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  • Nationale gebedsdag moet bijdragen aan herstel van normen en waarden

    Nationale gebedsdag moet bijdragen aan herstel van normen en waarden

    PARAMARIBO, Suriname – April 21 – A new national moment of collective reflection and spiritual unity is set to launch this week in Suriname, as President Jennifer Simons has formally backed a national prayer day focused on rebuilding core societal norms and values amid ongoing national development shifts. The initiative, originally organized by Suriname’s collective body of Catholic bishops, will take place on Friday, April 24, after being elevated to a national event by the country’s presidency. President Simons first outlined the goals of the observance during a working consultation with national Christian faith leaders at the President’s Cabinet this Monday, government communications body Communicatiedienst Suriname confirmed.

    The event centers on a clear mission: to root broad societal renewal in the restoration of strong family relationships, which organizers frame as the foundational bedrock for broader respect and institutional authority across Surinamese public life. The prayer day’s theme draws from Malachi 4:6, a scripture passage that emphasizes intergenerational connection and family cohesion. During the closed-door consultation, leaders and the president held wide-ranging discussions covering the current spiritual climate of the nation, long-term social planning, and the rapid changes shaping the country’s fast-growing oil and gas sector, a key driver of recent economic transformation in Suriname.

    Pastor Steven Reyme, a senior leader of Logos International who participated in the talks, explained that the core objective of the national gathering is to spiritually strengthen the nation and commit Suriname’s future to collective faith. He stressed that the prayer day is not merely a ceremonial event: it calls for leaders across all sectors of public life to embrace a heightened sense of accountability to the broader population, particularly to the country’s youth and most vulnerable community groups. A top priority topic in the consultation was the growing challenge of youth crime, with leaders and the president agreeing that early character formation through family-based education and upbringing is the most critical intervention to keep young people on positive life trajectories. Faith-based organizations, attendees agreed, are uniquely positioned to complement government efforts by providing targeted mentorship and moral formation for at-risk youth.

    President Simons wrapped up the consultation by issuing a formal call to attending faith leaders to document their policy recommendations and actionable proposals in writing. These submissions will form the foundation for a new ongoing partnership between the Surinamese government and the national religious sector, with the first National Prayer Day serving as the official starting point for this collaborative work. Simons reaffirmed that religious and community organizations have an indispensable role to play in national post-crisis recovery and ongoing social stability, offering moral guidance and social support that government alone cannot provide.

  • Orian Carr and Djarie Sheppard Remanded on Firearm and Ammunition Charges

    Orian Carr and Djarie Sheppard Remanded on Firearm and Ammunition Charges

    In an official operation targeting unauthorized weapons possession, law enforcement authorities in Antigua and Barbuda have taken two local men into pretrial custody on multiple charges linked to illegal firearms and fraudulent vehicle documentation. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of Strategic Communications confirmed the development in a public media release issued Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from the nation’s capital St. John’s.

    The two defendants, identified as 26-year-old Orian Carr from Pares Village and 25-year-old Djarie Sheppard from Willikies, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel earlier this week. Following the court hearing, the pair were ordered to be held at His Majesty’s Prison until their next scheduled court appearance on April 28, 2026.

    Carr and Sheppard face three total criminal counts each: unlawful possession of a Hi-Point C9 9mm Luger pistol, unlawful possession of seven matching 9mm rounds of ammunition, and fraudulent use of a motor vehicle license plate. The charges trace back to a routine patrol operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday, April 18.

    According to police reports, at approximately 12:50 a.m. that day, officers assigned to the Willikies Police Station were conducting mobile patrols along Willikies Main Road when they spotted a blue Honda Fit traveling without a visible front license plate. Acting on this observation, the officers pulled the vehicle over for inspection. A search of the vehicle, conducted with both occupants present, turned up the loaded 9mm handgun and seven rounds of ammunition hidden inside the car.

    Law enforcement immediately seized the illegal weapons and ammunition, placed both men under arrest, and moved forward with formal criminal charges after completing initial processing. This operation is part of the local police force’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking and unauthorized weapons possession across the twin-island nation, working to reduce violent crime and maintain public safety for residents and visitors alike.

  • Antigua and Barbuda HR Professional Selected to Lead Diversity Session at LOUD26

    Antigua and Barbuda HR Professional Selected to Lead Diversity Session at LOUD26

    The Caribbean region’s most influential annual gathering for human resources practitioners, senior business leaders, and cross-industry decision-makers is set to return this spring. LOUD, the premier regional HR conference hosted by the Caribbean Society of Human Resources Professionals (CSHRP), will kick off its 26th iteration at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, running from May 28 to 30 under the central theme of ‘Harvest of Inspiration’.

    Leading one of the conference’s most anticipated keynote sessions is Marlene Bailey, a veteran strategic HR executive and transformative people leadership specialist hailing from Antigua and Barbuda. With more than 18 years of experience driving organizational growth and performance across the Caribbean, Bailey currently serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at WIOC. Throughout her career, she has designed and rolled out enterprise-level people strategies for sectors spanning energy, professional services and hospitality, building deep specialized expertise in core HR areas including workforce planning, talent optimization, leadership development, and industrial relations. Widely recognized for her track record of building high-performing teams and cultivating inclusive organizational cultures, Bailey continues to redefine the future of work across the region through innovative, results-focused people management approaches.

    Bailey’s featured session, titled ‘Turning Differences into Dynamism’, aims to challenge outdated conventional narratives around multigenerational workforces. Moving beyond oversimplified generational stereotypes, the session will zero in on the practical, actionable factors that truly build high-performing, resilient teams in today’s fast-changing business landscape. In an era marked by constant market disruption and evolving workplace expectations, the ability to reframe workforce diversity as a competitive strength is no longer a niche priority for organizations—it has become a core strategic advantage.

    Over the course of the session, attendees will work through evidence-based strategies to build organizational and workforce resilience. The session will walk participants through practical approaches to strengthen cross-team collaboration, improve intergenerational communication, and leverage the distinct strengths that each generation brings to the workplace. From Baby Boomers to the newly emerging Gen Alpha, every generation contributes unique skills and perspectives—what the session frames as generational ‘superpowers’—and Bailey will guide leaders through proven frameworks to harness this diversity to boost organizational adaptability, employee engagement, and overall bottom-line performance.

    Unlike many theoretical or purely motivational industry sessions, this event is designed to deliver tangible, battle-tested guidance that attendees can implement immediately in their own Caribbean workplaces. For organizations across the region grappling with ongoing transformation, high employee retention challenges, or complex multigenerational team management, Bailey’s session is positioned as an unmissable opportunity for actionable professional development.

    As the host of the LOUD Conference, CSHRP is a leading regional professional body dedicated to advancing the human resources profession across the Caribbean through three core pillars: targeted professional education, industry advocacy, and cross-organizational collaboration. Through signature initiatives like the annual LOUD Conference, the organization continues to raise professional HR standards and build leadership capacity across every sector in the region.

  • PM meets security chiefs

    PM meets security chiefs

    A deadly weekend shooting in the parish of St. James has shaken Barbados, leaving three men dead and a fourth person hospitalized with injuries. Within hours of the Sunday night attack, Prime Minister Mia Mottley convened an urgent, high-stakes gathering with the island nation’s most senior security and law enforcement leaders to coordinate a response.

    Mottley confirmed the meeting via a public post on her social media channels, which included an accompanying photograph of the session. Attendees at the emergency talks included Richard Boyce, Commissioner of the Barbados Police Service, the force’s Deputy Commissioner, and the Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force. The gathering comes as the country confronts the shock of this latest violent incident.

    In her statement, Mottley emphasized the government’s unwavering priority in the wake of the tragedy, noting that “In moments like these, nothing matters more than the safety of our people.”

    Shortly after the emergency meeting, Police Commissioner Boyce publicly characterized the shooting as a deliberate, targeted act of retaliation between criminal groups. He issued a clear warning to those responsible for the attack: law enforcement will spare no effort to track down and hold every person involved accountable for the violence.

  • Edward to captain Windward U19s

    Edward to captain Windward U19s

    The regional youth cricket landscape is gearing up for one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious age-group competitions, with five young Saint Lucian cricketers securing places on the Windward Islands Under-19 men’s squad. The 14-player roster was finalized by the Windward Islands Cricket Board’s selection panel immediately following the conclusion of the sub-regional age-group knockout tournament held Saturday in Dominica’s capital, Roseau.

    In the sub-regional tournament that served as the main selection trial, host nation Dominica claimed the top title, with Saint Lucia finishing as runners-up. This strong performance from Saint Lucian youth players translated into five spots in the final squad bound for the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Tournament.

    Heading up the selected squad as captain is Theo Edward, a batting all-rounder from Saint Lucia who turned in an impressive all-around performance throughout the selection tournament. Across four innings, Edward accumulated 84 runs with the bat, picked up two wickets with the ball, contributed six catches in the field and completed one run-out. Joining Edward from Saint Lucia are top-order batsman Johnathan Daniel, leg-spin bowler Cody Fontenelle, pace bowler Nathaniel Joseph and off-break bowler Tyler Venner.

    The vice-captain role goes to Earsinho Fontaine, an all-rounder from host nation Dominica. Fontaine is joined by two other Dominican players: Derin Lewis, an opening batsman who also fills the wicketkeeper role, and all-rounder Aiden Burton. Grenada is represented by batsman Khavaughn Bartholomew and left-arm unorthodox spin (chinaman) bowler Aravinda Bishop. Four players round out the squad from St Vincent and the Grenadines: left-arm fast bowler Kazado Henry, who led all competitors in wicket tallies at the selection tournament, along with Zach Thomas, Kevin Joseph and Elran Glasgow.

    The squad announcement was made official during the closing ceremony of the Windward Islands sub-regional series. John Eugene, a Saint Lucian cricket coach, has been appointed to lead the team as head coach. Two additional players, Bjorn Fanis and Neil Poyotte, have been named as official reserves for the upcoming regional tournament.

  • First phase of rehabilitation complete on Dumfries cistern

    First phase of rehabilitation complete on Dumfries cistern

    On the small island of Carriacou, where water scarcity has long been a persistent barrier to agricultural prosperity, a major international development project is delivering tangible progress toward building climate-resilient food systems and lifting rural livelihoods. The Enhancing Land Management and Strengthening Ecosystem Resilience for Integrated Landscape Restoration and Climate-Resilient Food Systems in Carriacou, widely referred to as the Carriacou ILM Project, has completed a critical milestone: the full restoration of the decades-old Dumfries cistern, a community water storage infrastructure that had fallen into disrepair and lost nearly all of its functional capacity.

    Led by the local Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), the initiative draws core funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and receives technical and operational support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Beyond its broader goals of reversing land degradation, scaling ecosystem-based landscape restoration, and expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities, the project has prioritized expanding reliable water access for smallholder farmers — a foundational change that will strengthen irrigation capabilities, increase staple food output, support larger livestock herds, and raise household incomes across the region.

    Project manager Bernard McIntosh outlined the scope of the restoration work completed on the cistern, explaining, “The project intervention was to fence the perimeter, repair all the cracks and crevices on the catchment area, consequently maximising the catchment’s potential.” After the rehabilitation, the structure once again holds its full design capacity of more than 14,000 gallons of rainwater, a vital reserve in Carriacou’s climate where water resources are extremely limited.

    Agriculture is the backbone of Carriacou’s social fabric and local way of life, with smallholders growing a diverse range of staple and cash crops including pigeon peas, corn, sweet potato, yam, dasheen, watermelon, sorrel, cucumber, and butternut squash. For these producers, consistent access to water is the single biggest limiting factor to production, especially as climate change increases the frequency and severity of droughts across the Caribbean.

    The project’s next phase of work is already planned, with McIntosh confirming that teams will soon install a solar-powered pump system and a supplementary black storage tank. This additional infrastructure will allow farmers to easily access the stored cistern water for irrigation and livestock needs, turning the restored storage capacity into active, usable resources for the community.

    At its core, the Carriacou ILM Project aims to tackle long-standing land degradation across the island through a community-centered approach. By combining evidence-based ecosystem restoration, sustainable land management practices, and climate-smart agricultural techniques, the initiative works to diversify local livelihood options and build long-term resilience to climate shocks. The restoration of the Dumfries cistern represents more than just infrastructure improvement: it is a concrete step toward the project’s broader vision of a sustainable, food-secure future for Carriacou.

  • CYEN Grenada supports World Earth Day 2026 initiative

    CYEN Grenada supports World Earth Day 2026 initiative

    As the 2026 World Earth Day approaches, the Caribbean small island nation of Grenada is gearing up for a nationwide collective push for environmental action, anchored by this year’s global theme: “Our Planet, Our Power.”

    The youth-led Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) Grenada Chapter has officially announced its full partnership with the Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy, calling on every segment of Grenadian society to step forward with intentional, purpose-driven action when Earth Day is marked on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

    For a low-lying Caribbean island extremely vulnerable to climate impacts like sea-level rise and coastal erosion, protecting the nation’s rich natural resources is far more than a policy priority—it is a responsibility that spans generations. CYEN Grenada, which centers youth leadership in climate and environmental work, emphasized this intergenerational stakes in its statement, aligning fully with the national 2026 Earth Day initiative led by the government ministry. To turn growing public awareness of climate issues into tangible progress, the organization is urging all citizens, local businesses, community groups, and national institutions to commit to measurable, actionable changes this Earth Day.

    To make participation accessible for every Grenadian, CYEN Grenada has outlined five simple but impactful actions people can take: First, wear green or blue—colors symbolizing the Earth’s forests and oceans—on April 22 to show visible public solidarity for climate action. Second, join national and local reforestation drives by planting native trees and supporting ongoing reforestation projects. Third, organize or join local clean-up events in neighborhoods, schools, or workplaces to remove litter from shared public spaces and coastal areas. Fourth, cut down on unnecessary waste by shifting to more conscious consumption habits and adopting long-term sustainable daily practices. Fifth, educate friends, family, and social media followers about environmental protection to spread awareness across the entire island.

    “Real change comes through collaboration. This Earth Day, we call on every Grenadian in their household, their workplace, and their community to demonstrate that our power as a people lies in our unity of purpose,” the organization said in its official statement.

    Beyond individual action, CYEN Grenada is also reaching out to government agencies, private sector businesses, educational institutions, and civil society groups to formalize their long-term environmental commitments and partner with the youth-led climate movement. The organization encourages all participants to document their Earth Day activities and share their work publicly, not only to inspire more action across the Caribbean region but also to highlight Grenada’s collective commitment to climate resilience.

    This Earth Day call is part of CYEN Grenada’s ongoing core mission: empowering young Grenadians to take leadership roles in environmental advocacy, climate education, and sustainable development. The group remains dedicated to deepening youth engagement in climate resilience work and nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards across Grenada and the broader Caribbean.

    (Disclaimer: This content is a contributed announcement, with NOW Grenada not taking responsibility for contributor opinions, statements, or shared media. Abuse can be reported via official channels.)

  • BREAKING: UWI Five Islands Campus Opens Applications for Law Degree, Deadline June 30

    BREAKING: UWI Five Islands Campus Opens Applications for Law Degree, Deadline June 30

    The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has officially opened applications for its brand-new Bachelor of Laws (LLB) undergraduate degree, marking a major milestone in Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts to expand local access to professional higher education. In a public advisory released this week, campus administrators confirmed that all prospective students must submit their completed applications no later than June 30, 2026, ahead of the programme’s first class launch scheduled for August 2026.

    This new law degree is the product of a collaborative partnership between the Five Islands Campus and UWI’s established Mona Campus, a regional leader in legal education. What makes the offering particularly impactful for local students is that it removes the need to travel abroad to pursue an accredited UWI law degree, bringing rigorous professional legal training directly to learners based in Antigua and Barbuda.

    The launch of the LLB programme aligns with the Antigua and Barbuda government’s broader strategic push to widen higher education access across the country. Prime Minister Gaston Browne has repeatedly prioritized expanding post-secondary opportunities, including a flagship policy to introduce free university tuition for all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda. According to Browne, the government’s commitment to eliminating tuition costs is rooted in a long-term vision: framing accessible higher education as a foundational investment in the nation’s overall development, rather than an expense.

    Browne also emphasized that the ongoing physical and programmatic expansion of the Five Islands Campus is a core pillar of the country’s national education strategy. As the campus grows its academic offerings, it is positioned to become a central driver of sustained long-term economic growth for Antigua and Barbuda. Beyond economic impacts, the Prime Minister noted that initiatives like the new local LLB programme serve two critical purposes: they equip local citizens with the specialized skills needed to compete and thrive in an increasingly dynamic and interconnected global economy, while also strengthening domestic professional capacity in key sectors that serve local communities. For the legal sector in particular, expanding local access to accredited legal training will help grow the pool of qualified domestic legal professionals, supporting the long-term stability of the country’s justice system and related industries.

    Prospective applicants interested in learning more about the programme or submitting applications can visit the official Five Islands Campus website at www.fiveislands.uwi.edu.

  • PM Browne Wants Separate Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers, Suggests $3,000 Benchmark

    PM Browne Wants Separate Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers, Suggests $3,000 Benchmark

    As the leader of Antigua and Barbuda’s ruling Labour Party, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has recently ignited discussions on wage reform by floating a groundbreaking proposal: establishing a standalone, higher minimum wage exclusively for workers across the country’s hotel industry. Speaking publicly on Pointe FM’s popular talk program Browne and Browne Show, Browne laid out the core of his policy logic, arguing that the nation’s dominant tourism sector, anchored by large, well-capitalized hotel operators, should not be held to the same wage benchmarks as smaller, cash-strapped local businesses that operate on far narrower profit margins.

    In his remarks, Browne specifically called out major industry players such as Sandals and Barrett Hotels, noting that these large firms should be required to adhere to a special minimum wage that outpaces the $2,200 monthly baseline set for other small business sectors. He went a step further to outline a preliminary target for the proposed wage floor, suggesting that hotel workers should see a guaranteed minimum monthly income closer to $3,000 — a nearly 36% increase over the standard baseline planned for other industries.

    Browne emphasized that no final decision will be formalized until a full cycle of stakeholder consultations is completed, but he also indicated that early discussions on the policy have already made significant progress. According to the prime minister, a broad consensus has already emerged among relevant stakeholders that a tiered minimum wage framework for the tourism sector is necessary to address longstanding pay inequities.

    The proposed targeted wage increase forms a core component of the Browne administration’s broader push to establish a national “livable wage” framework. Under the government’s existing broader plan, the minimum monthly earnings for public sector workers across all other industries will be raised to roughly $2,200, with some eligible workers seeing adjusted pay climbing to approximately $2,500 per month.

    Browne used his address to highlight the critical flaws in the hotel industry’s current compensation model, which relies heavily on variable service charges and customer tips to supplement base pay. He explained that this structure leaves hotel workers in a state of persistent financial vulnerability, particularly when they attempt to access formal credit from banking institutions. “They must be able to afford a mortgage… and when they go to these banks, they say they can’t rely on your service charge,” Browne noted, pointing to the systemic barriers that unstable, tip-reliant pay creates for workers seeking long-term financial security.

    By establishing a higher guaranteed base wage, Browne argued, the government can deliver much greater financial stability for hotel workers and reduce their overreliance on unpredictable variable income. “I don’t want a minimum wage under $2,000 and they have to rely on tips. We want real money. Our people must live good,” he said.

    The prime minister also used the speech to send an early policy signal to hotel industry stakeholders, noting that wage reform for the sector is likely to advance following the upcoming national election. “Me give out the hotels them warning… we’re going to fight for the hotel workers to make sure they make more money in this country,” he stated.

    As the largest contributor to Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy, the tourism sector’s wage structure has long been a topic of public debate. Browne’s latest remarks confirm a potential policy shift that would place increased mandatory wage obligations on the sector’s largest operators, a move that could reshape labor standards across the country’s most important industry. To date, no official implementation timeline has been released, and key details including how the new wage rule would be structured, enforced, and rolled out remain unclear.

  • WATCH: Antiguan Streamer Explodes with Excitement Over IShowSpeed Visit, Says Touring the Caribbean Together Is His Dream

    WATCH: Antiguan Streamer Explodes with Excitement Over IShowSpeed Visit, Says Touring the Caribbean Together Is His Dream

    Antiguan streaming personality and digital content creator Hammerr has made a viral, energetic public invitation to global streaming star IShowSpeed, calling on the influencer to visit his local studio when he stops in Antigua as part of his upcoming Caribbean tour.

    The open invitation came during a recent public livestream, where Hammerr reacted directly to the official announcement of IShowSpeed’s regional travel plans. Addressing the American creator directly to camera, Hammerr shared the local community’s mounting excitement for the tour, saying, “Yo… I know you’re coming to Antigua, bro… and we can’t wait.” He also rallied his own viewer base to demonstrate widespread local support for the influencer’s visit.

    Throughout the high-energy segment, Hammerr repeatedly pressed his invitation, urging IShowSpeed to carve out time for a stop at his production space with the straightforward, enthusiastic call: “Pull up to the studio, bro.” To amplify the invitation, he prompted his live audience to spam the stream’s chat with Antiguan national flags and messages of welcome for the incoming creator.

    The moment quickly became one of the most lively segments of the stream, with Hammerr’s on-air collaborators joining in to echo the excitement and encourage local fans to get ready for IShowSpeed’s potential visit. “We can’t wait to welcome you here,” one collaborator remarked, as chants of “WSPEED in the chat” and “We outside!” rang out through the broadcast and filled the comment section.

    IShowSpeed’s upcoming visit to Antigua and Barbuda is just one stop on his broader Caribbean tour, a project that has already drawn massive attention from online communities across the globe. As buzz around the tour continues to build, local content creators like Hammerr are stepping forward to seize the opportunity to connect with a global superstar and put Antiguan digital creativity in the international spotlight.