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  • Matthews: We’re still not quite firing with the bat

    Matthews: We’re still not quite firing with the bat

    In a high-stakes Group Two top-of-the-table clash at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday, West Indies Women fell to a 35-run defeat against England, leaving their automatic semifinal dreams on hold heading into the final group stage match against Ireland this Saturday.

    West Indies captain Hayley Matthews opened up about the result in a post-match press interaction, acknowledging that her side’s batting unit has yet to hit its peak performance at the tournament. “We’re still not quite firing with the bat,” Matthews admitted, noting that both she and star batter Deandra Dottin have yet to register significant scores at the event. She did point to a bright spot, however, highlighting that fellow batter Chinelle Henry turned in a promising performance against England, a win that moves the European side one step closer to securing a semifinal spot.

    Despite the setback, the West Indies skipper emphasized that her team still controls its own path to the knockout round, a position she says the squad is grateful to hold. “It’s all in our hands, and that puts us in a wonderful position. Coming into this World Cup, if you’d said we’d only need to beat Ireland in our final group game to lock in a semifinal spot, we’d have grabbed that opportunity with both hands,” Matthews said. She added that the team’s internal message remains focused on confidence and consistency: “We’re in a very strong place right now. The message to the group is just to keep believing, and keep playing the quality cricket we’ve shown so far.”

    Looking ahead to the must-win clash with Ireland, Matthews expressed quiet confidence in her side’s prospects, while giving full respect to their upcoming opponent. “Against a team like Ireland, if we play at our best or even near our best, we should come away with the result we need. I’m not underestimating them by any means, but we’re going in feeling pretty confident,” she said.

    Matthews also broke down the key turning points that swung the result in England’s favor, acknowledging that her own missed catch off England captain Heather Knight proved to be a pivotal moment. “With the ball, England was able to keep finding boundaries consistently, and full credit to them – they played excellent cricket. That’s the nature of modern T20, after all. But I think we let ourselves down a little in the field, too. My missed catch on Heather Knight made a massive difference to the game’s momentum,” she admitted.

    The captain also addressed her own controversial dismissal earlier in the West Indies innings, which came after a third umpire review upheld an on-field caught-behind decision. Matthews explained that while she respects the official ruling, she did not make contact with the ball. “When I cut at the delivery, I heard a noise that I thought was my bat handle, so I told the on-field umpires right away what I’d heard. But I also knew I was far from making contact, and I made that clear,” she said. “The third umpire has to work with the technology available, and she saw a spike on the snickometer, even though I think you could see a clear gap between bat and ball. At the end of the day, you have to respect the decision that’s given.”

    The result leaves Group Two finely poised heading into the final round of group matches, with West Indies knowing a single win against Ireland will book their place in the tournament’s semifinal stage.

  • WINDREF: Invitation for Prequalification of Contractors

    WINDREF: Invitation for Prequalification of Contractors

    The Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), based at St. George’s University in Grenada, has secured grant financing from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) to advance the transformative Telescope’s Living Shoreline (TLS) Project, a coastal resilience initiative focused on stabilizing eroding shorelines in Grenada’s Grenville Bay Area. As the project’s lead implementing agency, WINDREF has opened a prequalification round for contractors bidding to deliver the project’s core construction works, ahead of a full tender invitation expected in July 2026.

    Located along the shores of Little Bay in the Telescope community, the TLS project centers on implementing nature-centered and hybrid shoreline stabilization measures to protect the vulnerable coastline from erosion and storm damage. While final design work is still underway as part of an ongoing parallel design review and optimization consultancy, the core construction scope is already outlined. The works will impact approximately 550 metres of coastal shoreline, covering activities including in-water and intertidal marine construction, installation of armour stone structures both onshore and offshore, excavation works and toe stone placement, coastal zone backfilling, temporary access road and stockpile area development with full post-construction restoration, and comprehensive quality control for all construction materials including boulders, structural blocks and fill sediment.

    The prequalification process follows the formal regulations set out in Grenada’s 2014 Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act and 2015 accompanying regulations, and is open to all eligible contractors, whether applying as individual firms or as joint venture (JV) partnerships. WINDREF explicitly encourages regional construction firms to partner with international specialists in both grey and green infrastructure to meet project requirements, and particularly promotes joint ventures that combine local marine construction expertise with specialized global experience in ecosystem restoration.

    To qualify, bidders must meet strict financial, experience and compliance criteria. For joint venture partnerships, the lead partner is required to satisfy at least 50% of the combined financial and experience requirements, with the full JV team required to meet 100% of all standards. Financially, bidders must demonstrate a minimum average annual turnover of EC$5.4 million (equivalent to approximately US$2.0 million), calculated over the top five years of the last seven full operating years, as well as verifiable accessible cash flow or credit lines totaling at least EC$1.1 million (US$400,000).

    In terms of relevant experience, bidders must have served as prime contractor on at least two similar coastal or marine construction projects completed to at least 80% progress within the last seven years, with each project valued at a minimum of EC$3.6 million (US$1.3 million). Preference will be granted to teams that can demonstrate prior experience integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) such as mangrove habitat rehabilitation, vegetation-fueled dune stabilization, or eco-engineered marine infrastructure into their work. Bidders must also provide a minimum of two professional reference letters from past clients for successfully completed similar projects, a signed declaration confirming no major environmental or social compliance breaches, regulatory fines, or project suspensions related to E&S non-compliance over the last five years, and documented proof of a dedicated Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)/Safeguards Officer with prior experience implementing environmental management plans in sensitive marine coastal ecosystems.

    Interested contractors can request additional project information from co-project managers Kendon James and Carol Forbes between 8 am and 4 pm Grenada local time, Monday through Friday, via the contact emails listed in this announcement. All prequalification submissions must be prepared in English, delivered exclusively via email in PDF format (with a maximum total file size of 30MB), and received by 2 pm local Grenada time on July 20, 2026. The email subject line for submissions must follow the format: “[Company Name or Abbreviation] — TLS Prequalification Documents”.

    WINDREF notes that the burden of proof for confirming successful submission receipt falls to the bidding party, and a simple read receipt or sent folder confirmation from the bidder’s email system will not be sufficient to confirm delivery. The organization also reserves the right to accept or reject any late submissions, cancel the prequalification process at any stage, and is not required to provide reasoning for any prequalification outcomes. WINDREF will not cover any costs incurred by bidders during the preparation and submission of prequalification materials.

  • Man Urinates on Treasury Desk During Back Pay Dispute

    Man Urinates on Treasury Desk During Back Pay Dispute

    In a stern rebuke of unacceptable harassment targeting public workers, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant has issued a strong condemnation of abusive and threatening behavior directed at employees of the national Treasury, as the agency works through a massive backlog of outstanding back-pay claims for public servants.

    Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing held Thursday, Merchant clarified that despite widespread public frustration over delayed payments and perceived shortcomings in customer service, Treasury staff have been pushing forward with extraordinary effort, even putting in extra hours on weekends to fulfill the government’s financial commitments to eligible workers. He noted that one recent incident crossed all lines of acceptable public conduct, after an individual unhappy with the update they received on their back-pay claim allegedly urinated on a workspace inside the Treasury building and issued threats to return with a weapon.

    Merchant emphasized that this kind of aggression has no place in interactions with public employees, and appealed to the public for patience as the Treasury and relevant line ministries work systematically to resolve every outstanding claim. He addressed a widespread misconception about the processing delays, explaining that the government has already allocated the full funds required for the back payments; delays stem not from a lack of available money, but from the mandatory administrative protocols that must be followed to ensure accurate disbursement.

    He further explained that some claims are delayed because eligible workers were accidentally left off initial back-pay rosters, but the correct path to resolution is to follow the established administrative chain of inquiry: questions should first be raised with the applicant’s employing ministry, which then submits corrected information to the Treasury for processing.

    While Merchant openly acknowledged that members of the public have legitimate concerns about customer service standards across the public sector, he stressed that no grievance, no matter how valid, can justify violence, intimidation or abusive treatment of staff carrying out their duties. He closed by urging all residents to practice patience and maintain good decorum when engaging with public workers, noting that government employees deserve humane respect even as the agency works to clear the backlog of unpaid claims.

  • Compol Says Four Murders Solved During SOE

    Compol Says Four Murders Solved During SOE

    Nearly three weeks after the expiration of a controversial state of emergency (SOE) in Belize District, the nation’s top law enforcement official is pushing back against widespread criticism of the security measure, highlighting key progress that the extra powers brought to long-stalled homicide investigations. The SOE, which concluded its run on June 8, 2026, has faced sharp public pushback after multiple fatal shootings, including a high-profile murder in a busy central location, occurred within the designated security zones the measure was supposed to protect.

    Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado defended the policy in a press briefing this week, pushing back on narratives that the SOE represented a failure of Belize’s policing strategy. He emphasized that public safety observers and critics have misunderstood the core mandate of the recently implemented emergency order.

    “One of the primary goals of this state of emergency was to give our investigative teams space to advance their work without obstruction from criminal networks or outside interference,” Rosado told reporters. “On that front, we delivered: we were able to close out at least four murder cases that would likely have remained open without the expanded authorities we received during this period.”

    The extra law enforcement powers granted under the SOE gave detectives critical leeway to pursue leads, interview persons of interest, and break through barriers that had frozen progress on cold and active homicide investigations for months, Rosado explained. Without these special provisions, many of these breakthroughs would not have been possible, he added.

    Dr. Rosado also addressed one of the most high-profile questions raised by critics: how a murder could take place on Albert Street, a heavily policed central commercial corridor, during peak Saturday afternoon traffic, when pedestrian and vehicle activity is at its highest. The incident has fueled speculation that criminal groups have grown emboldened and no longer fear intervention from Belizean law enforcement.

    In response, Rosado acknowledged that criminals will always exploit gaps in security when they believe an opportunity exists to act. He reaffirmed the police service’s core commitment to holding violent offenders accountable: “Regardless of when or where criminals choose to strike, our mandate remains unchanged: we will identify every perpetrator, address every act of violence, and bring those responsible to justice.”

    The debate over the effectiveness of emergency policing measures in Belize District continues, with residents and public safety advocates split on whether the temporary expansion of police powers delivers enough public good to justify the potential restrictions on civil liberties that come with SOE declarations.

  • Venezuela declares state of emergency after deadly twin earthquakes

    Venezuela declares state of emergency after deadly twin earthquakes

    On a Wednesday evening, Venezuela was struck by an extremely rare and devastating seismic event that has quickly escalated into one of the worst humanitarian crises the South American nation has faced in decades. Two massive earthquakes, registering magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, hit just 39 seconds apart near the coastal town of Morón, located roughly 170 kilometers west of the capital Caracas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has classified the event as an unusual seismic doublet, marking the 7.5-magnitude tremor as the most powerful earthquake to hit Venezuela since 1900. Compounding the destruction, both quakes originated at a shallow depth of just 13 kilometers, which greatly amplified shaking and structural damage across a wide swathe of the country.

    The capital Caracas bore the brunt of the destruction, with dozens of buildings reduced to rubble, including multiple high-rise residential towers in the heavily populated Baruta and Chacao districts. Critical transportation infrastructure was knocked offline: Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s main international gateway, was forced to completely suspend operations after suffering what officials described as severe structural damage. All metro and intercity rail services were also immediately halted, and viral social media footage captured terrified passengers running for cover as falling debris crashed through terminal walkways.

    In the wake of the initial quakes, authorities recorded at least 30 aftershocks overnight, leaving communities and first responders on edge over the risk of additional building collapses. As of the latest updates, the confirmed death toll stands at 164, with nearly 1,000 people injured. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has warned that the casualty count is expected to rise sharply as rescue teams work to reach cut-off and devastated areas, with multiple people still reported trapped under collapsed structures in Altamira district, a neighborhood that hosts multiple foreign embassies.

    Local hospitals across Caracas are already overwhelmed by the influx of injured patients, prompting officials to convert unused school buildings into emergency shelters to house thousands of displaced residents. In a televised address to the nation, Rodríguez extended heartfelt condolences to families who lost loved ones, urging all citizens to evacuate any structurally damaged buildings and remain calm amid ongoing response efforts. Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello further cautioned that lingering aftershocks could continue to weaken already compromised structures, raising the risk of additional collapses in the coming days.

    Tremors from the quakes were felt as far away as Brazil’s Amazon basin, and regional emergency management officials issued temporary tsunami warnings for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a precaution. In the hours following the disaster, offers of urgent humanitarian assistance began pouring in from across the globe. The United States announced it would deploy specialized search and rescue teams, ship critical medical supplies, and provide full logistical support for relief operations. Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington was “ready, willing and able to help,” while then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deployment of American relief personnel. Spain has committed 54 specialized army rescuers to the effort, and France is preparing to deploy 85 emergency response workers. Pope Francis pledged 100,000 euros in immediate aid, and United Nations officials have called on Venezuelan authorities to maintain open communication channels, emphasizing that timely public access to information is a “life-and-death matter” during ongoing rescue operations.

    With thousands of residents displaced, key national infrastructure destroyed, and rescue operations still in their early stages, Venezuela now confronts one of the gravest humanitarian challenges it has faced in modern history.

  • Three Injured in Lords Bank Shooting; Police Investigate Attempted Murder

    Three Injured in Lords Bank Shooting; Police Investigate Attempted Murder

    A violent shooting incident in rural Belize has left three local men wounded, sparking an active attempted murder investigation by law enforcement authorities, according to official reports. The attack unfolded on Thursday evening in the quiet community of Lords Bank Village, located within the Ladyville area of Belize District.

    First responders received the emergency call shortly before 8 p.m. local time, directing officers to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in Belize City. Upon arrival at the main public medical facility, investigators encountered two of the wounded victims – 24-year-old Alfredo Flores and 19-year-old Giovanni Gillette – already undergoing emergency care for multiple gunshot wounds.

    Preliminary investigative details outline that the three targets had been gathered with a small group of other people socializing in an outdoor yard when the gunman approached the property from outside. Without warning, the attacker opened fire on the assembled crowd, striking all three men before fleeing the scene. As of the latest update, no suspects have been taken into custody, and police have not released a confirmed motive for the attack.

    Among the three victims, 42-year-old Edgar Flores – Alfredo Flores’ relative, per local naming conventions – also suffered non-life-threatening gunshot injuries in the attack. Unlike the other two wounded men, Edgar Flores declined formal medical treatment at the hospital and has not yet provided a formal statement to investigating officers. Police have appealed to any members of the public who were in the Lords Bank area the evening of June 25 with information about the shooting or the attacker’s identity to come forward anonymously to assist with the probe.

  • Jamaica ziet kansen voor nauwere samenwerking met Suriname

    Jamaica ziet kansen voor nauwere samenwerking met Suriname

    During an official visit to Suriname to attend the 6th Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition (SEOGS 2026), Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has laid out a comprehensive vision for deepened bilateral collaboration between Jamaica and Suriname across four key sectors: energy, tourism, agriculture, and climate finance. In an exclusive interview with Suriname’s Communication Service (CDS) held Wednesday, Holness expressed deep honor for the invitation extended by Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons to address the regional conference, noting that SEOGS has grown into the Caribbean region’s premier gathering for oil and gas industry stakeholders.

    Holness emphasized that the two Caribbean nations hold large amounts of untapped bilateral cooperation potential that has remained under-explored due to insufficient targeted investment in relationship-building to date, a gap he says is now set to be closed through renewed diplomatic and economic engagement.

    At the top of the cooperation agenda is energy sector collaboration. Holness argued that regional energy security encompasses far more than just access to crude oil and natural gas reserves; sufficient refining capacity and streamlined systems to bring energy products to regional and global markets are equally critical components of a resilient energy system. While the foundational elements for a coordinated regional energy strategy already exist, he noted that fragmented policy and infrastructure across regional states require better alignment to unlock shared benefits.

    Beyond energy, Holness highlighted untapped opportunities in the tourism sector. He pushed back against narrow framing of tourism as limited to coastal beach vacations, noting that every Caribbean nation holds unique tourism value rooted in its local population, natural landscapes, and one-of-a-kind cultural experiences. For Suriname specifically, Holness pointed to ecotourism as a clear differentiator that can set the country apart in a crowded regional tourism market. Combined with the rich cultural diversity both nations possess, Holness said the two sides can develop unique, high-demand tourism products that appeal to global travelers. To fully realize this potential, he noted, Suriname will need a robust legal and fiscal framework for tourism investment alongside a pipeline of skilled industry professionals, and Jamaica stands ready to share its decades of expertise and experience in the tourism sector with Suriname.

    Agriculture represents another promising area for strategic partnership, Holness added, complementing planned collaboration in energy and tourism.

    On the climate front, Holness sees significant room for joint action to secure international climate finance. He noted that access to global climate funds is becoming increasingly accessible for small island developing states like Suriname and Jamaica, though accessing these resources requires well-designed project proposals and strong administrative capacity to manage funded initiatives. With Jamaica building out robust expertise in climate finance access and Suriname expected to develop similar capacity in the coming years, the two nations can coordinate to pursue shared funding opportunities and strengthen their collective climate action.

    Closing his remarks, Holness offered an optimistic outlook for Suriname’s economic trajectory: “Suriname stands on the cusp of accelerated economic growth. All the preconditions for broad-based development are already in place. Jamaica is positioned to be a strategic partner for Suriname across oil and gas, agriculture, and tourism, and we are ready to move forward together.”

  • Law school alumni launch give-back drive

    Law school alumni launch give-back drive

    Jamaica’s prestigious Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) has kicked off an ambitious five-year J$55 million (equivalent to roughly US$348,834) alumni giving campaign, marking a major milestone in the institution’s strategy to deepen graduate engagement and expand student support systems. On the night of the campaign’s official launch, the initiative already locked in more than J$3 million (US$19,027) in pledged donations, demonstrating early enthusiasm among NMLS graduates for the effort.

    Unlike traditional institutional fundraising campaigns, this effort is being piloted exclusively through the NMLS Class of 1997, with prominent alumnus Christopher Townsend stepping into the role of Cohort Ambassador to lead the pilot phase. The eight-week pilot campaign sets multiple interconnected goals, centered on expanding access to scholarships, growing student success programs, building out formal mentorship frameworks, boosting student and graduate professional development opportunities, and driving long-term institutional growth.

    Organizers note that the campaign is not limited to financial contributions alone: NMLS is actively encouraging all participating alumni to contribute non-monetary support as well, including sharing professional expertise, opening access to their industry networks, and volunteering time to mentor current students and support school programming.

    In a statement at the launch, NMLS Principal Dr. Christopher Malcolm emphasized that the campaign is far more than a fundraising drive: it is a core component of the institution’s broader strategy to rebuild and strengthen the bond between the law school and its thousands of graduates across the globe. “This campaign, which forms part of a broader strategic approach to alumni engagement, provides an important opportunity to strengthen the School’s relationship with its graduates while creating new avenues of support for our students and the continued development of our institution,” Malcolm said.

    Townsend framed the Class of 1997’s role as a trailblazing one for future cohorts to follow. “The Class of 1997 is proud to serve as the arrowhead for this campaign,” he said. “We are excited to set a precedent that other graduating classes can build on for years to come.”

    For current students relying on institutional aid, the expanded support made possible by the campaign fills a critical gap. Emily Williams, a current NMLS student and existing scholarship recipient, shared how targeted alumni support transforms the student experience. “Scholarships ease more than financial pressure. They create space for students to focus on their studies, participate more fully in the life of the School and pursue opportunities that contribute to their growth and development,” Williams explained.

    Moving forward, NMLS leadership plans to use data and insights from this Class of 1997 pilot to refine the model, with the long-term goal of rolling out cohort-based alumni engagement campaigns across all graduating classes. The pilot is designed to test what structures encourage graduates to reconnect with their alma mater and contribute to the next generation of Jamaican legal professionals, laying the groundwork for a sustainable culture of giving at the institution.

  • DLP to launch Roseau North campaign this Sunday with new candidate Ashma McDougall

    DLP to launch Roseau North campaign this Sunday with new candidate Ashma McDougall

    A new chapter of political competition is set to open in Dominica’s Roseau North constituency this weekend, as the ruling Dominica Labour Party prepares to officially launch its by-election campaign at Lindo Park on Sunday, June 28, kicking off at 6:00 PM. The launch event will be headlined by the party’s confirmed candidate Ashma McDougall, and will also be attended by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit alongside multiple high-ranking members of the party.

    Organizing the upcoming launch are co-chairs Hon. Darron Lloyd and Ms. Lynsia Frank, while a packed lineup of speakers has been announced, including senior party figures Hon. Denise Charles of Soufriere, Hon. Melissa Poponne-Skerrit of Roseau Central, Hon. Gretta Roberts of Morne Jaune/Riviere Cyrique, Cuban Ambassador H.E. Ian Douglas, and Hon. Roland Royer of Cottage.

    McDougall’s path to the candidacy came after former Roseau North MP Miriam Blanchard stepped down from her position recently for pressing health reasons, prompting a by-election for the vacant seat. Following Blanchard’s resignation, the Dominica Labour Party formally ratified McDougall as their nominee to contest the upcoming vote.

    A lifelong Dominican with roots in Bath Estate and current residence in Goodwill, McDougall brings a diverse professional background to her political run: she is a trained economist, successful entrepreneur, and experienced educator. Prior to entering electoral politics, she held leadership roles including President of the National Youth Council of Dominica and Executive Director of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce. Her platform centers on three core priorities: expanding youth empowerment, supporting small and local business owners through entrepreneurship promotion, and driving inclusive, sustainable economic development across the constituency. A key personal pledge from McDougall is that she will maintain consistent, open communication and active engagement with all constituents even after the by-election concludes, a break from the common practice of limited candidate contact outside of campaign seasons.

    Top party leaders have framed McDougall’s nomination as a deliberate step toward refreshing the party’s ranks and investing in new leadership. Prime Minister Skerrit emphasized that her selection aligns with the Labour Party’s long-standing commitment to bringing capable, forward-looking new voices into governance. Roseau Central MP Melissa Poponne-Skerrit noted McDougall represents a rising generation of Dominican leadership ready to address the evolving needs of constituents. Deputy Party Leader Dr. Irving McIntyre added that her candidacy serves as clear proof of the party’s institutional ability to renew itself from within and nurture emerging political talent.

    The upcoming Roseau North by-election has already emerged as a closely watched political contest, and the Labour Party has confirmed it enters the campaign period with strong grassroots momentum. Sunday’s official launch marks the public start of what is widely expected to be a competitive campaign season across the constituency. Political observers note that McDougall’s candidacy strikes a balance for the Labour Party: it maintains continuity with the party’s governing legacy while ushering in a younger, professionally diverse new leader for the constituency.

    The main opposition United Workers Party has already named its own challenger for the seat: Danny Lugay, a former parliamentary representative for Roseau North, who has received the party’s official endorsement to contest the June by-election.

  • St Lucian student earns medical degree in Morocco, highlighting success of OECS-Morocco scholarship partnership

    St Lucian student earns medical degree in Morocco, highlighting success of OECS-Morocco scholarship partnership

    A young medical scholar from the small Caribbean island of St. Lucia has reached a remarkable academic pinnacle, becoming the latest success story of the decades-long educational collaboration between the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Kingdom of Morocco.

    Camille Andrew successfully passed her rigorous doctoral thesis defense on May 12, 2026, capping off seven years of intensive academic coursework and hands-on clinical training. In a testament to the exceptional quality of her work, the examining jury awarded her an MD degree with the highest possible honors, according to an official press release from the OECS.

    Andrew’s groundbreaking research, centered on a pressing pediatric health challenge, focused on the management of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—a chronic group of conditions that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Titled *Management of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Experience of the Pediatric Department of Mohammed V Military Training Hospital*, her thesis analyzed real-world diagnostic protocols, evidence-based treatment approaches, and long-term patient outcomes at the leading Moroccan medical facility. A key focus of her work was exploring the expanding role of biotherapies, an innovative class of treatments that have transformed care outcomes and quality of life for children living with these lifelong conditions.

    The path to this milestone began decades earlier, when a childhood experience with healthcare in her home country first ignited Andrew’s passion for medicine. During a visit to Castries’ Victoria Hospital as a young patient, the compassionate, skilled care she received left a lasting impression that shaped her entire career trajectory. “My first experience as a patient was at Victoria Hospital in Saint Lucia. That moment stayed with me and sparked a deep fascination with the care I received, inspiring in me a desire to offer others the same level of compassion and skill that I experienced,” Andrew shared in comments included in the OECS release.

    Moving thousands of miles from her small island home to pursue training in Morocco came with unique, daunting challenges. Andrew had to acclimate to an entirely new cultural context, master coursework in a second language, and navigate the emotional weight of building a life far from her core support network of family and friends. She admitted there were low points marked by self-doubt and homesickness, but those struggles were far outweighed by the transformative gains of the experience. “Coming from a small island, nothing fully prepares you for the reality of starting over in a new country, adjusting to a different culture, studying in a second language, and being so far from home. There were moments of doubt and homesickness, but they were matched by immense personal growth, resilience, and lifelong friendships. It is an experience that has shaped me deeply, both as a person and as a doctor,” Andrew explained.

    Andrew was quick to credit the supporters who helped her cross the finish line, extending gratitude first to her family and friends for their unwavering encouragement through every challenging year of training. She also specifically acknowledged the Government of St. Lucia and the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) for their financial and logistical support that made her seven-year journey possible.

    Now, as Andrew prepares to launch the next phase of her professional career, her top priority is bringing her specialized skills back to her home community. She says she is eager to contribute to advancing local healthcare outcomes for the people of St. Lucia. “I now look forward to bringing everything I have learned back home to contribute to improving patient care, advancing medical knowledge, and playing my part in strengthening the healthcare system in Saint Lucia,” Andrew said.

    For the OECS, Andrew’s achievement is more than a personal win—it is a powerful example of what regional students can achieve through international educational partnerships, and an inspiration for the next generation of Caribbean scholars pursuing higher learning abroad.

    Morocco has long held to a commitment to expanding educational access for OECS member states, opening new scholarship opportunities each year for students from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These scholarships cover a wide range of academic and professional fields, creating pathways for young people to gain advanced skills and fill critical talent gaps across the Eastern Caribbean region.

    The OECS emphasized that the consistent success of graduates like Andrew proves the enduring value of the bilateral educational partnership, and its key role in driving human capital development across the Caribbean. As more regional students take advantage of these opportunities, the collaboration continues to deliver tangible benefits for both communities and build lasting ties between the OECS and Morocco.