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  • Saint Lucia to focus on people empowerment on HR Day

    Saint Lucia to focus on people empowerment on HR Day

    Across the globe, human resources professionals form the invisible backbone of resilient, high-performing organizations — and this year, the Association of Human Resource Management Professionals in Saint Lucia (AHRMP) is stepping up to honor their work alongside the international HR community for International HR Day, taking place Wednesday, May 20.

    A yearly global observance, International HR Day was created to shine a spotlight on the critical contributions HR teams make to building workplaces that are productive, resilient, and centered on the needs of employees. Beyond celebrating individual practitioners, the day also spotlights the shifting strategic role of the profession, which has grown from a back-office support function to a core driver of organizational adaptation and long-term growth amid today’s fast-changing business landscape.

    This year’s global theme, “Empower People to Lead Change”, frames the conversation around a core imperative: organizations and their leaders have a responsibility to cultivate work environments where every team member has the tools, support, and encouragement to drive meaningful organizational transformation. The theme prioritizes four key pillars for navigating today’s complex modern workplaces: adaptability, inclusive leadership, employee empowerment, and intentional people-centric practices.

    To mark the 2026 observance, AHRMP is organizing an interactive virtual open to professionals across Saint Lucia and beyond. Aligning with the global theme, the local event carries the subtitle “Empowering People to Lead Change: The HR Imperative in Today’s Workplace.” The webinar is scheduled to run from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time on May 20, and will bring together a cross-section of stakeholders: practicing HR professionals, C-suite and business leaders, organizational development specialists, and emerging young professionals entering the field.

    During the session, attendees will join in guided discussion exploring core topics including modern leadership strategies, ongoing workplace transformation, the rapidly evolving role of HR in 21st-century organizations, and the diversity and growing strategic value of the HR profession.

    For AHRMP, International HR Day is more than a celebration — it is a critical opportunity to strengthen national conversations around pressing workplace topics: adaptive leadership, healthy organizational culture, workforce readiness for future challenges, and sustainable people practices that drive long-term success.

    AHRMP President Goretti Paul recently shared her perspective on the growing importance of the HR function in today’s volatile business climate, emphasizing that people are the foundation of any successful organization. “Organisations cannot successfully navigate change, build resilience, or sustain growth without placing people at the centre of their strategy,” Paul explained. “HR is no longer operating at the sidelines of business decision-making; it is increasingly at the core of how organisations adapt, lead, and remain future-ready.”

    AHRMP has extended an open invitation to a broad range of stakeholders to participate in the upcoming webinar, including practicing HR professionals, team managers, business leaders, human resources students, and any members of the wider professional community interested in exploring the future of work, leadership development, and people strategy. Pre-registration for the event is currently open to the public via the official AHRMP website at www.ahrmp-slu.org/hrday2026.

    Additional event details, including announcements of featured speakers and the full event agenda, will be published in the coming weeks via AHRMP’s official social media channels. For any questions or further information, interested parties can contact the AHRMP team directly by phone at 758-520-1671, via email at info@ahrmp-slu.org, or by visiting the association’s main website at www.ahrmp-slu.org.

  • Somohardjo vraagt om openbare hoorzitting: Volk heeft recht op transparantie

    Somohardjo vraagt om openbare hoorzitting: Volk heeft recht op transparantie

    A Surinamese politician facing potential prosecution over alleged official misconduct is calling for full public transparency ahead of his parliamentary hearing, demanding the proceeding be opened to public viewing to allow citizens to follow the process firsthand.

    Bronto Somohardjo, a member of the National Assembly of Suriname representing the Progressive People’s Party (PL), is one of three former cabinet ministers that the Public Prosecution Service has moved to initiate criminal proceedings against, a step that requires formal parliamentary approval under the country’s Law on the Incrimination and Prosecution of Political Office Holders. The two other former ministers in the case are Riad Nurmohamed, and Gillmore Hoefdraad, who remains a fugitive from authorities.

    In a formal written request submitted to Rabin Parmessar, chair of the special parliamentary commission tasked with hearing testimony from the accused politicians, Somohardjo has pushed for an open, public hearing. He argues that Suriname’s general public holds an inherent right to maximum transparency for a high-stakes proceeding that has drawn widespread public attention across the country.

    “As an elected people’s representative, I hold the position that the public must have the opportunity to follow the hearing and my responses to questions directly,” Somohardjo stated in his request. “I have nothing to hide.” He added that he stands ready to provide full cooperation to the National Assembly’s special commission throughout the process.

    The final decision on whether to open Somohardjo’s hearing to the public rests with the full National Assembly and the special oversight commission. Per the current official schedule, the hearing is set to convene at 11:00 a.m. local time this coming Friday.

  • OPINION: Great Destination but not taking care of their Animals

    OPINION: Great Destination but not taking care of their Animals

    GLOBALLY RENOWNED as a postcard-perfect Caribbean luxury travel hotspot, Antigua and Barbuda has built its $1.5 billion tourism industry on a reputation of 365 sun-drenched beaches, five-star oceanfront resorts, and warm, world-famous hospitality. For millions of first-time and returning visitors, the nation delivers exactly the idyllic escape it advertises — but a devastating, underreported crisis is festering beneath this polished exterior, threatening both the island’s most vulnerable creatures and its global brand.

    Across the country’s cities, rural towns, and even popular tourist corridors, a rapidly growing population of unhoused, neglected stray animals struggles daily to survive. Sick, underfed, and suffering from untreated conditions like severe mange, these animals are increasingly visible to the millions of tourists Antigua works hard to attract each year, turning idyllic vacations into jarring, traumatic experiences for many. Local grassroots animal welfare advocates have spent years sounding the alarm about this crisis, but systemic gaps in policy, funding, and enforcement have left the entire burden of care on overstretched private rescuers.

    At the front lines of this quiet emergency is Dogs and Cats of Antigua, one of the nation’s leading independent animal rescue organizations. Alongside a network of volunteer rescuers, the group works around the clock to pull injured and sick animals off the streets, fund emergency veterinary care out of their own pockets, deliver donated food to colonies of strays, and find permanent foster or adoptive homes for as many animals as they can. Every day, the organization’s social media feeds document the scale of the crisis: photos of emaciated puppies abandoned by roadsides, urgent calls for donations to cover life-saving vet treatment, and appeals to the public for information on abusive owners.

    What makes this crisis especially devastating, advocates argue, is that the legal framework to address animal cruelty already exists. The country’s longstanding Animal Health Act explicitly bans animal mistreatment and neglect — but the law is almost never enforced. To date, the national government has not matched public commitments to animal welfare with sustained budget allocations for enforcement or population control, and acts of abandonment and abuse almost always go unpunished. This lack of action leaves the entire $1.5 billion tourism industry, which forms the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy, exposed to growing reputational damage. In an era of social media and instant online reviews, traumatized visitors regularly share their encounters with suffering stray animals, turning negative firsthand experiences into viral bad press that deters future luxury travelers.

    Advocates are now calling for urgent, coordinated action from three key stakeholders: the national government, the powerful private tourism sector, and the local community. Their core demands focus on four key pillars of meaningful reform. First, they push for consistent, strict enforcement of existing animal protection laws, requiring police and the judiciary to treat cruelty and abandonment as the serious offenses they are. Second, they call for government-funded, mandatory spay and neuter programs to humanely reduce the stray population over time, addressing the root cause of the crisis. Third, they ask for sustained institutional and financial support for registered rescue groups, who currently carry the full cost of care despite doing work that benefits the entire nation.

    Advocates are quick to emphasize their gratitude for the tireless work of local volunteers and independent organizations, who have given thousands of neglected animals a second chance at life despite limited resources. But they also stress that voluntary charity alone cannot solve a systemic crisis of this scale. True paradise, advocates argue, is not just a beautiful landscape for wealthy tourists to enjoy from a resort balcony — it is a community that protects and cares for all its most vulnerable living beings. If Antigua and Barbuda wants to preserve its standing as a top-tier global travel destination, it must step up and address the stray animal welfare crisis that is already eroding its reputation.

  • Gros Islet open Blackheart with 15-0 rout

    Gros Islet open Blackheart with 15-0 rout

    The 2026 Blackheart/Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Knockout Tournament delivered a stunning opening day of knockout-stage action Sunday at Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort, as Gros Islet ran riot against Laborie to secure the first berth in the tournament’s quarterfinal round. The Northern Zone Under-20 boys’ champions left no doubt about their title contention from the opening whistle, piling on 15 unanswered goals in one of the most lopsided results of the regional tournament this season. Joining Gros Islet in the final eight is Dennery, the Eastern Zone titleholders, who secured a hard-fought 3-1 win over Vieux Fort North to advance.

    Gros Islet’s offensive onslaught began early, with Mickel Castang breaking the deadlock in the 8th minute of play. Prolific forward Rickelme Lionel doubled the side’s lead just five minutes later, sparking a chaotic first half that saw wave after wave of Gros Islet attacks. Devaj Edward and Kendrick Antoine found the back of the net in quick succession, before Castang completed a first-half hat-trick to extend the gap. Edward notched his second of the half, and Thierry Morille added another to push the scoreline to 8-0 by halftime.

    The second half brought no relief for a overwhelmed Laborie side. Just 10 minutes after the restart, Edward completed his hat-trick, extending Gros Islet’s lead to nine. Traylan Henry got on the scoresheet next, before Lionel bagged two more goals to extend his personal tally for the match. Morille scored his second of the game, and Ernitus Edward closed out the dominant win with a late brace in the final five minutes of regulation to seal the 15-0 rout.

    In the day’s second knockout fixture, Dennery got off to a fast start against Vieux Fort North, with Corin Hunte putting the Eastern side ahead as early as the 7th minute. Vieux Fort North responded quickly, however, with Keshawn Charles finding the equalizer in the 19th minute to draw the match level heading into halftime. The balance of play shifted in the second half, as Bourne Innocent found the back of the net twice — in the 65th and 85th minutes, respectively — to lock in the 3-1 win and punch Dennery’s ticket to the quarterfinals.

    The knockout round action kicked off earlier in the weekend with three tense qualifying matches to decide the final teams advancing to the Round of 16. Roseau Valley claimed a clean 2-0 win over Babonneau, with Neeshaun Polius leading the side with both goals on the day. In another qualifying fixture, Micoud secured a 2-0 shutout victory over Marchand, with Raven Marshall opening the scoring early in the match to set up the upset win. That result sends Micoud through to the Round of 16.

    The most dramatic qualifying finish came in the clash between Mon Repos and Desruisseaux. Down a player with just one substitute available for the match, Mon Repos pulled off a last-gasp 3-2 win over Desruisseaux in a tightly contested affair. Janhnil Jn Baptiste put Desruisseaux ahead early, before Tonio St Rose equalized in the 23rd minute and Tashawn Walter put Mon Repos ahead just four minutes later, holding a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Late in the second half, Janhnil Jn Baptiste leveled the score again in the 88th minute, setting up a dramatic finish. It was Andreas Jn Baptiste, Janhnil’s namesake, who scored the winning goal for Mon Repos in the third minute of stoppage time to clinch the comeback win and a spot in the Round of 16.

    Round of 16 action is set to continue Wednesday, May 20 at Philip Marcellin Grounds, with two matches on the schedule: Castries Central will square off against South Castries, and Vieux Fort South will face the newly qualified Mon Repos side.

  • Ambassador Prince Wadix celebrates 30 years in radio broadcasting and cultural promotion

    Ambassador Prince Wadix celebrates 30 years in radio broadcasting and cultural promotion

    One of the Caribbean’s most enduring cultural advocates and veteran radio hosts, Prince Wadix, is preparing to mark two major life milestones this season: his birthday and three decades of continuous work behind the radio microphone. Organizers and cultural leaders are urging communities across Dominica and the entire Caribbean to join in celebrating the trailblazing media figure’s legacy of cultural stewardship.

    Over the 30 years Wadix has spent on air, he has built an unrivaled reputation as one of the most prominent voices in Dominican media and cultural life. Unlike many mainstream broadcasters who prioritize international content, Wadix centered his platform from the very start on elevating homegrown talent, amplifying centuries-old Caribbean cultural traditions, and preserving the rich Creole heritage that forms the backbone of Dominican national identity.

    According to an official statement released by Creole Heartbeat, the organization coordinating the celebratory recognition, Wadix’s contributions stretch far beyond his regular radio segments. Through on-air artist interviews, live coverage of major public cultural events, and ongoing grassroots advocacy for cultural preservation, he has played an outsize role in spreading awareness of Dominica’s unique cultural identity both across the island and on the global stage.

    Widely beloved for his contagious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to lifting up Dominican culture, Wadix has become a familiar, trusted household name across Dominica and throughout the wider Caribbean region. Listeners and peers alike have long viewed him as more than a radio host — he is a de facto cultural ambassador who has dedicated his career to showcasing the best of what the region has to offer.

    This dual milestone celebration is not only a chance to mark Wadix’s birthday; it also serves as a broader moment to recognize the profound, long-standing impact he has had on both the Dominican media landscape and regional cultural sectors. Cultural organizers have extended an open invitation to all members of the public, long-time listeners, fellow artists, industry colleagues, and friends to join in honoring Wadix for 30 years of contributions to Dominican radio and cultural promotion.

    As organizers put it: For 30 years, Prince Wadix has held the microphone, championing local culture, homegrown music, and the very cultural heartbeat of Dominica. On behalf of the entire regional media community, Dominica News Online extends its warmest wishes for a happy birthday and heartfelt congratulations on three decades of exceptional service to Caribbean media and culture.

  • Antigua Yacht Club Optimist Sailors Excel at BVI Dinghy Championship

    Antigua Yacht Club Optimist Sailors Excel at BVI Dinghy Championship

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated youth sailing competitions wrapped up over the weekend of May 16-17, 2026, with the Antigua Yacht Club (AYC) youth sailing program turning in a dominant performance against top regional competitors at the Royal BVI Yacht Club-hosted annual BVI Dinghy Championship in Tortola.

    Guided by AYC head coach Karl James MBE, a two-time Olympic sailing veteran, the young Antiguan athletes held their own across a punishing 10-race regatta that tested every aspect of their skill and endurance. Challenging conditions in the Sir Francis Drake Channel, known for its unpredictable shifting winds and strong, tricky currents, pushed every competitor to their limit — but the AYC team turned these obstacles into a showcase of their elite training.

    In the highly competitive Optimist fleet, 15-year-old Antiguan sailor Lluc Agusti emerged as an undisputed leader. Agusti’s exceptional ability to read changing wind patterns, navigate powerful currents, and maintain precise boat control put him far ahead of the pack throughout the regatta. Across 10 races, he claimed six first-place finishes, two second-place finishes, and one fourth-place finish to secure the overall Optimist championship title in commanding style.

    Agusti was not the only AYC sailor to turn heads: teammate Ruben Van Hest delivered an equally impressive performance that cemented the team’s standing as a rising force in Caribbean youth sailing. Demonstrating remarkable mental resilience and consistent pace across every race, Van Hest held his position among the leading pack of competitors through shifting conditions, ultimately clinching an outstanding fourth-place overall finish.

    Coach James credited the team’s success to months of rigorous preparation and the athletes’ own dedication to improving their craft. Following the awards ceremony, he noted that the outcome was far more than a collection of medals: it was a reflection of the high-quality training program the AYC has built under his leadership, and proof that young Antiguan sailors can compete with the best in the region. “An incredible weekend of racing for our youth sailors. Lluc and Ruben showed immense focus and determination across all 10 races. To come away with a championship title is a testament to their hard work and dedication,” James said.

    James’ on-the-water strategic mentorship throughout the championship was widely cited as a key factor in the team’s ability to adapt to the unique conditions of the BVI course. The result has already drawn attention across regional sailing circles, establishing the AYC youth program as one of the most effective development academies in the Eastern Caribbean.

  • Arthur Smith Primary in winners’ row again

    Arthur Smith Primary in winners’ row again

    The 2025 National Sports Council/BICO Primary School Football Competition continued its round-robin slate Monday with a slate of tightly contested and lopsided matches across four tournament zones, headlined by a dramatic 2-1 victory for pre-tournament favorites Arthur Smith Primary over St Gabriel’s Primary.

    Arthur Smith, the 2024 tournament champions and 2023 runners-up, pulled out a narrow one-goal win over St Gabriel’s in the Ricardo ‘Mickey’ Gibson Zone, hosted at the Briar Hall playing field in Christ Church. The match, billed as one of the highest-profile matchups of the early season, lived up to expectations as both sides traded chances before Arthur Smith secured the deciding late goal to lock in three points.

    The Ricardo ‘Mickey’ Gibson Zone saw four other additional matches unfold on the matchday. Wills Primary claimed a clean sheet 2-0 win over St Bartholomew Primary, while St Winifred’s Primary notched a narrow 1-0 victory against People’s Cathedral Primary. Milton Lynch Primary delivered a dominant 4-0 shutout against St Lawrence Primary, and St Christopher Primary matched that 4-0 winning margin with a win over Shirley Chisholm Primary.

    Across other zones, the Edward Smith/Frank Holder Zone in Speightstown produced an entertaining 2-2 draw between All Saints Primary and Roland Edwards Primary, with both sides splitting points after trading goals through full time. In the Dennis Leacock Zone based at Shorey Village, St Bernard’s Primary cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory against St Joseph Primary, while Providence Primary picked up a 3-1 win over Grantley Prescod Primary.

    In the Kenville ‘Kab’ Layne Zone in Greens, St George, three matches concluded with varied results. Mount Tabor Primary secured a comfortable 3-0 win over St Lukes Brighton Primary, St George Primary put on an offensive clinic to defeat Cuthbert Moore Primary by a 6-0 margin, and Hits 106.7 Bay Primary eased to a 4-1 win against Ellerton Primary to close out the day’s action.

  • Agriculture ministry estimates $2 million in damage to farmers following severe trough system

    Agriculture ministry estimates $2 million in damage to farmers following severe trough system

    A powerful low-pressure trough system that swept across the island on October 26, 2026, has left a devastating trail of destruction for agricultural producers in the island’s eastern and northeastern regions, with total damage and economic losses pegged at $2 million — a figure that does not yet account for destruction to critical farm access infrastructure, according to senior government officials.

    The weather system unleashed unprecedented heavy rainfall, measuring a staggering 18 inches across affected zones, triggering widespread flash flooding and destructive landslides that hit agricultural communities particularly hard. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, a rapid assessment mission was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, led by the sector’s minister and carried out by the ministry’s team of extension officers, to document the full scope of harm.

    Ryan Anselm, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, shared key findings from the official Post-Disaster Needs Assessment in a recent media interview, outlining that out of 734 registered farmers operating in the impacted regions, 276 faced direct harm to their operations. Damage was spread across all segments of the local agricultural sector, including row and tree crop production, livestock raising, and aquaculture operations. Beyond lost produce and livestock, critical on-farm infrastructure was also damaged, including greenhouses, animal enclosures, production tools, farm machinery, and access routes.

    “This $2 million total only accounts for losses to agricultural assets and production, and excludes damage to feeder roads and farm access corridors,” Anselm clarified. “Our assessment captured the specific needs of farmers across every impacted community, so we can build a targeted response that addresses the most pressing challenges producers face right now.”

    In response to the widespread damage, the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to roll out a targeted cash grant assistance program for affected producers in the coming weeks. The relief initiative is designed to support farmers who suffered major losses to crops and livestock, cover unexpected emergency labor costs, and offset hardships caused by cut-off access to farmland resulting from damaged feeder roads.

    To address the infrastructure gap that has left many farmers unable to reach their land, the ministry will coordinate closely with the Ministry of Public Works to prioritize rapid restoration of critical farm access routes, clearing blocked roads and repairing damaged segments to restore connectivity for agricultural operations.

    Looking beyond immediate emergency relief, the ministry is also developing medium-term climate mitigation measures to address long-term damage caused by the extreme rainfall event. The intense downpour triggered widespread soil erosion and land slippage across hilly agricultural regions, so planned interventions will include land stabilization work, soil nutrient restoration to reverse degradation, and strategic planting of deep-rooted tree crops to reduce future erosion risk during extreme weather events.

  • Putin prijst ‘ongekende’ Russisch-Chinese samenwerking

    Putin prijst ‘ongekende’ Russisch-Chinese samenwerking

    Ahead of his two-day official state visit to Beijing starting May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the bilateral relationship between Moscow and Beijing as having reached a truly unprecedented level, marking this trip as his 25th official visit to China. The high-profile meeting comes hot on the heels of a recent visit to China by U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the shifting dynamics of great power diplomacy in 2026.

    In a pre-visit video address, Putin emphasized that regular top-level summits and reciprocal visits between the two leaders are critical to unlocking what he described as the boundless potential of bilateral cooperation. He added that the Russia-China partnership is rooted in three core principles: mutual trust, equal respect for one another’s interests, and a shared commitment to upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity for both states.

    Widely framed as an all-weather strategic partnership, Russia and China’s alliance has persisted and deepened despite sustained diplomatic and economic pressure from Western capitals. While China has maintained its public stance as a neutral peace broker in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, both leaders have repeatedly reaffirmed mutual backing on core foreign policy priorities, expanding collaboration across political, economic, and humanitarian spheres in recent years.

    Regional security analysts, including Ian Storey from Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, project that the Beijing summit will send a clear, unmistakeable message that long-running U.S. efforts to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing are doomed to fail. For China, the meeting also serves a key diplomatic goal: positioning the country as a stable, predictable global power at a time of widespread global uncertainty marked by escalating trade disputes, protracted regional conflicts, and ongoing global energy crises.

    Economic ties between the two nations have grown dramatically in recent years, with bilateral trade volume surpassing the $200 billion threshold, a milestone Putin highlighted as tangible proof of the strength of the bilateral economic bond. Today, nearly all bilateral trade transactions are settled in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan, a shift that aligns with both countries’ efforts to reduce dependence on Western-dominated reserve currencies. High on the summit’s agenda is progress on major cross-border energy infrastructure projects, most notably the continued expansion of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, a landmark project that remains in active negotiations over final pricing agreements.

    Power of Siberia 2 is designed to redirect large volumes of Russian natural gas that were previously exported to European markets eastward to meet China’s growing energy demand, a strategic reorientation of Russia’s energy trade following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    Beyond energy and trade cooperation, the two countries are also deepening cultural and educational ties. Recent initiatives such as the Russia-China Year of Education have strengthened academic and people-to-people links, while a newly implemented reciprocal visa-free travel regime has removed barriers to tourism, business exchanges, and cross-border civilian interactions.

    Against a backdrop of the U.S. grappling with ongoing challenges to de-escalate conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Beijing is leveraging this high-profile diplomatic summit to reinforce its global image as a reliable pillar of global stability. The talks will also cover enhanced coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks that both countries belong to, including the United Nations, the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

    Closing his pre-visit remarks, Putin expressed confidence that the deepening partnership between Russia and China will not only deliver greater prosperity and security for both of their peoples, but also contribute to broader stability across the entire globe.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Fire Officers Attend Regional Chiefs Conference in Dominican Republic

    Antigua and Barbuda Fire Officers Attend Regional Chiefs Conference in Dominican Republic

    A top-tier delegation of three senior fire service leaders from Antigua and Barbuda has touched down in the Dominican Republic to represent their island nation at the 2026 Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs Conference, a major regional gathering that kicked off earlier this month and will run through May 24. The delegation is composed of Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivian Parker, Superintendent of Police Elvis Gordon, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Lester Bagot, all of whom are taking part in the week-long event hosted at the coastal resort town of Playa Juan Dolio.

    The official opening ceremony took place at the Hodelpa Garden Suites Golf and Convention Center, drawing chief fire officers and senior emergency management professionals from every corner of the Caribbean. This year’s convening centers on the forward-thinking theme “Beyond Borders: Advancing Integrated Emergency Management Across the Caribbean,” a framing that highlights growing regional recognition that cross-border coordination is critical to addressing shared disaster and emergency risks.

    Over the course of the conference, delegates will engage in a packed schedule of collaborative activities, including plenary addresses from leading emergency management experts, interactive panel discussions, and closed-door strategic working sessions. Key topics on the agenda span core operational and strategic priorities for Caribbean emergency services: strengthening leadership capacity within fire brigades, improving on-site command effectiveness during large-scale incidents, expanding community and infrastructure-focused risk mitigation strategies, refining long-term strategic planning for disaster response, and exploring the practical applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to boost emergency response outcomes across the region.

    Beyond the immediate work of the 2026 conference, the gathering also sets the stage for Antigua and Barbuda’s upcoming turn in the regional spotlight: the nation has been confirmed as the official host of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs Conference in 2027, marking an important milestone for the country’s fire and emergency services sector.