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  • CARDI showcases research and innovation at first regional agriculture symposium

    CARDI showcases research and innovation at first regional agriculture symposium

    Against a backdrop of growing climate uncertainty, shifting global food markets and rising import dependence, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has kicked off its first-ever Agricultural Research and Innovation Symposium (ARIS), a landmark regional gathering that unites cross-sector stakeholders to reimagine the future of Caribbean agriculture.

    Opening its doors on July 8 in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, the three-day event operates under the overarching theme “Advancing Agricultural Innovation for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Food Systems”, designed to serve as a collaborative hub where lab-based research can connect directly with the farmers, policymakers and industry leaders who will put those findings into practice.

    In his opening remarks, Hon. Lennox Andrews, Chairman of CARDI’s Board of Governors and Grenada’s Minister of Agriculture, framed the symposium as a critical response to the cascading challenges facing the region’s agricultural sector. “Climate change, evolving pest and disease pressures, and global market disruptions demand that we embrace science, innovation and collaboration as essential tools for securing the future of Caribbean agriculture,” Andrews said. He emphasized that the research on display at ARIS underscores CARDI’s core mission to develop practical, on-the-ground solutions that boost farm productivity, reinforce regional food systems, and protect the livelihoods of smallholder and commercial farmers alike. Andrews also called for sustained investment in the institute, noting that delivering consistent, impactful solutions requires adequate long-term resourcing.

    For CARDI Executive Director Ansari Hosein, the inaugural symposium marks the start of a new, more accessible tradition for the regional research body. “It brings together our scientists from across the region to share the results of research conducted over the last 2 years in our Member States and, more importantly, to engage directly with farmers, policymakers, development partners and the private sector,” Hosein explained. Outlining CARDI’s core mandate, he added, “Our objective is to ensure that research moves beyond the laboratory and delivers tangible benefits for food and nutrition security, climate resilience and agricultural competitiveness throughout the Caribbean.”

    Speaking on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministerial Advisor Ravi Pooran Maharaj lauded the symposium for filling a critical gap as a regional coordination platform. “The Caribbean’s future food security depends upon our collective ability to transform research into action,” Maharaj said. “This Symposium provides an important platform where researchers, policymakers, innovators, and practitioners can exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate the adoption of technologies that will help transform agriculture across Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.” He echoed calls for greater adoption of climate-smart practices, noting that modern regional agriculture must lean into improved crop varieties, precision farming techniques and sustainable production methods to build resistance to shocks.

    Michelle Anne Thomas, Permanent Secretary in Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, echoed Maharaj’s praise, emphasizing that cross-sector collaboration is non-negotiable for solving the Caribbean’s most pressing agricultural challenges. “The challenges facing Caribbean agriculture require strong partnerships between researchers, policymakers and producers,” Thomas said. “By creating opportunities to share knowledge and practical solutions, initiatives such as this Symposium help ensure that scientific research informs policy, strengthens national agricultural programmes and delivers meaningful benefits for farmers and consumers across the Region.”

    The symposium featured three targeted technical sessions that spotlight two years of CARDI research across its 14 member states, covering the region’s highest-priority agricultural challenges. A core focus of the event was reducing the Caribbean’s heavy reliance on imported food and feed: researchers shared findings from feasibility and productivity studies on commercially growing white potatoes in Grenada, tropical wheat in Belize, as well as improved varieties of lettuce, corn, silage, dasheen and black-eyed peas tailored to regional growing conditions.

    Digital agriculture and emerging technology also took center stage at ARIS. Discussions and presentations covered a range of forward-looking topics, including strategies to attract younger generations to agricultural careers, digital management platforms for livestock feed, AI-powered tools for rapid crop disease diagnosis, and upgraded digital extension services designed to give farmers real-time data to make more informed production decisions.

    In closing, CARDI reaffirmed its long-term commitment to delivering science-backed, practical solutions that strengthen regional food and nutrition security, lift farmer incomes, and boost the global competitiveness of Caribbean agricultural products. The institute announced plans to make the ARIS symposium a recurring event to continue advancing collaborative innovation across the region.

  • BIM@60 invites Barbadians to choose the soundtrack of the nation’s first 60 years

    BIM@60 invites Barbadians to choose the soundtrack of the nation’s first 60 years

    As Barbados marks 60 years of independence and five years as a republic, a groundbreaking public initiative is inviting Barbadians at home and across the global diaspora to help codify the nation’s cultural history through song. Launched Wednesday at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, the BIM@60 campaign is a collaborative project between the museum and the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), designed to crowdsource the 60 tracks that best capture the country’s six decades of independent nationhood.

    From a pre-vetted shortlist of more than 200 songs that have shaped Barbadian cultural identity since 1966, members of the public can cast their votes online via the campaign’s digital platforms or at in-person interactive kiosks installed across the island. The initiative is far more than a public vote, however: when voting closes, the final selection will form the foundation of a lasting public legacy, including a permanent publicly accessible digital archive, themed curated playlists, a full-length documentary exploring the stories behind the selected tracks, new museum exhibitions, and educational resources for schools across the country and diaspora communities.

    Alissandra Cummins, director of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, framed the project as a key step in the institution’s ongoing evolution ahead of its 2033 centenary, aligned with a broader vision to make heritage more accessible and community-centered. “Heritage cannot be confined to buildings or display cases,” Cummins said at the launch event. “Heritage lives in people. It lives in communities, traditions, creativity, language, memory, and shared experiences.”

    She explained that the museum is reimagining its role to become more open, connected and relevant to all segments of Barbadian society, merging traditional collection preservation with public dialogue and community participation. “Our stories, our museum,” she emphasized. “They remind us that the museum does not belong to a single generation, a single profession, or a single community. It belongs equally to the child visiting for the first time, the researcher exploring our archives, the artist finding inspiration, the family tracing its history, the Barbadians living overseas, and the visitor discovering our island for the very first time.”

    Cummins also used the launch to announce that the museum will launch a major capital fundraising campaign in August, which she described as “an investment in the stories we preserve, the knowledge we share, and the legacy we leave for future generations.”

    Kevin Farmer, deputy director of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, noted that music has long functioned as a living historical record for Barbados, and remains one of the most potent expressions of national identity. “It reminds us that music is more than entertainment. It is evidence and testimony. It is history. It tells the story of a nation. It tells the story of people,” he said.

    Farmer extended an open invitation to all Barbadians worldwide, regardless of genre preference, to participate by selecting the tracks that have left a permanent mark on their personal and collective memory. “Whether they are gospel, soca, calypso, jazz, R&B, rock or hip-hop, that is the heart of BIM at 60,” he said. “We’re simply asking for you to share with us how the last 60 years are in a way inscribed on and in your memory.”

    He highlighted the deep historical roots of Barbadian musical heritage, noting that a traditional Barbadian slave song – one of the oldest documented enslaved musical works in the Caribbean region – has already been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register through cross-border collaboration. Addressing questions about why a historical museum would lead a music-focused project, Farmer argued that preserving living heritage is just as critical as conserving traditional artefacts and documents.

    “When you think of us, it is not simply about objects and pages, but it is about music. It’s about that which keeps us alive,” he said. “We’re trying in a very small way to capture it and immortalize it within 60 years of independence and the fifth anniversary as a republic.” He also called on the public to contribute informal musical memorabilia – such as handwritten lyric scribbles on napkins, brochures or beach scraps – noting that these ephemeral items hold as much historical value as the finished songs themselves.

    Carol Roberts, chief executive of the NCF, said the campaign offers an unprecedented opportunity for Barbadians to collectively define the nation’s musical identity. “BIM@60 is a project that asks a deceptively simple question: ‘What does Barbados sound like?’” Roberts said. “Our music is the most complete record we have of who we are – our humor, our struggles, our faith, our resilience, our passion, our hope, and our joy.”

    Roberts stressed that while the museum’s expert panel has already curated the shortlist of more than 200 culturally significant tracks, the public will have full control over the final 60-song selection. “This will not be an archive built behind closed doors,” she said. “From that curated list, it is you, me, the people of Barbados at home and across the diaspora, who will vote to choose the final top 60. Sixty songs for 60 years.”

    Outlining the campaign’s long-term legacy, Roberts added that the resulting resources will make Barbadian musical history accessible to future generations across the globe. “This will allow a child in a classroom in St Lucy or St Philip, Toronto… to trace the journey of their Barbadian music and understand that it belongs to them,” she said. The NCF will support the initiative by providing publicly accessible recordings, coordinating with artists and rights holders, and promoting the campaign across its national marketing and programming platforms. Roberts emphasized that the project is ultimately a tribute to Barbadian creative workers: “To our artists, composers, arrangers and producers, this project is, above all, for you. It says that your work is not in vain. It is heritage. It is history.”

    Trevor Prescod, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Pan-African Affairs and Heritage, noted that the campaign aligns with a critical moment in Barbados’ national history. Quoting Frantz Fanon, he said: “Each generation must discover its historic mission. You either honor it or betray it. I think staff of the museum, the NCF, and the Ministry… have all discovered our historic mission.”

    Prescod added that music has long documented the Barbadian experience, and should be leveraged to strengthen national identity while guiding future generations. “Over the years, the story of Barbados has been told in the lyrics of our fathers,” he said. “For generations, Barbadian artists, musicians, composers and cultural practitioners have given voice to our experiences, our aspirations, our struggles and our triumphs.” He also called for increased investment in Barbados’ cultural industries, arguing that music should be recognized both as a core cultural asset and a high-potential economic sector capable of generating wealth for local creators. Prescod urged continued support for local musicians and called for expanded international promotion of Barbadian creative talent.

    The launch event concluded with live performances from local artists Dale and Blood, who showcased a selection of new tracks alongside their most beloved earlier hits. Now that voting is open, organizers expect the final 60-song list to stand as a permanent, community-defined record of the music that has shaped Barbadian national life since independence, preserving these stories for generations to come.

  • Tourism minister calls on Dominica to build on record WCMF visitor growth

    Tourism minister calls on Dominica to build on record WCMF visitor growth

    As the Caribbean nation of Dominica kicks off its 2026 iteration of the iconic World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), local tourism officials are highlighting the massive economic and cultural ripple effects of the event, which drew more than 10,500 international and domestic visitors to the island during its 25th anniversary celebration last year.

    The official launch of this year’s festival, held over the weekend, opened with an announcement from Dominica’s Minister of Tourism Denise Charles-Pemberton, who celebrated the 48% year-over-year visitor growth the landmark silver jubilee edition achieved in 2025. Beyond the musical acclaim that the WCMF has earned globally, Charles-Pemberton emphasized that the festival functions as a cornerstone of the island’s tourism-driven economy, supporting a wide cross-section of local workers and small businesses.

    “Too many people look at this event and only see a three-night music celebration, but I see a transformative economic opportunity,” Charles-Pemberton said during her launch address. “This festival puts money in the pockets of hoteliers and guesthouse operators, fills restaurant tables, keeps taxi drivers busy, supports local street vendors and tour guides, puts income in the hands of local farmers and fisherfolk, and creates work for hairstylists, makeup artists, fashion designers, event planners, content creators, musicians and DJs across the island. Every tier of our local economy benefits from the festival economy. That is exactly why our government has invested millions of dollars into the tourism sector for years, and will continue to do so.”

    Charles-Pemberton added that tourism is far more than a source of state revenue for the small island nation: it is a catalyst for broad-based social improvement, creating stable formal and informal jobs, helping small local businesses scale up, opening new professional pathways for young Dominicans, and raising overall quality of life for communities across the country. For 2026, she set an ambitious target, telling attendees that “last year we achieved remarkable growth, but this year, we must do even better.”

    Speaking at the launch alongside the tourism minister, Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite, Parliamentary Representative for Roseau South, expanded on the long-term cultural and tourism value of the festival, noting that its impact stretches far beyond the closing notes of the final performance. Over its three-night run, Lockhart-Hypolite explained, the WCMF brings global audiences directly to Dominica’s shores, creating lasting impressions that drive repeat visits and word-of-mouth promotion for years after the event ends.

    “This event is one of the most powerful invitations Dominica can extend to the rest of the world,” she said. “Long after the final act leaves the stage, the festival continues to inspire visitors to come back, to explore more, and to share their experiences of Dominica with their own networks. That is its lasting legacy.”

    This year’s WCMF carries the theme “Stay a While”, a slogan that Lockhart-Hypolite said aligns perfectly with the island’s goal of encouraging deeper, more immersive travel experiences beyond the festival itself. “It’s an open invitation to experience more of what our island has to offer: come for the world-class Creole music, then extend your trip to see everything else Dominica has to share,” she explained. “Discover the hidden spots that don’t make it onto typical tourist itineraries, enjoy the dozens of fringe festival events happening across the whole island, spend time in our local communities, and meet the people that make this island feel like home for visitors. You’ll leave with a story that’s bigger than just a music festival. Dominica is not a destination you simply check off a bucket list – it’s a destination you live and experience.”

  • Belize’s Power Demand Climbs as Mexico Signals Supply Cut

    Belize’s Power Demand Climbs as Mexico Signals Supply Cut

    As of July 15, 2026, Belize is navigating a looming electricity crisis driven by two overlapping factors: surging domestic power demand and an impending cut to energy imports from neighboring Mexico. The crisis threatens to bring repeated rolling blackouts across multiple districts of the small Central American nation, but government and utility officials are moving quickly to roll out contingency measures and avoid widespread disruption.

    Prime Minister John Briceño outlined that power supply constraints have been a lingering issue for Belize since 2000, exacerbated by rapid economic and population growth that has outpaced domestic generation capacity. Mexico, Belize’s primary energy import partner, is facing its own strain: soaring power demand in southern Mexican states has left Mexico’s state-owned power utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) unable to meet its export commitments to Belize on schedule. CFE had been expected to bring 1.2 gigawatts of new generation capacity online to cover both domestic and export demand, but the new gas-fired plants have sat idle due to critical shortages in natural gas supply to fuel operations.

    Briceño noted that Belize has received a lucky temporary reprieve from recent rainy weather, which has replenished water reserves at the country’s hydroelectric dams, boosting domestic hydropower output in the short term. For longer-term buffer capacity, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), the country’s national power utility, had arranged for a standby backup generator that was originally scheduled to arrive at the end of May. However, shipping disruptions stemming from the ongoing conflict in Iraq have delayed the delivery. Officials now expect the generator to arrive by the end of July or early August, and will bring it online immediately once it clears customs and installation.

    BEL has already begun preparing contingency plans in case CFE implements export cuts before the new backup capacity is activated. The utility has warned that if supply falls short of demand, controlled rolling blackouts will be implemented between 6:00 p.m. and midnight, a period of peak residential power usage. The outages would impact six districts: Orange Walk, Corozal, Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo. Beyond the standby generator, BEL is developing a 24-megawatt mobile emergency power plant near Mile Eight on the George Price Highway, and has arranged to rent an additional 20 megawatts of generation capacity to be installed at West Lake. That project was originally targeted for launch in July 2026, but shipping delays tied to global logistics disruptions from the Iraq war have pushed the launch back to mid-to-late August.

    Once the emergency generation capacity is online, BEL Executive Chairman Lynn Young explained that Belize’s exposure to CFE export cuts will be drastically reduced. In addition to the temporary emergency measures, the utility is in active discussions with independent power producers operating in Belize — including BABCO and Belcogen Santander — to boost output from existing domestic facilities in the short term. For long-term energy security, BEL already has grid-connected solar energy projects in development to grow domestic renewable generation capacity and reduce reliance on imported power over time.

    Young added that CFE’s export challenges are not an isolated issue, but part of a broader global energy crisis that has pushed up fuel prices and created widespread logistics bottlenecks for energy infrastructure deliveries, making the entire supply chain more volatile.

    Diplomatic efforts between Belize and Mexico are also ongoing to minimize disruptions. Oscar Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Belizean officials are in constant daily communication with CFE leadership both in Yucatán, where the export power is generated, and at CFE’s Mexico City headquarters to negotiate continued supply where possible. Arnold noted that CFE has an incentive to continue exporting power to Belize, as the country pays a premium for the imports, but CFE must prioritize meeting its own domestic demand first, just as Belize does with its own commodity exports. During past periods of supply uncertainty, Belizean diplomatic teams worked around the clock to adjust to daily shifts in available export capacity from CFE, a process that has helped build strong working relationships between the two countries’ energy and diplomatic teams.

    Arnold emphasized that while Belize prioritizes building up its own domestic generation capacity, continued diplomatic dialogue with Mexico remains a key tool for managing shortages and avoiding unnecessary disruptions for Belizean consumers.

  • Dajapón Fest 2026 to celebrate 70 years of Japanese immigration to the Dominican Republic

    Dajapón Fest 2026 to celebrate 70 years of Japanese immigration to the Dominican Republic

    Seven decades after the first Japanese families settled on Dominican soil, the Caribbean nation is preparing to host a landmark cultural celebration to honor the enduring legacy of Japanese immigration. Named Dajapón Fest 2026 – Special 70th Anniversary Edition, the upcoming festival will celebrate the profound, multifaceted contributions that Japanese immigrants and their descendants have made to Dominican agricultural progress, cultural enrichment, and social development across the country.

    The two-day event is scheduled to run from August 1 to 2, 2026, and will be hosted at the Japanese Colony Park located in La Vigía, Dajabón. This location holds deep historical significance: it is the exact site where the very first Japanese settlement in the Dominican Republic was founded back in 1956, following a bilateral immigration cooperation agreement signed between the Japanese and Dominican governments. Event organizers confirm that Dajapón Fest 2026 will be the largest Japanese cultural gathering ever held across the nation.

    A key milestone of this 70th anniversary edition is that it will, for the first time, bring together official representatives from Japanese communities across every major region of the Dominican Republic, including Jarabacoa, Constanza, La Altagracia, Aguas Negras, Neiba, Duvergé, and Manzanillo. The festival will function as a long-awaited nationwide reunion for descendants of the original 1956 Japanese immigrants, while also extending an open invitation to all visitors who wish to experience and engage with traditional and modern Japanese culture.

    Attendees will have a wide range of immersive cultural activities to enjoy across both days, with the event open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Highlights include authentic traditional Japanese cuisine tastings, live martial arts demonstrations, diverse cultural performances, traditional folk dance showcases, a special exhibit of historical samurai armor, family-friendly cultural games, and a public celebration of the beloved Bon Odori festival.

    Beyond cultural celebration, the festival also serves as a formal recognition of the lasting impact that early Japanese immigrants have had on the Dominican agricultural sector. It also reaffirms the deep, long-standing friendship that has developed between Japan and the Dominican Republic over the past 70 years, a bond rooted in the 1956 cooperation agreement that first opened the door for Japanese immigration to the Caribbean nation.

  • Seven students honoured for leadership, service and character

    Seven students honoured for leadership, service and character

    Across the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia, seven exceptional graduating secondary school students have earned top honors from CIBC Caribbean through the bank’s newly launched Culture of Care Student Recognition Programme, an initiative designed to lift up young leaders whose impact stretches far beyond traditional academic report cards.

    Unlike standard academic awards that center exclusively on grades, this program celebrates students who demonstrate a deep, active commitment to lifting up their school campuses and local neighborhoods. The selection framework draws on multiple criteria: not only solid academic standing, but also proven leadership ability, consistent community engagement, strong moral character, and demonstrated resilience in the face of personal challenge. One recipient was chosen from each of the seven participating secondary schools across the country.

    The 2026 award cohort brings together a diverse cross-section of young Saint Lucian talent: Kami Analise St Rose from St Joseph’s Convent Secondary School, Shyann Mayers from Ciceron Secondary School, Sanjani Cetoline from Corinth Secondary School, Saachi Wadhwani from Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School, Darnel Isidore from Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, Jervonté Desir from Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School, and Colleen Busette from Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School.

    This group of honorees represents the full breadth of youth leadership across the island. The recipients include elected student body leaders, campus prefects, peer mentors for struggling classmates, regular community volunteers, competitive school athletes, grassroots environmental advocates, and passionate STEM enthusiasts. Collectively, their post-graduation aspirations span high-impact fields from medicine to civil engineering to emerging technology, reflecting a new generation ready to contribute to Saint Lucia’s future.

    Each honoree received tangible recognition for their work, including a custom commemorative trophy, a CIBC Caribbean student account seeded with a cash deposit, and additional branded tokens of achievement. Beyond rewarding the individual students, the bank also committed $1,000 to support the graduation ceremony of each participating school, injecting critical funding into end-of-year community celebrations for all graduating students.

    Nigel Ollivierre, Country Manager for CIBC Caribbean, emphasized that the program grows out of the institution’s longstanding commitment to investing in Saint Lucia’s youth. “At CIBC Caribbean, we believe that the future of our communities depends not only on academic excellence, but on the values young people choose to live by,” Ollivierre said. “Through the Culture of Care Student Recognition Programme, we are proud to celebrate students who lead with integrity, serve others with compassion and demonstrate the resilience and character that inspire those around them.”

    This student recognition initiative is just one part of CIBC Caribbean’s broader community investment strategy focused on education and youth development across Saint Lucia. The bank has extended additional financial support to a number of other local schools to help cover costs for 2026 graduation celebrations, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing the next generation of Caribbean leaders.

  • Dragon fruit nursery opens as ministry grows Saint Lucia’s agriculture

    Dragon fruit nursery opens as ministry grows Saint Lucia’s agriculture

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is positioning dragon fruit as a cornerstone of its evolving agricultural strategy, following the official launch of the country’s first specialized dragon fruit nursery in Union, Castries. The new facility, opened Friday by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the Taiwan Technical Mission, forms a key component of the government’s broader Seven Crops Project, an initiative designed to revamp the nation’s agricultural sector for modern challenges. The nursery will address a critical gap in local production by supplying farmers with standardized, high-quality planting material, as the government actively encourages greater adoption of this high-value, climate-adaptable crop.

    Aldine Eudovic, national coordinator for the Seven Crops Project, explained that the new nursery is far more than an isolated investment in a single crop—it is a core piece of a long-term strategy to diversify Saint Lucia’s agricultural output and build greater systemic resilience against the accelerating impacts of climate change. “This is not just a standalone effort to expand dragon fruit cultivation,” Eudovic noted. “It is one of many targeted initiatives we have rolled out under the Seven Crops Project to strengthen our agricultural portfolio.”

    Eudovic added that dragon fruit was selected for prioritized development due to its unique hardiness, which allows it to thrive in growing conditions that leave many of the island’s traditional staple crops struggling. As a member of the cactus family, dragon fruit grows successfully on marginal, low-fertility lands that are unsuitable for most conventional crops. This trait aligns perfectly with the Ministry of Agriculture’s climate action goals, which have shifted toward encouraging adoption of non-traditional, drought-tolerant crops that can withstand rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns.

    Beyond its climate benefits, dragon fruit also fills a rapidly growing unmet market demand on the island. Eudovic explained that Saint Lucia’s key hospitality sector has expressed overwhelming interest in sourcing local dragon fruit, with current demand far outstripping the volume that small-scale local producers can currently supply. “Hotels have been reaching out in droves for this product,” she said. “Tourists are eager for unique, fresh tropical produce grown right here in Saint Lucia, and the hotel sector is eager to meet that demand.”

    While Saint Lucia has never imported dragon fruit, only a small number of local farmers have grown the crop on a small scale for years. The government’s new initiative aims to accelerate commercial-scale production by distributing subsidized high-quality seedlings and providing dedicated technical guidance to farmers looking to add dragon fruit to their operations. Eudovic also pointed to another key economic advantage of the crop: its extended shelf life makes it an ideal candidate for export to regional and international markets, opening up new revenue streams for local producers.

    Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir framed the opening of the nursery as a milestone in the government’s ongoing push to modernize Saint Lucia’s farming sector. “Dragon fruit is the perfect symbol of resilience,” Jawahir said in remarks at the opening. “It thrives where many crops struggle, reminding us that with innovation and climate-smart agriculture, we can turn our greatest challenges into economic opportunities.”

    In addition to dragon fruit seedlings, the new nursery will also supply farmers with quality guava seedlings, giving producers more options to diversify their crop portfolios and tap into growing market demand for both specialty tropical fruits. Jawahir also emphasized the strategic opportunity to strengthen ties between the island’s agricultural sector and its core tourism industry. “There is no reason that authentic Saint Lucian agritourism experiences shouldn’t feature premium dragon fruit and guava grown right here on our soil,” she said. “By connecting our agriculture sector to our tourism industry, we create new, stable income streams for our farmers, cut unnecessary import costs, and strengthen our overall national economy.”

    Expanding local production of high-demand fruits like dragon fruit forms part of the government’s broader national goal to cut Saint Lucia’s multi-million-dollar annual food import bill, while creating inclusive new income opportunities for smallholder and commercial farmers across the island. To lower barriers for adoption, participating farmers will be able to purchase dragon fruit seedlings from the nursery at a heavily subsidized, reduced rate.

  • LIVE: Disaster and You 14th July 2026 presented by Office of Disaster Management

    LIVE: Disaster and You 14th July 2026 presented by Office of Disaster Management

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  • News : Zapping…

    News : Zapping…

    A collection of the latest developments from Haiti spanning multiple sectors this July 2026 brings a mix of athletic triumph, diplomatic clarification, legal enforcement and public service milestones.

    First, in a historic win for Haitian sports, competitive swimmer Christian Jérôme delivered a stunning performance at the 2026 Pan American Swimming Games hosted in Ibagué, Colombia. Jérôme left the multi-day competition with an unprecedented six medals for his home country: three gold medals earned in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter butterfly, and 50-meter freestyle events, one silver medal from the 200-meter individual medley, and two bronze medals claimed in the 200-meter freestyle and 4 x 100-meter mixed medley relay. His achievement marks a standout moment for Haitian swimming on the regional competitive stage.

    Turning to regional security diplomacy, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has publicly clarified the nature of his country’s cooperation with Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a multinational mission tasked with quelling widespread gang violence in Haiti. Speaking in a media interview, Abinader emphasized that Dominican collaboration is strictly limited to two core areas: delivering humanitarian medical support and coordinating intelligence sharing with the international mission. He explicitly ruled out any direct participation by Dominican forces in offensive anti-gang operations within Haiti. The president confirmed that a permanent communication channel between the Dominican government and the GSF is already active, noting “Yes, we are in coordination with this multinational force. If there is a problem, they inform us and we prepare.” Addressing security along the shared Haiti-Dominican border, Abinader highlighted ongoing upgrades to the Dominican Armed Forces’ capabilities and infrastructure, confirming the force now has access to new armored vehicles and significantly improved weaponry. He added that military salaries have been tripled nationwide, with all personnel assigned to border posts receiving an additional special performance bonus.

    In domestic legal news, Haitian opposition figure Moïse Jean-Charles has been officially summoned to appear before the national prosecutor’s office following a series of inflammatory public remarks. The summons comes in response to repeated statements in which Jean-Charles called on the Haitian public to “destroy and burn everything”, repeated calls for “total annihilation” widely referenced by the slogan “boule tout bank”, and his most recent public appeal for widespread “dechoukaj”, a term referring to violent mass upheaval. Many Haitian citizens have argued that Jean-Charles’s rhetoric has exacerbated an already volatile national security climate, where armed gangs already carry out widespread acts of terror across the country. Observers note that inflammatory public speech that incites disorder carries tangible risks of unpredictable, harmful consequences for already vulnerable communities.

    The Port-au-Prince Prosecutor’s Office has also announced a sweeping new crackdown on the exploitation of minors, intensifying enforcement actions targeting nightclubs and hotels across the Haitian capital that permit underage girls to work and gather on their premises. According to Jean Fritz Patterson Dorval, Government Commissioner for the Port-au-Prince jurisdiction, targeted inspection operations launched last weekend are focused on combating the sexual exploitation and violence targeting 15- to 16-year-old girls in these entertainment and hospitality venues.

    In public health, the Haitian health community honored the contributions of international medical support last month. On June 20, the Lasile Community Reference Hospital (HCR) hosted a formal tribute ceremony for the Cuban Medical Brigade, recognizing the brigade’s central role in the success of the recent Free Surgical Caravan initiative. The ceremony was attended by senior Haitian health officials, including Dr. Esther Ceus Dumond, Nippes Department Health Director, and Eluderne Denius, coordinator of the Miragoâne District Health Unit and departmental coordinator for the caravan. Thanks to the brigade’s dedicated work, more than 100 low-income patients received completely free life-changing surgical procedures at the Lasile facility, bringing new hope to hundreds of vulnerable Haitian families who could not otherwise access care.

    Finally, in law enforcement training, the Haitian National Police Academy (ENP) officially launched the academic year for its 37th class of aspiring police officers on July 14, 2026. During the opening ceremony, new cadets received detailed briefings on training requirements and the core values the Haitian National Police requires all officers to uphold throughout their careers: strict discipline, professional ethics, and adherence to deontological standards. The ceremony, branded “First Civic Monday”, marks a key milestone in the integration of the new cohort, coming two weeks after the completion of their initial orientation period.

  • Nygard convicted of assault after using Bahamas as lure

    Nygard convicted of assault after using Bahamas as lure

    Once one of the most prominent names in global fashion, 84-year-old former clothing empire founder Peter Nygard has reached another devastating milestone in his ongoing legal collapse, after a Quebec court convicted him of sexual assault and forcible confinement of an 18-year-old aspiring model in the late 1990s.

    The conviction marks the second guilty finding against Nygard in Canada, following a 2023 Toronto conviction on four counts of sexual assault that earned him an 11-year prison sentence. He is also currently awaiting extradition to the United States to face far-reaching federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking that allege decades of systemic abuse across multiple countries.

    In an unexpected turn of events just as a 10-day judge-only trial was set to begin on Monday, Nygard appeared via video link from an Ontario prison and chose not to challenge the prosecution’s evidence. This last-minute decision spared his accuser from the stress of testifying, nearly 30 years after the alleged offences took place between November 1997 and November 1998.

    Court of Quebec Judge Nathalie Fafard formally found Nygard guilty on one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement following his non-contest submission. Prosecutors outlined that Nygard first met the 18-year-old victim at a Montreal bar, where she shared her goal of building a professional modeling career. After an initial meeting at her workplace to discuss career opportunities, Nygard lured her to his downtown Montreal penthouse by claiming he had left his keys there. Once inside the unit, he locked her in a bedroom and assaulted her. Court documents also detail that Nygard offered the teen a lavish lifestyle and residency in The Bahamas, on the condition that she engage in sexual activity with him and other women.

    Judge Fafard also ruled that evidence from Nygard’s previous Toronto convictions was admissible in the Quebec case, noting striking similarities between the patterns of abuse that could not be written off as coincidence. “It would defy coincidence or any other innocent explanation for both events having happened,” Fafard wrote in her ruling.

    Quebec Crown Prosecutor Jérôme Laflamme told reporters after the hearing that his team had fully prepared for a lengthy trial and never anticipated Nygard’s sudden change of strategy. “Mr Nygard’s change of heart was quite sudden,” Laflamme said. “The complainant is present in the courthouse. She’s been prepared to testify … and I can’t wait to go meet her and explain the situation to her.”

    This Quebec conviction is legally separate from the 2023 Toronto guilty verdict, where a jury found Nygard responsible for sexual assaults on four women that occurred between the late 1980s and mid-2000s. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in September 2024, and the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld both his convictions and sentence earlier this May when it rejected his appeal.

    Nygard’s defense attorney, Gerri Wiebe, told the court her client opted to allow a conviction ahead of his planned extradition to the U.S., where he has already entered a not guilty plea to the racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Canadian authorities have already ordered Nygard’s surrender to the U.S. on all nine counts laid out in the American indictment, and the Supreme Court of Canada recently declined to hear his challenge to the extradition order, leaving it fully in effect. Extradition proceedings cannot move forward, however, until all outstanding Canadian criminal cases against Nygard are resolved.

    Wiebe also argued that Nygard is in significantly frail health, and that transferring him to the U.S. would put his life at immediate risk. She requested a sentencing delay to allow Nygard to remain in Canada while all outstanding legal matters are finalized. Judge Fafard granted that request, delaying sentencing until a full medical assessment of Nygard’s health is completed. Legal teams are scheduled to return to Quebec court on October 2 to submit a joint sentencing recommendation.

    The pending U.S. case carries unique weight for The Bahamas, where Nygard once owned the expansive Nygard Cay private estate and hosted high-profile, lavish parties before his fashion company, Nygard International, collapsed amid widespread sexual misconduct investigations. American prosecutors allege that over 25 years, Nygard used the influence, staff, and financial resources of his fashion businesses to recruit and sexually exploit women and underage girls across multiple countries. The indictment claims the criminal ring operated with dozens of victims across the U.S., The Bahamas, Canada, and other regions, specifically targeting women and girls from low-income backgrounds, many of whom had pre-existing histories of abuse. Prosecutors allege that victims were lured with false promises of modeling jobs and financial support before being assaulted and trafficked for the sexual gratification of Nygard, his friends, and business partners. These allegations have not yet been tested in an American trial, and Nygard maintains his not guilty plea.