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  • Roseau South MP urges Newtown youth to seize opportunities as new initiative launches

    Roseau South MP urges Newtown youth to seize opportunities as new initiative launches

    A new community-focused initiative designed to unlock the potential of young people in Newtown has officially launched, with a senior local politician calling on area youth to seize every opportunity the programme offers to grow, lead, and shape a better future for their hometown and nation.

    Chekira Lockhart-Hypolite, the parliamentary representative for Roseau South Constituency, delivered the keynote address at the NYDP’s launch event held last week, where she laid out the core mission of the new programme and its long-term vision for local youth. Unlike outdated narratives that frame young people as only future leaders, Lockhart-Hypolite emphasized that young Newtown residents are already driving positive change today, brimming with original ideas, untapped creativity, and unique talents that can strengthen families, neighborhoods, and the entire country.

    Founded as a registered non-profit organization in August 2025, the NYDP grows out of more than 30 years of grassroots youth work in Newtown. The initiative traces its roots back to the 1993 Newtown Juvenile Football Academy, which later expanded into the popular Newtown After-School Football Programme. Unlike traditional youth programmes that focus on a single area of development, NYDP takes a holistic approach to supporting young people: it combines sports participation, academic support, public health outreach, life skills training, mentorship, and spiritual growth to address the full range of social and personal challenges facing local youth today.

    Speaking to gathered participants, community members, and volunteers at the launch, Lockhart-Hypolite explained that the programme was created to help young people identify their innate strengths, build lasting self-confidence, and cultivate the adaptable skills required to succeed in a fast-changing global economy. She reminded attendees that success is not predetermined by a person’s starting background or the obstacles they face along their journey; instead, it is forged through consistent perseverance and a lifelong commitment to learning and growth. “Success is built through determination to keep learning,” she told the crowd. “This programme presents an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser.”

    Lockhart-Hypolite urged participants to engage fully with all that the NYDP has to offer: to ask bold questions, lift up their peers, and cherish the connections, knowledge, and experiences that will come from their participation. “The friendships you build, the knowledge you gain, and the experiences that you share can open doors that you may never have imagined,” she said. She also encouraged young people to push past self-doubt and fear, noting that their perspectives, ideas, and ambitions hold real value for the entire community. “Remember that your voice matters, your ideas matter, your dreams matter,” she said. “Never allow fear or doubt to prevent you from pursuing your goals. Focus on your purpose and never stop striving for excellence.”

    The MP also used the launch event to honor the people who turned the vision for the NYDP into a reality. She paid public tribute to Joffre Faustin, a respected community elder and long-time advocate for the programme, who now serves as NYDP chairman. Lockhart-Hypolite shared that she held multiple planning conversations with Faustin over the years to develop the initiative, and noted that he was in attendance at the launch “sitting here very proudly because his plan is coming to fruition.” She also extended gratitude to the programme’s organizers, lead facilitators, and volunteer team, whose tireless dedication made the launch possible and is already laying the groundwork for a brighter future for Newtown.

    Lockhart-Hypolite reaffirmed her ongoing commitment as constituency representative to supporting youth-focused initiatives, arguing that strategic investment in young people is the most impactful investment a community can make. “Investing in youth is investing in the future of our constituency and our country by extension,” she explained. She added that through the NYDP, today’s participants may grow into the entrepreneurs, industry professionals, community leaders, artists, and innovators who will inspire the next generation of Newtown youth.

    In closing, she offered words of encouragement to all participants, urging them to embrace every learning opportunity the programme provides and work toward becoming the strongest version of themselves. “I want to wish each and every one of you success throughout this programme and beyond,” she said. “May you leave here inspired, empowered, and ready to make a positive difference wherever life takes you.”

  • FEDA and CEA launch heritage tourism project highlighting Dominican sugar industry

    FEDA and CEA launch heritage tourism project highlighting Dominican sugar industry

    Two leading Dominican institutions, the Special Fund for Agricultural Development (FEDA) and the State Sugar Council (CEA), have joined forces to roll out an innovative heritage tourism project in Hato Mayor province, with dual goals: safeguarding the Dominican Republic’s centuries-old sugar industry legacy and unlocking sustainable new economic pathways for local communities.

    Shortly after the initiative was announced, FEDA Director Hecmilio Galván and CEA Director Rafael Burgos Gómez conducted an on-site inspection of key historic locations earmarked for the new tourism route. Their tour included the former administrative offices of the iconic Las Pajas Sugar Mill and a well-preserved traditional sugar processing facility, as leaders assess which sites will meet the standards for inclusion in the planned heritage circuit.

    The proposed cross-province route will connect three major sugar-growing regions: Hato Mayor, San Pedro de Macorís, and Monte Plata. It will tie together a network of culturally significant sites, from long-shuttered sugar mills and century-old production facilities to existing museums that document the industry’s history. A core component of the project is the planned restoration of the Las Pajas Museum, which will then be integrated into the larger network that already includes the Porvenir, Colón, and Consuelo sugar mills, as well as the national Sugar Cane Museum.

    Project leaders emphasized that the initiative fills a long-standing gap in cultural preservation for the Dominican Republic, where sugar production has shaped national identity, economic development, and social structure for more than five centuries. Beyond conservation, the project is designed to grow the country’s cultural tourism sector, draw both domestic and international visitors to the underpromoted sugar-heartland regions, and create lasting new income streams for local small business owners, agricultural producers, and community members in traditional sugarcane-growing areas.

    Local residents in Mata Palacio, one of the communities set to benefit directly from the initiative, have already expressed widespread support for the plan. Many shared that they see the project as a long-awaited catalyst for inclusive economic growth that will raise living standards and expand opportunity for younger generations who have few local economic options in the province.

  • Cabarete Butterfly Effect attracts record 190 participants from seven countries

    Cabarete Butterfly Effect attracts record 190 participants from seven countries

    In the coastal town of Cabarete, located in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, the 18th annual Cabarete Butterfly Effect has wrapped up its five-day programming with a historic milestone. This year’s gathering, themed “Ignite,” drew 190 attendees from seven nations across North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East, marking the largest turnout in the event’s 18-year history.

    More than just a recreational gathering, the initiative was designed to advance women’s empowerment through a holistic mix of sports, wellness education, leadership development, and sustainability action. The multi-day schedule offered a diverse array of programming, ranging from active outdoor pursuits to thought-provoking educational sessions, immersive cultural experiences, and purpose-driven community projects. A core group of participants included young girls supported by Fundación Cuatro Estrellas, a local organization that uplifts marginalized youth in the region.

    One of the most impactful annual traditions of the event returned this year: a large-scale cleanup of La Boca beach. Over the course of the activity, volunteers pulled a total of 693 kilograms of waste from the coastal ecosystem, 361 kilograms of which was single-use plastic. The effort not only removed harmful pollution from a sensitive marine habitat but also underscored the event’s longstanding commitment to environmental conservation and coastal protection.

    Attendees also gathered for the flagship “Women in Leadership: Ignite Talk” panel discussion, where speakers and participants delved into pressing topics including equitable access to leadership roles, female entrepreneurship, holistic wellness practices, and intentional personal growth. Between educational and service activities, participants had the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the northern Dominican coast, with guided excursions including a catamaran cruise around Sosúa Bay, stand-up paddleboarding excursions along the La Boca River, daily open yoga sessions, and the event’s beloved traditional BE Full Day celebration.

    Michelle Bourdeau, the founder of the Cabarete Butterfly Effect, shared that the initiative was founded 18 years ago with a clear core mission: to create a space where women and girls can build unshakable self-confidence, cultivate actionable leadership skills, and leave the gathering inspired to drive positive change in their home communities. This year’s cohort included attendees from the Dominican Republic, Canada, the United States, England, Russia, Israel, and Chile, reflecting the event’s growing global reach. From its small beginnings nearly two decades ago, the Cabarete Butterfly Effect has evolved into one of the Dominican Republic’s leading platforms for advancing female leadership, intentional personal development, and environmental stewardship.

  • Aviation reps challenge claims on Andros crash response

    Aviation reps challenge claims on Andros crash response

    A deadly Independence Day plane crash that claimed 10 lives in North Andros, The Bahamas, has sparked a public dispute over emergency response preparedness, with aviation sector leaders pushing back against a local administrator’s claim that additional emergency vehicles would not have altered the outcome of the tragedy.

    The crash, which left only one initial survivor who later succumbed to severe burn injuries, occurred in a rugged pine forest roughly half a mile from the nearest road, a location inaccessible to standard ground vehicles. North Andros Administrator Beverley Laramore defended the existing emergency framework, arguing that even a large fleet of ambulances and fire trucks would have been unable to reach the wreckage. She also noted that the district’s aging fire truck had been heavily strained by a nine-week wildfire two years prior, and that North Andros could call on Central Andros for additional ambulance support if needed.

    Laramore further stated that emergency crews reached the lone survivor, Macaro Rolle, approximately 15 minutes after locating the crash site, though people close to Rolle have disputed that timeline, claiming it took nearly two hours to extract him from the forest. After being carried out to a waiting ambulance, Rolle was transferred to the local airport for stabilization before a planned medical evacuation to New Providence, but he died from his injuries before care could be completed.

    However, leaders of the Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) — founder Robert Dupuch-Carron, a former vice-chairman of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), and chief operating officer Michael Strachan — are challenging Laramore’s narrative, arguing that the core issue is not access to the crash site, but the lack of specialized emergency infrastructure designed specifically for aviation disasters.

    Dupuch-Carron emphasized during an appearance on the local program *Beyond the Headlines with Shenique Miller* that conventional ambulances operated by the PHA and the Department of Public Health are not engineered to handle the massive trauma cases that follow plane crashes. He noted that other nations maintain a separate, higher tier of emergency vehicles dedicated exclusively to aviation incidents, a standard The Bahamas has yet to fully implement.

    “Even if the crash site is unreachable for vehicles, having specialized, aviation-trained medical teams on standby drastically improves outcomes when survivors are extracted,” Dupuch-Carron explained. Drawing on his decades of experience with the PHA, he added, “The PHA is not designed for this level of mass casualty trauma response. Their teams did excellent work with the resources they had, but we owe the aviation sector a requisite level of preparedness that does not exist right now.”

    Strachan echoed that sentiment, criticizing stakeholders for falling into defensive posturing after the tragedy instead of using it as a catalyst to fix long-identified gaps in emergency response. He drew a parallel between the North Andros crash and an October 2010 plane crash at Lake Killarney that killed nine people, noting that both disasters are somber reminders that aviation tragedies rarely stem from one isolated failure — instead, they result from a chain of small, unaddressed gaps in safety and preparedness.

    To address these gaps, BACSWN has already begun rolling out specialized aviation disaster ambulances staffed by trained emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and in some locations trauma surgeons and physicians, to airports across the Bahamas’ Family Islands. Currently, the first phase of deployment covers five airports, but North Andros is not among them; the organization plans to add the district once additional vehicles are manufactured and shipped to the country.

    The Bahamas’ unique archipelagic geography, with 26 populated islands each hosting an airport, creates massive logistical and financial barriers to full preparedness. Many airports also lack dedicated storage facilities for the specialized emergency equipment, requiring BACSWN to complete construction projects before deploying vehicles. According to Strachan, the organization has already begun staffing up facilities in Mayaguana and is working with the Airport Authority to map out storage space at airports across the country, with the first phase of deployment on track to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of this year.

    BACSWN has been waiting for official memoranda of understanding to formalize its partnership with public health agencies, allowing its trained medical personnel to operate alongside government teams. Dupuch-Carron noted that Attorney General Wayne Munroe has indicated the agreements will be signed soon, clearing the way for rapid deployment. All specialized equipment and trained staff are already ready for deployment once administrative hurdles are cleared, he added.

    In addition to emergency response gaps, Dupuch-Carron raised concerns about lax enforcement of existing aviation rules, specifically the illegal practice of using private aircraft for unregulated commercial operations — a practice he compared to unauthorized “hacking” of safety protocols. He also dismissed calls for the resignation of the country’s aviation minister as preposterous, arguing that the issue is a systemic lack of resources and enforcement, not individual failure. He added that BACSWN supports the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas and has called for increased funding and resources to allow the agency to carry out its mandate more effectively.

    Moving forward, BACSWN plans to add additional safety services including flight tracking and up-to-date severe weather information, all aligned with international aviation safety standards. While Dupuch-Carron said he cannot guarantee no future lives will be lost in aviation accidents, he emphasized that the organization’s work will ensure that properly trained trauma teams, necessary medications, and specialized equipment will be on hand to respond when emergencies occur.

    Seeking to reassure the traveling public, he noted that the national aviation system is not entirely broken, and BACSWN has built a strong collaborative relationship with government aviation bodies including the Airport Authority. “I want people to feel confident that when you get on a plane, everyone has done everything right,” he said, “and if something were to go wrong, we’re going to be there to respond.”

  • Dominican Republic ranks 64th in World Happiness Report 2026

    Dominican Republic ranks 64th in World Happiness Report 2026

    The latest iteration of the annual World Happiness Report 2026 has placed the Dominican Republic at 64th position out of 147 evaluated nations, with the Caribbean country earning an average well-being score of 6.093 on a 0 to 10 scale. The ranking draws on three years of data from the Gallup World Poll, collected between 2023 and 2025, a methodology designed to deliver a more stable, long-term view of national happiness rather than capturing short-term fluctuations in public mood.

    Unlike simple public opinion polls that only ask for self-reported happiness, the World Happiness Report framework goes deeper, breaking down the drivers of well-being across six core metrics: GDP per capita as a measure of economic opportunity, the strength of social support networks, national average healthy life expectancy, citizens’ perceived freedom to make key life choices, levels of generosity within communities, and public perceptions of corruption in government and business.

    One of the most notable takeaways for the Dominican Republic in this year’s report is its consistent upward trajectory in the rankings over recent years. The country now stands out among the cohort of nations that have posted meaningful, measurable improvements in how their citizens perceive their overall quality of life.

    Beyond its standard global ranking exercise, this year’s report included a targeted special analysis focused exclusively on the Dominican Republic, exploring a widely debated question: does the number of social media platforms a person use correlate with their overall life satisfaction? To answer this, researchers analyzed data from 2023–2024 Latinobarometer surveys, drawing responses from 1,891 Dominican participants aged 15 and older. The analysis covered usage of all major regional platforms, including Meta-owned WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, professional network LinkedIn, video-sharing platform YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and short-form video app TikTok.

    After controlling for a wide range of confounding variables that could skew results—including interpersonal trust, public confidence in government, levels of religiosity, socioeconomic class, and individual perceptions of the national economy—the research team reached a surprising conclusion. There is no statistically significant connection between the number of social media platforms a person uses and whether they report higher or lower levels of personal life satisfaction.

    First launched more than a decade ago, the World Happiness Report remains the leading global comparison of population well-being across countries. Its annual publication provides policymakers, researchers and civil society organizations with actionable data on how economic, social and institutional conditions shape how people experience and evaluate their daily lives.

  • Dominican diaspora surpasses 3 million people across 129 countries, INDEX reports

    Dominican diaspora surpasses 3 million people across 129 countries, INDEX reports

    On Wednesday, the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX) published the fifth iteration of its Sociodemographic Registry of Dominicans Residing Abroad, offering the most comprehensive snapshot to date of the Dominican global diaspora. The landmark report confirms that more than 3 million Dominican citizens – a total of 3,030,647 people – currently reside across 129 countries and territories worldwide.

    A major milestone of this latest edition is its expanded geographic scope. For the first time since the registry launched, researchers have integrated demographic data on Dominican communities located in Asia, Africa, and Oceania, moving beyond the historical focus on traditional settlement regions of North America and Europe. Ten new nations have been added to the registry’s dataset, including Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Botswana, Guinea, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Serbia, and Vietnam.

    Regional breakdowns from the report reveal the uneven geographic distribution of the Dominican diaspora. Anna Cristina Hernández, Director of Research and Studies at the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared that North America remains the primary home for overseas Dominicans, hosting 84.9% of the total global diaspora population. Europe follows as the second-largest settlement hub, accounting for 9.8% of all Dominicans living outside their home country.

    The registry also delivers key insights into the age structure of the global Dominican community, a finding that carries important implications for cultural policy and community outreach. Data shows that more than one-third of all Dominicans residing abroad fall between the ages of 0 and 25. This demographic skew underscores a growing priority for Dominican authorities: strengthening intergenerational cultural connections and safeguarding national identity among younger cohorts of the diaspora who grew up outside the country.

    To ensure the accuracy and usability of its findings, the entire dataset was compiled using verified official statistical sources from both national governments and international bodies. All raw data went through rigorous multi-step validation and harmonization processes, designed to eliminate inconsistencies and guarantee the reliability and cross-comparability of statistics across different regions.

    Celinés Toribio, INDEX Executive Director and Vice Minister for Dominican Communities Abroad, emphasized the practical value of the updated registry. Toribio noted that the detailed dataset gives policymakers and community organizations a far more precise portrait of the key characteristics, unmet needs, and untapped economic and social potential of Dominican communities spread across the globe.

    In addition to expanded geographic coverage, this fifth edition introduces an innovative new analytical tool: the Demographic Opportunity Window indicator. This custom metric was developed specifically to help researchers systematically analyze the age breakdown of the Dominican diaspora and evaluate the economic potential locked in its working-age population, opening new avenues for future research and policy planning.

  • Two Men Detained After Suspected Drug Bust on Pares Main Road

    Two Men Detained After Suspected Drug Bust on Pares Main Road

    A late-night roadside crash has uncovered an alleged illicit drug trafficking operation on Paros Main Road, leading law enforcement to take at least two men into custody, according to official initial reports. The incident unfolded shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, when local police were dispatched to the scene following reports of a crashed vehicle parked along the road edge.

    When responding officers arrived, they made an unexpected discovery: multiple pounds of suspected cannabis were in the process of being moved between the crashed vehicle and a second connected vehicle when the accident occurred. The crash inadvertently revealed the illegal transfer, putting an immediate stop to the alleged operation.

    In the hours after the incident unfolded, a large crowd of curious bystanders gathered near the restricted zone to observe the ongoing law enforcement activity. Police quickly established a cordon around the entire area to secure evidence and allow investigative teams to process the scene without interruption.

    As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not released formal details confirming the exact quantity of suspected controlled substances seized from the scene. They also have not indicated whether additional suspects connected to the alleged operation are still being sought, or if further arrests will be made in the coming days as the investigation continues.

  • APUA Pipe Installation Works to Affect Traffic on Market Street Today

    APUA Pipe Installation Works to Affect Traffic on Market Street Today

    Commuters traveling through central St. John’s should prepare for minor travel delays and altered traffic patterns on Wednesday, as the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) Water Business Unit launches critical pipe installation work along a key stretch of Market Street. The active work zone spans the segment of Market Street between Newgate Street and Church Street, bringing utility crews and heavy drilling equipment to the high-traffic downtown corridor. The project is being executed by APUA’s specialized Horizontal Directional Drilling team, a group trained to carry out subsurface infrastructure work with minimal above-ground disruption to local businesses and daily travel. Once completed, the installation will enable the utility to permanently retire the aging, corroded water pipes running along adjacent Newgate Street, replacing outdated infrastructure with a brand-new, more reliable water distribution connection. APUA officials have clarified that the upgrade is not an isolated maintenance task, but a core component of a broader contingency strategy designed to strengthen St. John’s municipal water supply. Currently, the capital city’s primary water source is the Grays Hill Reservoir; the new connection will add a redundant, stable supply line fed by the Fort James Reverse Osmosis Plant, boosting the city’s ability to cope with unexpected supply interruptions and meet growing demand from residents and downtown businesses. To minimize safety risks and reduce congestion, APUA is calling on all motorists and pedestrians passing through the area to exercise extra caution, slow down when approaching the work zone, and follow all directional guidance posted by on-site work crews. The authority has also issued an advance statement of gratitude to the local public, acknowledging that temporary traffic changes will cause minor inconvenience, and thanking residents and commuters for their understanding and ongoing cooperation as the utility works to improve long-term water infrastructure for the entire community.

  • Revitalization efforts underway in Pinar del Río

    Revitalization efforts underway in Pinar del Río

    As the Cuban city of Pinar del Río prepares to host national celebrations marking the 73rd anniversary of the historic attacks on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, a province-wide initiative to upgrade public infrastructure, heritage sites and community facilities is in its final stages. Local leaders and cross-sector teams have been racing to complete dozens of renovation and restoration projects across the city ahead of the July 26 commemorations, touching everything from iconic cultural monuments to critical healthcare facilities.

    Leading the province’s preparations, Governor Eumelín González Sánchez told local outlet Granma that work is progressing across all major public green spaces, with one of the most transformative upgrades being the rollout of solar-powered public street lighting. This initiative, funded primarily through the local 1% territorial development contribution, addresses longstanding infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which destroyed the majority of the region’s street lighting networks. The new photovoltaic-powered systems are designed to maintain consistent illumination even during unexpected power outages, bringing reliable, sustainable lighting to main parks in all municipal capitals across the province in addition to central Pinar del Río.

    Heritage restoration forms a core part of the pre-commemoration work, according to José Manuel Fernández Paulín, provincial director of Cultural Heritage. Along Martí Street, the city’s busiest central thoroughfare, crews have undertaken a wide range of upgrades: resurfacing and revitalizing the central promenade, restoring public sculptures originally installed for Pinar del Río’s 150th founding anniversary in 2017, and completing structural and cosmetic restoration on two of the city’s most culturally significant buildings, the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Provincial History Museum. Two key heritage landmarks directly tied to the upcoming celebrations have also been prioritized: the monument to the Saíz Montes de Oca brothers at the city’s main entrance, and the José Jacinto Milanés Theater, which will host the official 26th of July artistic gala.

    The improvements extend far beyond public spaces and cultural sites, reaching critical community healthcare and social services. The operating room at Pepe Portilla Pediatric Hospital has received a full renovation, while a new residential facility for children without parental care is set to open its doors alongside the commemorations. At the Abel Santamaría Cuadrado General Teaching Hospital, construction and renovation work continues on more than a dozen patient wards, supported by both state and non-state entities that have earmarked a share of their profits for what González Sánchez called a project of exceptional humanitarian value.

    Beyond institutional projects, the lead-up to the anniversary has become a broad community-wide effort, with hundreds of local residents volunteering their time to support sanitation, food harvesting and production at the city’s community organic gardens. Dozens of public and private entities across the city have also launched volunteer efforts to repaint and refurbish their building facades, uniting the city in a collective push to present a renewed, vibrant public face for the national commemoration.

  • Rotary Club of Antigua Installs 2026–2027 Board of Directors

    Rotary Club of Antigua Installs 2026–2027 Board of Directors

    On July 11, the Rotary Club of Antigua marked a pivotal transition in its decades-long mission of community service, hosting its annual Handover Ceremony and Awards Dinner at The Cove Restaurant inside Antigua’s Blue Waters Hotel. The event served two core purposes: celebrating the landmark achievements of the outgoing 2025–2026 Board of Directors and formally swearing in the new leadership team that will guide the club’s work across Antigua and Barbuda through 2027.

    Outgoing President Elisa Graham opened the reflective portion of the evening, looking back on a successful term anchored in Rotary International’s 2025–2026 theme “Unite for Good.” Under Graham’s leadership, the club expanded its reach across multiple key areas, delivering impactful local service projects, scaling youth development programs, growing membership numbers, strengthening support for The Rotary Foundation, nurturing emerging local leaders, and boosting the organization’s public profile across the twin-island nation. Graham extended sincere gratitude to every board member, committee chair, rank-and-file Rotarian, corporate sponsor, and community partner who contributed to the year’s successes, noting that their collective dedication turned shared goals into tangible progress for communities across Antigua and Barbuda. Before closing her remarks, Graham offered a warm congratulations to incoming President Anastasia Wilson and her full board, expressing full confidence that the new leadership would build on the strong foundation laid over the previous year and deepen the club’s culture of service and fellowship.

    Wilson takes the helm of the local club aligned with Rotary International’s 2026–2027 global theme “Create Lasting Impact,” a directive that calls on Rotarians worldwide to drive long-term community change through sustainable programming, collaborative cross-sector partnerships, and systemic, enduring improvement. Building on the local club’s 70-plus year legacy of community outreach, Wilson’s board will expand existing work in core priority areas: accessible education, youth empowerment, environmental sustainability, public health access, and cross-border humanitarian aid. The full 2026–2027 Board of Directors includes: Vice President PP Denise Armstrong, Secretary Rtn. Barbara Jarvis, Treasurer Rtn. Rozanne Emanuel, Service Projects Director PP Paul Ryan, Membership Director Rtn. Celia Samuel, Foundation Director Rtn. Delbert Baptiste, Youth Services Director Rtn. Sherwyn Greenidge, Public Image Chair Rtn. Dwayne Simon, Immediate Past President PP Elisa Graham, President Elect Rtn. T. Samoya Kirby, Club Administrator PP Evangeline Allen, and Sergeant-at-Arms Rtn. Barbara Hesse-Merchant.

    Beyond the leadership handover, the evening doubled as a celebration of extraordinary service aligned with Rotary’s foundational motto “Service Above Self.” A slate of prestigious awards was presented to recognize exceptional leadership, volunteer commitment, and community impact.

    Rotarian Linda Watkins earned the 2026 Director of the Year honor for her extraordinary work as the club’s outgoing treasurer. Watkins delivered robust, transparent financial stewardship that restored long-term stability to the club’s financial operations, maintained consistent accountability across all initiatives, and provided critical support to every club committee over the past Rotary year.

    The highest local honor, Rotarian of the Year, was awarded to Rozanne Emanuel, who was recognized for her consistent, unwavering dedication and exemplary service to the club. Known for her selfless leadership, reliable support, and consistent willingness to lift up fellow Rotarians, Emanuel was celebrated as a perfect embodiment of the “Service Above Self” ideal that defines Rotary’s global mission.

    Past President Evangeline Allen received the Service Excellence Award in recognition of her exceptional dual leadership over the past year: serving simultaneously as a club director and successfully chairing District RYLA 2025, a signature program that develops leadership skills for young people across the region. Allen’s work reaffirmed her longstanding commitment to nurturing the next generation of community leaders.

    Finally, the club presented its annual Community Service Award to local resident Mr. Fitzgerald Ponde, honoring his generous pro bono contributions and critical logistical support for the construction of Peace Poles across Antigua and Barbuda. Ponde’s work has advanced Rotary’s global mission of building cross-cultural understanding, peace, and goodwill across local communities.

    In her first official address to members as incoming president, Wilson thanked the club for the trust placed in her and the new board, and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to delivering meaningful, measurable, and sustainable impact through local service. Outlining her priorities for the coming year, Wilson highlighted four core focus areas: strengthening collaborative partnerships with local and regional stakeholders, growing inclusive membership to expand the club’s capacity, empowering young leaders through targeted programming, and delivering responsive community projects that address the evolving needs of populations across Antigua and Barbuda.