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  • United Workers Party (UWP) lists 10 Point Plan for Dominica

    United Workers Party (UWP) lists 10 Point Plan for Dominica

    As the main opposition political force in Dominica, the United Workers Party (UWP) has launched a comprehensive 10-point policy roadmap, laying out the party’s full vision for the island nation’s long-term growth under the unifying slogan “A Better Future Together”. Led by UWP political head Dr. Thomson Fontaine, the plan addresses nearly every core sector of national life, from economic expansion and governance reform to public services and environmental stewardship, with the overarching goal of delivering inclusive progress and expanded opportunity for all Dominican citizens.

    At the center of the UWP’s policy framework is job creation and sustained economic growth. The party identifies five key engines for employment: tourism, agriculture, construction, technology, and small and medium-sized local enterprises. To nurture new business ventures, the plan proposes targeted support for entrepreneurs including government grants, low-interest lending products, and formal business skills training programs. It also frames foreign direct investment as a critical growth driver, while committing to robust protections to ensure local businesses can compete and thrive alongside international entrants to the market.

    Agriculture, a longstanding pillar of Dominica’s economy, receives targeted attention in the plan. The UWP has proposed sweeping modernization investments for the sector, including upgraded farm access roads, expanded irrigation networks, new temperature-controlled storage infrastructure, and improved connections to regional and global export markets. The party also pledged to increase both financial grants and technical guidance for local farmers and artisanal fishermen, to boost productivity and income for rural workers.

    For the tourism sector, another major contributor to national GDP, the UWP outlines a strategy to diversify Dominica’s tourism offerings by expanding high-potential niche segments: eco-tourism, community-led village tourism, cultural tourism, and cruise ship tourism. Key proposed initiatives include infrastructure upgrades to popular tourism sites, public beaches, access roads, and community-owned attractions, alongside expanded vocational training for young people seeking to enter the hospitality and tourism services industry.

    Healthcare reform also features prominently in the 10-point plan. The UWP commits to upgrading medical infrastructure across the entire island, from main urban hospitals to rural community clinics and national emergency response systems. Additional priorities include expanding access to affordable prescription medication, increasing the range of specialized in-country healthcare services, boosting staffing levels at all public medical facilities, and replacing outdated medical equipment with modern technology.

    Investment in education and youth development marks another core pillar of the UWP’s vision. The plan promises expanded scholarship opportunities for Dominican students, expanded vocational and trade skills training programs, upgrades to aging school infrastructure, and broader access to digital learning tools for students across the country. It also includes dedicated support for youth-led entrepreneurship, and expanded investment in youth sports, music, and cultural programming.

    Infrastructure and affordable housing are highlighted as urgent near-term priorities. The UWP plans to invest in critical public works including rehabilitation of roads and bridges, upgrades to national drainage systems, and improvements to core public utilities. It also commits to building new affordable, climate-resilient housing for low- and middle-income families, and strengthening national disaster preparedness systems to reduce the impact of extreme weather events, a key concern for small island developing states like Dominica.

    Transparency and governance reform are central to the UWP’s pledge to rebuild public trust in government. The party has committed to strengthening accountability for public spending, enacting stricter anti-corruption measures, and guaranteeing equal access to government opportunities and services for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation or connections.

    To address public safety concerns, the plan calls for increased resourcing for law enforcement agencies, expanded community policing initiatives, and greater investment in youth and community programs that target the root causes of crime and violence. It also proposes upgrades to public recreational facilities and community centers across the country, to expand safe public gathering spaces for residents.

    On environmental action and energy policy, the UWP has pledged to scale up renewable energy development to cut household electricity costs, while prioritizing the protection of Dominica’s natural heritage. The plan includes specific commitments to preserve the nation’s rivers, forests, beaches, and marine ecosystems, and frames sustainable development and enhanced climate resilience as top national priorities.

    The 10-point plan closes with a focus on national unity and engagement with the Dominican diaspora. The UWP aims to foster greater participation from Dominicans living abroad in the nation’s development, encouraging diaspora investment and deeper collaboration on national growth initiatives. Overall, the party frames the plan as a blueprint for a people-centered government, built on the core values of progress and equal opportunity for every Dominican citizen.

  • NWU seeks overhaul of licence fees for returning nationals

    NWU seeks overhaul of licence fees for returning nationals

    A major labor organization in Saint Lucia has launched a formal push for policy reform, calling on the national government to revise a decades-old driver’s licence regulation that imposes unexpected costs on citizens returning after extended stays abroad. The National Workers Union (NWU) has outlined its objections in an official correspondence submitted to the country’s Ministry of Transportation, arguing that the existing rule fails to align with the everyday realities faced by thousands of Saint Lucians who leave the island for legitimate, pressing reasons.

    NWU Secretary General Johann M. Harewood confirmed that the union’s advocacy stems directly from on-the-ground feedback, noting that the organization’s leadership launched this review after collecting consistent observations and complaints from rank-and-file members who have been impacted by the policy. Under the current framework, any Saint Lucian who leaves the country to pursue higher education, secure overseas employment, access specialized medical treatment, or attend to other urgent personal matters is required to pay retroactive driver’s licence fees for every year they spent outside the country. The NWU emphasizes that this mandate is widely perceived as fundamentally unfair by affected citizens.

    In its letter, the union further highlights that a large share of Saint Lucians who live abroad do not only act in their own self-interest – many work overseas and send remittances that form a critical pillar of the island’s national economy. Imposing these retroactive fees, NWU argues, disregards the meaningful economic contributions that this group makes to their home country while compounding the financial and logistical challenges they already face when repatriating.

    The organization stresses that the current fee structure “places an unnecessary financial burden on hardworking people”, adding that widespread discontent has bubbled up among residents who have been forced to pay the unexpected charge. Most notably, the union points out that requiring payment for years when a driver was not present in the country or using the island’s road network is widely “viewed by many as punitive in nature”.

    To address this grievance, the NWU is calling on the government to adopt a far more equitable and empathetic approach to the policy. The union has proposed implementing a revised system that explicitly accounts for extended periods of absence from Saint Lucia, allowing returning nationals to avoid paying fees for the time they spent living outside the country.

    The organization’s position holds that citizens should never be penalized for circumstances outside their control, nor for making choices that support their personal well-being and long-term growth. NWU also notes that revising the rule would align the government’s licensing policy with the country’s stated national goals of building economic resilience and advancing systemic fairness for all residents. Moving forward, the union has committed to continuing its advocacy for people-centered, equitable policy, and pledged to remain a steadfast voice for workers and the general public of Saint Lucia.

  • CARICOM envoy hails Barbados-Guyana ID-only travel

    CARICOM envoy hails Barbados-Guyana ID-only travel

    A new travel agreement allowing cross-border movement between Barbados and Guyana using only national identification cards is being hailed as a landmark step toward realizing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’s long-held vision of full free movement across the regional bloc, Barbados’ top envoy to the organization confirmed Wednesday.

    Ambassador David Comissiong told local outlet Barbados TODAY that this new bilateral arrangement, paired with the October 2025 launch of full free movement between four founding member states – Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines – marks a transformative breakthrough for regional integration. He emphasized that the smooth implementation of the four-nation free movement scheme, combined with the new ID-only travel policy announced by Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, represents one of the most encouraging developments for CARICOM in recent years.

    “The pleasant experience thus far of the full free movement along with the recent announcement of this new initiative to facilitate movement between our citizens simply with the national ID card, I think it’s a very positive development,” Comissiong said.

    Since the new ID-travel policy was made public, the ambassador revealed that regional leaders have already reached out to express interest in expanding the framework to other CARICOM territories. Comissiong shared that immediately after the announcement, a fellow ambassador from one of the four full free movement nations reached out to ask why a similar ID-based system could not be rolled out across all four participating countries. He added that Barbados has long supported the principle of ID-enabled travel across the Caribbean bloc, viewing it as a practical way to cut red tape for regional citizens.

    While Comissiong acknowledged that extending the arrangement to Belize could face initial hurdles, as the country lacks direct air links with Barbados, he said regional officials remain confident that a practical, functional system can be developed over time.

    Beyond travel liberalization, the envoy pointed to promising shifts in regional labor mobility, highlighting migration flows from Jamaica to Barbados as a model of mutually beneficial movement. Historically, most migration from Jamaica to Barbados consisted of skilled professionals or Barbadian students returning home with spouses after completing studies at the University of the West Indies. But Comissiong noted that recent migration patterns have seen more working-class Jamaicans filling critical unmet service roles in Barbados, particularly in caregiving and domestic support.

    “From what I can see, they have really fitted in well, they have found a niche, and they are responding to a real need in Barbados, especially in the area of caregivers and home helpers,” he said.

    New data from Barbados’ Ministry of Home Affairs, obtained by Barbados TODAY, shows that between the launch of the four-nation free movement scheme in October 2025 and April 2026, roughly 14,758 nationals from Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Belize have entered Barbados under the new liberalized rules.

    Comissiong also disclosed that multiple other CARICOM member states are already in the process of preparing to join the free movement framework launched by the four pioneering nations. He explained that the four founding participants always intended their initiative to be a starting point for broader regional integration, not a closed group.

    “The idea always has been that the others would join us,” he said. “All the signs we are seeing with the movement of people across the Caribbean community seem to be positive [and] moving in the right direction.”

  • $160K Missing, Investigation Points to One Person

    $160K Missing, Investigation Points to One Person

    A major financial misconduct scandal has emerged at a national immigration department, with authorities launching a formal criminal investigation and independent audit into $160,000 in unaccounted for public funds, the agency’s chief executive confirmed this week.

    In an exclusive interview with local outlet News 5 on May 28, 2026, Immigration Ministry CEO Tanya Santos confirmed that the department had officially filed a police report over the missing funds and requested a full independent audit from the country’s national auditing body to unpack the full scope of the incident.

    According to Santos, an internal preliminary inquiry into the irregularities was wrapped up last week, and executive branch leadership in the national Cabinet has already received a full briefing on the findings. The official escalation to law enforcement and audit officials this week marks the next formal phase of the process, she added.

    Santos revealed that the preliminary review uncovered repeated incidents of what she characterized as clear criminal activity connected to the disappearance of the public funds. All documented evidence of these suspicious transactions and activities has been turned over to police investigators to allow for a full, independent deep dive into the case.

    “Our team identified the specific suspicious activities and passed that information to law enforcement, so they can conduct a thorough, in-depth investigation and uncover all the details of what exactly took place,” Santos explained in the interview.

    Currently, the investigation is centered on a single individual employed by the ministry, though Santos noted that the scope of the probe could expand as new evidence emerges. “Right now, the focus is on one person, but that could change if the investigation leads us elsewhere,” she said, leaving open the possibility that more people could be implicated as the inquiry progresses.

    The news comes amid ongoing local political activity, with a city hall leadership transition dominating other trending local political stories in the region this week.

  • “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied,” Says Ex-BEL Workers

    “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied,” Says Ex-BEL Workers

    A years-long battle over unpaid severance benefits has reignited in Belize, as former employees of state-linked Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) are doubling down on calls for the company to honor a regional court ruling that backs their financial claims.

    Organized under the banner Belize Energy Workers for Justice (BEWJ), the group of ex-staff has issued a new public rebuke of BEL, accusing the utility provider of violating its own stated corporate values by continuing to withhold funds the former workers say they are legally owed.

    At the core of the dispute is a fundamental disagreement over how severance obligations should be fulfilled. BEL has long argued that severance payments were already covered through the employer-funded portion of the company’s existing pension plan. But the ex-workers have flatly rejected this interpretation, pointing directly to a binding ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that clarifies the two benefits are distinct.

    In the BEWJ’s latest press statement, the group emphasized that the CCJ explicitly ruled pension and severance represent separate entitlements, noting that severance is an independent statutory right guaranteed under Belizean law. The former workers add that the contributory pension scheme offered by BEL never included provisions to cover severance benefits, negating the company’s core argument.

    Citing BEL’s own public commitment to prioritizing worker welfare and its corporate principle of “putting People First,” the BEWJ is calling on company leadership to match its rhetoric with action. “We demand that BEL pays us our outstanding Severance Payments,” the group stated, adding “We call on BEL to put us first.”

    After years of stalled progress on the issue, the former workers have now appealed to top Belizean government officials to intervene to resolve the impasse. BEWJ has specifically reached out to Labour Minister Kareem Musa and Prime Minister John Briceño, asking the national government to step in and ensure the CCJ’s ruling is implemented.

    Frustrated by repeated delays, the group summed up their position with a longstanding legal maxim: “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

  • Hotter Years Ahead as Global Temperatures Keep Rising

    Hotter Years Ahead as Global Temperatures Keep Rising

    A landmark new climate assessment from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), developed in partnership with the UK Met Office, delivers a sobering outlook for global temperatures over the coming half-decade: the planet is bracing for a streak of extraordinary hot years, with at least one 2026–2030 period year set to exceed the warmth of 2024, currently ranked among the hottest years ever documented in modern climate records.

    The collaborative analysis projects that global average temperatures will hold near all-time record levels across the entire five-year window, hovering between 1.3°C and 1.9°C above the baseline average measured before large-scale industrial expansion began in the 19th century. This range puts the world on track to brush close to the 1.5°C warming threshold that the 2015 Paris Agreement identifies as a critical limit to avoid the most catastrophic, irreversible climate impacts.

    One of the most striking disparities highlighted in the report is the accelerated warming of the Arctic, a polar region that has long acted as the planet’s natural cooling buffer. Scientists confirm the Arctic will continue to warm far more rapidly than any other region on Earth, with projected winter temperatures in the area coming in roughly 2.8°C above pre-industrial averages — a rate of warming more than three times the global average.

    This rapid temperature rise will drive continued dramatic shrinkage of Arctic sea ice, the report predicts, with the most significant losses concentrated in key regional bodies of water: the Barents Sea, located between Norway and Russia, and the Bering Sea, which separates Russia and Alaska. Reduced Arctic sea ice not only threatens vulnerable polar ecosystems and Indigenous communities dependent on traditional hunting practices but also amplifies warming further through the albedo effect, when dark open ocean absorbs more solar energy than reflective ice, creating a dangerous feedback loop.

    Beyond Arctic trends, the assessment also flags a notable risk of a new El Niño event developing in late 2026. The El Niño Southern Oscillation’s warm phase is known to trap additional heat in the global climate system, and its emergence would likely push global temperatures even higher, drastically boosting the probability that 2027 will become a new all-time record hot year for the planet.

  • Simons in overleg met Lula over economie, veiligheid en infrastructuur

    Simons in overleg met Lula over economie, veiligheid en infrastructuur

    On May 28, top diplomatic talks between Suriname President Jennifer Simons and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took place in Brazil’s capital Brasília, marking a key milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation between the neighboring South American nations. The meeting, hosted at the Palácio do Planalto — Brazil’s official presidential working headquarters — opened with full ceremonial honors for Simons, who is currently on an official state visit to the country.

    Diplomatic preparations for this high-level encounter stretch back several months, laying solid groundwork for the wide-ranging talks held this week. The two leaders first met on the sidelines of the Belém Climate Summit in November 2025, where they established an initial framework for expanded collaboration across multiple priority sectors. Following that introductory meeting, foreign ministry teams from both nations continued behind-the-scenes diplomatic work to finalize the agenda for Simons’ official visit and advance concrete cooperative agreements.

    Discussions between the two presidents covered a broad spectrum of strategic topics aligned with Suriname’s stated development priorities. Core agenda items included enhanced cross-border security, expanded economic cooperation, agricultural development, energy sector collaboration, large-scale infrastructure projects, increased bilateral trade and investment, joint countermeasures against transnational crime, defense partnership, public safety improvement, and coordinated social policy development. Simons has previously emphasized that closer ties with Brazil will bring critical support to Suriname’s ongoing economic, agricultural, and social development efforts, while strengthening security along their shared border.

    A high-profile delegation of senior Surinamese ministers joined President Simons for the visit, including Melvin Bouva, Raymond Landveld, Diana Pokie, Mike Noersalim, and Uraiqit Ramsaran. Beyond bilateral issues, the two sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and global governance matters. These included coordination within the Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (OTCA), implementation of the Brasília Consensus, and cooperation through major regional blocs such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Organization of American States (OAS). Talks also addressed advancing deeper integration between South America and the Caribbean, strengthening global multilateralism, and upholding the central role of the United Nations in international affairs.

    This meeting reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to deepening their long-standing partnership, building on the preliminary diplomatic progress achieved in recent months. Officials from both sides expect the outcomes of the talks to deliver tangible benefits to communities in both countries, while advancing stability and integration across the broader South American region.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Welcomes Aisha Hinds for Culinary Month

    Antigua and Barbuda Welcomes Aisha Hinds for Culinary Month

    Antigua and Barbuda’s 2026 Culinary Month, a month-long celebration of the nation’s rich food culture and community spirit, has received a major boost from a high-profile visit: acclaimed international screen star Aisha Hinds has touched down on the twin islands to take part in the festivities, infusing the season of gastronomy and cultural celebration with fresh star power and amplified Caribbean pride.

    Widely recognized across the globe for her gripping, memorable performances across hit film and television projects, Hinds quickly embraced the signature warm hospitality that defines Antigua and Barbuda during her stay. She immersed herself fully in the destination’s layered culinary traditions, bold local flavors, and the innovative work of the islands’ food community — all elements that have steadily cemented the nation’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s top culinary travel spots.

    Hinds’ visit aligned perfectly with the lineup of marquee events held across the archipelago throughout Culinary Month. Highlights of the celebration included carefully curated collaborative chef pop-ups that pair local culinary talent with international guests, as well as the widely anticipated FAB (Food, Art & Beverage) Fest, one of the season’s centerpiece attractions.

    Across all events, attendees had the opportunity to sample authentic traditional Antiguan and Barbudan dishes, view dynamic displays of local cultural heritage, enjoy immersive live entertainment, and take part in hands-on interactive culinary workshops. Each activity was designed to shine a spotlight on the twin islands’ distinct, vibrant cultural identity and their fast-growing footprint in the global Caribbean food tourism landscape.

  • Defending Rally Barbados champs set to compete following accident

    Defending Rally Barbados champs set to compete following accident

    One week after a dramatic, rollover crash at a pre-event shakedown competition, defending Rally Barbados champions Kyle Gregg and co-driver Kreigg Yearwood are confirmed to line up for the start of BICIC Rally Barbados when the iconic motorsport event kicks off this Friday with the Riddara Bushy Park Super Special stage.

    Rumors had swirled in local motorsport circles over whether the pair would be able to compete, after widely circulated footage of their high-speed crash at last Sunday’s First Citizens King of the Hill event showed their vehicle overturn and sustain severe chassis damage – though both competitors walked away from the incident completely unhurt. Sources close to the team have confirmed to Barbados TODAY that rapid repair work on their Ford Fiesta Rally2 has proceeded on schedule, clearing the way for their entry.

    Rally director Neil Barnard confirmed the updated entry list in an interview with Barbados TODAY following the mandatory pre-event competitor briefing on Wednesday, adding that another driver involved in last weekend’s crash, Jamaica’s Frasier McConnell, will also compete after sourcing a replacement ride. McConnell will pilot a R5-spec Skoda Fabia this year, stepping in for his heavily damaged original Mitsubishi Evolution that was written off in the Sunday rollover.

    Beyond the last-minute entry adjustments, this year’s running of Rally Barbados brings back a fan-favorite format that hasn’t been featured on the event calendar in years: mixed day-and-night stage action. Barnard explained that through the event’s first 15 years, it was standard to run a marathon 12 to 15-stage Saturday schedule that extended well into the evening, before organizers shifted to an all-daylight format with only limited Friday night competition. For 2024, organizers are revisiting that classic format without reviving the punishing 10 to 12 hour full-day grind, adding a small set of twilight stages to Saturday’s running to bring back the unique skill challenge of after-dark rallying.

    Organizers are projecting record crowds to turn out across the island for the weekend’s racing, and Barnard shared his top picks for spectator viewing locations across all three days of competition. For Saturday’s running, Barnard highlighted the Automotive Art Padmore stages as an unbeatable option for fans, noting the large open areas south of Bushy Park offer free unrestricted access and ample convenient parking for spectators. On Sunday, multiple accessible vantage points avoid the congestion and road access issues common at popular stages, with the corridor between Cherry Grove and Culleton ranked among the best. Areas around Easy Hall and Malvern also offer solid viewing, but Barnard said the event’s closing Sunday stage – which runs from Three Houses to a finish line inside the Bushy Park circuit, directly ahead of the awards podium ceremony – offers the most comfortable experience for casual fans.

    Last Sunday’s King of the Hill pre-event, which served as a warm-up for many competitors, crowned Britain’s Joe Cunningham and co-driver Kari Bates overall champions, with Suleman Esuf and Asif Suleman taking the top spot in the two-wheel drive class.

    With defending champs Gregg and Yearwood recovering from their crash, a deep competitive field including 2024 class champions Stuart Maloney and Kristian Yearwood, and the withdrawal of leading two-wheel drive contender Roger Mayers, Barnard says this year’s event is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. “It’s one of the most open rallies that we’ve seen, whether it’s for outright runners, four wheel drive or two wheel drive competitors, and I think that it’s going to be closely fought,” he explained.

    Forecasters are calling for dry conditions across the rally route, a factor that should level the playing field for all competitors, but even with that clarity Barnard says predicting a winner is far from certain. “The weather forecast is for a dry rally, which is a good thing, but honestly, you’d be a brave man to bet on who’s going to win,” he concluded.

  • 2026 UWI Games return with official opening last week

    2026 UWI Games return with official opening last week

    After a years-long pause, one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated regional inter-university sporting competitions has made its official comeback. The 32nd edition of the UWI Games, held under the unifying theme “Reunited, Reignited, Ready,” opened its gates on Friday, May 22 at The University of the West Indies’ St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago, drawing more than 600 student-athletes from across the institution’s global network of campuses.

    The opening ceremony blended longstanding tradition with vibrant Caribbean cultural celebration, kicking off eight days of competitive action and community connection. The event kicked off with a lively parade of participating campus teams, where athletes marched into the venue proudly bearing their campus colors, while cheering supporters filled the space with rhythmic music, energetic dancing, and enthusiastic chants that set an electric tone for the games. Hosted by the St. Augustine Campus, the ceremony also featured curated cultural performances arranged by the campus’ Department of Creative and Festival Arts, which showcased the rich diversity of Caribbean musical talent, artistic creativity, and centuries-old regional heritage. Following parade and performances, the ceremony culminated in the traditional torch lighting, with Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles formally declaring the games open by unveiling the UWI Challenge Trophy.

    The feature address at the ceremony was delivered by Jehue Gordon, a UWI alumnus, World Championship gold medalist, and former Olympic finalist, who drew on his own experience balancing elite athletic training with rigorous academic coursework during his time at the university. Gordon shared the unique challenges student-athletes face, recalling the grind of leaving exhausted from lecture halls still heading to hours of training, chasing athletic greatness while navigating the demands of university life. He emphasized that the value of the university experience extends far beyond a degree, noting that UWI gave him a formative environment to build character, lasting relationships, self-discipline, and a broader global perspective, and provided a supportive community that believed in his potential long before the international sporting world knew his name. He encouraged all competing student-athletes to leverage their participation in the games as a pathway to building core life skills including discipline, leadership, and resilience.

    Vice-Chancellor Beckles framed the return of the UWI Games as a clear demonstration of the institution’s enduring commitment to integrating student development through both academics and athletics. This year’s games coincide with the 10th anniversary of UWI’s Faculty of Sport, a milestone that Beckles highlighted as a transformative shift for student-athletes: “Students, you no longer have to choose between being an athlete and an academic.”

    The 2026 games also mark two historic firsts for the regional competition: this is the first time the relatively new UWI Five Islands Campus will field a team, and the Global Campus is sending its largest delegation in the history of the event. Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Derek Chadee, Acting Campus Principal of St. Augustine and chair of both the local and regional organizing committees, welcomed all participants and emphasized that this year’s event is more than a simple resumption of the competition after years of disruption—it is a full renewal of a beloved regional tradition. Chadee also recognized the tireless work of organizers, coaches, support staff, and athletes themselves who worked to preserve the Caribbean’s legacy of sporting excellence through the games.

    Additional remarks were delivered by Dr. Roy McCree, Ronson Hackshaw, and Vedanand Hargobin, who spoke on behalf of UWI’s student leadership body. Hargobin stressed that the return of the games fills a critical gap in student life across the entire UWI system, noting that the most meaningful takeaways from the event will extend far beyond medal counts and final scores. “The memories created here will not only be about medals and scores. They will be about friendships, pride, laughter, rivalry and the feeling of being part of one Caribbean university,” he remarked.

    Over the eight days of competition, athletes will vie for top honors across ten distinct sporting disciplines: cricket, football, basketball, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, hockey, volleyball, track and field, and netball. Beyond competitive play, the 2026 games also integrate a community outreach component: on May 26, student-athletes hosted a sports clinic for children at a local children’s home, designed to provide mentorship, fundamental sports skills development, and positive intergenerational connection between UWI athletes and young community members.

    For fans unable to attend in person, all competition action is being streamed live via UWItv digital platforms, and entry to all in-person events remains completely free for UWI students, staff, alumni, and members of the general public to ensure broad access to the regional celebration.