分类： society

The Central Board of Health (CBH) under St. Lucia’s Ministry of Health has unveiled comprehensive preparations for its upcoming food safety certification program, scheduling training sessions throughout February 2026. Health officials are strongly advising all current and prospective food service professionals to complete their registration promptly due to limited capacity arrangements.

Registration protocols require personal attendance at the CBH offices situated on Upper Church Street during specified morning hours from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The enrollment process demands different documentation based on applicant status: first-time participants must provide two passport-sized photographs, while those seeking certificate renewal need to present expired food handler badges dated 2018 or later.

A standard registration fee of EC$50 applies to all participants, with an additional EC$25 penalty charge for those requiring session rescheduling after missing their allocated training date. Each instructional session will accommodate a maximum of 80 attendees at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Perry Bay, with specific scheduling arrangements: February 5th dedicated to new applicants (9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.), while February 12th (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) and February 19th (1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.) will focus on retraining programs.

The health regulatory body has explicitly stated that children will not be permitted within training facilities during instructional hours. This policy reinforces the professional nature of the certification program and ensures optimal learning conditions for all participants.

Antigua and Barbuda has officially launched its third annual Gender-Based Violence Walk, scheduled for March 7, 2026, with organizers expressing confidence in surpassing previous participation records. The event, unveiled January 7th at the Multipurpose Centre, represents the nation’s largest public advocacy initiative addressing gender-based violence.

Organized through a collaborative effort between the nonprofit Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) and the Directorate of Gender Affairs (DoGA), the 2025 walk attracted over 2,000 participants. Both organizations anticipate significantly increased attendance for the 2026 event, which aligns with International Women’s Day observances.

Melanie Williams-Kirnon, Programme Officer at DoGA, characterized gender-based violence as “a pervasive issue that leaves deep scars on victims and disrupts the social fabric of our communities.” She emphasized the walk’s evolution into “a critical initiative for raising awareness about gender-based violence in Antigua and Barbuda” since its 2024 inception.

The 2026 campaign features an comprehensive eight-week awareness initiative, including weekly youth workshops and a fundraising drive supporting the establishment of a women’s shelter. The shelter project, envisioned as a women-led social enterprise incorporating a beeping farm for sustainable funding, received government approval for a five-acre land lease in October 2025.

Dr. Nicola Bird, IHO’s Executive Director, acknowledged community support as instrumental in securing government backing for the shelter initiative. “It is the voice of the people, and that people-driven momentum that really helped us,” Dr. Bird stated during the launch ceremony.

Organizers are particularly focused on increasing male participation, emphasizing that men and boys play crucial roles in achieving cultural transformation. Registrants for the 2026 walk can optionally complete an anonymous survey designed to gauge public perception regarding violence against women and girls in Antigua and Barbuda.

The event occurs against a sobering global backdrop where UN Women statistics indicate at least one in three women worldwide experiences intimate partner violence. The Caribbean region faces particularly acute challenges, with 46% of women experiencing some form of gender-based violence—exceeding global averages.

Event Details:
The Gender-Based Violence Walk 2026
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Location: The Botanical Gardens
Time: 2:00 PM
Registration: https://qrco.de/bgXYuu
Shelter Project Support: https://gofund.me/9bba6cc27

In a landmark ruling that clarifies the boundaries of police authority, the High Court has declared the 2022 arrest and overnight detention of motorist Ryan Reid unlawful. Justice Nicola Byer delivered a decisive judgment establishing that officers lack the legal power to arrest or detain individuals for minor traffic infractions classified as ticketable offenses.

The court specifically identified violations such as failure to wear a seatbelt and mobile phone use while driving as offenses subject only to fixed penalty notices, not warranting arrest. Reid’s detention over two days following a November 7, 2022 traffic stop was deemed an unlawful trespass on his person.

In a significant clarification of administrative procedures, the court further ruled that only the Commissioner of Police possesses the authority to suspend driver’s licenses before conviction. This finding rendered previous enforcement actions based on presumed suspensions in 2021 unlawful.

The case, brought against Commissioner of Police Casey Jean Baptiste and the Attorney General, saw Reid represented by attorney Wendel Alexander. While affirming the unlawfulness of Reid’s detention, the court rejected his additional claims of malicious prosecution, harassment, and abuse of discretion in bail refusal, noting these allegations failed to meet established legal thresholds.

Regarding a separate May 2021 arrest for dangerous driving, the court found police acted within their authority as Reid had failed to provide identification when requested, creating lawful grounds for detention under traffic regulations.

The court granted Reid leave to pursue damages for his unlawful detention, allowing 21 days to file application. Additionally, he was awarded 75% of his legal costs in the proceeding.

The Spanish-speaking community of Antigua and Barbuda will witness an uncontested leadership election on January 11th, following the expiration of the candidate nomination period without any challengers emerging. This development was confirmed by Alex Martinez, the longstanding community representative whose position has been at the center of recent internal debates.

Martinez stated that despite active efforts to encourage broader participation in the electoral process, no alternative candidates submitted their nominations before the official deadline. This absence of opposition means the election will proceed as a single-candidate ratification rather than a competitive contest.

The scheduled vote comes after extended periods of internal discussion regarding representation legitimacy within the community. Certain faction members had raised questions about the formal legitimacy of the current leadership structure, particularly whether Martinez had been properly elected or appointed through democratic means. These concerns highlighted growing demands for transparent governance procedures and ultimately catalyzed the movement toward establishing a clearly defined electoral process to determine community representation.

The upcoming election, while uncontested, represents a significant institutional step toward addressing these governance concerns and establishing formal protocols for community leadership selection moving forward.