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  • Tools, guidance for children with learning difficulties

    Tools, guidance for children with learning difficulties

    On Saturday, a community-focused workshop titled “Your Difference is Your Superpower” opened its doors at the Derrick Smith School and Vocational Centre in Barbados, offering parents, educators and frontline caregivers actionable, real-world tools and expert guidance to better uplift children navigating learning challenges. The event was organized by the Kiwanis Club of Pride of Barbados, in collaboration with the host vocational center and the Educational and Psychological Assessment Unit of The University of the West Indies.

    The one-day gathering united child development specialists, K-12 educators, and family members across a packed schedule of interactive sessions. These sessions were crafted to help attendees spot early signs of learning difficulties in children, while also walking them through the full network of local support resources that are accessible to families.

    According to Requell Griffith, who serves both as secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Pride of Barbados and lead of the organization’s Youth Services Committee, the workshop was developed directly in response to rising concerns from parents across Barbados. Many families have reached out to the club in recent years seeking structured guidance, as they struggle to find appropriate support for their children who face barriers within the national school system.

    Griffith emphasized that the programming was intentionally inclusive, designed not just for children who struggle to keep pace with traditional academic expectations, but also for gifted learners who encounter unique challenges in standard classroom environments. Event organizers centered their planning around a clear core goal: to send every attendee home not just with new knowledge, but with concrete, step-by-step pathways to access ongoing support services for children.

    “We wanted to make sure that in addition to having the information, that persons also have the resources and know where they can go once they’ve gotten the information to assist them and assist their children on their educational journey,” Griffith explained in an interview on the sidelines of the workshop.

    Trained facilitators from The University of the West Indies led the majority of the day’s sessions, sharing evidence-based practical strategies, actionable care tips, and detailed breakdowns of local and national agencies that offer specialized support for children with learning difficulties.

    For Griffith, the initiative is a deeply personal project, which she described as her “baby.” The idea first took root last year, after repeated conversations with parents who shared that they felt lost navigating the support system, unsure of where to turn for reliable help. “It came up with just conversations with parents and hearing the challenges that some parents experience with their children having learning difficulties and not knowing where to go, who to talk to, what information is out there,” she said.

    At its core, the workshop was built to advance a broader mission: to deliver evidence-based, accessible high-quality information to families, and to bridge the gap between households and the specialized organizations and institutions that can help children thrive both in the classroom and in social settings. The event marks a key step forward in addressing unmet needs for caregiver support in Barbados, and organizers have signaled potential interest in expanding the initiative to reach more communities in coming months.

  • CAL cuts routes after $128m losses

    CAL cuts routes after $128m losses

    State-owned Caribbean Airlines has moved to ax multiple underperforming regional routes after a failed 2023 expansion into the Eastern Caribbean left the carrier with more than TT$128 million in cumulative losses, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour has confirmed in remarks to the country’s Lower House.

    The expansion initiative, greenlit by the previous government and overseen by the airline’s former board of directors, was originally framed as a transformative project to boost cross-Caribbean connectivity, lift regional tourism volumes and strengthen intra-Caribbean trade ties. But from the start, the project failed to deliver on the optimistic commercial projections that were used to justify its launch, Zakour said, with actual passenger demand and revenue falling far short of forecasts that did not align with real market conditions.

    To address the growing financial drain, the airline’s current leadership established a specialized route oversight committee in 2025 to conduct a full top-to-bottom review of all new routes launched under the 2023 expansion, assessing each route’s operational performance, profitability and alignment with the airline’s long-term strategic goals. The review concluded that the majority of these new routes were launched without sufficient commercial due diligence, and had generated consistent, heavy losses for the carrier from their first day of operation.

    Zakour detailed the network adjustments already rolled out by the airline to stem ongoing losses. The direct Jamaica-Fort Lauderdale route was permanently discontinued on November 2, 2025, after racking up US$7.2 million in losses. The Trinidad-Puerto Rico route followed, ending service on January 10, 2026, after accumulating US$4.92 million in red ink.

    Additional cuts are set to take effect on June 1, 2026. The airline will exit the Dominica and St Kitts markets entirely, which had recorded losses of US$730,000 and US$1.65 million respectively as of April 2026. The non-stop Guyana-Suriname route will also be discontinued, after posting losses of US$1.24 million. For services to Martinique and Guadeloupe, weekly flights will be cut in half from four to two, after the routes posted losses of US$1.23 million and US$1.86 million each.

    Altogether, the affected routes have generated a combined total of US$18.84 million in losses as of April 2026. Zakour emphasized that the route cuts and service reductions are a necessary corrective step to turn unsustainable losses into operational savings and shore up the airline’s long-term financial stability.

    To minimize disruption for travelers, passengers holding bookings for dates after the scheduled discontinuation dates will be contacted directly by Caribbean Airlines or through their booked travel agents. Affected customers will be offered alternative flight arrangements where available, full refunds for any unused portion of their tickets, or conditional future travel credits that can be applied to future bookings.

    Looking ahead, the airline is finalizing a new codeshare partnership with another regional carrier that will allow remaining customers to access a broader regional network through coordinated flight schedules and integrated ticketing, filling gaps left by the withdrawn routes. Zakour added that Caribbean Airlines will refocus its efforts on core priorities: improving operational reliability, upgrading customer service standards, advancing fleet modernization projects, and implementing disciplined route planning that is rooted in clear, data-driven financial criteria going forward.

  • NIC workers to benefit from 10% pay increase

    NIC workers to benefit from 10% pay increase

    More than 140 workers at the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) are set to benefit from a cumulative 10% wage increase rolled out across three years, after a landmark collective bargaining agreement was struck between the National Workers Union (NWU) and NIC management. The pay raise will be implemented in incremental stages, with a 3% hike kicking off in the first year, a further 3% increase in the second year, and a final 4% adjustment in the third year of the deal. All wage adjustments will be retroactively applied, with back pay calculated from January 2025 onward, when the agreement officially enters into force. Beyond base wage adjustments, negotiators from both sides are still in active discussions to finalize a separate gratuity transfer framework, which would add another layer of financial security for participating NIC employees. The newly reached deal also expands and improves a suite of supplementary employee benefits, addressing longstanding requests from unionized staff. Key enhancements include elevated travel allowances for work-related trips, structured long-service recognition bonuses for employees who have served the organization for 7, 10, and 20 years, more transparent guidelines for overtime compensation, and updated reimbursement policies for delayed issuance of required work uniforms. The agreement came to fruition after multiple rounds of productive negotiations between NWU representatives and NIC leadership, with both sides making compromises to reach a mutually acceptable outcome. In line with national labor regulations, the deal is scheduled to undergo an official signing ceremony, which will be attended by the Labour Commissioner from the national Department of Labour to validate the process. NWU General Secretary Johann Harewood confirmed that both parties have committed to ongoing monitoring of the agreement throughout its three-year term. This oversight framework will ensure that all terms are implemented as agreed, and allow for timely adjustments if any implementation issues arise. The collective bargaining agreement will remain in effect from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027, bringing three years of wage stability and improved working conditions for NIC’s unionized workforce.

  • Trump administration to force foreigners in the US to apply for a green card abroad

    Trump administration to force foreigners in the US to apply for a green card abroad

    In an unexpected policy shift that upends more than 50 years of established U.S. immigration practice, the Trump administration has announced a new rule requiring most foreign nationals already residing in the U.S. on temporary status to leave the country and submit their green card applications from their home countries, triggering widespread confusion and alarm among immigrant advocates, legal practitioners and foreign nationals themselves.

    For more than half a century, eligible foreign nationals holding temporary legal status in the U.S. — including spouses of U.S. citizens, work visa holders, students, refugees and individuals granted political asylum — have been permitted to complete their entire application process for lawful permanent residency (commonly known as a green card) without leaving the country through a process called status adjustment. This longstanding framework has been a core part of the U.S. immigration system since the mid-20th century.

    The new policy, announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), states that temporary visa holders seeking to become lawful permanent residents must complete their application process from their home country, with exceptions only granted for “extraordinary circumstances” that will be decided on a case-by-case basis by USCIS officers. In a formal statement, the agency defended the change, arguing that nonimmigrants such as students, temporary workers and tourists enter the U.S. for limited time and specific purposes, and their stays should not double as the first step toward permanent residency. The change is framed by USCIS as a return to the “original intent of the law” that closes an existing regulatory loophole.

    This policy marks the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration pathways for both current U.S. residents and prospective new arrivals. Doug Rand, a former senior USCIS advisor during the Biden administration, explained that the administration’s goal is explicit: to reduce the overall number of people gaining permanent residency, since permanent residency paves the way to U.S. citizenship, and officials aim to block that pathway for as many people as possible. Rand noted that roughly 600,000 people already residing in the U.S. submit green card applications annually, all of whom could be impacted by the new rule.

    Notably, USCIS has left critical details of the policy change unresolved. The agency has not announced an official effective date, clarified whether applicants must remain outside the U.S. for the full duration of the application process, or specified whether the new rules will apply to applicants who already have pending green card applications. In an emailed response to the Associated Press, USCIS indicated that applicants whose cases serve the U.S. national interest or bring significant economic benefit will likely qualify for the exception to remain in the country during processing.

    The new requirement comes on top of pre-existing travel and entry restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on dozens of countries, including outright travel bans and halted visa processing in multiple regions. Immigration experts and legal advocates warn that for nationals of these restricted countries, being forced to return home to apply will effectively bar them from ever re-entering the U.S. Humanitarian organization World Relief pointed out that the policy creates an impossible Catch-22: if a non-citizen is ordered to return to their origin country to process their visa, but no visa processing is available there, families will face indefinite separation.

    Critics also note that many applicants cannot safely return to their home countries, or lack access to a functioning U.S. embassy to submit their application. For example, the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has remained closed since the American military withdrawal in August 2021, leaving Afghan nationals with no way to complete the offshore application process. Shev Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the policy upends decades of established status adjustment processing, and applies broadly to every category of green card applicant currently in the U.S. This includes spouses of U.S. citizens, humanitarian protection seekers, skilled work visa holders such as practicing doctors and other professionals, students and religious worker visa holders.

  • Oeganda bevestigt drie nieuwe ebolagevallen; verhoogd risico voor tien andere Afrikaanse landen

    Oeganda bevestigt drie nieuwe ebolagevallen; verhoogd risico voor tien andere Afrikaanse landen

    A new wave of Ebola infections has been confirmed in Uganda, amplifying regional public health concerns over the spreading Bundibugyo variant outbreak that originated in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Ugandan health authorities announced three additional confirmed cases on May 24, bringing the country’s total case count in this current outbreak to five. Among the newly infected individuals are a driver who transported the country’s first confirmed Ebola patient and a healthcare worker exposed while providing care to infected patients. Public health teams are currently monitoring all known close contacts of the confirmed cases and ramping up contact tracing efforts to halt further transmission of the virus.

    These new detections come just days after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) issued an urgent warning, naming 10 regional nations at heightened risk of cross-border spread of the highly contagious Bundibugyo Ebola strain from the DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already upgraded its national risk assessment for the DRC outbreak to “very high” and labeled the regional risk level as “high”, while assessing the global risk as low at this stage.

    As of the latest update, the DRC has recorded nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths linked to the current outbreak, which is centered in the country’s northeastern Ituri Province. Aid organizations operating in the region report critical shortages of basic medical supplies, a shortfall partially driven by recent cuts to international foreign aid, most notably from the United States. The Bundibugyo variant of Ebola carries an estimated mortality rate of up to 50 percent, and no specifically approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently exists for this strain.

    WHO officials emphasize that multiple overlapping factors have left the DRC uniquely vulnerable to a large-scale outbreak: delayed detection of initial cases, the lack of approved medical countermeasures for this specific variant, ongoing armed conflict in Ituri Province that disrupts response efforts, and high population mobility across the country’s porous borders. In response to the growing cross-border threat, Uganda has already suspended all public transport services between its territory and the DRC in an attempt to slow transmission.

    Tensions and instability have also plagued response efforts at the epicenter of the outbreak in the DRC. For the second time in one week, an Ebola treatment tent in the town of Mongbwalu was set on fire by local residents, forcing 18 suspected Ebola patients to flee the facility. Earlier unrest also led to the destruction of a separate treatment center in Rwampara, sparked by community tensions surrounding the retrieval of a deceased Ebola patient.

    Africa CDC director Jean Kaseya identified the 10 at-risk nations as Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. The regional public health body is currently working to develop a coordinated, cross-border response strategy to contain the outbreak, with a key focus on addressing longstanding weaknesses in the region’s chronically underfunded public health systems that leave countries vulnerable to epidemic spread.

  • No Evidence of Local Spread After Two Imported Malaria Cases, PM Says

    No Evidence of Local Spread After Two Imported Malaria Cases, PM Says

    The twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has ruled out local transmission of malaria following the detection of two imported cases, one of which ended in a fatality, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. In an address to local radio station Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne shared that public health teams have concluded all mandatory contact tracing and routine monitoring protocols for the two cases, and no evidence of secondary community spread has been identified.\n\n”We recorded two malaria cases, both of which were imported into the country, and tragically one patient did not survive the infection,” Browne stated during the interview. He went on to clarify that after exhaustive contact tracing and public health follow-ups, there is no data to suggest the pathogen has spread beyond the initial imported cases.\n\nThe prime minister emphasized that the overall risk of sustained local transmission remains extremely low, noting that the primary mosquito species responsible for carrying and spreading malaria is not widely established across Antigua and Barbuda. “We do not have large populations of that vector here, which makes widespread transmission via mosquitoes or other carriers highly unlikely,” he explained.\n\nThe announcement comes as the Antigua and Barbuda government moves to strengthen national public health surveillance systems, prompted by growing global concern over ongoing Ebola outbreaks in multiple regions of Central and East Africa. As part of updated precautionary measures to mitigate risks from incoming international travelers, the country has reactivated its specialized Infectious Disease Centre (IDC) – a facility first established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nBrowne explained that the reactivated IDC will serve as a dedicated hub for isolating any travelers who develop symptoms of a contagious infectious disease while in the country, with pre-planned protocols in place to immediately launch contact tracing and containment efforts. The prime minister also pushed back against past criticism of the facility, which opponents once labeled an unnecessary public expense.\n\n”Epidemics and pandemics are an ongoing recurring risk that all countries face,” Browne noted. “Maintaining a dedicated infectious disease center to manage these kinds of transmittable illnesses is a critical asset, and a core component of our national health infrastructure.”\n\nIn addition to reactivating the IDC, national public health authorities have also restored enhanced entry screening protocols at the country’s international airports. These measures include the reintroduction of infrared thermal scanners to screen arriving passengers for fever, a common early symptom of many infectious diseases, as public health teams continue to monitor the evolving global outbreak situation closely.

  • PM Says Antigua Taking ‘Conservative Position’ by not allowing Air Peace to land

    PM Says Antigua Taking ‘Conservative Position’ by not allowing Air Peace to land

    Against a backdrop of growing Ebola transmission alerts across parts of Central and East Africa, the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has enacted a highly cautious approach to incoming air travel from Nigeria, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. In an interview with local outlet Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne outlined that the government has opted not to accept the first planned Air Peace flight originating from Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Instead, the aircraft will reroute directly to neighboring Barbados, where passengers bound for Antigua and Barbuda will complete their journey on regional carrier LIAT.

  • UN Resolution Reinforces Legal Protections for Antigua and Other Climate-Vulnerable Nations

    UN Resolution Reinforces Legal Protections for Antigua and Other Climate-Vulnerable Nations

    In a watershed moment for global climate action, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a landmark climate resolution spearheaded by Vanuatu and championed by the Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS), codifying key climate obligations set out by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) into a global political mandate. Wednesday’s final vote, which secured backing from 141 nations, capped off a years-long movement rooted in grassroots youth advocacy from Pacific communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

    For decades, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — low-lying and atoll nations disproportionately threatened by rising sea levels despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions — have pushed for greater accountability from major emitters. This resolution stands as the most significant victory to date for their fight for climate justice.

    The text of the resolution formalizes the ICJ’s landmark advisory opinion on state climate obligations, requiring all nations to adhere to three core principles: first, that countries hold a clear legal responsibility to address human-caused climate change; second, that the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is a legally binding global goal; and third, that all countries must update their national climate action plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to reflect the highest possible ambition, align with the 1.5°C target, and phase out harmful fossil fuel use.

    One of the most impactful provisions for SIDS is the explicit affirmation that statehood and the legal status of national maritime zones remain permanent, even as sea levels rise erode island territories. For atoll nations already facing gradual submersion, this principle protects their sovereign rights and standing under international law from being erased by the climate crisis — a protection that advocates call non-negotiable for the future of island populations.

    “This resolution transforms the Court’s advisory opinion into a political mandate backed by an overwhelming majority of the international community,” explained Ambassador Ilana Seid, current Chair of AOSIS. “For our members, the affirmation that our statehood and maritime rights endure is not a technical legal detail — it is the very foundation of our people’s future. We call on all States to act on these obligations now.”

    Seid emphasized that the victory extends far beyond vulnerable island nations, noting that the entire global community benefits from clearer climate accountability. “This is a win not just for the most vulnerable, but for our entire world,” she said. “The science is unambiguous and the law is clear: delaying climate action is not an option. This ruling is an important lever in our work to prevent big emitters from continuing to endanger our people and our planet. We are exceptionally proud of Vanuatu and all small islands whose commitment to climate accountability have demonstrated the might and moral authority of Small Island Developing States.”

    Founded in 1990, AOSIS represents 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states in international climate and sustainable development negotiations. Despite the small geographic and economic size of its member states, the bloc has consistently punched far above its weight in global climate talks, securing multiple historic commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions over the past three decades. Beyond amplifying the voices of marginalized climate-vulnerable nations, the organization’s core mandate is to advance the legal and policy interests of its members in a changing climate.

  • PM Browne Says Barbudans Free to Accept or Reject Land Titles for $1

    PM Browne Says Barbudans Free to Accept or Reject Land Titles for $1

    In a recent public address, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has made clear that residents of Barbuda hold full autonomy to decide whether to accept or decline the government’s controversial proposal to formalize individual land ownership for a nominal fee of just $1 per title. The proposal, which has been the subject of intense public debate across the twin-island nation, marks a major shift from Barbuda’s centuries-long tradition of collective land ownership, a system that has defined the island’s social and economic structure since the era of post-emancipation self-governance.

    Prime Minister Browne emphasized that the administration has no intention of forcing any resident to participate in the land titling program, pushing back against growing criticism from opposition groups and local activists who have claimed the policy would open the door to large-scale foreign development and displace long-standing Barbudan communities. “This is entirely a matter of personal choice for every eligible Barbudan land holder,” Browne stated during the press briefing. “We are not here to take anyone’s land, nor are we here to push people into a decision they are not comfortable making. The program is designed to give Barbudans the option to secure formal individual title to their property, which can open up access to mortgage financing, home improvement loans, and greater economic opportunity for those who choose it.”

    The push for individual land titling on Barbuda gained new momentum after the 2017 destruction of Hurricane Irma, which leveled much of the island’s built infrastructure. The Browne administration has argued that formal individual ownership will speed up reconstruction and encourage sustainable investment that benefits local residents, rather than leaving the island reliant on collective land management structures that can slow down development and approval processes. Critics, however, counter that the tradition of collective ownership is a core part of Barbuda’s cultural identity, and that opening up individual titling will lead to rapid gentrification, as wealthy foreign investors purchase large tracts of land for resort and residential development, pushing native Barbudans off the island they have called home for generations.

    With the government now reaffirming the voluntary nature of the program, the ball is firmly in the court of Barbudan residents, who will ultimately determine the future of land ownership on their island through their individual decisions. The policy remains one of the most divisive issues in Antigua and Barbuda’s recent political history, with implications for the country’s social structure, economic development, and cultural preservation for decades to come.

  • Daughter of Calypsonian Singing Althea Says “Mama Rose” Robbed of Gold Chain Outside Home

    Daughter of Calypsonian Singing Althea Says “Mama Rose” Robbed of Gold Chain Outside Home

    A beloved veteran Trinidadian calypsonian, widely known by her stage name Singing Althea and affectionately called ‘Mama Rose’, has become the victim of a violent street robbery just steps away from her own residence. The shocking attack unfolded early Friday morning, when the perpetrator assaulted the elderly entertainer to steal her gold chain.

    The incident was first brought to public attention by Rose’s daughter, Michelle Williams, who took to social media to share her anger and grief over the attack. In a scathing public post, Williams directly called out the attackers, labeling them greedy ‘vampires’ who showed no regard for her mother’s safety. She detailed that the robbers violently slammed Singing Althea into a concrete wall before yanking the gold chain off her neck and fleeing the scene.

    Williams’ post was paired with footage that appears to be pulled from nearby home surveillance cameras, which quickly spread across local social media platforms. Within hours, the news drew widespread reactions from community members, fellow calypso artists, and residents across the region. Many flood the comment sections with messages of sympathy and support for the 80-something entertainer, while others expressed sharp outrage at the brazen nature of the attack, which occurred in broad daylight right outside a family home.

    As of the latest updates, law enforcement officials have not released any formal public statement regarding the incident. It also remains unclear whether investigators have identified any persons of interest or made any arrests in connection with the robbery.