Carib Scope

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  • Impetigo fears force closure of two more primary schools

    Impetigo fears force closure of two more primary schools

    A growing public health scare has forced the early closure of two additional public primary schools in the Bahamas, sparking widespread frustration among parents and exposing sharp rifts between school administrators and teaching staff over poor communication protocols.

    Sadie Curtis Primary School and EP Roberts Primary School both dismissed students early Wednesday and will remain shuttered through the long National Heroes Day weekend, with classes scheduled to resume next Tuesday, the country’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has confirmed. The shutdowns mark the third and fourth public schools impacted by suspected impetigo outbreaks in less than a week, following earlier closures at Gambier Primary School and Samuel Guy Pinder Comprehensive School in Spanish Wells.

    The crisis unfolded after teaching staff at both institutions raised formal complaints that school leaders failed to keep them updated on the spread of suspected infections, prompting multiple union interventions and mass staff walkouts by midday Wednesday. For parents of students at Sadie Curtis Primary, the lack of official communication created chaos: dozens of caregivers told reporters they only learned of the early dismissal through secondhand alerts from other parents or social media group chats, with no direct notification sent by the school administration.

    One mother, who only discovered the shutdown when she arrived on campus to drop off lunch for her son, shared her frustration with reporters. “If I didn’t come to bring my little boy lunch, I would have never known what was going on, and he would have been here all day,” she said. “That ain’t fair.” Another parent with two children aged five and eight at the school confirmed she received an alert about the closure via a phone call from another parent, while a third caregiver said she only saw notice of the early dismissal in a parent community group chat. By Wednesday afternoon, crowds of parents were still arriving at the campus, parking along roadsides and inside the school compound as uniformed students waited for pickup behind the main courtyard gate.

    Vernon Rogers, area vice-president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT), explained that staff had already flagged multiple suspected cases of impetigo, scabies, and other contagious skin rashes to administrators at Sadie Curtis, but grew frustrated after repeated requests for transparent updates went unanswered. Teachers gathered in the staff room at 8:45 a.m. to request a formal briefing from the school principal, but Rogers alleged the principal refused to address their concerns. “The teachers are finding out after the fact, rather than being proactive, and so that has created a problem in the school today,” Rogers said. Following the unsuccessful meeting, teachers contacted union representatives and signed out at noon, invoking Article 15.9 of their industrial agreement, which protects staff from unsafe working conditions that threaten health and safety.

    Alexander Burrows Jr, president of the Bahamas Public Services Union, which represents roughly 15 custodial and clerical workers at Sadie Curtis, said his organization received reports of three suspected impetigo cases at the school, though the cases have not been formally confirmed by health officials. The union encouraged its members to leave the campus after the staff walkout. Burrows added that while administrators confirmed a professional company would conduct a full deep cleaning of the campus, he has been unable to connect with the principal or district superintendent to discuss the response to the outbreak. He stressed that open cooperation between administrators and unionized employees is critical to addressing workplace health concerns effectively.

    At EP Roberts Primary School, Keysha LaRoda, president of the Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union, said her organization first raised concerns about the outbreak with the Ministry of Education on Tuesday. She noted that initial cleaning had already been completed at the school, but the work did not cover the entire campus. After union representatives pushed for further action, the ministry agreed to order a full deep cleaning of both EP Roberts and Sadie Curtis, leading to the decision for early dismissal at both institutions.

    LaRoda took a public stance against the decision by BUT members to invoke Article 15.9, arguing that unions should follow established escalation procedures laid out in their industrial agreements. Her members signed out at their regular midday lunch break, and she said she would have advised against triggering the health and safety provision because the ministry had already finalized plans to close the schools. “They have already done the resolve so that schools could be dismissed, you give time for the parents to come pick up your children,” she said.

    Union officials have also offered conflicting accounts of the number of suspected cases at Sadie Curtis Primary: Burrows cited three unconfirmed cases, while LaRoda put the number at four. As of Wednesday, the Ministry of Education had not released an official count of suspected infections. The outbreak has already impacted other schools across the country: Gambier Primary, which closed earlier this month over suspected impetigo and was cleared to reopen this coming Monday after a deep clean, saw new suspected cases reported on Tuesday, prompting BUT president Belinda Wilson to urge teachers to walk off the job.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technology Chester Cooper outlined the government’s response Wednesday, saying officials are working to contain the spread of the infection while minimizing disruption to student learning. Cooper confirmed that impetigo is highly contagious but not life-threatening, and deferred further public health guidance to the Ministry of Health. “The Minister of Health advises that it happens this time of year generally,” Cooper said. “It’s of great annoyance and could be painful, but it’s not life-threatening, so we want to make sure that we’re not losing instructional time for the majority of our students by trying to really curtail the spread in schools.”

  • UPDATE: Most schools across SVG reopen today (Wednesday)

    UPDATE: Most schools across SVG reopen today (Wednesday)

    After severe flooding and landslides triggered by an intense tropical wave hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week, the Caribbean nation has moved to resume normal on-campus learning for the vast majority of its pre-tertiary education institutions starting Wednesday. The return to in-person instruction comes just two days after the heavy weather event that battered communities and disrupted critical services across the country.

    In a public announcement released shortly before 5 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the country’s Ministry of Education confirmed that most schools escaped major infrastructural harm from the storm and completed preparations to welcome students and staff back to campus. However, 11 schools across affected regions will stay closed for the day, as ongoing flood damage, compromised infrastructure, and a persistent lack of reliable potable water access create unacceptable health and safety risks for anyone on site. The closed institutions include Belmont Government School, Brighton Methodist School, Calder Government School, Cane End Government School, Dorsetshire Hill Government School, Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia, Evesham Methodist School, Gomea Methodist School, Marriaqua Government School, New Prospect Primary School, and St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua.

    The early Wednesday announcement came after the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) issued a formal appeal on Tuesday, urging education and emergency management authorities to complete full safety assessments before clearing schools to reopen. The union’s call centered on three core ongoing hazards: the widespread national water crisis, unaddressed landslide and road safety risks, and general threats to the well-being of students and staff.

    SVGTU President Fiona Charles-Williams emphasized that while the union fully recognizes the critical value of maintaining consistent instructional time for students, it could not in good conscience support a premature reopening before risks are mitigated. “Many schools and homes across the country remain without a reliable supply of pipe-borne water, making it impossible to maintain basic sanitary conditions and proper hygiene in our learning institutions,” Charles-Williams noted. She added that saturated soil from the 24-hour rainfall event means landslide risks remain elevated, rather than disappearing once the rain stopped. “This poses a significant risk to students, teachers, and parents who must commute, particularly those in rural and hillside communities and those who walk to school,” she added.

    Charles-Williams reiterated that protecting the safety of all education stakeholders must be the government’s top priority, calling for full inspections of both school sites and all access routes before any reopening, as well as confirmation that safe drinking water access has been fully restored. “We cannot in good conscience encourage our members and our nation’s children to traverse dangerous terrain or to occupy facilities that are not hygienically safe,” she said, adding that the union stands ready to partner with the Ministry of Education to facilitate a safe return to campus as soon as conditions allow.

    The union leader also shared that the organization mourns the disruption and loss caused by the extreme weather for affected families across the country, and expressed gratitude that no lives were lost in the event. She also commended emergency authorities for their ongoing work to restore normal services amid challenging conditions.

    Meteorological data shows that the tropical wave dumped 130.2 millimeters (5.2 inches) of rain across the country in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. Tuesday, triggering widespread flooding and landslides that impacted even the capital city of Kingstown. The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) confirmed Tuesday that dozens of people have been displaced by the weather event: 36 people across 8 families, with 23 staying in public emergency shelters and 13 accommodated through private arrangements.

    Multiple school sites recorded significant damage from the storm: severe flooding hit Leeward District SDA Primary in Buccament Bay and South Rivers Methodist School after nearby rivers overflowed their banks, while Greiggs Government and Early Childhood School reported structural damage and roof leaks. The country’s Central Water and Sewerage Authority also confirmed that the critical Majorca water intake has sustained severe damage, which is the root cause of the widespread ongoing water supply disruptions affecting communities and schools across the nation.

  • SVG’s Kaia Kydd secures regional scholarship; Rayshawn Charles earns second-year renewal

    SVG’s Kaia Kydd secures regional scholarship; Rayshawn Charles earns second-year renewal

    A major milestone for regional education access in the Eastern Caribbean was marked last Tuesday, as St. Vincent and the Grenadines welcomed its first new scholar to the Pearl Allison Lake Scholarship Fund, while the program’s inaugural awardee, Rayshawn Charles, secured his second-year funding renewal. The hybrid regional celebration, broadcast live from Saint Lucia’s Bay Gardens Hotel, brought together recipients and their family members from across the five member states of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), who joined the event virtually from their local National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) offices.

    This multi-year scholarship initiative was created to honor the legacy of Pearl Allison Lake, a beloved St. Lucian public servant who served 20 years as Human Resources and Administrative Officer for the ECTEL regional directorate before her passing in June 2024. Launched to reduce the financial barriers to secondary education for low-income students across the region, the scholarship program selected its first cohort of awardees in September 2025, after receiving 41 applications from the five ECTEL Contracting States: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.

    Each selected student receives an annual grant of 1,500 Eastern Caribbean dollars, which is allocated to cover core schooling costs including textbooks, school uniforms, and daily transportation to campus, easing significant financial pressure on recipient families. To qualify for the award, eligible students transitioning from primary to secondary education must submit a personal essay paired with a referee form completed by their primary school staff. Selection criteria are strictly merit- and need-based, evaluating applicants on five core pillars: proven financial need, academic achievement, demonstrated leadership ability, personal character, and integrity.

    Addressing attendees at the September 29, 2026 ceremony, ECTEL Managing Director David Cox highlighted the radical selflessness that defined Lake’s life and career, noting her entire professional and personal identity was rooted in service to others. In an era defined by widespread cultural fixation on individualism, visible across social media, digital platforms and daily personal interactions, Cox emphasized that Lake carried forward a longstanding, shared Caribbean tradition of cross-regional public service, a trait deeply embedded in her whole family.

    “A life built around service is the only way to achieve true immortality,” Cox told the gathering. “Pearl’s legacy will not be forgotten, long after her passing. I encourage all of you to set aside the pressure to prioritize self, and instead ask how you can follow in Pearl’s footsteps and give back to your communities.”

    Cheryl Hector Fontenelle, ECTEL’s Director of Economics and Finance, expanded on Lake’s legacy and the decision to launch the scholarship program, noting that “service” is the word that best sums up Lake’s life and work. Fontenelle also shared personal recollections of Lake, describing her as a warm, wonderfully funny and deeply compassionate person who had a unique gift for thoughtfulness. “If you ever needed a gift for someone, Pearl always had the perfect thing, often she even already had it stored at her house,” Fontenelle recalled.

    Fontenelle confirmed that Lake had always prioritized education as a cornerstone of personal and community growth throughout her own life, making a multi-year scholarship fund the ideal lasting tribute to preserve her impact across the Eastern Caribbean region.

  • How Belize’s COVID Education Response Became a Development Superhero

    How Belize’s COVID Education Response Became a Development Superhero

    As countries around the globe continue to unpack the long-term lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, one small Central American nation has emerged as a global stand-out for its innovative response to education disruptions. Belize has secured a place as one of just six finalists in the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) 2026 Superheroes of Development competition, honored for reimagining its national teacher support model when pandemic-related school closures upended traditional learning systems.

    Speaking at the competition’s presentation event, Ingrid Acosta, a representative from Belize’s Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, walked audiences through the crisis that forced the country to rethink a decades-old approach to teacher training. When the pandemic hit, teachers were abruptly thrown into uncharted territory: they were required to master new digital tools and remote learning methodologies almost overnight, all while continuing to meet the social and academic needs of vulnerable students. For years, Acosta explained, the default solution for teacher struggling had been one-off workshops that left little lasting change.

    “Too often when our teachers struggle, the answer is another workshop. You attend, you go home. But the classroom, it stays just the same,” Acosta told attendees. Recognizing that traditional, one-time training could not address the urgent, ongoing needs of educators navigating a public health crisis, the ministry rolled out a fundamentally new model: hybrid ongoing coaching that combines in-person guidance with flexible virtual support. This model shifts away from passive instruction to active, on-the-job mentorship, meeting teachers where they are as they test new teaching strategies.

    “Real transformation occurs when someone stands alongside a teacher and supports her as she tries something new,” Acosta said. The results of the program have exceeded even the most optimistic projections: internal data presented at the event shows that the share of teachers delivering consistent, high-quality lessons jumped dramatically from 30% pre-program to 73% after the coaching model was rolled out nationwide.

    Beyond immediate improvements to classroom instruction, the initiative has left Belize with a durable, scalable public good: a cohort of trained instructional coaches and a replicable coaching framework that can be adapted to other public development programs. For the IDB, the Belize model stands as a powerful case study in adaptive development, demonstrating how local programs can pivot to meet unforeseen crises, design context-appropriate solutions, and leave behind actionable insights that benefit nations facing similar challenges.

    Acosta emphasized that the success of the program debunks a common myth that educators are resistant to systemic change. She noted that teachers are eager to adopt new, more effective practices to support their students, but they need sustained, relevant support rather than disconnected training. “When we empower a teacher, we transform much more than a classroom. We help to transform society one classroom at a time,” she said. The three overall winners of the 2026 Superheroes of Development competition will be announced later the same day following all finalist presentations.

  • UWI Five Islands to Hold Graduation Ceremonies Oct. 10

    UWI Five Islands to Hold Graduation Ceremonies Oct. 10

    The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, located in Antigua and Barbuda, is preparing to mark a key milestone for hundreds of its graduating students on Saturday, October 10, with two separate graduation ceremonies that will open the university’s annual cross-regional graduation season. Alongside celebrating the achievements of the newest cohort of graduates, the campus will bestow honorary doctorates on two accomplished individuals: Olympian and community leader Thea LaFond Gadson and veteran journalist Don Rojas.

    To ensure that friends, family members and supporters from across the globe can share in the celebration, both ceremonies will be streamed live via UWItv, enabling remote attendance for anyone unable to be present on campus. The first event, scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. local Antigua and Barbuda time, will recognize graduates from the School of Business and Management. This session will feature a valedictory address from Kathalia Valentine, an outstanding graduate who earned her Bachelor of Science in Management Studies with a specialized concentration in Entrepreneurship. During this morning ceremony, LaFond Gadson will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of her contributions to her field and community.

    The afternoon celebration, commencing at 4 p.m. local time, will honor graduates from three academic divisions: the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, the School of Humanities and Education, and the School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence. Leading the valedictory remarks for this session will be Chemique Harris-Benjamin, who completed her Bachelor of Education in Mathematics Education with distinction. Rojas will be honored with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during this afternoon gathering for his decades of impact in media and public discourse.

    This event at the Five Islands Campus serves as the starting point for a series of UWI graduation ceremonies that will take place across the Caribbean over the coming month. Next on the calendar is the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, which will host its own graduation celebrations on October 17. Following that, the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago will hold its ceremonies from October 22 to 24, and the Mona Campus in Jamaica will wrap its graduation from November 5 to 7 November. Closing out the 2024 graduation season is UWI’s Global Campus, which will host a fully virtual graduation ceremony on November 14 at 6 p.m. Eastern Caribbean time, accommodating its distributed student body across multiple time zones and regions.

  • DSC secures four grants to strengthen campus development and learning

    DSC secures four grants to strengthen campus development and learning

    Dominica State College (DSC) has announced a major milestone in its pursuit of long-term institutional development, securing four distinct grants from regional and international funding bodies to advance upgrades across technology, infrastructure, policy development, skills training, and learning access. The awards mark a key step forward in the college’s broader strategy to diversify its revenue streams and reduce dependence on traditional public funding.

    The funding comes from four partner organizations: the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Mercy Corps, and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), according to an official press release issued by the institution. Each grant is targeted to address a unique priority for the college, with shared goals of boosting institutional capacity and lifting educational experiences for both enrollees and faculty.

    The first confirmed project, backed by a $20,000 contribution from ARIN, will see the launch of the DSC Youth Internet Governance Lab hosted within the college’s existing Innovation Hub. This hands-on initiative will task students with addressing real-world connectivity challenges facing the DSC campus, while giving them opportunities to build actionable skills in technology development, academic research, and global internet policy governance.

    A second collaboration, between DSC and Mercy Corps with funding provided by the United States Government, is developing the Wood Innovation Studio as part of the regional Caribbean United programme. The studio is designed to bridge traditional Dominican woodworking craftsmanship with cutting-edge modern manufacturing technology, creating a dedicated practical space where students can explore sustainable carpentry, custom product design, and local fabrication using native wood resources. The project also integrates formal entrepreneurship training, with the core goal of equipping young learners with marketable job skills that open new employment and small business pathways in the local green economy.

    The college’s long-standing partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning is being extended through this latest grant, supporting ongoing work to update institutional academic policies and scale up online learning offerings. This investment is expected to strengthen DSC’s ability to deliver flexible, accessible education opportunities that fit the diverse needs of its student body, including working learners and those in rural communities.

    Finally, through the 11th funding cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund programme, DSC will receive support for a campus-wide infrastructure enhancement project. While the college’s press release did not disclose specific details of the construction or upgrade works planned, the investment will address critical physical infrastructure needs to support modern teaching and campus activities.

    College leadership emphasized that securing these four grants is part of a deliberate, long-term strategy to build a more financially sustainable and resilient institution, reducing overreliance on traditional funding streams. Success in winning the awards was credited to the targeted grant mobilization work led by Malisa Richards, operating under the supervision of Dr. Hermancia Eugene-Zamore through DSC’s Office of Academic Affairs.

    Moving forward, DSC confirmed it will continue to proactively pursue new partnerships with international development agencies and grant-making organizations to sustain investments in campus innovation, infrastructure, technology integration, and student-centered learning improvements.

  • President urges pupils to overcome obstacles

    President urges pupils to overcome obstacles

    On a landmark visit to Selah Primary School in St. Lucy this Monday, President Jeffrey Bostic delivered an inspiring message of resilience and purpose to the school’s student body, encouraging young learners to view obstacles as stepping stones rather than barriers on their journey toward long-term goals. During his time on campus, President Bostic praised students for the confidence they demonstrated across academic, artistic, and extracurricular programs – from Spanish language learning and music performance to uniformed youth groups. Drawing a direct lesson from the students’ poise during the morning’s welcome activities, he noted, “There’s no challenge that you children cannot overcome. And when you face obstacles, you find a way around them, over them, but you maintain the path that you are on.” The President highlighted the determination of Head Girl Shazariah Springer and Head Boy Micah Depeiza, who adapted to practical challenges – including the need to stretch to reach the microphone – to welcome him and present ceremonial gifts, calling their quick thinking and confidence a powerful example for their peers.

    Tying his message to the school’s Biblical name, Selah – which carries multiple meanings including “to pause and reflect,” “to lift up,” and “to serve with humility” – President Bostic emphasized the power of intentional stillness. “Your power is not in your fists. Your power is not in your hands. Your power is not through your mouth. Your power is in your pause,” he said. “Pause shows power, not weakness. Pausing is strength before you do something that you will regret later.” He also challenged students to build one another up instead of tearing peers down, urging them to celebrate classmates’ successes and support their teachers. He reminded students that the character values they develop during their school years are permanent, irreplaceable assets that cannot be bought with money, earned through academic certifications, or granted by a university degree. “You need to serve in order to lead… Leaders are not those who stand tallest, but those who bow to lift up others,” he added.

    The visit came at a particularly meaningful moment, falling during Education Month and as Barbados marks 60 years of national independence. Principal Cheryl Marshall shared that the occasion offered the school community a chance to reflect on the nation’s progress while reaffirming its commitment to preparing young people to build the future of Barbados. “Our school is focused on helping students discover their talents, develop character and gain the confidence needed to contribute to society,” Marshall explained. Echoing President Bostic’s message of perseverance, she pointed to the school’s motto – “Self-discipline and Dedication Brings Success” – to reinforce that success grows from commitment, resilience, responsible decision-making, and a willingness to persist through difficulty.

    Selah Primary currently offers students a wide range of extracurricular opportunities beyond core academics, including STEM programming, reading initiatives, multiple sports, music, educational tours, and youth clubs. The school fields teams in athletics, cricket, football, netball, and table tennis, and hosts uniformed groups including Brownies, Blossoms, and Cubs, with a new Beavers program set to launch this year. Students also participate in the Inter-School Christian Fellowship and a school violin program, and the administration plans to resume its popular swimming programme this term. President Bostic specifically highlighted the school’s Spanish language presentation, encouraging students to continue building their foreign language skills through secondary school and beyond, noting that the ability will open new doors for them in the future. The morning’s activities included a violin performance of *Tip Toe Boo!* and a recitation of the poem *Barbados*, celebrating national culture and student artistic growth.

    During the visit, President Bostic also raised a key concern about underrepresentation of male role models in positive youth development programs, noting that a lack of visible positive leadership disproportionately impacts boys’ participation in constructive extracurricular and community activities. “Our boys cannot be what they cannot see,” he said. “Our boys are a reflection of what they are seeing in our men.” He called on more adult men to get involved in youth programs, from uniformed groups to sports and faith-based initiatives, explaining that confidence and leadership skills cannot be learned solely from textbooks – they are developed through hands-on, mentored engagement.

    Principal Marshall closed by noting that President Bostic’s visit reinforced the core mission of Selah Primary, saying, “Your presence here today sends a powerful message to our students that they matter, that their education matters, and that their dreams and aspirations matter.” Looking ahead, the school will launch the President’s Chapman Challenge this Friday, and continue expanding its extracurricular offerings throughout the term with the new Beavers program and the return of swimming.

  • DeVry University, ABHTA, and Chamber of Commerce Launch AI-Focused Professional Development Courses

    DeVry University, ABHTA, and Chamber of Commerce Launch AI-Focused Professional Development Courses

    As industries worldwide grapple with rapid digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence, a new cross-sector partnership in Antigua and Barbuda is taking actionable steps to close the local AI skills gap. The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA), U.S.-based DeVry University, and the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to launch two tailored professional development courses, equipping local workers, managers and business leaders with practical AI competencies for an evolving global workforce.

    DeVry University brings nearly a century of career-focused education experience to the collaboration. Founded in 1931, the accredited institution has long centered its programming on meeting shifting workplace demands, and its DeVryPro online learning platform was built specifically to support upskilling and reskilling for industries disrupted by AI integration. The launch of these courses aligns closely with the 2026 World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” which highlights AI’s transformative impact on traveler decision-making, tourism business operations, and visitor experience design. The theme also calls for expanded investment in digital skills and broader technology access to ensure all stakeholders can participate equitably in tourism’s digital future.

    For ABHTA, the partnership marks a critical shift from discussing AI’s potential to empowering local workers to use the technology effectively and ethically. “The World Tourism Day theme could not be more timely,” said Patrice Simon, Executive Director of ABHTA. “If we are serious about redesigning tourism and remaining competitive as a destination, then we must invest in our people. Technology will continue to evolve, but our greatest investment must remain in developing the skills of the people who will use that technology to improve our businesses, our productivity and ultimately the visitor experience.”

    The two programs are structured to meet the varying needs of today’s working professionals. The first, *AI for All*, is designed for learners without prior technical or coding experience, focusing on building accessible, real-world AI skills. Participants will core AI fundamentals, refine prompt engineering techniques, learn to leverage AI to boost daily productivity, convert raw data into actionable business insights, and implement practical workplace automation. The curriculum also includes critical discussions of AI accuracy, privacy, algorithmic bias and ethical usage, and gives learners hands-on practice with leading AI tools including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude and Gemini.

    The second course, *Finance Essentials for Managers with AI*, targets current and aspiring managers seeking to strengthen their financial acumen while integrating AI into financial workflows. Course content covers core skills such as interpreting financial statements, developing budgets and financial forecasts, communicating financial insights to cross-functional teams, managing organizational financial risk, and applying AI tools to streamline financial analysis and strategic decision-making.

    Both courses are offered on-demand, allowing working professionals to progress through material at their own pace while balancing study with work and personal commitments. Most learners can complete the full curriculum in five weeks or less. Upon successful completion, participants receive an industry-recognized DeVryPro certificate of completion, verifying skills that can be applied immediately in their current roles. Local businesses are also encouraged to integrate the programs into formal employee development plans, with discounted tuition available for organizations that register multiple participants to build collective AI capacity across teams.

    This course launch marks only the first phase of a long-term collaborative partnership between the three organizations. Martin Cave, Executive Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce, noted that the initiative is designed to create a sustained pathway for professional growth. “We want this partnership to pave a suitable pathway,” Cave explained. “Someone may begin today by taking AI for All, but we want them to see that as the beginning and not the end of their professional development. Our goal is to give Antiguans and Barbudans greater access to relevant education, professional certification and, ultimately, degree programmes that allow our people to continue advancing in their careers.”

    Unlike many skills initiatives focused exclusively on the tourism sector, this effort aims to expand AI access across all industries in Antigua and Barbuda. Through the Chamber of Commerce’s broad cross-sector network, the partners hope to reach professionals and organizations across every major segment of the local economy. Registration is currently open for both courses: interested individuals and businesses can create an account via DeVryPro’s dedicated ABHTA registration portal or scan the QR code included on official program materials to connect directly with DeVry for more information on fees and enrollment.

    ABHTA serves as the collective voice of Antigua and Barbuda’s hospitality industry, working through education, advocacy and promotion to boost visitor arrivals and expand the economic benefits of tourism for the nation. Its membership includes hotels, restaurants, airlines, and any business directly or indirectly involved in the local tourism sector. DeVry University, meanwhile, has a mission to close global opportunity gaps and address emerging talent needs by preparing learners for careers shaped by constant technological change, offering accredited undergraduate and graduate programs online and in-person across business, healthcare and technology fields.

  • Tropipulp Dominica marks sixth year of school supplies support to Newtown Primary School

    Tropipulp Dominica marks sixth year of school supplies support to Newtown Primary School

    For six consecutive years, a homegrown Dominican agri-processing enterprise has kept a promise to its community, delivering essential school supplies to vulnerable students at New Town Primary School — a commitment that has grown from a one-off charitable gesture into a lasting, cross-sector partnership for youth advancement.

    The initiative is spearheaded by Standardz Agro Processing, which operates commercially under the brand Tropipulp Dominica. At the helm of the project is Kyle Francis, the company’s proprietor and an alumnus of New Town Primary School, who says supporting his former educational institution carries deeply personal meaning.

    When the program launched in 2020, its core goal was straightforward: ease the financial burden that low-income families face when covering the cost of textbooks, notebooks, writing tools and other required schooling materials. Over the past half-decade, the effort has evolved into a collaborative effort that ties together the private company, school administration, student families and community stakeholders, all aligned to remove barriers to consistent learning.

    In a statement released by the company, Francis explained that his connection to the school drives his dedication to the work. “This is the place that helped shape who I am today,” he said. “Staying invested in its growth allows us to foster a supportive environment where children can grow academically, build confidence, and prepare for whatever future they choose to pursue.”

    Beyond providing tangible supplies, the annual donation program is designed to reinforce the value of education for students, encouraging them to stay engaged in their studies while lifting stress off household budgets. Francis used a simple analogy to underscore the necessity of the support: “For how good is a trade man without his tools?” He argues that access to basic school supplies is just as critical to a student’s success as proper tools are to a skilled tradesperson.

    Francis went on to issue a call to action for other business leaders and prominent community members across the island to step up their investment in local education. He frames investment in students as an investment in Dominica’s long-term prosperity, urging other private sector entities to find targeted, meaningful ways to support children and working families that need extra assistance.

    School leadership has celebrated the consistent partnership, noting that contributions like Tropipulp’s create tangible, lasting change for students, their families and the surrounding neighborhood. Francis also offered public praise for New Town Primary Principal Anita Williams, commending her unwavering commitment to the student body, her work to improve learning outcomes and campus infrastructure, and her effort to nurture the ongoing partnership with the company over the past six years.

    On behalf of all the student recipients and school staff, Williams expressed sincere gratitude for the sustained support, and confirmed the school’s commitment to continuing the collaboration. “This donation ensures that every student who needs supplies can walk into class with the materials they require to learn fully,” she said.

    For Tropipulp Dominica, the annual school supply drive is more than a one-off charity project: it is a core reflection of the company’s long-standing institutional commitment to advancing education, expanding youth empowerment, and driving inclusive community development across Dominica.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Teachers’ Union Calls for Better Working Conditions and Retention Packages

    Antigua and Barbuda Teachers’ Union Calls for Better Working Conditions and Retention Packages

    As the world marks World Teachers’ Day 2026, the president of a national teachers’ union, Casroy Charles, has delivered a clear and pointed message: symbolic celebration of educators’ contributions is not enough. Lasting change and stronger institutional support systems are required to let teachers carry out their core professional duties effectively.

    Speaking on behalf of the union’s executive leadership, Charles emphasized that praise alone cannot address the systemic challenges that educators face day-to-day. “Acclamation alone cannot sustain us,” he stated, warning that the fanfare of annual World Teachers’ Day recognition must not overshadow the pressing, unaddressed issues embedded within the national education system.

    The union has laid out three non-negotiable priorities that it says are critical to strengthening the country’s education ecosystem. First, the organization is calling for meaningful lifts to both the social and economic standing of teachers across the nation. Second, it pushes for targeted policy measures designed to retain skilled, veteran educators who bring invaluable expertise to classrooms. Third, the union demands overhauls to working conditions that would create environments more conducive to high-quality student learning, while also allowing teachers to focus on their core professional responsibilities rather than bureaucratic or structural burdens.

    Charles anchored the union’s demands in existing international guidance from the International Labour Organization and UNESCO, which have long laid out core principles for advancing quality education globally. He questioned how much longer local educators must wait for these widely accepted principles to be fully integrated into the country’s domestic education framework. While he acknowledged that incremental progress has been made in recent years, he raised pointed concerns that deep inequities within the system remain largely unaddressed, asking how far the nation has actually come in closing these gaps.

    The union also issued a broader warning to education leaders and system managers: inefficiency, ineffective institutional practices, and broken industrial relations can never serve as a strong foundation for a high-functioning education system. Even as it pushes for systemic changes from education leadership, the union urged rank-and-file teachers to remain dedicated to their noble calling, despite the shortcomings of the institutions that are meant to support and manage the education sector. “Teachers, do not sever your bond with this noble calling,” Charles encouraged educators in his message.

    In the statement, the union executive did recognize and celebrate the relentless dedication, hard work, and irreplaceable role that teachers play in shaping the nation’s future generations. The organization also acknowledged that it is critical to lift up educators’ work, and thanked education sector partners for their efforts to celebrate teachers on the annual observance. That said, the union made clear that settling for incremental, non-substantive improvements would not just erode educators’ professional standing, it would also put the nation’s broader social progress at risk.

    Charles closed his message with a call for broad public support for the union’s efforts to elevate the status of teaching. He tied the professional well-being and success of educators directly to the long-term future of the country, arguing that investment in teachers is investment in national development. Notably, the 2026 World Teachers’ Day message did not include specific details about proposed financial compensation increases, a clear timeline for implementing the union’s three priorities, or references to ongoing specific employment negotiations.