and strengthen the country’s overall climate resilience. “Where science tells us resources are declining, we must act responsibly. Conservation today is production and sustainability for tomorrow,” Huggins said.

    Funding for the new slate of initiatives comes from the 2026 national budget, which allocates approximately EC$14.3 million to the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation and Climate Resilience. More than EC$8.4 million of that allocation is earmarked for capital expenditure, targeted at upgrading fisheries infrastructure, expanding marine conservation work, boosting climate resilience, and scaling up emerging blue economy projects. As an island nation with a marine exclusive economic zone 90 times larger than its total landmass, Huggins emphasized that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is well-positioned to unlock the vast untapped economic potential of ocean-based industries.

    A holistic, long-term sector strategy to guide all future policy, infrastructure development, resource management, climate adaptation, investment planning, and institutional strengthening is currently in development, with many of the upcoming initiatives tied to the World Bank-supported Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) programme. Key projects outlined by Huggins include retrofitting existing fishing vessels to improve catch quality and on-board safety, strengthening monitoring and enforcement systems to crack down on unreported and illegal fishing, building out national food safety and seafood inspection frameworks, and supporting aquaculture development for high-value species including sea moss, conch, and lobster. Additional plans cover the refurbishment of fisheries facilities, jetties, and boat ramps, the construction of climate-resilient storage infrastructure to protect fishers’ assets, investment in vessel monitoring systems and cold storage networks, and expanded access to affordable financing for small-scale fishing operations.

    Beyond infrastructure and conservation, the ministry is rolling out targeted training and capacity-building programmes for both working fishers and fisheries sector staff, covering critical topics including open sea safety, seafood quality control, best practices for fish handling and processing, boatmaster certification, and adoption of modern fishing technologies. New inclusive initiatives will specifically open up opportunities for youth and women through fisheries skills training and seafood product development, pushing back against narratives that the fishing industry is in decline. “Fisheries is not a dying industry. Fisheries is a sector of innovation, entrepreneurship, science, technology, and opportunity,” Huggins said. Closing his address, the minister called for shared collective responsibility across all sectors of society: he urged fishers to comply with sustainable harvesting regulations, and called on local communities to participate in protecting critical coastal ecosystems including reefs, mangroves, beaches, and seagrass beds that underpin long-term fisheries health.

  • HEBERSaVax: The story of a Cuban product, unique in the world, with great potential in the fight against cancer

    HEBERSaVax: The story of a Cuban product, unique in the world, with great potential in the fight against cancer

    On the afternoon of May 27, 2026, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who also serves as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, chaired a regular meeting of health sector experts and scientists at Havana’s Palace of the Revolution. The gathering’s most anticipated highlight was an update on HEBERSaVax, a groundbreaking Cuban-developed therapeutic vaccine candidate for treating multiple types of malignant tumors, a development that has already sparked early optimism for global cancer care.

    During the session, Díaz-Canel extended formal congratulations to HEBERSaVax lead scientist Yanelys Morera Díaz, a full member of the Cuban Academy of Sciences, and her entire research team. Following the conclusion of the meeting, Morera spoke to state press about the vaccine’s mechanism and developmental progress, outlining how the innovative candidate works to stop cancer progression.

    Morera explained that HEBERSaVax functions as a form of active immunotherapy, targeting two critical aspects of tumor growth. First, it prompts the body to produce specific antibodies that block the blood supply tumors need to access nutrients and oxygen for expansion. Second, it reactivates the patient’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, creating a multi-functional approach to treatment.

    After completing all preclinical testing, including early trials in laboratory animal models, the candidate has advanced to Phase II clinical trials focused on specific tumor types. Morera emphasized that early safety data shows the therapy has a strong tolerability profile, with only mild, manageable adverse effects. This low toxicity profile allows HEBERSaVax to be combined with conventional cancer treatments without increasing harmful side effects, opening the door for broad clinical applications. While the candidate remains in active research, Morera noted that many trial participants have already reported meaningful improvements to their quality of life, with some patients with advanced-stage cancer achieving complete responses to treatment. Moving forward, the research team must continue compiling clinical evidence to meet Cuba’s rigorous national regulatory standards before advancing to later trial phases. Morera expressed confidence that the candidate will successfully complete all required testing and eventually become a core tool in global cancer treatment, with long-term plans to integrate the therapy into primary care settings.

    Other members of the research team echoed Morera’s cautious optimism. Julio César Hernández Perera, an internal medicine specialist, full member of the Cuban Academy of Sciences and clinical researcher on the project, described HEBERSaVax as a one-of-a-kind achievement of Cuba’s robust biotechnology sector, built on decades of targeted research. He noted that the candidate could eventually be used to treat a wide range of solid tumors, which often rely on the specific protein targeted by the vaccine to grow and spread. Its low toxicity makes it a viable option even for patients living with multiple chronic conditions, a major advantage over many conventional aggressive treatments. Like Morera, Hernández Perera called for continued research investment, but stressed that the candidate already opens new, previously unreachable frontiers in cancer care.

    Young clinical researcher Adriana Felinciano Pozo, another internal medicine specialist on the team, added that HEBERSaVax’s simple subcutaneous administration makes it easy to deploy in a wide range of care settings. Early trial results across multiple hard-to-treat solid tumor types — including colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian cancer, and kidney cancer, all in advanced patient populations — have delivered consistent positive responses. Felinciano Pozo emphasized that cancer remains one of the leading global causes of death and long-term disability, making accessible, low-toxicity new therapies a critical global public health need.

    The report frames HEBERSaVax’s development as a testament to Cuba’s enduring commitment to protecting the fundamental human right to health and life, even amid long-standing external economic pressure that has strained the country’s resources. The work of the HEBERSaVax research team exemplifies how Cuban biotechnology continues to advance life-saving innovation despite significant challenges.

  • ‘Number Seven’ returns to stage in SVG before NY debut

    ‘Number Seven’ returns to stage in SVG before NY debut

    A decades-long dream of sharing authentic Vincentian storytelling with the world is finally coming to fruition, as Ask Enterprise Ltd. has officially announced upcoming new productions of *Number Seven*, the acclaimed original work from revered Vincentian playwright Kevin Roderiques.

    The production will kick off with two local performances at Kingstown’s Peace Memorial Hall in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on May 30 and 31. Following these domestic shows, the production will make history this October, when it becomes the first full-length Vincentian play written, directed, and performed entirely by Vincentian creatives to hit an Off-Broadway stage in New York City. The New York opening is scheduled for October 24, timed to coincide with SVG’s 47th Independence Day celebrations on October 27, turning the performance into a global celebration of Vincentian identity and culture.

    For nearly 30 years, Roderiques has been a foundational figure in shaping modern Vincentian theatre. His work consistently uses the performing arts as a platform to educate audiences, confront pressing local social issues, and center lived community experiences that are rarely shared on global stages. *Number Seven*, a tight, suspense-filled action drama, has already built a loyal following across the Caribbean: the play has earned rave critical reviews and won over audiences during prior runs in SVG, Grenada, and St. Lucia. Roderiques describes the work as a showcase of core Vincentian values, saying “*Number Seven* represents the very best of who we are as a people, our creativity, our resilience, and our ability to tell stories that matter.”

    “To finally bring this work to an Off-Broadway stage is a dream thirty years in the making. However, more importantly, it is a dream shared by every Vincentian who has ever believed that our stories deserve to be heard by the world,” the playwright added. All 12 cast members, all Vincentian actors, will appear in both the local and New York productions, serving as official cultural ambassadors for their small island nation throughout the project.

    Beyond the stage, the production carries a deep commitment to lifting up the next generation of Vincentians and strengthening ties with the global Vincentian diaspora. All proceeds from the May local performances will go toward two key initiatives. First, the funds will cover the international travel, accommodation, and on-ground logistics for the 12-person cast’s trip to New York, removing financial barriers that would otherwise prevent the all-Vincentian production from happening. Second, remaining proceeds will support the ongoing Agent Mentorship Programme, a free after-school initiative that works with boys aged 8 to 12 across SVG. The program uses theatre training to build critical life skills including self-esteem, self-discipline, and creative thinking, guiding at-risk young participants toward positive, productive futures.

    In reflecting on the full scope of the project, Roderiques emphasized that *Number Seven* is far more than a simple theatre production. “It is about showing our young people that dreams are valid. It is about connecting with Vincentians overseas and reminding them that home is always with them. And it is about proving that from our small nation, greatness can emerge,” he said.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #27

    Leisure : Did you know ? #27

    The Haiti-based general knowledge platform HaitiLibre Quiz has rolled out its latest monthly content update, adding 30 brand new knowledge games to its free, no-registration gaming library as of May 4, 2026. This expansion brings the platform’s total collection of interactive quizzes up to 119, covering a wide range of topics from local Haitian current affairs and culture to global historical, military and social themes.

    In the 27th installment of the platform’s popular “Did You Know?” educational series, the quiz team shares a key insight into modern Western military strategy: that mastering asymmetric conflict has become a central focus of contemporary military doctrine today. To contextualize this concept, the feature contrasts asymmetric conflict with traditional conventional warfare. In a standard conventional conflict, two standing national armies from sovereign states face off on a clearly defined battlefield, typically using comparable equipment and tactical approaches. Asymmetric warfare, by contrast, is defined by a massive power gap between opposing sides: a militarily advanced, well-resourced state often finds itself pitted against non-state groups such as insurgencies, terrorist organizations or guerrilla movements.

    For the weaker, outgunned side in these conflicts, direct head-on confrontation is rarely a viable strategy. Instead, these groups rely on unconventional tactics to offset their material disadvantages: hit-and-run harassment, improvised explosive devices, and psychological warfare designed to erode the stronger side’s morale and public support. One of the biggest challenges for powerful modern militaries in these conflicts is achieving a clear, traditional military victory: opposing non-state fighters often embed themselves within civilian populations, making it difficult to separate combatants from non-combatants and eliminate the adversary’s ability to operate. Recent high-profile conflicts in Afghanistan and the Sahel region serve as stark illustrations of this dynamic, showing that even overwhelming technological superiority does not guarantee a swift or decisive win for the stronger military power.

    Built to serve knowledge seekers of all ages and skill levels, the HaitiLibre Quiz platform offers all its exclusive content completely free of charge, with no account registration required for access. Every quiz is available in both French and English, and is structured with three distinct difficulty tiers: easy, intermediate and hard, to accommodate casual learners and expert knowledge enthusiasts alike. Users can browse general knowledge topics across a wide range of categories, or head to the dedicated expert menu for more advanced, challenging question sets. With new games added every month to keep content fresh and engaging, the platform invites visitors to explore its full collection, share the resource with friends and family, and submit feedback to help improve future updates.

  • DNA zoekt werkbaar compromis met regering over Comptabiliteitswet

    DNA zoekt werkbaar compromis met regering over Comptabiliteitswet

    Parliamentary proceedings to amend Suriname’s 2024 Comptabiliteitswet (Accountability Act) were paused on Tuesday, with the debate rescheduled for this Thursday. The extension grants Finance and Planning Minister Adelien Wijnerman additional time to refine proposals submitted by both governing coalition and opposition lawmakers, as cross-party consensus grows around retaining core provisions of the new law while building a feasible implementation framework.

    The administration has proposed pushing full implementation of the 2024 Accountability Act to the 2029 national budget, arguing that critical administrative infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and oversight mechanisms remain insufficiently prepared to roll out the full reform package. The scheduled Tuesday session, originally set to begin at 10 a.m., was delayed until 1:45 p.m. due to a lack of quorum. Once underway, multiple assembly members pushed back against the idea of pausing all provisions of the law, instead advocating for a phased rollout that would keep already actionable provisions in effect immediately.

    Lawmakers also clashed over the length of the proposed delay, with many arguing a two-year postponement is sufficient rather than the administration’s requested three-year delay. The debate repeatedly centered on 2028, the year Suriname expects to begin collecting revenues from offshore oil production. Multiple parliamentarians emphasized that by 2028, the country’s financial oversight mechanisms, procurement rules, and accountability structures must be fully operational and aligned with the new law’s standards.

    Following a procedural suspension, closed-door negotiations were held between faction leaders, National Assembly Speaker Ashwin Adhin, and Minister Wijnerman. After the talks, Rabin Parmessar, leader of the opposition NDP faction, stated that participants had collaborated to develop workable implementation models. “We reviewed every proposal put forward in this chamber, and I believe we have developed shared frameworks that we have presented to the minister,” Parmessar said, noting that negotiators had drawn a clear distinction between budget drafting processes and post-implementation accountability requirements. “Especially on the accountability side, the minister’s responsibilities have now been clearly outlined,” he added, confirming that the minister will now refine the proposals and return an adjusted plan to the full assembly for consideration.

    Asis Gajadien, leader of the governing VHP faction, echoed the call for shared parliamentary responsibility, noting that the reform is far more than a technical technical adjustment to legislation – it shapes the long-term financial and governance trajectory of Suriname. “This is about who we are and where we as Surinamese want to go,” Gajadien said. He reiterated that parliament must identify which components of the law can enter into force immediately, and which can be rolled out in stages. “At the end of the day, all of us want a system that can deliver accurate accountability both to the public and to this parliament,” he added.

    Rossellie Cotino, an NDP lawmaker who chairs the assembly’s rapporteur committee, framed the current delay as a consequence of inadequate preparatory work when the 2024 Accountability Act was originally passed. She noted that the bill was originally approved without the required supporting legislation and institutional preparations in place, but emphasized: “This is not a cancellation of the 2024 Accountability Act, it is merely a postponement.” Cotino added that stakeholders have now mapped out all the supplemental reforms needed to make the law fully implementable.

    She also confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has received technical support from an International Monetary Fund macroeconomic expert to assist line ministries in developing a multi-year financial framework and five-year strategic plan aligned with the act. Minister Wijnerman has already submitted an adjusted action plan and revised draft amendment, which includes a requirement for semi-annual progress evaluations of the act’s implementation.

    Assembly member Jeffrey Lau of the opposition NPS has emerged with broad cross-party support for his proposal to implement already ready provisions of the act on a phased basis, rather than delaying the entire legislation for years. Lau stressed that as Suriname prepares to receive 2028 offshore oil revenues, the country urgently needs strong oversight mechanisms, transparent procurement procedures, and a robust financial accountability system. He argued that policymakers must avoid pushing needed, long-awaited reforms off for additional years, at a time when the public is demanding greater transparency and improved public financial governance.