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  • In Memoriam: Toyabali Ahmadali

    In Memoriam: Toyabali Ahmadali

    On May 17, 2026, Suriname lost one of its most prominent public figures: Toyabali “Hadji Toyab” Ahmadali, a former parliamentarian, government minister and respected Islamic community leader, passed away at the age of 95. Born on January 21, 1931, Ahmadali built a decades-long legacy that bridged Suriname’s political landscape and multi-religious civil society, leaving an enduring mark on the nation’s development.

    Ahmadali’s educational and early career path laid the foundation for his future public service. After completing studies at the Suriname Law School, he moved to the Netherlands in 1958 to pursue higher education, graduating from the Amsterdam Social Academy in 1962. He returned to his home country shortly after, taking a position at Suriname’s Ministry of Justice and Police. There, he focused his work on parole reform and prison administration, eventually rising to lead the nation’s Delinquent Care Service.

    His formal political career began in 1967, when he was elected to the Estates of Suriname, the country’s national legislative body. He won re-election in late 1969, and was quickly appointed Minister of Social Affairs in the cabinet led by Prime Minister J. Sedney, a post he held through the cabinet’s 1969 to 1973 term. Following the 1973 and 1977 general elections, he returned to parliament to continue his legislative work. In the early 1980s, he served first as an advisor to the Council of Ministers, and later as a member of the President’s Advisory Council.

    One of Ahmadali’s most landmark policy contributions came during his tenure as Social Affairs Minister. He championed a critical shift in how Dutch development aid was allocated in Suriname, ensuring that not just the Surinaamse Islamitische Vereniging (SIV, Suriname Islamic Association) qualified for funding to build a children’s home and school complex, but also non-Islamic community organizations including the SMA and Sanatan Dharm. Before this policy change, which Ahmadali championed into implementation, almost all international development aid in Suriname was reserved exclusively for Christian organizations—an inequity he worked successfully to dismantle.

    Beyond his political career, Ahmadali was a central and deeply respected leader within Suriname’s Muslim community, holding multiple key roles within the SIV for decades. He served as chairman of Imdadia Isha’at Islam, chaired the SIV Advisory Council, and acted as imam of Imdadia Isha’at Islam from 2004 through 2025. Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to spread Islamic teachings, foster unity across all Surinamese communities, and provide spiritual guidance to people of all ages. His wisdom, dedication, and commitment to collective well-being earned him widespread respect across ideological and religious divides.

    In recognition of his far-reaching contributions to public life and faith communities, Ahmadali was awarded numerous high honors, including being named a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion and an Officer of the Order of the Yellow Star. He is survived by his wife, four children, four step-children and eight grandchildren. In a statement announcing his passing, his family noted that the loss of Ahmadali will be deeply felt for generations by his loved ones, the SIV community, and the entire nation. While his passing leaves a gap that cannot be filled, his legacy of service, inclusive policy-making, and intercommunity unity will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.

  • Manufacturing driving resilience and innovation, says BMA president

    Manufacturing driving resilience and innovation, says BMA president

    Against a backdrop of persistent global economic headwinds, Barbados’ manufacturing industry is emerging as a core engine of national resilience, creative innovation and economic diversification, according to Rakesh Bernard, president of the Barbados Manufacturers Association (BMA). Bernard made the remarks Monday during the opening ceremony of the annual Manufacturers’ Week, where he positioned domestic manufacturing as a cornerstone of the island nation’s long-term economic future and officially kicked off preparations for a landmark international trade initiative set for 2027.

    The high-profile opening event drew a roster of top government and trade stakeholders, including Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Jonathan Reid, and Mark Hill, CEO of Export Barbados. In his keynote address to the assembled group, Bernard underscored that local manufacturing delivers far-reaching, irreplaceable value to Barbados’ national economy and social fabric.

    “This occasion is far more than just another entry on the national business calendar,” Bernard told attendees. “It is a celebration of an industry that remains the backbone of Barbados’ economic resilience, innovative capacity, and sustained growth. Manufacturing matters because every good made right here on our island is a testament to Barbadian ingenuity: it creates stable local jobs, nurtures critical industry skills, draws new domestic and foreign investment, and sharpens our global competitive edge.”

    Bernard did not shy away from acknowledging the widespread challenges currently buffeting businesses across the globe, from persistent economic uncertainty to soaring operational costs and ongoing supply chain disruptions. But he emphasized that Barbados’ domestic manufacturing operators have demonstrated extraordinary grit and adaptability in the face of these pressures.

    “Even amid widespread global uncertainty, rising input costs, and broken supply chains, Barbados’ manufacturers have kept pushing forward: innovating, adapting their operations, and contributing meaningfully to ongoing national development,” he said. He framed the week-long Manufacturers’ Week series as both a celebration of the sector’s achievements and a clear statement that Barbados is fully committed to expanding its domestic productive capacity for long-term growth.

    A core focus of Bernard’s address was the critical need for aligned cooperation between the public and private sectors to drive sector-wide growth. He pointed out that the key modernization priorities shaping Barbados’ manufacturing industry today—including digital transformation, strengthened national food security, expanded renewable energy adoption, and broader sustainable business practices—align directly with the Mia Mottley administration’s overarching national economic goals.

    “Meaningful national transformation can only happen when policy and production, investment and innovation, government and industry all move in the same direction,” Bernard explained. “The work underway across our manufacturing sector today aligns perfectly with the vision laid out in Mission Barbados, which seeks to build a smarter, greener, more economically resilient and inclusive national economy. Manufacturers sit at the heart of this mission because we turn ideas into tangible solutions, transform concepts into market-ready products, and create widespread economic opportunity for Barbadians across the country.”

    During the event, attendees had the chance to explore industry exhibits including a showcase from leading local operator Roberts Manufacturing at the BMA’s annual State of the Industry Conference. It was on this same platform that Bernard formally launched the multi-year planning process for the 2027 Trade and Innovation Expo (TI 2027). Acknowledging members of the international diplomatic corps in attendance, Bernard positioned the upcoming expo as a transformative step forward for regional and international business collaboration centered on Barbados.

    “TI 2027 will be far more than a traditional product exhibition,” Bernard noted. “It will be a dynamic, forward-looking platform for cross-border trade, new investment partnerships, technology sharing, and expanded collaboration between regional and international business stakeholders.” He extended an open invitation to global business and government partners to begin building stronger connections in entrepreneurship and technology ahead of the 2027 showcase.

    Closing his address, Bernard issued a rallying cry for accelerated economic diversification across Barbados, urging all national stakeholders to look beyond the nation’s traditional economic pillars and offer robust support to homegrown domestic enterprise. “Barbados’ future cannot be tied to a single industry alone,” he declared. “It must be built on a foundation of diversification, innovation, domestic production, and strategic global engagement. Manufacturing has a non-negotiable, critical role to play in that future. And the time is now to invest boldly in local industry, local talent, and local innovation.”

  • Bodybuilding legend Beckles passes away

    Bodybuilding legend Beckles passes away

    The global bodybuilding community is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic and enduring figures, Albert “The Ageless One” Beckles, the Barbadian pro who passed away at the age of 95. Leading tributes to the trailblazing athlete is Dr. Alfred Sparman, president of the Barbados Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, who lauded Beckles as a transformative pioneer who put his home nation on the international bodybuilding map.\n\nBeckles’ decades-long professional career remains unmatched in its longevity and consistency, a feat that earned him his famous nickname “The Ageless One”. Over the course of his career, he earned 13 coveted invitations to compete at the Mr. Olympia, the sport’s most prestigious annual competition, and remained a ranked elite competitor well into his 60s, a level of sustained achievement rarely seen in bodybuilding.\n\nHis collection of professional titles is extensive: among his major wins are the 1981 IFBB Grand Prix New England, the 1982 Night of Champions, the 1982 IFBB World Pro Championships, the 1984 Canada Pro Cup, the 1984 World Grand Prix, and a second World Pro Championship title later that same year. One of his most high-profile career highlights came in 1985, when he claimed the second-place spot at the Mr. Olympia, cementing his status as one of the world’s top bodybuilders.\n\nIn an official statement shared following the news of Beckles’ passing, Sparman honored the legend’s lasting impact on the sport. “The bodybuilding fraternity in Barbados and across the world mourns the passing of legendary Barbadian bodybuilder Albert Beckles,” he said. “On behalf of the Barbados Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, I extend sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the entire international bodybuilding community.”\n\nSparman emphasized that Beckles’ legacy extends far beyond his competition results. “Albert Beckles was a true pioneer whose discipline, excellence, and achievements helped place Barbados on the global bodybuilding stage. His remarkable career inspired a generation of athletes throughout the Caribbean and beyond, and his contribution to the sport will never be forgotten,” Sparman added.\n\nThroughout his decades in the spotlight, Beckles represented Barbados with unwavering pride, dignity, and distinction, growing into a global symbol of perseverance and exceptional longevity in professional sport. “So we have lost not only a great athlete, but also a man whose legacy will continue to motivate future champions for years to come,” Sparman said. “May he rest in peace and may God bless his soul.”

  • Mottley urges export pivot as nation at ‘critical crossroads’

    Mottley urges export pivot as nation at ‘critical crossroads’

    Standing before a packed room of industry leaders at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) State of Industry Conference, Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered an unscripted, blunt wake-up call this week, urging the island nation’s manufacturing sector to immediately pivot toward an export-driven growth model or risk being left behind permanently in the global economy.

    Ditching her prepared remarks to frame Barbados as standing at a defining “critical historical crossroads,” Mottley opened by acknowledging the country’s recent economic progress: 20 consecutive quarters of expansion that have put the nation on a positive trajectory. But that progress, she stressed, is not enough to secure long-term prosperity, and future growth will not come from government mandate alone. “It is going to do better only when we actually come to work to produce to do better,” she told attendees.

    The prime minister directly rejected the policy path the country has followed for the past four decades, a approach she argued has gradually sidelined the manufacturing sector and created a dangerous structural trade imbalance. While reaffirming her administration’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing domestic industry, she made clear that government can only lay the enabling infrastructure—real, sustainable growth will require a fundamental shift in private sector mindset, one that prioritizes global market expansion over limited local focus.

    To illustrate the growing gap between imports and exports that threatens the nation’s economic stability, Mottley pointed to decades of trade data. In 1960, Barbados exported roughly $24 million in merchandise while importing $49 million in goods. Today, that gap has exploded exponentially: exports stand at $461 million, while imports have surged to $2.2 billion—making imports nearly five times larger than exports over the course of Barbados’ post-independence history. While she acknowledged that rising consumer demand has fueled much of the import growth, she placed blame squarely on domestic businesses for failing to expand into international markets at a sufficient pace. “What hasn’t happened with sufficient pace and sufficient progress has been the extent to which we are prepared to claim the export market,” she said. “And unless that changes, we’re going to continue to be playing catch up all the time.”

    Mottley challenged local manufacturers to move past the self-imposed limitation of Barbados’ small 287,000-person population, urging them to embrace the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)—a regional bloc of 6 million consumers—as their effective domestic market. She framed the nation’s small size as a choice: it can either be a mental “noose” that limits ambition, or a strength that enables the nimbleness and agility needed to compete in niche global markets. Competing in high-volume, low-value global sectors, she warned, is simply not viable for Barbados, given the nation’s inherent structural disadvantages including high production costs.

    Instead, she emphasized that adherence to rigorous international product standards is the key to unlocking global market access, and called on local manufacturers to not only meet existing standards but to claim a seat at the table when global rules are being set—drawing a direct parallel to her government’s high-profile Bridgetown Initiative, which advocates for reform of the global financial architecture to give developing nations greater representation. “That we have determined that nobody is going to set standards for us without us being present at the table because the standards which they set, the rules which they set, hobble us,” she explained.

    On the topic of business financing, Mottley criticized the local private sector’s overreliance on debt financing and deep-seated cultural reluctance to pursue equity financing or share ownership, which she traced back to lingering colonial and post-enslavement attitudes toward trust. “We are still suffering from a colonial-stroke-slave mentality as it relates to trust and therefore rather than open up and build the biggest company that we can with all of us putting in, we want all to keep a small one here, a small one there,” she said. “We don’t realise that the high wind can take out each of the small ones, but if we come together and aggregate, we now have a different ball game.” Aggregation, innovation and a willingness to collaborate, she argued, are the only ways to build businesses resilient enough to withstand global economic volatility.

    The prime minister pointed to her own administration’s successful fiscal reforms as proof that structural adjustment can deliver results. Under her watch, Barbados’ debt-to-GDP ratio has plummeted from 177.5% to just 93%, while overall economic output is projected to reach an estimated $17 billion by the end of the current fiscal year. Mottley also identified affordable energy as the “oxygen” of competitive manufacturing, noting that neighboring Trinidad and Tobago’s $40 billion trade surplus with CARICOM is largely driven by its energy cost advantage.

    Against a backdrop of escalating Middle East geopolitical tensions that have driven global oil prices sharply higher, Mottley revealed that the government spent nearly two months negotiating to shield Barbados consumers and businesses from price shocks. The administration has implemented a policy capping fuel and excise taxes at a price equivalent to an $80 per barrel of crude, limiting price increases far below the 40-cent-per-liter hikes seen in the U.S. and U.K. “What we cannot withstand is a deluge. And a deluge is what is on us if we were to allow a 40 cents per litre price to come,” she said. “And this is where the hand of government policy makes the difference. You have to help carry some of the weight. The country is being asked to carry one-third of the weight, and the government, because it has a little more girth, is carrying two-thirds of the weight.” Still, she warned that prolonged global instability could force future adjustments, and urged manufacturers to prioritize energy efficiency and more sustainable production practices.

    Looking ahead, Mottley laid out an ambitious long-term vision for regional economic integration: Caribbean nations can pool their abundant renewable energy resources to position the region as a leading global exporter of green hydrogen to markets in the European Union and beyond.

    Closing her address, Mottley commended the local manufacturers who have kept their operations running through decades of sectoral decline, but urged the industry to raise its ambitions dramatically. “Our ambitions must never, never be so low as to limit us from what is possible globally,” she said. “We don’t need to produce more than five goods—five, out of the millions of goods that are produced globally. Pick five, but make them the best that you can make them.”

  • Grenada seeks bigger diaspora role in shaping future

    Grenada seeks bigger diaspora role in shaping future

    Grenada’s ruling government under Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has unveiled a groundbreaking new strategy to formally embed Grenadian diaspora communities across the globe into the country’s long-term national development agenda, with the first-ever Grenada Diaspora Homecoming event slated to run from June 21 to July 5 marking the opening of this reimagined partnership.

    Prime Minister Mitchell first laid out the details of the cabinet-approved initiative during a Diaspora Town Hall gathering in New York on Sunday, part of a cross-regional outreach campaign to engage Grenadians living outside the country ahead of the event. He emphasized that the island nation’s past approach to engaging its diaspora has long been limited to informal, ad hoc interactions centered overwhelmingly on remittances, charitable donations and philanthropic contributions. While Mitchell expressed gratitude for these longstanding contributions from overseas nationals, he stressed that a new, intentional strategic framework is long overdue to expand collaboration beyond the existing model.

    “The future development of Grenada cannot be achieved without the active participation of our diaspora, bringing their unique expertise, professional skills, global networks, and financial resources to shape our nation’s trajectory over the next quarter century,” Mitchell said, framing the 2026 inaugural Diaspora Homecoming as the first critical step toward this integrated vision.

    He added that the annual homecoming event is the government’s tangible commitment to deepening strategic ties, turning policy commitments into actionable engagement. “The diaspora homecoming is a formal recognition of the invaluable role our overseas citizens play, and this annual gathering is how we put our commitments into practice to foster deeper, more structured connections between the diaspora and our homeland.”

    Over the course of the two-week event, returning Grenadians from across the diaspora – which has large established communities in Toronto, London, and multiple regions of the United States – will take part in a full schedule of cultural immersion experiences, economic development roundtables, cross-community networking sessions, and skills-sharing workshops designed to reconnect overseas nationals with Grenada, its sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and their national heritage.

    Terrence Forrester, Grenada’s Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs, described the initiative as a historic policy turning point for the government. “This marks a fundamental strategic shift: for decades, the diaspora was primarily viewed through the narrow lens of remittances and informal contributions. Today, we are positioning overseas Grenadians as full, equal partners in our national development process,” Forrester explained.

    The official event schedule will kick off June 21 with a formal welcome ceremony for returning nationals at Maurice Bishop International Airport, followed by an interfaith church service. The two-week program will conclude on July 5 with a large-scale public concert hosted at the Grenada Trade Centre.

    Beyond cultural and networking opportunities, the initiative also seeks to give diaspora community members a direct, meaningful voice in shaping Grenada’s future development priorities. “This is your chance to share your perspectives, your vision for our nation, your concerns, and your recommendations. This event will become a permanent fixture on our national calendar, and it will serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth across all three of our islands,” Mitchell noted.

    The New York town hall is just one of multiple pre-event outreach stops the prime minister and his team have planned to raise awareness of the initiative, build broad community support, and encourage strong participation from diaspora communities based in North America, Europe and beyond.

  • CDEMA, mapping charity renew partnership to strengthen disaster response

    CDEMA, mapping charity renew partnership to strengthen disaster response

    Caribbean countries are stepping up their ability to respond to natural crises after the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) signed an updated agreement with UK-based humanitarian non-profit MapAction to continue their coordinated work on disaster management. The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focused on expanding the use of real-time geospatial mapping and data during emergency events, was formalized Friday at a Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy 2030 stakeholder workshop hosted in Bridgetown, Barbados. CDEMA Executive Director Elizabeth Riley and MapAction GIS Director Greg Fricz put their signatures to the renewed pact.

    This long-running partnership between the two organizations will now continue its core mission: strengthening geospatial information management, boosting pre-disaster preparedness, and expanding on-the-ground operational support across CDEMA’s 20 member states across the Caribbean region. Beyond core mapping work, the updated agreement formalizes new areas of collaboration including technical assistance, cross-organizational geospatial data sharing, targeted training for local emergency management teams, capacity building for regional stakeholders, and coordinated deployment support when disaster strikes.

    In remarks following the signing, Riley emphasized that cross-sector collaboration and technological innovation are foundational to building stronger regional disaster resilience. “This renewed partnership with MapAction demonstrates our shared commitment to harnessing cutting-edge innovation, robust data infrastructure, and coordinated collaboration to reinforce disaster preparedness and response capacity for every one of our 20 participating states,” Riley said. She went on to note that consistent, reliable geospatial data is non-negotiable for informed decision-making at every stage of an emergency—from pre-storm evacuation planning to post-disaster damage assessment and recovery. The partnership, she added, has consistently delivered tremendous value to CDEMA’s integrated regional disaster management system.

    For his part, Fricz shared that MapAction, an organization that specializes in delivering life-saving mapping and geospatial data to humanitarian responders worldwide, is proud to extend its support to CDEMA and its member nations through enhanced mapping and analytical capabilities. “This updated MoU solidifies our shared goal: making sure that frontline emergency responders and senior decision-makers have immediate access to accurate, time-sensitive information when lives and livelihoods are on the line,” Fricz said. The renewed partnership comes as small island developing states across the Caribbean face growing frequency and intensity of climate-fueled disasters including hurricanes, flooding, and coastal erosion, making coordinated, data-driven disaster response more critical than ever.

  • Saint Lucia appoints first Coroner, establishes dedicated Coroners Court

    Saint Lucia appoints first Coroner, establishes dedicated Coroners Court

    The Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia has marked a historic turning point in its judicial infrastructure with the appointment of its first dedicated Coroner, Desma Charles, following the formal establishment of a standalone Coroners Court under the country’s Magistrates’ Courts framework.

    This landmark development is the culmination of a months-long policy process, which secured formal approval from Prime Minister Philip J Pierre and the national Cabinet in January 2025. As part of the 2026/2027 national budget address, Pierre – who also holds the portfolio of Minister for Justice – highlighted the creation of the court as a core component of the government’s broader push to modernize the nation’s justice system.

    Before this institutional reform, all cases involving unnatural non-criminal deaths – including fatal accidents, deaths in custody, and suspected suicides – were handled by sitting magistrates, who lacked a dedicated office or specialized resources to address these complex cases. The newly established Coroners Court is tasked specifically with taking over this caseload, with two core objectives: providing clear, timely answers for grieving families left without closure, and uncovering systemic safety gaps that can prevent similar tragedies in the future.

    The Judicial and Legal Services Commission announced Charles’ appointment to the pioneering post, and the government has confirmed that additional supporting roles will be filled in the coming months. These include administrative staff and a specialized investigator trained to conduct detailed inquiries into unnatural death cases.

    In an official statement released on Monday, the government framed the establishment of the Coroners Court and the creation of the Coroner post as a significant leap forward for Saint Lucia’s judicial sector. The initiative, the statement noted, demonstrates the administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthening judicial modernization and institutional accountability. Prime Minister Pierre emphasized in his budget address that the reform will boost the country’s capacity to carry out timely, thorough investigations, ultimately reinforcing public trust in the administration of justice.

    As of the latest government update, further details including the official start date for court sittings and formal operating procedures are still being finalized and will be announced to the public at a later date.

  • Headley scores crucial goal on historic night in Premier League

    Headley scores crucial goal on historic night in Premier League

    Sunday’s Barbados Football Association Premier League matchday went down in the history books not just for a mind-blowing collective total of 32 goals across three fixtures, but for a dramatic late winner that has put defending champions Weymouth Wales firmly in the driver’s seat for another league crown.

    On a night where two early games delivered a staggering 31 goals, it was Kemar Headley’s 91st-minute strike that emerged as the most consequential of the day. Facing off against a stubborn UWI Blackbirds side in the evening’s main fixture at the Wildey AstroTurf, the table-topping Weymouth Wales struggled to break through a compact defense for 90 minutes, continuing a season-long trend of dropped points against lower-ranked opposition that has kept their title race far tighter than many expected. The UWI Blackbirds even had a golden opportunity to snatch all three points themselves in the second half, but Rojae Collins sent his shot wide of the post, letting the defending champions off the hook.

    For the fourth match in a row, Weymouth Wales needed a late goal to secure victory, and Headley stepped up when it mattered most. The versatile senior star reacted fastest to a loose ball from a late free kick, slotting home the winner to spark wild celebrations among the Weymouth Wales camp. The 1-0 result pushed the defending champions to 37 points, opening up a four-point lead over second-place Paradise, who hold one game in hand on the leaders. Third-place Kickstart Rush sit on 33 points having played one more match than Paradise, while Brittons Hill United round out the top four on 32 points, setting up a tense four-way fight for the title that will go down to the final two rounds of fixtures.

    A delighted Weymouth Wales head coach Asquith Howell praised his side’s ability to grind out a result against a tough opponent, and warned that his squad will need to keep fighting to the final whistle to retain their crown. “It will go down to the wire and we just keep telling the players that we have to push if we want to win another championship and we want to play in the CFU Club Championship again,” Howell told reporters. He reserved special praise for match-winner Headley, who has stepped up all season to play multiple positions for the club, from center back to right back, before being pushed into an attacking role for the decisive fixture. “Kemar is a senior player in this team. This season we asked him to play several positions, but he went forward today in an attacking role and he came through for Wales. He’s phenomenal especially when representing Wales, and he loves to win,” Howell added.

    The drama of the late winner almost overshadowed one of the most incredible goal-scoring displays ever seen in any top-flight football league. In the day’s opening fixture, Kickstart Rush recorded the biggest winning margin in Barbados Premier League history with a 23-0 demolition of already relegated St Andrew Lions, who played the entire match three players short after a series of late absences. The already outmatched Lions conceded 10 goals before halftime, with another 13 added in the second half as the Kickstart Rush attack ran riot.

    National under-17 prospect Jamarco Johnson led the rout with an eight-goal haul, announcing himself as one of the country’s most promising young talents with a clinical performance against the struggling Lions. Romario Drakes added four goals of his own, while Jadon Cave, Trekyle Alleyne-Callender and Ethan Squires each scored twice. Nathan Skeete, Carl Hinkson, Caleb Went and Je-Dane Griffith also found the back of the net, with one additional goal coming from a St Andrew Lions own goal. Kickstart Rush head coach Renaldo Gilkes said his side stayed focused despite the lopsided matchup, as they target a second top-three finish in three seasons and remain in the hunt for a shock title win.

    “Yeah, it was a record breaking evening for the fellas, I mean, who doesn’t like to score goals, right? We’re going to try to take this title challenge all the way down to the final day and we have two more games left against formidable opponents in Wales and Paradise,” Gilkes said. “We intend to go back to the training ground, focus on some details and will definitely give it our best going into the final days.”

    In the day’s second fixture, last year’s runners-up Brittons Hill kept their title hopes alive with an 8-0 thrashing of another already relegated side Wotton, led by a seven-goal masterclass from St Vincent and the Grenadines international Kirtney Franklin. T’shane Lorde added the only other goal for Brittons Hill, and the result pushed Franklin to the top of the league’s goal-scoring charts with 18 goals for the season. Brittons Hill manager Fabian Wharton said his side will focus only on winning their remaining two fixtures against Paradise and Ellerton, and let the results fall as they may in the tight title race.

    “It’s very tight among the four of us at the top, so we just have to do what we have to do and then see how it goes,” Wharton said. Premier League action continues on Tuesday, with second-place Paradise facing off against Ellerton, followed by a matchup between Bagatelle and Eyre’s Meat Shop Pride of Gall Hill as the title race enters its final stretch.

  • DAIC elects new board as business community urged to focus on opportunities linked to international airport

    DAIC elects new board as business community urged to focus on opportunities linked to international airport

    Dominica’s leading private sector trade body, the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), has installed a new executive leadership team following its 2026 Annual General Meeting, held Thursday, May 14 at the Prevo Cinemall Ballroom in the capital city of Roseau. The event brought together a broad cross-section of attendees, ranging from DAIC member business owners and key industry stakeholders to event sponsors and specially invited government and community guests.

    The gathering opened with a public open forum centered on the timely theme “Beyond the Runway: Unlocking Private Sector Growth Through Dominica’s International Airport” — a discussion focused on how local businesses can capitalize on the transformational infrastructure project currently under construction.

    Samuel Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the International Airport Development Company, served as the keynote speaker for the forum, where he outlined the far-reaching economic benefits the completed airport is projected to deliver to Dominica once it opens by the end of 2027. Johnson highlighted that the new international gateway will unlock expanded growth opportunities across a wide swath of the national economy, including tourism, cargo shipping and logistics, domestic agro-processing, small and medium enterprise development, and widespread job creation. He emphasized that the window for private sector preparation is open now, urging local businesses to begin strategic positioning long before the airport welcomes its first commercial flight, rather than holding off until construction wraps up. Early preparation, he noted, will allow private companies to capture the full range of new market opportunities that will become available once the facility is operational.

    Following the conclusion of the public forum, DAIC members moved into a closed, restricted session of the Annual General Meeting to conduct the formal election of a new Board of Directors and executive leadership team.

    In his outgoing address to assembled members, departing DAIC President Brenton Hilaire reinforced the core message of the forum: the international airport is far more than a public sector infrastructure project. It represents a transformative economic opening for Dominica’s private sector, one that requires intentional investment, proactive planning, cross-sector partnerships, and advance preparation from local businesses to deliver maximum benefit. Hilaire also called for deeper, more constructive dialogue between the DAIC and the Government of Dominica, encouraging member businesses to engage actively in national development conversations centered on innovation, collaborative growth, and broad-based economic progress.

    Newly elected DAIC President Olive Strachan took over the leadership role following the election, opening her tenure by thanking members for the confidence they placed in her to lead the organization. She also paid public tribute to Hilaire’s leadership, crediting him with steering the association through a prolonged period of unprecedented economic challenge.

    Strachan told members that effective organizational leadership is not defined by a formal title, but rooted in centering the needs of members, building trust, maintaining consistent action, and delivering dedicated service. Under her leadership, she said, DAIC will continue prioritizing the strengthening of cross-sector partnerships, working to build a more robust and resilient private sector, and ensuring that the priorities and concerns of DAIC members are consistently represented to policymakers and other key stakeholders. She closed by pledging to lead the association with radical transparency, unwavering integrity, and a focus on tangible action, committing to work closely with the newly seated Board of Directors to boost member engagement and tackle the everyday operational challenges that face businesses across Dominica.

  • Indian nationals get back passports, await outstanding salaries

    Indian nationals get back passports, await outstanding salaries

    On Monday, 18 May 2026, 38 Indian national workers who had been employed at a remote Guyanese quarry under widely reported harsh working conditions for nearly three years finally regained possession of their passports at Guyana’s Ministry of Labour. The workers were recruited by EKAA HRIM Earth Resources Management, a company headquartered in India, to work at the Batavia quarry site located in Region Seven’s Cuyuni-Mazaruni interior region.

    The case was brought to public attention by Azruddin Mohamed, Leader of Guyana’s opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, whose organization traveled to the remote quarry to investigate worker accounts of abuse. As of Monday afternoon, Mohamed confirmed that the workers were still waiting for Ministry of Labour officials and company representatives to calculate all outstanding unpaid wages owed to the group, a core demand ahead of their planned departure from the country.

    Mohamed called the recovery of passports a “major victory” for the 38 workers, detailing a litany of alleged labor violations against the company. According to worker testimonies collected by WIN, employees were never paid overtime wages, never received formal payslips for their work, and have no confirmation that required social security deductions were ever remitted to Guyana’s National Insurance Scheme. Workers reported being forced to operate seven days a week, including national holidays, and were provided consistently low-quality food during their employment. One anonymous worker shared that he was only occasionally able to send $1200 USD back to his family in India, and expressed overwhelming eagerness to return home after years of exploitation.

    Shocking accounts of workplace safety failures also emerged: one unnamed Indian worker suffered the amputation of four fingers while performing vehicle repairs at the site, and has since returned to India without receiving any workers’ compensation for his injury. Mohamed confirmed that the incident was formally reported to Guyana’s Chief Labour Officer, and WIN is pushing for the injured worker to receive full compensation despite his return to India.

    Mohamed leveled severe allegations against the company and Guyana’s ruling People’s Progressive Party administration, saying the company’s treatment of workers amounts to human trafficking. He claims workers were forced to cover their own airfare to travel to Guyana for the jobs, and immediately had their passports confiscated by company representatives upon arrival – despite repeated requests from workers to have their documents returned. Adding to the exploitative terms, Mohamed says worker contracts include a punitive clause requiring employees to pay the company $5000 USD if they choose to leave their position or are terminated. “This is modern day slavery we’re under, under the PPP administration,” Mohamed stated.

    WIN is calling for full legal action against EKAA HRIM Earth Resources Management for the confirmed labor violations, alongside the implementation of stronger regulatory systems to prevent the same exploitation from happening to future groups of foreign workers. “This is what we need to know and this is what the government needs to enforce,” Mohamed added.

    Last week, Labour Minister Keoma Griffith confirmed that a formal government investigation into the allegations had been launched. Vishnu Panday, WIN executive member and sitting parliamentarian, confirmed that once all outstanding wage claims are resolved, the organization will escort the 38 workers to another government ministry to expedite processing for their departure from Guyana. Panday also issued a broader call for the government to conduct sweeping inspections of other interior worksites across the country, to root out additional cases of unreported foreign worker exploitation.