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  • Antigua and Barbuda Launches US$12.3 Million Project to Improve Disaster Warnings and Emergency Preparedness

    Antigua and Barbuda Launches US$12.3 Million Project to Improve Disaster Warnings and Emergency Preparedness

    Against a backdrop of escalating climate uncertainty and worsening extreme weather events across the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda has formally launched a landmark five-year initiative to transform the nation’s disaster preparedness infrastructure, centered on delivering universal early warning access for all residents. The $12.3 million project, part of the global Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) movement, is backed by a grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its official launch was marked by the National Inception Workshop, hosted at St. John’s Trade Winds Hotel, which brought together senior government leaders, disaster risk management specialists, and representatives from multiple United Nations agencies to align technical strategies and regulatory frameworks for the initiative.

    As one of the nations most acutely vulnerable to climate-driven disasters globally, Antigua and Barbuda holds the fifth position on the World Risk Index – a ranking that makes a proactive shift from reactive disaster response to pre-emptive risk mitigation an urgent national priority. Speaking at the workshop’s keynote session, Hon. Kiz Johnson, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, stressed that the project is intentionally designed to close coverage gaps for marginalized and hard-to-reach communities across the twin-island nation. “We are here to ensure that early warning information reaches the last mile,” Johnson said. “Whether it is a fisherman working off the coast of Barbuda or a household in a remote rural area of Antigua, this new system will deliver critical, life-saving updates in a language they understand, through communication channels they regularly use and trust.”

    The initiative will deliver two core sets of upgrades to the country’s disaster management ecosystem: first, it will update and modernize the national Disaster Management Act to align with modern resilience standards, and second, it will overhaul outdated monitoring hardware and digital infrastructure for the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service (ABMS). This project is one component of a broader $103 million GCF-funded regional program led by UNDP, which is rolling out universal early warning systems across seven highly climate-vulnerable nations across the globe.

    Kristin Lang, GCF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, explained the urgent rationale for investing in early warning infrastructure across the region. “Communities across the Caribbean are already facing more intense hurricanes, sudden flash floods, and extended, crippling droughts as climate change progresses,” Lang noted. “Reliable early warning systems are non-negotiable for protecting lives, protecting local livelihoods, and preserving the hard-won development gains communities have worked for generations to build. Through this project, GCF is helping strengthen the institutional and information systems that let people anticipate climate risks and act before a disaster makes landfall. This country-led, practical approach to building resilience is exactly what the Caribbean needs as climate impacts continue to intensify.”

    A defining strength of the Antigua and Barbuda initiative is its multi-agency collaborative framework, which brings together all four UN lead pillar agencies for the global EW4ALL initiative: the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This cross-specialty partnership combines global technical expertise with local on-the-ground knowledge to build a system tailored to the unique needs of Antigua and Barbuda. On-the-ground implementation will be coordinated jointly by UNDP and the country’s National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), a government agency established in 1984 to coordinate all disaster management activities across the twin islands.

    Stephanie Ziebell, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, framed the project as a transformative shift in how climate resilience action is delivered. “By combining the specialized technical expertise of our UN sister agencies with the nuanced local knowledge of national and community stakeholders, we are building a proactive protective shield for these islands,” Ziebell said during the workshop’s opening session.

    The two-day inception workshop structured a clear path forward for the initiative’s rollout. On the first day, participants focused on establishing a technical baseline for forecasting upgrades, with specific attention to improving monitoring for high-risk hazards including flash floods and storm surges. The second day is scheduled to include guided site visits to local Community Emergency Response Units (CERUs) and the Crabbs Search and Rescue Training Area, where delegates will observe firsthand how centralized technical data is translated into actionable public safety information at the community level. The workshop will wrap with the inaugural meeting of the EW4ALL Project Board, where the team will review milestones and plans for the first year of implementation.

    As climate patterns become increasingly unpredictable around the globe, the EW4ALL initiative stands as a top national priority for Antigua and Barbuda, designed to protect local livelihoods and ensure that no resident is left without life-saving information when a climate hazard approaches. For context, the Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated climate fund, operating as an independent financial entity under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to support the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. To date, GCF manages a portfolio of 286 projects totaling $15.9 billion in direct investment ($61.3 billion including co-financing) that deliver transformative climate action across 133 developing countries, supporting a shift to low-emission, climate-resilient development pathways.

  • REOI: OECS Data for Decision Making Project – Consulting Services, Individual Consultant

    REOI: OECS Data for Decision Making Project – Consulting Services, Individual Consultant

    Grenada’s Central Statistical Office (CSO) has launched a call for expressions of interest from qualified individual consultants to fill a 12-month Communications and Stakeholder Support Officer role, embedded within the regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Data for Decision Making (DDM) Project. Backed by World Bank financing, this cross-national initiative is designed to upgrade statistical infrastructure across participating OECS member states, with a core goal of strengthening local systems to produce, analyze, and share high-quality official data that underpins evidence-based policy and public decision-making.

    As the national implementing body for Grenada’s component of the project, the CSO is currently gearing up to roll out two high-priority national surveys: the combined Survey of Living Conditions and Household Budget Survey (SLC–HBS), and the regular Labour Force Survey (LFS). For these large-scale data collection efforts to deliver accurate, representative results, broad public participation and clear buy-in from key stakeholders are non-negotiable. To meet this need, the CSO has identified a gap in targeted communications capacity, requiring a dedicated specialist to lead outreach, public sensitization, and stakeholder coordination to boost participation rates and maintain data integrity.

    The selected consultant will operate under the direct supervision of the CSO Director of Statistics, working in lockstep with the office’s technical teams and other project-appointed consultants. The role’s scope spans five core functional areas, starting with leading communications and outreach for the two flagship surveys. This includes developing accessible public education materials — from frequently asked questions and radio broadcast scripts to social media content and key talking points — supporting on-the-ground outreach such as media interviews, community information sessions, and stakeholder briefings, and monitoring public feedback to flag emerging communication risks to project leadership.

    Second, the consultant will serve as the CSO’s official focal point for the project’s broader Strategic Communications Consultancy, coordinating input, feedback, and scheduling between the external firm and CSO teams to ensure all communications outputs align with the office’s on-the-ground operational needs. Third, the role covers ongoing public relations and communications support, including drafting press releases, social media content, briefing notes, public notices, and talking points, helping to standardize consistent, accurate messaging around official statistics, and growing public awareness of the CSO’s work and data products.

    Fourth, the consultant will provide coordination and administrative support, maintaining up-to-date activity trackers, schedules, and stakeholder contact lists, supporting logistics for project meetings, workshops, media events, and public consultations, and preparing correspondence, meeting minutes, and follow-up documentation. Finally, the specialist will support project monitoring and reporting, tracking the implementation of all communications activities, preparing regular progress updates, maintaining organized records of all communications outputs and engagement activities, and supporting documentation for project reporting and audit requirements.

    By the end of the 12-month assignment, the consultant is expected to deliver a full suite of outputs including a comprehensive communications and stakeholder engagement work plan, all outreach and sensitization materials for the SLC–HBS, LFS, and other CSO project activities, media and stakeholder engagement content packages, updated activity trackers and communication logs, meeting minutes and action item follow-up documentation, regular progress and activity reports, and a fully organized digital repository of all communications and outreach materials.

    To be eligible for consideration, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, media studies, public administration, management, or a closely related field, with a minimum of three years of hands-on professional experience in communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement, or program coordination. Prior experience working with government agencies, donor-funded projects, or public sector programs is considered a significant advantage. Required core skills include exceptional writing, editing, and content development capabilities, strong organizational and cross-team coordination abilities, advanced interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, existing familiarity with the media and communications landscape in Grenada or the wider Caribbean, full proficiency in Microsoft Office and common digital communication tools, and a proven ability to handle confidential information with professional integrity.

    The selection process will adhere to the World Bank’s February 2025 Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, using the standard Individual Consultant Selection (ICS) method. The 12-month role will be based full-time at the CSO’s offices in Grenada.

    Interested eligible candidates are required to submit a complete expression of interest package including a detailed curriculum vitae outlining relevant experience and qualifications, a cover letter explaining their suitability for the assignment, and contact information for at least two professional references. All submissions must be in English, clearly marked with the line “Expression of Interest – Communications and Stakeholder Support Officer”, and submitted electronically via the official Grenada procurement portal no later than 3:00 pm Atlantic Standard Time on June 5, 2026. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline. The detailed Terms of Reference for the assignment are available for public download on both the Grenada government procurement notice website and the tender portal listed in the announcement. Inquiries can be directed to Procurement Officer Erisa Bleasdille at the Central Procurement Unit, Ministry of Finance in St George’s, Grenada.

  • UN highlights 2025 results delivering impact across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

    UN highlights 2025 results delivering impact across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

    The United Nations has officially launched its 2025 Annual Results Report covering Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean subregion, detailing how coordinated multilateral action has delivered tangible development gains across the area amid mounting climate, economic, and social headwinds. Over the course of 2025, the UN mobilized a total of US$73.7 million to advance national development priorities set by local governments across the subregion.

    The report launch was held at a formal press conference attended by senior UN leadership and the Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew. During the event, UN representatives reaffirmed the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through three core pillars: resilience-building, inclusive economic growth, and people-centered development solutions that align both with national development agendas and the global UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    In his opening address to the conference, UN Resident Coordinator Simon Springett emphasized that climate vulnerability and economic volatility are not distant hypothetical risks for SIDS in the Eastern Caribbean, but daily lived realities that shape local livelihoods, food security, public health systems, and community safety. “This report tells a story—not just of programmes and numbers—but of people, partnership, and resilience. It shows clearly that when strong national leadership is matched with effective multilateral cooperation, real progress is possible, even in the most challenging global environment,” Springett said. “This is also a powerful statement about multilateralism. For Small Island Developing States, multilateral cooperation amplifies Caribbean voices, unlocks financing, strengthens regional systems, and helps transform vulnerability into resilience.”

    Climate action emerged as a top scaling priority for the UN in the subregion in 2025, with more than US$36 million mobilized for climate adaptation projects, ecosystem restoration, climate-smart agricultural practices, and disaster risk reduction initiatives. A key milestone highlighted in the report was the launch of a new Regional Logistics Hub based in Barbados, which has already improved regional disaster response surge capacity and tracking for over 440 metric tons of emergency relief supplies spread across nine participating countries, cutting response times and boosting the effectiveness of disaster relief operations.

    Springett stressed that all UN programming is designed in close collaboration with national governments, rooted in local priorities and structured as integrated solutions that address the interconnected nature of risks facing SIDS. “The United Nations remains fully committed to walking this path with governments and partners across the Eastern Caribbean — delivering together, listening to communities, and ensuring that development progress is resilient, equitable, and lasting. One message stands out above all: partnership matters. Whether responding to hurricanes, mobilizing climate finance, supporting national reforms, or investing in digital transformation, progress has been driven by cooperation — at the national, regional, and international levels,” he added.

    Delivering virtual remarks on behalf of CARICOM, Chairman Dr. Drew praised the UN for its consistent, robust support to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean at a time when the region has been battered by overlapping external shocks, including climate-fueled natural disasters, persistent economic uncertainty, growing national debt burdens, widespread food and energy insecurity, and the lingering aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Dr. Drew noted that “The 2025 Annual Results Report reinforces what CARICOM has long recognised that multilateral cooperation is most effective when grounded in local realities and aligned with regional priorities.” He further emphasized that for SIDS, development progress cannot be separated from addressing the climate crisis, and welcomed the UN’s tailored approach to programming that centers this connection in 2025. “The UN, under the Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF), demonstrated the value of linking climate action, disaster risk reduction, financing and social protection to build practical resilience. This report also underscores the importance of people-centred development and regional collaboration. Investments in health system, youth and women’s empowerment, governance and institutional strengthening are investments in stability, dignity and opportunity for our citizens,” Dr. Drew said.

    The CARICOM Chair also addressed ongoing United Nations reform efforts, specifically the UN80 Initiative, issuing a clear call for reforms to be balanced with the need to preserve targeted, context-specific support for Caribbean SIDS. “While we support efforts to modernise and strengthen the United Nations, we remain concerned that efficiency-driven reforms must not weaken in-country presence or reduce context-specific technical expertise critical to the Caribbean, including support for the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). Reforms must strengthen local capacity and ensure predictable, responsive financing for vulnerable states,” he asserted.

    Senior representatives from across multiple UN specialized agencies joined the press conference to outline key results from their 2025 programming in the subregion. Brian Bogart, Representative and Country Director for the WFP Caribbean Multi-country Office, provided an overview of collective UN work on climate resilience and sustainable natural resource management. Stephanie Ziebell, Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, highlighted progress on advancing peace, public safety, and accessible justice systems. Roberto Telleria, Policy Officer with the FAO Subregional Office of the Caribbean, discussed UN support for expanding economic resilience and shared prosperity across the subregion.

    Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, outlined progress in strengthening local health systems and expanding social protection to advance health equity and ensure no community members are left behind. Cleveland Thomas, Area Office Representative for the International Telecommunication Union in the Caribbean, covered UN-backed efforts to advance digitalization and innovation, including projects to expand school connectivity, improve maritime safety, and boost disaster preparedness. Patrice Quesada, IOM Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean and Chief of Mission for Barbados, shared updates on UN support for regional migration governance and policy coordination.

    Following formal presentations, journalists from print, broadcast, and online outlets engaged UN personnel in a question-and-answer session to discuss the practical, on-the-ground impact of 2025 results for ordinary citizens across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

    Consistent with the UN’s people-centered approach to programming, direct support for vulnerable communities remained a core priority in 2025. For example, the UN provided emergency cash assistance to more than 7,700 people displaced or impacted by Hurricane Beryl, helping to protect food security, preserve livelihoods, and uphold human dignity for affected households.

    Looking ahead to 2026, the UN has outlined three key priorities for the subregion: finalizing a new five-year Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, scaling up anticipatory action ahead of the annual Atlantic hurricane season, and deepening alignment between UN programming and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.

    The full 2025 Annual Results Report is available for public access at easterncaribbean.un.org.

  • Shantay Augustine set to bolster Iowa Western in NJCAA title defence

    Shantay Augustine set to bolster Iowa Western in NJCAA title defence

    As the 2026 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships draw near, all eyes are turning to rising Grenadian hurdler Shantay Augustine, who has emerged as a key competitor for Iowa Western Community College in its quest to retain the national title. The three-day competition, set to kick off May 14 at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, sees the Reivers arrive on-site fresh off a dominant win at this year’s indoor national championships, with eyes set on securing a rare full-season sweep.

    A graduate of St Joseph’s Convent in St George’s, Grenada, Augustine has earned strong seedings heading into the championships: she ranks among the top eight 100m hurdlers and top 16 400m hurdlers across all junior colleges in the United States. Across the three days of competition, she is scheduled to compete in four events: both hurdle individual races, plus the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.

    Iowa Western head coach David Burnett, now leading the program in his fourth season, has heaped praise on Augustine’s consistent performance and mental toughness ahead of the high-stakes meet. “Shantay has been excellent from day one this season,” Burnett said. “She shows up to every training session, follows every instruction, and gives 100% effort whether she’s practicing or racing. Four events over three days is a grueling schedule, but we’re approaching it one race at a time. I know she’s prepared to run well. All I’ve asked is that she stays focused, gives her best, and makes it to the final—because she’s earned that spot.”

    Augustine’s journey to becoming one of the NJCAA’s top hurdlers is not a straightforward one. A former flat sprinter with Grenada’s 473 MVP Track Club, she initially resisted making the switch to hurdles. It was her former youth coach Albert Joseph who pushed her to embrace the technical demands of the event, a decision that has reshaped her burgeoning collegiate career.

    “I didn’t want to take up hurdles at first,” Augustine recalled. “I didn’t even want to race anything longer than 200m, let alone the 400m hurdles. But Coach Joseph saw potential I didn’t see in myself, especially after I picked up an injury that derailed my plans to compete for Grenada at that season’s Carifta Games. He was honest with me about what the injury meant for my sprinting goals, and he pushed me to give hurdles a chance. I’m so grateful he did—now I’m a hurdler, and I love what I do. I’m ready to compete at my best this week.”

    Augustine’s breakthrough this season speaks for itself. As the reigning champion of the Whitsuntide Games in both the 100m and 400m hurdles, she has lowered her personal best times to impressive marks: 13.88 seconds for the 100m hurdles and 62.24 seconds for the 400m hurdles. These results have cemented her place among the NJCAA’s elite hurdlers and confirm she is peaking at the perfect moment to help power her team’s title defense.

    Even as she prepares for the biggest meet of her collegiate career so far, Augustine says she draws ongoing strength and motivation from her home country. “It means so much that people back home still check in with my parents to ask how I’m doing,” she said, thanking the Grenadian public for their steady support.

    While confidence is high within the Iowa Western program, the team is under no illusion that retaining the title will be simple. The Reivers face stiff competition from traditional NJCAA powerhouses including host New Mexico Junior College, South Plains College, and Barton County Community College—with the latter two fielding their own strong contingents of Grenadian athletes. Still, Augustine’s rise as both a team leader and legitimate podium contender has reinforced the Reivers’ belief that they can bring home another trophy. Fans around the world can follow Augustine and Iowa Western’s title defense live via the NJCAA Network at njcaa.org/network/live.

  • Government Warns Essential Workers Must Report on Public Holidays

    Government Warns Essential Workers Must Report on Public Holidays

    During a weekly meeting held Wednesday, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda addressed two key administrative matters that touch on public sector operations and labor regulations, issuing clear guidance aligned with existing national legislation.

    First on the meeting agenda was a review of labor protocols governing employment obligations when public holidays fall on regular workdays. Cabinet members moved to reaffirm the long-standing provisions outlined in the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Code, placing specific emphasis on requirements for workers in critical essential service roles.

    The body stressed that any employee who has been formally rostered or scheduled to work on a recognized public holiday remains obligated to report to their post and fulfill their assigned job duties. Ministers underscored the outsized importance of essential services to the nation’s day-to-day function, noting that consistent, uninterrupted access to these services is a non-negotiable need for the general public. Without the steady operation of these critical roles, the government would be unable to meet basic public needs even during holiday periods, the meeting concluded.

    The government also emphasized that consistent adherence to pre-approved work schedules and operational standards is fundamental to upholding efficiency, service continuity, and broad public trust in the country’s core national services. Upholding these rules does not undermine worker protections, officials noted, but rather ensures that the public does not lose access to life-sustaining and community-critical services during holidays.

    In a second key decision coming out of the Wednesday meeting, Cabinet reviewed a detailed technical assessment submitted by the Ministry of Works, focused on the structural safety of the building that houses the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Following a comprehensive technical inspection of the structure’s systems, integrity, and compliance with safety codes, the Ministry of Works formally deemed the building safe for continued employee occupancy and regular daily operations.

    Acting on the findings of this assessment, Cabinet directed that all ONDCP employees will continue to carry out their regular daily functions and responsibilities from their current established work environment, with no immediate relocation or operational changes required.

    Beyond these two specific matters, the Antigua and Barbuda government used the meeting to reaffirm its overarching commitment to balancing two core priorities: upholding efficient, continuous operation of public services across both islands of the nation, while also guaranteeing safe, suitable working conditions for all public sector employees across all government departments and agencies.

  • HOLA! Cabinet Approves Spanish as Antigua and Barbuda’s Official Second Language

    HOLA! Cabinet Approves Spanish as Antigua and Barbuda’s Official Second Language

    The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has greenlit a transformative policy that will position Spanish as its official second language, rolling out mandatory Spanish instruction across all levels of the public education system from early childhood through secondary schooling. The landmark decision, announced by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, forms a cornerstone of the government’s broader agenda to boost regional integration and forge stronger economic and diplomatic bonds with neighboring Spanish-speaking nations, most notably the Dominican Republic.

    Under the policy mandate, the Cabinet has charged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology with redesigning the national curriculum for preschool, primary, and secondary education to embed Spanish as a core academic subject, placing it on equal footing with staple disciplines such as English and mathematics. This initiative stands as one of the most ambitious education and cultural integration projects advanced by the current administration in recent years, rooted in deep historical and social ties between the two Caribbean nations.

    Merchant emphasized that the push to adopt Spanish also stems from the longstanding cross-border cultural exchanges, people-to-people connections, and meaningful contributions that the Dominican diaspora has made to Antigua and Barbuda’s social and economic development. To complement the language policy, the Cabinet has given formal approval to the Dominican Republic Integration Programme, known by its acronym DRIP, a comprehensive strategy designed to strengthen collaboration across economic, cultural, and institutional domains.

    The DRIP initiative is set to advance bilateral cooperation in key sectors including trade, tourism, and educational exchange, while also improving support services for Dominican citizens residing in Antigua and Barbuda. Merchant noted that the policy is designed to be mutually beneficial: as Antigua and Barbuda expands Spanish access for its own population, it is expected that Dominican residents and institutions will in turn increase engagement with English language learning.

    In a further move to streamline services for Spanish-speaking communities, the Cabinet has approved the creation of a dedicated Spanish Desk within the Office of the Prime Minister. The new office will serve as a central hub to assist Spanish-speaking residents and remove barriers to accessing government public services. During the briefing, ABS political correspondent Alicia George pressed for clarity on whether the mandatory requirement would extend to all school levels, and Merchant confirmed that Spanish will be a required core subject across every tier of the public education system.

    The Ministry of Education has been given the dual responsibility of developing the new standardized curriculum and sourcing qualified educators to meet the demand for expanded Spanish instruction. Government officials noted that recruitment efforts will be open to both locally trained educators and teaching professionals from across the Caribbean region. As of the official announcement, the Cabinet has not released a formal public estimate of the total costs associated with curriculum redesign, teacher training, and program rollout.

  • Universities must teach graduates to create jobs – historian

    Universities must teach graduates to create jobs – historian

    A leading historian from one of the Caribbean’s most prominent academic institutions has laid out a bold blueprint for Barbados’ long-term prosperity, calling for sweeping shifts in higher education training, urgent action to reverse democratic decline, and a renewed commitment to teaching national history across the country’s school system.

    Dr. Henderson Carter, who leads both the History Department and the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, delivered his vision during the annual Dean’s Lecture, hosted by the St Michael Centre for Faith and Action. Titled *Movers and Shakers: Activism for Democracy Building*, his address centered on the urgent need to build a more resilient, inclusive nation for current and future generations of Barbadians.

    Carter’s first key proposal targets a fundamental gap in Caribbean higher education: a lack of training focused on entrepreneurship and self-employment. Instead of directing graduates solely toward traditional job hunting, he argues universities must reframe curricula to teach students how to turn their academic skills and degrees into sustainable self-employment and new business ventures. He points to diverse examples across disciplines to illustrate this potential: a biology or chemistry graduate could launch a biotech startup, an agricultural consulting service, or a sustainable food production enterprise, while a history graduate can monetize their expertise by developing well-researched scripts for feature films, streaming docuseries, and historical documentaries, which command growing global demand. Carter also notes that graduates need clearer pathways to access startup financing to turn these ideas into viable operations, a critical support system currently missing from many higher education outcomes strategies.

    Beyond education reform, Carter identified three pressing systemic challenges Barbados must confront to secure its democratic future. The first is widespread voter apathy, which he describes as a critical threat to the country’s democratic foundations. From growing numbers of eligible voters choosing to stay home on election day to the emergence of paid vote-buying, Carter emphasizes these trends cannot be ignored and require intentional, collective action to reverse. The second challenge is weak institutional responsiveness across both public and private sector entities. Carter stressed that delayed, unresponsive service from institutions undermines public trust and weakens national stability at every level. “Institution-building starts with individual accountability,” he explained, noting that even frontline staff and senior leaders have a role to play in prioritizing timely responses to public, student and stakeholder needs. “If your institutions are unresponsive and weak, your nation will be weak as a result,” he said.

    The third critical gap Carter highlighted is the erosion of historical education across Barbados’ primary and secondary school system. Walking audiences through centuries of the island’s history, from the mass resistance of enslaved people to the decades-long work of national heroes that shaped modern Barbados, Carter argued that widespread gaps in historical knowledge pose a direct danger to national identity. He emphasized that history must be restored as a core subject in schools, warning that it is unacceptable for children to complete the national education system without ever engaging deeply with their country’s past.

    Pointing to the rusted shackles featured on the monument at Barbados’ Heroes Square, Carter noted this public memorial is a vital, tangible reminder of the island’s history of chattel slavery, a past that was long erased from public landscapes across the country. “For generations, you could travel across the entire island and find no public marker acknowledging that slavery ever existed here. That is an inherently dangerous omission,” he argued. “Children grow up never seeing tangible evidence of this history, and without that reminder, we risk repeating the injustices of the past. We have to remember the slave society that once shaped Barbados to ensure it can never happen again.”

  • China en VS zoeken balans tussen competitie en samenwerking

    China en VS zoeken balans tussen competitie en samenwerking

    On Wednesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump launched an official state visit to China, opening a full day of high-stakes diplomatic talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that touched on everything from bilateral cooperation to sensitive geopolitical issues.

    The visit opened with a ceremonial welcome, including a formal military review held at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, setting a solemn tone for the discussions between leaders of the world’s two largest economies. During opening remarks, both heads of state underscored their shared commitment to building a stable, constructive, and strategic bilateral relationship, even as they addressed long-standing points of disagreement.

    President Xi opened his remarks by acknowledging the growing uncertainty and rapid transformation reshaping today’s global order, posing two fundamental questions that frame the future of U.S.-China ties: Can the two nations co-develop a new model of relations between major global powers? Can they set aside differences to collaborate on pressing transnational challenges and bring greater stability to the world? Xi expressed hope that working with Trump would turn 2026 into a historic milestone for advancing bilateral relations.

    On the topic of economic cooperation and trade, negotiation teams from both sides reached positive, actionable outcomes. Xi emphasized that even amid existing differences and tensions, dialogue rooted in equality and mutual respect has delivered tangible results. He reaffirmed that U.S. companies have long played a key role in China’s reform and opening-up process, and that the Chinese market will only grow more accessible to American businesses moving forward. “China welcomes deepened mutually beneficial cooperation between the United States and China,” Xi stated, noting that the door of China’s market will keep opening wider to foreign, and particularly American, enterprises. He added that the framework of a “constructive, strategic, and stable relationship” agreed by both leaders is no empty slogan, but a concrete roadmap to guide bilateral ties in the coming years, with core goals of sustaining long-term peace, keeping differences manageable, and delivering fruitful collaboration.

    For his part, Trump called the state visit a tremendous honor, offering warm praise for Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. He described the current U.S.-China relationship as the strongest it has ever been, and reiterated his commitment to resolving outstanding differences through dialogue while deepening cross-border cooperation. Trump was accompanied by a delegation of senior American business leaders, who publicly expressed their confidence in the long-term potential of the Chinese market during the visit.

    Beyond economic and trade issues, the two leaders exchanged in-depth views on a range of pressing regional and global issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and security on the Korean Peninsula. Both leaders also expressed mutual support for each other’s presidencies of this year’s APEC and G20 summits, signaling alignment on advancing multilateral cooperation this year.

    One of the most sensitive topics on the meeting agenda was the Taiwan question. Xi emphasized that the issue of Taiwan remains the most core and consequential topic in U.S.-China relations, and requires careful, prudent handling to avoid escalation and open conflict. “Taiwan independence and peace across the Taiwan Strait are mutually exclusive,” Xi warned.

    To wrap up the official day of talks, Xi hosted Trump for a symbolic visit to the Temple of Heaven, a historic imperial complex in central Beijing that dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, where emperors once held rituals to pray for national peace and bountiful harvests. The cultural outing was widely interpreted as a symbolic gesture representing the two nations’ shared desire for peace, mutual understanding, and collaborative progress.

  • APUA Says Aging Infrastructure Behind Delays in Repairing Water Leaks

    APUA Says Aging Infrastructure Behind Delays in Repairing Water Leaks

    Antigua’s public water network is grappling with unprecedented strain as aging core infrastructure drives a sharp spike in reported water faults and repair backlogs, according to the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). In a recent transparent briefing on operational challenges, the utility revealed that its maintenance teams now respond to more than 800 leak and fault reports every month – a volume that far outpaces the response capacity the agency built for older, lower-demand network conditions.

    APUA officials explain that two overlapping factors have created the current pressure cooker: growing water distribution volumes to meet rising residential and commercial demand across the country, and decades of wear on an outdated core infrastructure system that was never designed to handle today’s usage levels. On a daily basis, maintenance crews are forced to juggle competing priorities across multiple communities, ranging from urgent emergency leak repairs and unplanned service interruptions to scheduled system upgrades and long-term infrastructure improvement projects. This split focus has inevitably led to longer wait times for many leak repairs, frustrating residents and businesses across the island.

    In releasing the breakdown of current challenges, APUA emphasized that the disclosure is not an attempt to justify existing service gaps or operational inefficiencies. Instead, leaders say the goal is to give the public clear context for the realities that frontline crews navigate every day as they work to keep water service running.

    Recognizing that changes are needed to address rising customer frustrations, the authority has already begun internal restructuring to boost emergency response capacity. The core of these adjustments is expanding the number of dedicated response crews, a change designed to cut wait times and ensure faults are resolved faster and more effectively for affected customers.

    In closing, APUA extended its gratitude to the Antiguan public for their ongoing patience and understanding as the agency works through systemic infrastructure challenges. The utility also reminded residents that collective water conservation remains a critical tool to reduce overall strain on the network while long-term upgrades are carried out.

  • Saint Lucia students try out new flexible CXC exam system

    Saint Lucia students try out new flexible CXC exam system

    A landmark shift in secondary education assessment across the Caribbean is underway, as Saint Lucia hosted the inaugural sitting of the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (C-Tech) exams this week. The new modular assessment framework, which launched Tuesday, is designed to upend the traditional one-and-done testing model that has long defined the region’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) system.

    Unlike the standard CSEC structure, which requires students to sit exams for all required subjects in a single sitting to earn full certification, C-Tech enables learners to complete their syllabus in incremental, self-paced stages. Students work toward their full credential one module at a time, gradually building up to a full CSEC pass after successfully completing three separate modules.

    Patterson Abraham, Registrar of Examinations at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the body governing regional education assessments, explained that CXC selected mathematics as the subject for the very first C-Tech module. Mathematics has historically been one of the most challenging subjects for students across all Caribbean nations, with consistent low pass rates dragging down overall academic outcomes for thousands of learners annually.

    Drawing on decades of regional performance data, Abraham noted that the staggered modular model gives students far greater opportunity to earn incremental micro-credentials along their journey, even before they complete the full certification requirement. By breaking the large, comprehensive mathematics syllabus into smaller, more focused sections, the framework reduces the academic burden placed on learners. “The number of areas that they have to cover is less than the CSEC programme,” Abraham explained. “Students can focus on a few topics at a time, and to be able to do as well as they can on just one module, and then to build onto the next module.” This segmented approach makes the subject far more manageable, lowering the barrier to success for struggling learners.

    After completing site visits to multiple participating examination centers on the first day of testing, Abraham reported that the launch went far smoother than many observers expected. The first C-Tech exam used a modern hybrid format: paper one of the module was administered prior to Tuesday, and Tuesday’s sitting was for paper two, where students accessed test questions via digital devices and recorded their responses in traditional printed answer booklets. This blended digital-write-in structure marks a small but meaningful step toward modernizing assessment practices across the region.

    Abraham confirmed that no major logistical issues or security incidents were reported across any testing sites, with all operations running according to plan. “From my visits and from my communication with the centres that are doing C-Tech, everything seemed to be under control,” he said. Regional education officials are now optimistic that the full 2024 C-Tech exam sitting will conclude successfully, paving the way for a broader rollout across other Caribbean nations in coming years.

    Framing the new initiative as a transformative milestone for Caribbean secondary education, Abraham expressed confidence that the flexible modular framework will deliver tangible long-term benefits, boosting overall academic performance and opening up more education and career pathways for regional students.