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  • Focus on promoting healthier lifestyles

    Focus on promoting healthier lifestyles

    Barbados is entering a pivotal era of healthcare transformation, as government leaders push for a nationwide reset that reframes the country’s approach to public health from reactive illness treatment to proactive disease prevention and holistic wellness promotion. The announcement came from Davidson Ishmael, Minister of State in Barbados’ Ministry of Health and Wellness, who delivered the keynote address at the opening of the two-day “Live Stronger, Longer” Blue Wellness Conference hosted by the Diabetes and Hypertension Association of Barbados at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

    At the core of Ishmael’s remarks was a stark assessment of the growing public health challenge posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the island nation. Conditions including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease continue to disproportionately impact Barbadian communities, placing persistent strain on both families and the national healthcare system. Against this backdrop, Ishmael framed the current moment as a critical window to rethink, redesign, and renew national wellness strategy.

    “While Barbadians are now living longer than ever before, far too many of those added years are marked by poor health and reduced quality of life,” Ishmael told conference attendees. “If we have already made gains in longevity, our next defining goal must be ensuring those extra years are spent in good health, with independence, dignity, and a high standard of well-being.”

    To meet that goal, the Barbadian government is pursuing a deliberate strategic evolution of the national healthcare system. Moving away from a model centered almost exclusively on treating existing illness, the new framework will prioritize active promotion of holistic health across all its dimensions. This shift means transitioning from late, reactive intervention to early proactive action, and expanding the system’s focus beyond disease management to supporting the full physical, mental, and social well-being of all Barbadians.

    Central to this transformation is the development of a comprehensive national wellness policy and accompanying action plan, a project being led by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Ishmael explained that the new policy will integrate the physical, mental, social, and environmental components of health into a single, cohesive, multi-sectoral national framework, breaking down silos that have historically fragmented wellness efforts.

    Ishmael also emphasized that Barbados already holds unique inherent advantages that can support the development of a distinct “Barbadian model of wellness” tailored to the island’s context. Key strengths include the country’s tight-knit sense of community, longstanding spiritual traditions, abundant natural environment, and widespread access to fresh, locally produced food. “We are blessed with sun, sea, rolling green hills, and open public spaces that encourage physical activity and connection to the natural world,” Ishmael noted.

    In addition to these natural and cultural assets, the existing Barbadian healthcare system is already evolving to support the new prevention-focused approach. Ishmael highlighted ongoing efforts to expand access to routine health screenings and scale up early intervention services, as well as investments in strengthening nurse-led care and community outreach programs. These changes are designed to ensure that high-quality care is not only accessible to all Barbadians, but also continuous, supporting long-term wellness management rather than only acute treatment.

  • Statement from the Caribbean Community on the hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz

    Statement from the Caribbean Community on the hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz

    On Monday, 18 May 2026, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued an official statement from its Secretariat headquarters in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana, sounding the alarm over ongoing military hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz and calling for urgent action to restore regional and global stability.

    As one of the most prominent examples of developing-world integration, CARICOM counts 15 full member states and six associate members representing a combined population of roughly 16 million people. Founded in 1973 under the Treaty of Chaguaramas—revised in 2001 to establish a single integrated market and economy—the bloc organizes its work around four core pillars: economic integration, coordinated foreign policy, human and social development, and cross-border security cooperation. It works to advance an inclusive, resilient, competitive community that guarantees human rights, social justice, and equal opportunity for all its citizens, 60% of whom are under 30 years of age.

    In its statement, CARICOM first highlighted grave concern over the escalating conflict centered on the Strait of Hormuz, noting the crisis has already resulted in tragic loss of life, damaged critical civilian infrastructure, and triggered widespread volatility across global commodity and financial markets. Beyond immediate humanitarian harm, the ongoing hostilities have severely disrupted maritime transit through the strategic waterway, a critical artery for global energy trade and commercial shipping.

    The bloc emphasized that all disruptions to unimpeded transit send ripple effects across the entire global economy, roiling energy markets, stretching already strained global supply chains, and driving up freight costs worldwide. These impacts are not evenly distributed, CARICOM stressed: small, import-dependent economies like those of its member states face disproportionate harm, as higher costs and delays limit access to the critical fuel, food, and medical supplies their populations rely on.

    Central to CARICOM’s position is a firm reaffirmation of the principles set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). All 15 full CARICOM member states are signatory parties to UNCLOS, and the bloc reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding the convention’s norms. CARICOM pointed out that the rights enshrined in UNCLOS are deeply rooted in binding customary international law, meaning they apply to and must be respected by all sovereign states, regardless of whether a state has formally ratified the convention. Specifically, the bloc confirmed that the right of transit passage guaranteed by UNCLOS cannot be made conditional on any license, tax, or third-party authorization, and coastal states bordering international waterways have no legal right to hinder or suspend such passage.

    Against this framework, CARICOM issued a clear call to action for all parties involved in the conflict: that they immediately uphold and respect the legally guaranteed right of transit passage, comply with all binding obligations under international law, work to restore safe, unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and prioritize the safety of civilian seafarers and commercial vessels transiting the waterway.

    Beyond protecting maritime rights, CARICOM called for an immediate end to all active hostilities in the region, stressing that urgent de-escalation and deliberate restraint from all involved parties is the only path to preventing further humanitarian and economic harm. The bloc confirmed that it will continue to closely monitor all developments unfolding in the Middle East, and remains fully committed to supporting diplomatic efforts to build lasting, sustainable peace in the region and strengthen broader global energy and economic stability.

  • Wereld Hypertensie Dag: PAHO waarschuwt voor te hoge zoutconsumptie in Amerika

    Wereld Hypertensie Dag: PAHO waarschuwt voor te hoge zoutconsumptie in Amerika

    Across Latin America and the Caribbean, excessive salt intake has emerged as a pressing public health crisis, far exceeding global health guidelines and driving rising rates of life-threatening cardiovascular conditions, regional health authorities have warned.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that healthy adults cap daily sodium intake at 2000 milligrams, equal to roughly one teaspoon or 5 grams of salt, with even lower limits set for children. But current consumption data across the region tells a starkly different story: average daily salt intake ranges from 8 to 12 grams, two to nearly three times the WHO-recommended threshold. In major regional economies including Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, average daily consumption hovers between 9 and 10 grams, while Caribbean nations such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago report intake between 8 and 11 grams per day. This consistent overconsumption acts as a major modifiable risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease, the leading causes of death in the region.

    Fabio da Silva Gomes, a food and physical activity advisor for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), explained that most people drastically underestimate how much salt they consume daily. Contrary to common belief that most excess sodium comes from table salt added during cooking or at meals, approximately 80% of dietary sodium in regional diets is sourced from processed and ultra-processed products, including cured meats, pre-packaged snacks, and breakfast cereals. As consumption of these highly processed products has risen sharply across the region, the need for targeted public policy and consumer protection regulation has grown more urgent.

    One widespread consumer misconception that health officials aim to correct centers on the perceived health differences between popular salt varieties. Whether marketed as sea salt, Himalayan salt, or standard table salt, nearly all commercial salt products are primarily composed of sodium chloride, and carry the same heart health risks when consumed in excess. While some commercially available salt substitutes reduce sodium content and boost potassium, which can offer benefits for heart health, these products are not recommended for pregnant people, children, or individuals living with kidney disease.

    Health officials identify the lobbying and influence of the food processing industry as one of the largest barriers to cutting population-wide salt intake. Food companies frequently seek to delay or weaken mandatory sodium reduction regulations by questioning public health research, pushing for ineffective voluntary industry commitments, and even pursuing legal action to block stricter rules.

    For individual consumers, da Silva Gomes advises prioritizing whole foods over heavily processed alternatives and preparing more meals at home to maintain control over sodium content. “By adjusting recipes and cooking with intentionality, people can protect their own health and that of their families,” he noted.

    Data from early adopters shows that mandatory regulatory measures are the most effective tools for cutting population salt intake. Policies including mandatory maximum sodium limits for processed foods and required front-of-package warning labels for high-salt products have already delivered results. Argentina, Mexico and Colombia have already implemented these warning label systems, which have driven measurable reductions in consumer purchases of high-salt products. Additional effective steps include regulating marketing for high-salt processed foods and limiting access to these products in school settings.

    PAHO supports national governments across the region in advancing healthier food policies, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and boosting public awareness of sodium-related health risks. These efforts align with WHO’s global target of cutting population salt intake by 30% by 2030. PAHO provides member states with practical resources including the PAHO Regional Sodium Reduction Targets, in-person training, and free online courses on regulatory design. The organization also works to accelerate the adoption of front-of-package warning labels to help consumers make informed, healthier choices.

    As part of this year’s World Salt Awareness Week, PAHO is rolling out public education campaigns highlighting the health harms of excess salt and calling for coordinated action across governments, industry, and civil society to protect regional public health. Through this collaborative approach, health leaders aim to cut preventable deaths from hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and build a healthier future for communities across Latin America and the Caribbean.

  • COMMENTARY: Is Universal Education really universal?

    COMMENTARY: Is Universal Education really universal?

    For decades, successive governments of the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica have anchored their policy philosophy in the core principle of “all shall eat.” Rooted in the reality of limited natural and institutional resources, this guiding ideology demands that every member of society gets an equitable share of the island’s opportunities. This commitment has historically translated to tangible public goods, from large-scale public housing projects to widespread investments in indoor plumbing access for underserved rural communities. When it comes to education, this principle has evolved beyond basic access to foundational literacy and numeracy to demand that learning opportunities remain open regardless of a student’s socio-economic background, race, religion, or geographic location.

    Before the early 2000s, Dominica’s secondary education system faced a stark capacity crisis. The limited number of secondary schools and their small enrollment meant that only top performers on the national Common Entrance Examination could secure a spot. Most of these successful candidates came from elite urban primary schools, concentrated in the capital Roseau, while rural and low-income students were systematically locked out of traditional secondary education. For students who did not pass the entrance exam, the government offered the Junior Secondary Programme (JSP), a three-year skills-focused initiative that combined core academic coursework (English and mathematics) with vocational training in trades like plumbing, carpentry, electrical work and agriculture, plus optional classes in music and physical education. Critically, the JSP also created a pathway for late-blooming students to transition into traditional secondary education after strengthening their foundational skills.

    In 1998, driven by the goal of achieving universal secondary education aligned with regional sustainable development targets, the government phased out the JSP. Backed by the 1997 Education Act, which enshrined the right of all children to education, and with financial and technical support from the World Bank, the initiative led to the construction of new secondary schools (including Isaiah Thomas Secondary and Castle Bruce Secondary) and the expansion of existing campuses, plus targeted training for educators. By the late 2000s, nearly all primary school leavers were able to enroll in secondary education, with new campuses bringing schooling within closer reach of rural communities. This expansion opened unprecedented pathways to tertiary education and professional careers for thousands of Dominican students.

    Yet for all this progress, the shift away from the JSP left critical gaps unaddressed, meaning the universal secondary education project has only delivered half of its promised benefits. The JSP filled two unique niches that current reforms have failed to replace: it allowed slower-learning students to progress at their own pace, and it gave students with a natural aptitude for vocational trades the chance to build marketable skills for rewarding careers. When the JSP was eliminated, policymakers discarded these core functions without putting adequate replacement systems in place.

    Today, vocational training is scattered across traditional secondary schools, and ability grouping (or streaming) has replaced the JSP’s tailored support for slower learners. But the current model is deeply flawed: even when students are separated by ability, all learners are still expected to master the same volume of content in the same timeframe, regardless of their learning speed. Worse, remedial classes for struggling students are often staffed by underqualified educators with no specialized training in special education, while top-performing tracks get the most experienced and skilled teachers. The education system also lacks the diagnostic capacity to identify the root of students’ learning challenges and deliver targeted support to address them.

    Another widespread practice that highlights systemic misalignment is social promotion: students who fail to meet grade-level performance standards are often pushed to the next level simply because they are approaching 16, the age when compulsory education ends. While this practice avoids the social harm of holding students back a grade when no support is offered, it does nothing to address the underlying learning gaps that hold students back.

    At its core, the systemic failure stems from a persistent misunderstanding of what universal education actually means. Many policymakers and educators still cling to a one-size-fits-all model that prioritizes traditional academic coursework for all students, ignoring the reality that not all learners thrive in lecture-based, theoretical learning environments. Many students have natural aptitudes for hands-on trades, but current vocational offerings across most public secondary schools are underfunded, underdeveloped, and treated as second-tier alternatives to core academic subjects. Vocational curricula are often overly theoretical, lacking the hands-on practical training that makes these pathways valuable, and few students graduate with the skills to work independently as skilled or semi-skilled tradespeople. Most notably, Dominica has no dedicated standalone vocational education institutions, a stark contrast to neighboring Caribbean countries like Jamaica (with its Heart Trust NTA) and Trinidad and Tobago (with the MIC Institute of Technology) that have built successful specialized vocational systems.

    The persistent gaps in tailored vocational and adaptive learning have contributed to high youth dropout rates and elevated youth unemployment, particularly among young men. True universal education, the article argues, is not just about getting every student into a classroom until age 16—it is about providing education that is tailored to each student’s unique learning needs and strengths. Extending the original “all shall eat” metaphor, the author notes that universal access means nothing if the education provided does not meet the needs of every learner: “all indeed shall eat, but the food should be good, and it must be able to satisfy the hunger of all who eat it.”

    In recent years, growing recognition of these gaps has led to repeated calls from former education ministers and other stakeholders to reintroduce the JSP or a comparable modern vocational program. The current government has responded with a plan to convert the reconstructed Goodwill Secondary School into a Centre of Excellence for technical and vocational education, with planned programs in robotics, cosmetology, carpentry and other in-demand trades. While the initiative holds promise, its impact will depend on how well it addresses the historical shortcomings of the current system.

    In the short term, the author outlines clear steps to improve outcomes: strengthen existing vocational programs with rigorous, regularly updated curricula and qualified, trained instructors; prioritize specialized training for educators working in remedial and special education roles; improve foundational literacy and numeracy instruction at the primary level, since vocational options are useless for students who lack core basic skills; and invest in diagnostic facilities to identify and address learning difficulties early. As these changes are implemented, Dominica can finally move toward a truly universal education system that delivers on its founding promise of opportunity for all.

  • Caribbean urged to improve emergency responses after disasters

    Caribbean urged to improve emergency responses after disasters

    As climate change amplifies the intensity and frequency of destructive natural disasters across the Caribbean, a top World Food Programme (WFP) leader is urging regional emergency response bodies to place robust food security frameworks and accessible, real-time data at the core of their crisis preparedness strategies. Brian Bogart, WFP’s Representative and Country Director for the organization’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office, outlined the urgent call to action during a recent regional consultation workshop hosted by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) at Barbados’ Accra Beach Hotel & Spa. The three-day gathering brought together representatives from CDEMA’s 20 member states to revise and update the bloc’s flagship Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy, a guiding document for regional crisis planning and response. In an interview with Barbados TODAY conducted on the sidelines of the workshop, Bogart highlighted that fragmented information coordination remains one of the most persistent and costly gaps in the region’s disaster response infrastructure, leaving vulnerable communities overlooked in the immediate aftermath of catastrophic events. While Bogart emphasized that national governments, UN agencies, local non-governmental organizations and international charitable groups all bring critical capacities to emergency responses, he noted that disjointed data systems often prevent consistent, equitable aid delivery to every impacted population. “One of the principal challenges we have with regards to food security is coordination and data,” Bogart explained, adding that response teams require immediate, accurate insights to map the location of affected communities, measure the scale of infrastructure and food system damage, and align available resources with on-the-ground needs. “What we really need to do is make sure that we have those systems in place for mapping needs [and] ensuring that we have regular coverage of affected populations so that no one is affected by hunger in the event of natural disasters in the Caribbean.” To illustrate the severity of coordination gaps and the scale of response required for major Caribbean disasters, Bogart pointed to the 2023 response to Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm on record to strike Jamaica. After the Category 5 hurricane made landfall in late October 2023, devastating large swathes of the island and leaving multiple rural communities completely cut off from access to food and basic supplies, the WFP moved nearly 1,000 metric tonnes of emergency relief goods from the Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub based in Barbados to Jamaica in February 2024. Beyond the immediate threat of increasingly severe natural disasters, Bogart also warned that overlapping global shocks continue to erode the Caribbean’s long-term food security, a vulnerability amplified by the region’s heavy dependence on imported food to meet local demand. Currently, most Caribbean nations import between 60 and 90 percent of their food supply, leaving the region exposed to global supply chain disruptions and international commodity price volatility. Bogart referenced the CARICOM “25 by 2025 plus 5” initiative, which sets a target of cutting the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2030, to argue that regional governments and stakeholders must ramp up investment in local agricultural production and expand intra-Caribbean food trade to reduce this systemic vulnerability. “The Caribbean is very vulnerable to shocks generated by supply chain disruptions and global food price inflation,” Bogart said, noting that ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East and persistently high global fuel costs have already driven up retail food prices across the region. “What we really need to do is look at how we can offset those short-term impacts by ensuring that the most vulnerable people have access to the food they need for a healthy diet, while also doubling down on the investments required to reduce reliance on imports and promote agriculture and food trade between Caribbean countries.”

  • Fatal Massade shooting renews calls for mental health reform

    Fatal Massade shooting renews calls for mental health reform

    The tight-knit neighborhood of Massade in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, is enveloped in grief following the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Julien Cedrick Agian, who was allegedly killed by his own cousin in a late-night incident on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The senseless homicide has not only left a family and community shattered, but has also reignited urgent public conversations about three pressing, long-unaddressed issues plaguing the island nation: gaps in mental health care, lax public safety protocols, and the persistent scourge of gun violence.

    According to official police reports, officers assigned to the Gros Islet Police Station were dispatched to the Massade shooting location at approximately 10:45 p.m. on the day of the incident. First responders found Agian with multiple gunshot wounds; he was rushed to the Gros Islet Polyclinic in a private vehicle by bystanders, but medical staff were unable to save his life. To date, one person has been taken into custody and is cooperating with law enforcement investigators, and multiple family sources have confirmed the suspect is Agian’s close cousin. A post-mortem examination to confirm the official cause and manner of death has been scheduled for a future date, as the investigation remains ongoing.

    Those who knew Agian remember him as a warm, generous, and uplifting presence, whose sudden death has left loved ones in profound shock and disbelief. “He was always the life of the party,” one heartbroken family member shared in an emotional interview. “You could always go to him for advice. He always had something positive to say and always tried to guide people in the right direction. You could go to him feeling completely beat down, and he would make you feel like yourself again. He would tell you, ‘Relax, things happen. Think about the positive that will come out of it.’”

    The tragedy carries an extra layer of heartbreak for the family: Agian’s wife is currently pregnant, and he will never get to meet his unborn child. Even days after the shooting, many relatives are still struggling to accept their loss. “I’m in denial,” the relative added. “I just kept thinking he got shot and he would pull through. I was waiting for him to call and say he was okay.”

    Across the community, Agian’s reputation as a kind, approachable person who was always willing to lend a hand is widely shared. A close friend of the victim noted that the entire neighborhood has been shaken to its core by the violence. “He was a very nice guy,” the friend said. “He used to sit around, joke with everybody and help people. Everybody knew him as a good person.”

    In the wake of the killing, many community members are speaking out about systemic failures that they say allowed this tragedy to happen. Multiple residents interviewed highlighted deep concerns over the treatment of people living with severe mental illness, particularly in cases where prior threats of violence have already been made. One close associate of the community argued that the country’s mental health system is failing to adequately monitor and support people experiencing acute psychiatric instability. “When somebody mentally unstable keeps threatening people, we can’t keep taking it lightly,” he said. “People say, ‘That’s your cousin, leave him alone,’ until something like this happens.” He called for extended, long-term inpatient psychiatric care for people who pose a threat to themselves or others, arguing that unstable patients should not be released back into the community before they have made a full recovery. “If somebody needs treatment, keep them there until they recover,” he said. “You can’t send them out the next day and expect everybody to be safe.”

    Beyond mental health reform, the incident has also sparked renewed demands for tougher enforcement against illegal firearms and intervention to stop violent crime among young men. One local resident emphasized that communities cannot afford to be passive in addressing these issues, arguing that collective action is needed to prevent future tragedies. “We cannot leave everything for the government and police,” he said. “If we see problems, we have to speak about it and try to stop it before things happen.”

    As the investigation into Agian’s homicide continues, Saint Lucia police are asking the public for any information that could help advance the case. Anyone with details related to the shooting is encouraged to contact the Gros Islet Police Station at 456-3830. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via the national Crime Hotline at 555, or through the RSLPF Crime Hotline mobile app available on the Google Play Store.

  • NODS to Host National Hurricane Season Thanksgiving Service on May 31

    NODS to Host National Hurricane Season Thanksgiving Service on May 31

    As the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda gears up for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, the country’s National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) has opened an open invitation to all residents to join a special National Hurricane Season Thanksgiving Church Service scheduled for later this May.

    The collective prayer and worship event is set to take place at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 31, hosted at the Bible Speaks Seventh-day Adventist Church, just one day before the official start of the annual Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.

    Centered around the unifying theme “A Nation Prepared, A People Protected,” the service is designed to bring together community members from across the country to join in collective prayer and reflection ahead of the high-risk weather period. Unlike routine disaster preparedness briefings, this gathering frames seasonal readiness around communal gratitude and shared hope for safety throughout the coming months.

    In an official statement released by the agency, NODS extended a warm call to all residents: “Come and worship with us as we pray and give thanks for a safe and hurricane-free nation.” The disaster management office also specifically encouraged attendees to bring their family members, close friends, and neighbors to build a sense of collective community resilience ahead of the season.

    The event forms part of NODS’ broader seasonal preparedness outreach, combining spiritual preparation with community building to help the nation align for the potential challenges of the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically runs from June through November each year in the region.

  • Emergency housing to be increased, says Gibbs

    Emergency housing to be increased, says Gibbs

    Barbados’ top housing official has laid out a sweeping multi-part agenda that prioritizes disaster preparedness, repairs to aging public housing developments, and long-overdue justice for uncompensated landowners, signaling a major push to upgrade the country’s housing infrastructure ahead of potential extreme weather events. Housing Minister Chris Gibbs, who represents the St Michael West constituency, outlined his policy priorities during a Sunday branch meeting held at St Leonard’s Boys’ School, framing new emergency housing construction as a non-negotiable responsibility for his administration.

    Against the backdrop of recent extreme weather events across the Caribbean, including the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa on nearby Jamaica, Gibbs emphasized that Barbados cannot afford to delay preparations for future disasters. Though the island nation has escaped catastrophic damage from recent weather events including Hurricane Elsa, an unexpected severe storm, and multiple wildfires, Gibbs warned that this streak of good fortune cannot be counted on indefinitely. His ministry is currently finalizing innovative design plans to expand the country’s emergency housing stock, a project that is backed by the full Cabinet and spearheaded by the Prime Minister, with Gibbs leading implementation on the ground as the ministerial lead for housing in Parliament.

    In addition to building new emergency accommodation, Gibbs’ ministry is also turning its attention to longstanding structural issues in existing public housing estates that have gone unaddressed for years. The government has allocated funding in this financial year’s budget to carry out critical upgrades across existing public housing developments, ensuring residents can live in safe, dignified conditions. The first wave of upgrades will target three high-need estates: the 10-year-old Grotto housing complex, Country Park Towers, and Kensington Lodge, with additional developments added to the schedule in future phases.

    At Grotto, the ministry will resolve well-documented flaws in the original development design, including inadequate parking infrastructure, insufficient exterior lighting that has created public safety risks, and widespread roof leaks that have plagued residents for years. After extensive testing and consultation, officials have selected high-quality sealants to repair and reinforce the roofs, making them more resilient to heavy rain and extreme weather events. Similar upgrades will be carried out at the other two initial sites to improve quality of life and disaster preparedness across the portfolio.

    Beyond new construction and infrastructure repairs, Gibbs highlighted a commitment to addressing historical injustices related to government land acquisition, noting that hundreds of small landowners have waited decades for compensation after the state compulsorily acquired their property for public projects. Gibbs stressed that correcting these decades-old wrongs is a core part of the ministry’s social justice mandate, not just building new housing stock. As an example of progress already made, he shared that the government recently compensated an elderly woman who had lost a portion of her land for a bus lay-by 40 years prior, with the issue resolved through Cabinet approval after being brought forward by his ministry.

    Gibbs concluded by reaffirming that equitable, accessible, and resilient housing remains the top priority for his tenure, with work on all initiatives already underway to deliver tangible results for Barbadian residents.

  • Call for change in approach to fighting NCDs

    Call for change in approach to fighting NCDs

    Barbados President Jeffrey Bostic, a former health minister who led the country’s public health response through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, has issued an urgent appeal to shift current approaches to the island’s worsening non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis, warning that existing interventions are failing to curb rising rates of conditions including diabetes and hypertension.

    Bostic made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the two-day “Live Stronger, Longer” Blue Wellness Conference, hosted by the Diabetes and Hypertension Association of Barbados at The University of the West Indies. He emphasized that health leaders and policymakers have long focused their messaging on populations already aware of NCD risks, and must redirect their outreach to the communities and individuals who need lifestyle changes most.

    “Right now, our fight against NCDs is like being stuck in a battle where we cannot break through the enemy’s lines,” Bostic said. “That fact alone should signal that our current approach is not working. After years of intervention, case numbers are still climbing – we cannot avoid asking the hard questions about why we have not made more progress.”

    The President argued that Barbados does not need to build a new public health framework from scratch; instead, the country should revitalize the proven community-centered model that forms the foundation of its public health system. He noted that the island’s public health infrastructure was built by frontline workers who engaged directly with communities across every parish and village, and that returning to these grassroots outreach methods is critical to making meaningful gains.

    “We cannot keep preaching to people who already understand the risks of NCDs,” Bostic explained. “We will never move the needle unless we reach into every corner of this country, into every community that has been left behind by current outreach efforts. We do not need to reinvent the wheel here – we just need to go back to the successful community-focused model that has always served Barbados well.”

    Bostic praised the longstanding work of the island’s polyclinics, local medical officers and community nurses, whose on-the-ground work built the country’s modern public health system. While he acknowledged that policy tools such as sugar taxes and mandatory food labeling play an important role in combating NCDs, he argued these measures are incomplete without corresponding action to make healthy lifestyles more accessible and affordable for all Barbadians.

    Pointing to the country’s existing tax on sweetened beverages as an example, Bostic noted that many residents currently see the policy as nothing more than an unfair financial burden, rather than a public health intervention, because there is little tangible support for affordable healthy alternatives. “If the revenue we collect from this tax does not go toward lowering the cost of nutritious foods that we want people to eat, we never connect the policy to its actual public health goal,” he said.

    Bostic framed the rising prevalence of NCDs as a full-blown national crisis, with impacts that stretch far beyond individual patient health. “Even with all our current efforts, case rates keep growing,” he said. “The costs are not just personal – this crisis strains our national health system, erodes family financial stability, and drags down national economic productivity. This is not someone else’s problem to solve; it is a collective challenge that all of us must own and address together.”

    The President also outlined key priority areas where government and health leaders need to ramp up action: stronger school nutrition standards, updated urban planning to create safe public spaces for physical activity, expanded access to free or low-cost NCD screening, and greater availability of affordable medication for at-risk populations. He added that frontline health workers must shift their practice beyond just writing prescriptions, instead taking on more active coaching roles to help patients make incremental sustainable lifestyle changes.

    “Every 10-minute consultation with a patient needs to include more than just a prescription,” Bostic said. “It needs to include a conversation: what small change can you make this week that will leave you healthier next week?”

  • Choisuel crush Soufriere after Athanaze blitz to reach SPL Final

    Choisuel crush Soufriere after Athanaze blitz to reach SPL Final

    The final lineup for the 6th edition of the Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) is now confirmed, following a high-scoring dramatic second qualifier clash held on Sunday at the iconic Francis “Baba” Lastic Grounds. In the latest installment of the league’s storied West Coast rivalry, the Choiseul Craft Masters secured a convincing 62-run victory over the Soufriere Titans to punch their ticket to the championship decider.

    The path to this critical qualifier for both sides had been carved out in earlier knockout fixtures. Fresh off an energetic win over Micoud Eagles in the eliminator match just three days prior, the Craft Masters—known affectionately to their fans as the Men In Orange—carried that momentum into Sunday’s do-or-die clash. For the Soufriere Titans, a narrow defeat to the undefeated City Blasters in the first qualifier left them with one final shot at the final, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle on the same Saint Lucian ground.

    Winning the toss, Choiseul Craft Masters elected to bat first, and their opening pair immediately turned the matchup on its head. Opener Jason Simon and debutant Alick Athanaze put together a blistering 96-run opening partnership that set the tone for a record-breaking innings. Simon departed after a rapid 57 runs off just 25 deliveries, but Athanaze refused to let the scoring slow, putting on a clinic of power hitting that wowed the on-site crowd.

    Making his first ever appearance in SPL competition, Athanaze finished with a stunning 138 runs off only 57 balls, hammering 13 maximum sixes and 10 fours along the way. With valuable contributions of 20 or more runs from three other lower-order batters, the Craft Masters posted an all-time SPL record total of 290 runs, a mark that put immense pressure on the Soufriere batting lineup from the first over.

    Chasing the second-highest run target in the league’s history, the Titans got off to a disastrous start. Most of their top-order batters fell while attempting to match Choiseul’s explosive run rate, with seamer Kevin Sinclar picking up key early wickets that left the side reeling at 98 for six wickets after just 8.2 overs. Young left-arm spinner Jeanille Williams claimed four key wickets for the Craft Masters, though he conceded 52 runs in a high-scoring outing.

    A late-order fightback led by number seven batsman Mateo Boulogne gave Soufriere fans a glimmer of hope. Boulogne smashed an attacking 80 runs off 41 deliveries, combining with Kevin Gassie—who remained unbeaten on 45 off 30 balls—to add 101 runs for the seventh wicket. Despite the valiant late rally, the Titans ran out of overs, finishing 62 runs short of the required target. Bowler Shawnil Edward turned in a standout performance for Choiseul, claiming two wickets for just 33 runs to cap the win.

    Following the match, the player of the match Athanaze spoke to reporters about his record-breaking debut, crediting the playing conditions and crowd energy for his performance. “To be honest, it wasn’t much of an acclimatisation for me. I came in yesterday and had to play today. The vibe is good, the competition is good, and the wicket is good as well. So, you know, it’s a good place to play cricket,” he said.

    With the win locked in, the Choiseul Craft Masters now advance to the SPL 6 grand final, where they will face the tournament’s only undefeated side, City Blasters, for the league title and regional bragging rights.