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  • Organisers hoping for bigger, better BIMFC in 2027

    Organisers hoping for bigger, better BIMFC in 2027

    Fresh off the conclusion of the 2024 edition of the Barbados Invitational Masters Football Classic (BIMFC) — the largest over-age football festival in the Caribbean — the event’s organizing committee vice-chairman Trevor Thorne is renewing his call for increased public and private financial backing, warning that a lack of investment could see the popular tournament poached by neighboring islands with far stronger government support.

    In an exclusive interview with local outlet Barbados TODAY, Thorne explained that the BIMFC, which pioneered the regional masters football movement, now faces growing competitive pressure from copycat events launching across Caribbean islands. Many of these rival tournaments benefit from substantial state funding that the BIMFC has yet to secure, putting the long-standing Barbadian event at a critical disadvantage.

    “If we continue to lag behind in securing this kind of support, there is a real risk that the BIMFC concept could be exported elsewhere, where it will grow into an even stronger event with the resources available to it,” Thorne warned. He added that losing the tournament would deal a significant blow to Barbados’ already tourism-dependent national economy, noting that the BIMFC generates consistent off-season economic activity by drawing hundreds of visiting players and their accompanying travel parties every year.

    Thorne pointed to the UK-based Cockney Rebels, one of the event’s most loyal participating teams, as a clear example of the tournament’s economic ripple effect. This year alone, the club expanded its presence from one 30-player squad to two squads totaling almost 70 athletes. During their stay in Barbados, visiting players rent vehicles, book accommodation at local hotels and guesthouses, pay for inter-match transportation, dine at local restaurants, purchase groceries, and spend money on locally made souvenirs — all revenue that stays in the Barbadian community.

    “As organizers, we have long punched above our weight to keep this event running and growing, but more support would translate directly to greater benefits for Barbados’ tourism, our local masters football community, and the national economy as a whole,” Thorne said.

    Beyond funding, Thorne also revealed that organizers are actively exploring venue changes for the 2025 tournament to address player feedback around playing surface quality. This year, unseasonable drought left several natural grass fields in poor condition, forcing organizers to shift some matches to alternate surfaces. Thorne noted that trial matches held at the Usain Bolt Complex were well received, and organizers are even considering a bold proposal to host matches at Kensington Oval, widely considered the mecca of Barbadian sport.

    “Interest for next year’s tournament is already building, with many players saying they are eager to return, but they have asked for improved playing surfaces as a reasonable condition,” Thorne explained. “We’ve already identified a shortlist of potential new venues, and if we can work out a proposal to bring matches to Kensington Oval, I have no doubt players would be absolutely delighted.”

    This year’s tournament featured newly added age divisions, including a 60-and-Over category, where The Old Boys’ Club claimed the inaugural title, finishing ahead of runners-up Black Rock Masters, third-place Cockney Rebels, and fourth-place Blue Cloud. In the other new division, 55-and-Over, Adrian “AD” Best led Paradise to a dominant 3-0 victory over Zepherins Pinelands to take the gold.

    In the tournament’s most coveted division, the Over-50s category, UK-based Cockney Rebels secured the title after a tense final against Royalty Ballers, with Rob Margrave scoring the match-winning penalty to clinch the win. The final match of the tournament saw goalkeeper Dwayne Webb deliver a Man-of-the-Match performance, stopping two crucial shots to lead Carib Wildey Masters to victory over second-place Empire Club.

    Organizers also used the post-tournament press briefing to offer their sincere condolences following the unexpected passing of 59-year-old Audley Taffe, a visiting player from Canada’s Global Masters Football team, who collapsed suddenly at the Kickstart Playing Field in Wildey on the tournament’s second Saturday.

  • Senate President Attends ParlAmericas Assembly

    Senate President Attends ParlAmericas Assembly

    In a significant development for inter-parliamentary cooperation across the Americas and Caribbean region, Senate President Carolyn Trench-Sandiford joined high-level delegates last week for the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, hosted in Ottawa, Canada. The May 2026 gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, including sitting parliamentarians, senior government officials, academic experts, international development partners, and private sector leaders to address pressing shared challenges across the hemisphere.

    Held under the overarching theme “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” the assembly framed discussions around how legislative bodies can drive collective progress amid evolving global economic and geopolitical shifts. A key highlight of Trench-Sandiford’s participation was her role as moderator for a targeted working session focused on open parliamentary practice, titled “Open Parliament in Action: Strengthening Transparency, Public Engagement, and Oversight for Better Trade Outcomes.”

    During that working session, participants centered their dialogue on embedding core principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusive public participation into both parliamentary processes and the development of national and regional trade policies. Beyond targeted working sessions, the multi-day event created a structured space for cross-regional exchange on a broad range of priority topics, including democratic governance, technological innovation, sustainable development, and hemispheric security. Throughout the assembly, delegates consistently emphasized the critical role that strong, independent parliaments play in reinforcing democratic institutions and laying the groundwork for inclusive, long-term economic growth across the Americas and Caribbean.

  • Multilateral and Bilateral Chinese Seminars

    Multilateral and Bilateral Chinese Seminars

    A new collaborative capacity-building initiative between the Government of Grenada and the People’s Republic of China is set to provide specialized training in furniture manufacturing and design for eligible Grenadian participants next year. Hosted in Fuzhou, a major hub of China’s furniture production sector located in Fujian Province, the three-week training program will run from June 4 to June 24, 2026.

    The curriculum has been tailored to cover both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that align with current global industry demands. It opens with an overview of evolving development trends across the global furniture sector, paired with insights into China’s decades of experience and successful industry practices. Participants will then move into core training covering the fundamentals of furniture design, including aesthetic principles and functional form development. A key hands-on component of the course focuses on basic manufacturing techniques for solid wood furniture, a segment that remains in high demand across global niche and mainstream markets. The program concludes with strategic training on furniture brand building and strategies for accessing and expanding in international consumer markets.

    To qualify for the program, applicants must meet three clear eligibility criteria. First, candidates must either currently hold a position in the furniture manufacturing and design field, or be actively pursuing professional certification in the industry. Second, all applicants must be in good general health to complete the full three-week in-person training schedule. Finally, the program is open only to candidates under 50 years of age.

    Interested eligible candidates can reach out to Grenada’s Department of Public Administration for initial inquiries via two contact channels: email at [email protected] or telephone at 473-440-3767. Official application forms are available for download and submission through the dedicated webpage: https://www.nxsys.net/DPA/Training.

    This bilateral training program forms part of ongoing people-to-people cooperation between Grenada and China, aimed at equipped local professionals with industry-relevant skills to support the growth of Grenada’s domestic furniture sector and expand international market opportunities for local producers.

  • Olympic-size swimming pool soon to be completed at the grounds adjacent to the ABICE

    Olympic-size swimming pool soon to be completed at the grounds adjacent to the ABICE

    Every year, national economic performance metrics command the bulk of public and policy attention, leaving the full scope of Antigua and Barbuda’s untapped potential as a competitive sporting nation largely unassessed and underdiscussed. Against this backdrop, the country’s government has laid out a bold, comprehensive agenda to nurture young athletic talent, build critical infrastructure, and position the small island nation as a formidable competitor across regional, continental, and international sporting stages.

    For half a century, Antigua and Barbuda’s cricketers have already carved out a strong global reputation, proving that athletes from the small nation can match and outperform competitors from far larger countries. Building on this existing legacy of success, the administration has set a clear, aspirational goal: to produce Antigua and Barbuda’s first Olympic medalists in track and field, whether competing at the regional CARIFTA Games, continental championships across the Americas, or the global Olympic stage. This ambition lies at the heart of the government’s vision to establish Antigua and Barbuda as a “lifestyle superpower” that punches far above its weight in athletic excellence.

    Spanning the country’s total 170 square miles of land, the plan aims to drive excellence across every segment of the national sports ecosystem, leaving no discipline or athlete behind. Long disadvantaged by a lack of dedicated training facilities, swimmers and water sports athletes will soon see a major upgrade to their resources: an Olympic-sized swimming pool is nearing completion on grounds adjacent to the Antigua Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE), giving local athletes the specialized space they need to hone their skills and compete at the highest levels.

    Even for baseball, a sport more traditionally associated with neighboring Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations, the government is committing full support to help local teams build competitive capacity and succeed in regional, Pan-American, and global tournaments. To lead this renewed push for national sports growth, the portfolio has been entrusted to the Honourable Dwayne George, head of the newly invigorated Ministry of Sports and Creative Industries. George himself is a decorated former athlete with a proven track record of competition across multiple platforms, and his well-documented drive for success—both in public life and competitive arenas—positions him to deliver on the government’s ambitious agenda and put Antigua and Barbuda on the global sports map.

  • Wales claim fifth straight Premier League title

    Wales claim fifth straight Premier League title

    On a tense Sunday afternoon at the Wildey Technical Centre, a moment of late magic secured another historic milestone for Barbados football. Armando Lashley, the top goal scorer in the history of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Premier League, slotted home the only goal of the match deep into extra time against Kickstart Rush, handing Weymouth Wales their fifth consecutive league championship.

    The winning goal came from a late corner kick, with Lashley turning the opportunity into a clinical finish that sealed victory in the game’s dying seconds. This result extends Weymouth Wales’ incredible recent run, marking their fifth win from their last six outings. With just one round of regular season matches still left to play, the club now sits on an unassailable 40 points, ensuring no competitor can catch them at the top of the table.

    The day’s action kicked off with a tight contest between 2023 runners-up Brittons Hill United and title contenders Paradise. A 57th-minute strike from Shaquille Boyce earned Brittons Hill a hard-fought 1-0 win, which pushed them up into second place in the standings on 35 points. Paradise, who led the title race for much of the 2024 campaign, dropped two places to fourth following the loss, finishing the penultimate round level on 33 points with third-placed Kickstart Rush. Kickstart Rush holds the higher position courtesy of a one-goal advantage in overall goal difference (38 to Paradise’s 37).

    For Weymouth Wales, this championship is one of the most hard-earned titles in the club’s recent history. Based in Carrington Village, the side overcame significant obstacles this season, including a rash of injuries to key first-team players and the departure of national team captain Andre Applewaithe, who left to sign a professional contract overseas. Remarkably, even without Applewaithe and despite having no players ranked in the league’s top 10 goal scorers, Weymouth Wales still outperformed every challenger to claim the crown.

    Now that they have secured the league title, Weymouth Wales will turn their attention to defending the two other major BFA trophies they currently hold: the Champions Cup and the Prime Minister’s Cup. The club will be targeting a clean sweep of domestic honours to cap off their historic season.

    Speaking after his side’s win over Paradise, Brittons Hill coach Richard Forde reflected on what could have been for his own team’s title challenge. “As I said from the beginning we were really pushing for the title this season, but I think we really threw away our chances when we drew the games against Bagatelle and Gall Hill,” Forde explained. “I always look back and say those games would have given us an outside chance to win the title, but I still think the boys did well.”

    Forde noted that his side’s late-season improvement came after he implemented strict changes to the team’s training regime, changes that were not popular at first. “They didn’t like it, a lot of people did not like it, but you know if we want to come and compete you have to come and train. You know sometimes we played well and then on some occasions we were awful in games. I believe if we can measure how we play and approach each game, then I think that we could go one step further,” he added.

    The coach also praised match-winner Boyce, who seized his starting opportunity after limited game time throughout the season. “He’s been training all the time, and you know sometimes when you look at our front three it has been hard sometimes for him to get into the team. Tonight was his opportunity and he didn’t disappoint. I was happy with that,” Forde said.

    Heading into the final round of matches, the race for the league’s Golden Boot award remains tightly contested. Kirtney Franklyn, a St Vincent and the Grenadines international with Brittons Hill United, currently leads the race with 18 goals. Ellerton captain Shakille Belle sits in second place on 15 goals, while Sheran Hoyte and Kamol Griffith of Paradise, plus Torian Joseph of Bagatelle, are all tied for third on 13 goals.

  • EC$1 million earmarked for Agricultural Development Assistance Programme

    EC$1 million earmarked for Agricultural Development Assistance Programme

    Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry has officially unveiled the 2026 iteration of the Agricultural Development Assistance Programme (ADAP), an updated iteration of the country’s core farm labor and production support initiative. The new phase of the program comes with a boost in funding, adding approximately EC$1 million to the existing budget to expand assistance to local producers.

    Designed to shore up domestic agricultural output and set farmers up for long-term success, ADAP 2026 delivers targeted support for both labor and critical production inputs to small and medium-sized producers across the island. Lauren St Louis, Chief Extension Officer at the ministry, confirmed that the program will be led by the department’s Extension Division — the government body tasked with bridging policy development and on-the-ground farmer needs. “The Extension Division is responsible for rolling out all of the ministry’s policies and programs, so it will spearhead ADAP 2026 with coordination and support from program coordinator John Andrew and his team,” St Louis explained.

    Per St Louis, Extension Officers will take charge of two core ongoing responsibilities for the initiative: conducting on-site farm assessments for all applicants, and carrying out continuous monitoring to guarantee public funds deliver maximum value and that all program targets are met.

    A key priority of the 2026 ADAP rollout is alignment with regional food security goals, St Louis emphasized. The initiative matches the objectives of two major regional frameworks: the Caricom 25 by 25 + 5 Initiative and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Food and Agricultural Systems Transformation Strategy (FAST), both of which set clear targets to expand regional food production. “This program puts the systems in place to boost regional trade and advance the entire Caribbean’s collective push for food security,” St Louis noted.

    ADAP was first launched in 2023, with a total combined allocation of EC$1.8 million for its 2023 and 2024 phases. An additional EC$800,000 was allocated to the program in 2025, marking consistent year-over-year growth in government investment in local agriculture.

    Outlining eligibility requirements for the 2026 cycle, ADAP Supervisor John Andrew explained that the program is tailored to meet the needs of active, registered producers. To qualify, farmers must hold legal access to farm plots of at least a quarter acre, and commit to participating in the Ministry of Agriculture’s broader programs and outreach activities. The core overarching goal of ADAP 2026 is to increase total domestic agricultural output through three key avenues: supporting the development of new farm plots, funding the rehabilitation of underperforming existing fields, and expanding production of priority staple and commercial crops.

    The 2026 program prioritizes support for nine key crops: bananas, plantains, sweet potatoes, yams, dasheen, corn, peas, carrots, sweet peppers, and hot peppers. To encourage scalable commercial production, ADAP 2026 sets targeted size caps for supported plots based on crop type: up to one acre for banana cultivation, half an acre for plantains, corn, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots and hot peppers, and a quarter acre for tomatoes, sweet peppers, yams, and dasheen.

    Approved farmer participants can access support across four critical production areas: fully or partially subsidized labor for land clearing, planting, crop maintenance, and harvesting; certified seeds and seedlings for priority crops; discounted tractor services for land preparation; and subsidized material inputs including insecticides, weedicides, and crop growth boosters.

    Interested eligible farmers can submit applications through two accessible channels: online via the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry’s official Facebook page, or in person at any district extension office across Grenada. The ministry framed the launch of ADAP 2026 as a core step toward its foundational mission: ensuring food and nutrition security for all residents of Grenada.

  • Flow Antigua Team and Liberty Business at Run in Paradise 2026

    Flow Antigua Team and Liberty Business at Run in Paradise 2026

    A vibrant celebration of physical wellness, cross-sector collaboration, and community connection kicked off recently, as two distinct groups came together to take part in the highly anticipated Run in Paradise 2026 event. Runners and supporters from the Flow Antigua and Barbuda Team, alongside clients from Liberty Business Corporate, swapped office desks for running shoes, turning a routine community fitness gathering into a showcase of shared purpose.

    The event, designed to encourage active lifestyles while strengthening bonds between local organizations and the business community, brought together participants of all ages and fitness levels. What began as a competitive road race transformed into a collective display of sportsmanship, with both amateur and recreational runners pushing their limits alongside industry professionals. Organizers highlighted that the partnership between the athletic team and corporate clients underscores a growing movement of organizations prioritizing community engagement and employee wellness.

    Beyond the competition for first place, the gathering centered on nurturing community spirit, with participants noting that the shared experience of training and racing together built new connections that extend far beyond the finish line. Local organizers expressed hope that collaborations like this will inspire more joint initiatives between sports groups and corporate entities in the region, fostering a culture of health and collective action for years to come.

  • BRFU names squad for upcoming internationals

    BRFU names squad for upcoming internationals

    Barbados Rugby Football Union has named a 20-player men’s XV national squad for a packed three-week slate of three international fixtures, with veteran Enrique Oxley selected to skipper the side through the challenging stretch of matches. The roster strikes a deliberate balance between emerging young talent and seasoned campaigners, with the full lineup including Antonio Gibbons, John Shane Howard, Nicholas Daniel, Daniel Ramsey, Aiden Foley, Rajiv Grant, Stephen Millar, Jeremy Nelson, Jermaine Bynoe, Chad Clarke, Cadeem Knight, Noah Paskins, Sean Ward, Taurean Marshall, Dario Stoute, Chris Blades, Malique Broomes, Kiovani Hamilton and Zarico Bellamy.

    The run of matches kicks off on May 30, when Barbados travels to Kingstown to face hosts St. Vincent in the opening contest. The team will then return home to host Guyana on June 6, before closing out the trio of fixtures with an away match against the Cayman Islands on June 13. This sequence of matches positions the final two contests as key Rugby Americas North (RAN) Test matches, giving the side critical competitive context for preparation.

    Head coach Joe Whipple highlighted the strategic value of the expanded fixture list, emphasizing that each game serves a clear developmental purpose for the program. “This additional fixture in St. Vincent comes at a very important time for the squad,” Whipple explained. “It provides another opportunity for players to gain valuable match exposure and for the coaching group to continue building combinations ahead of two important RAN Test Matches in June.”

    The Barbados side enters this stretch of play riding high on a historic breakthrough from the 2023 campaign. Last year, the national team secured a dominant 45-5 victory over Guyana at Garrison Savannah, marking their first win over the Guyanese side, nicknamed the Green Machine, in almost 20 years. That landmark result has injected new momentum into the program, and the current squad is focused on carrying that positive form into this demanding run of international competition, with an eye toward building cohesion for future regional campaigns.

  • New Parliamentary Agenda Includes Electronic Crimes Laws, Health Reforms and Worker Protections

    New Parliamentary Agenda Includes Electronic Crimes Laws, Health Reforms and Worker Protections

    At the official ceremonial opening of the new parliament this Tuesday, Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams delivered the 2026 Throne Speech, laying out a sweeping, multi-sector legislative roadmap for the Antigua and Barbuda government across the 2026–2031 parliamentary term. The wide-ranging policy package targets institutional upgrades across law enforcement, labor rights, public health, border management and economic governance, marking the first major policy outline from the re-elected Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, which secured a fourth consecutive term in the April 30 general election.

    The core of the law enforcement reforms includes overhauls to the Police Service, Fire and Rescue Services, and national forensic services, alongside a long-awaited update to electronic crime legislation that addresses emerging digital threats. A key social reform addresses growing public concerns over workplace mistreatment: new protections will be introduced for vulnerable workers, responding to multiple formal complaints of harassment by supervisors. Sir Rodney emphasized that the new laws will enshrine protections for at-risk employees and establish fair processes to uncover the truth in harassment claims.

    Public health and safety regulation also feature heavily in the legislative pipeline. The government will introduce updates to rules governing food safety, mental health services, pharmaceutical practice, medical laboratory operations, and nursing home care. All these proposed changes are designed to raise clinical care standards and enhance public health protections across the country. “These laws will come before this parliament to ensure better treatment for patients and higher safety standards for all residents,” Sir Rodney told assembled lawmakers.

    Border security and immigration governance are another priority area. New legislation will strengthen the country’s advance passenger information systems, bringing Antigua and Barbuda into alignment with evolving international border security protocols. The government also plans to amend regulations governing the nation’s high-impact Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), a key economic driver that has generated more than EC$2 billion in revenue since its launch in 2013. Currently accounting for over 10% of Antigua and Barbuda’s gross domestic product, the CIP will undergo targeted changes to safeguard its long-term role in the national economy, with reforms coordinated alongside partner initiatives across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

    Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin was recognized in the speech for leading the development of this comprehensive package of new and amended laws, which is designed to position Antigua and Barbuda as a policy leader among regional Caribbean nations. Opening his address, Sir Rodney framed the start of the new parliamentary term as the beginning of “a new era in development and prosperity” for the twin-island nation.

  • Ministry of Health Advises Public of Contained Chickenpox Cluster at Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital

    Ministry of Health Advises Public of Contained Chickenpox Cluster at Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs has issued a public advisory confirming a small cluster of varicella, more widely known as chickenpox, cases within two male-only wards at the Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital. As of the latest update, the outbreak has not spread beyond the two affected wards, and targeted public health interventions have already been rolled out to contain transmission and safeguard the health of both patients and hospital staff. The ministry emphasized that its standardized infection prevention and control protocols were activated immediately after the initial cases were detected.

    The full suite of response measures includes expanded active surveillance across the hospital facility, mandatory quarantine and isolation for exposed and confirmed cases, intensified cleaning and disinfection protocols for all high-touch environmental surfaces, limitations on non-essential movement through the affected wards, regular health monitoring for all individuals who have had close contact with infected patients, and ongoing clinical check-ins for all potentially affected staff and patients. Public health officials are working hand-in-hand with the hospital’s administration and on-site clinical teams to track the development of the outbreak closely, and to date, there is no evidence that the virus has spread to other parts of the facility or the broader community.

    To help the public understand the risks, the ministry has also shared key educational information about varicella. The illness is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, and common presenting symptoms include elevated body temperature, general fatigue, and an itchy blister-shaped rash across the skin. The virus spreads most often through respiratory droplets that enter the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct physical contact with fluid from an infected person’s skin blisters. In rare cases, susceptible people can also contract varicella after exposure to someone with herpes zoster (commonly called shingles), which develops when the latent varicella-zoster virus reactivates in a person who previously had chickenpox.

    Small, localized clusters of varicella are not unusual, especially in closed congregate settings like psychiatric hospitals, where consistent close contact between people creates ideal conditions for the virus to spread. For most people, particularly healthy children, the illness runs a mild course and rarely causes serious long-term complications. Even so, public health officials stress that proactive prevention remains critical to protecting vulnerable populations.

    The ministry reminded the public that varicella vaccination continues to be one of the most effective tools available to prevent infection and reduce the severity of symptoms if infection does occur. The vaccine is accessible to both children and adults at all public health clinics across Antigua and Barbuda. Officials are urging parents and guardians to confirm that their children have received all required doses of the vaccine in line with the country’s national immunization schedule. Any person who is unsure about their own vaccination history is advised to reach out to their primary healthcare provider or the closest public health center for guidance.

    In addition to vaccination, the ministry is encouraging all residents to maintain routine infection prevention habits that reduce the spread of all contagious respiratory and viral illnesses. These core habits include washing hands frequently with soap and clean running water, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to contain respiratory droplets, keeping infected people separated from public spaces and group settings until all skin blisters have crusted over completely, and contacting a healthcare provider promptly if a person develops symptoms that match a varicella infection.

    People who develop fever and a rash are specifically advised to avoid unnecessary close contact with groups that face a higher risk of severe complications, including older adults, pregnant people, newborn infants, and individuals with compromised immune systems. The ministry says it will continue maintaining active, round-the-clock surveillance of the outbreak, and will release additional public updates if any new developments that impact public health emerge.