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  • Davis urges stronger Africa-Caribbean economic ties

    Davis urges stronger Africa-Caribbean economic ties

    During the Diaspora and Friends of South Africa Roundtable held in New York, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has issued a clarion call for African and Caribbean nations to take greater ownership of the critical infrastructure that powers the movement of people, capital and data across both regions. Davis argues that self-owned infrastructure is the foundation of long-term economic sovereignty, pushing for targeted investment in cross-regional assets including data centers, digital payment platforms, air connectivity and integrated trade corridors that would link African economies to each other and the Caribbean.

    In his address, Davis drew a clear distinction between remittances and strategic investment, noting: “Remittance is love. Investment is power. Love keeps a family alive. Power keeps a nation free.” He went on to position The Bahamas as a strategic hub connecting Africa, the Caribbean and the broader Americas, highlighting untapped investment opportunities across key sectors including food security, renewable energy development, financial technology (fintech), manufacturing and logistics. “Let The Bahamas be your gateway to the Caribbean and the Americas,” he invited attendees.

    Davis acknowledged that despite deep shared historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, tangible practical and economic connections between the two regions remain woefully underdeveloped. Reflecting on The Bahamas’ own historical economic orientation, he noted: “For most of our life as an independent nation, The Bahamas has looked north. North for our visitors, our capital, our markets and our banks. There were good reasons. But in looking north for so long, we forgot to look east, towards the land our ancestors came from.”

    The Prime Minister openly admitted that his administration still faces work to deepen these cross-regional ties, pointing to the significant barriers that currently complicate travel between The Bahamas and South Africa as one clear example. Rather than framing these gaps as insurmountable challenges, Davis reframed them as high-potential economic opportunities for forward-thinking investors.

    He outlined key structural inequities holding back both regions: Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most expensive region globally for sending remittances, and cross-border payments between Caribbean and African businesses are almost always routed through third-party financial institutions in other parts of the world. On the digital infrastructure front, he highlighted a staggering gap: Africa is home to nearly 20 percent of the global population but holds less than 1 percent of the world’s total data center capacity.

    “Digital sovereignty means deciding where our data lives, who may use it and on what terms,” Davis said. “It means sharing in the value it creates. It means entering the digital age as owners, not only as users.”

    Turning to The Bahamas’ own investment landscape, Davis outlined two key priority areas for international partnership: The country currently imports approximately 90 percent of its food supply, creating opening for local agricultural and food processing investment, and it has set a target to generate 30 percent of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2030. He also highlighted The Bahamas’ growing fintech and digital sectors, as well as the competitive advantages offered by Grand Bahama’s free trade zone and deep-water port.

    Davis pointed to the growing partnership between The Bahamas government and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as a blueprint for future cross-regional collaboration. In February 2025, The Bahamas signed a $200 million framework agreement with Afreximbank to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, and the bank has recently expanded its financing ceiling for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from $3 billion to $5 billion. “African capital is building Caribbean resilience, and earning a return doing it,” Davis said. “Solidarity is not a speech. Solidarity is a balance sheet.”

    Looking back to historical ties between The Bahamas and anti-apartheid movement, Davis invoked the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Nassau, where global leaders adopted the landmark Nassau Accord calling for coordinated international action against apartheid in South Africa. He also recalled Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to The Bahamas following his release from prison. For the current generation of leaders, Davis argued, the core challenge is advancing economic and digital sovereignty for both regions. “In 1985, The Bahamas chose South Africa’s freedom,” Davis said. “In 2026, let Africa and the Caribbean choose each other.”

  • Mother and two daughters charged after school fight

    Mother and two daughters charged after school fight

    A violent confrontation that started as a dispute between two students at C.C. Sweeting has ended with three arrests — a mother and her two teenage daughters — after the clash spilled over into an assault on an intervening law enforcement officer, police authorities have confirmed. The entire incident was recorded on video, drawing a sizable gathering of onlookers just outside the school’s main entrance gates as chaos unfolded. In the moments after the attack, multiple male students stepped in to physically pull the targeted officer away from the conflict zone to prevent further escalation, before an adult male ultimately intervened to regain control of the situation.

    Chief Superintendent Sherri King, the police force’s press liaison, outlined the sequence of events that led to the arrests. The trouble originated from a physical altercation between two female students enrolled at the school. An officer who was assigned to a neighboring campus in the area happened upon the fight and moved in to separate the two combatants and de-escalate the tension. According to official police allegations, however, the mother of one of the student combatants turned on the intervening officer, launching an attack, and her second daughter — also a minor — quickly joined her in the assault.

    Following the confrontation, the adult woman and the two underage females were taken into police custody and formally charged in connection with the incident. This outbreak of violence at a school campus comes just weeks after a senior police official announced major progress in curbing school-related violence across the region. Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr. Chaswell Hanna, who oversees the School Based Policing and Training portfolio, recently stated that reported incidents of school violence have dropped by 48% since the school resource officer program was brought back into operation.

    In his earlier remarks, Dr. Hanna also noted that multiple parents had already been brought before the courts in the preceding academic year in response to their involvement in school-based incidents. He issued a clear warning at the time that law enforcement would aggressively prosecute any parent who created disturbances on school grounds that target teachers, school administrators, or other school personnel.

  • Straw vendors get month’s free rent after closure

    Straw vendors get month’s free rent after closure

    Vendors operating out of Nassau’s iconic Bay Street Straw Market are set to receive a full month of rent-free operations, a last-minute expansion of government support after stakeholders raised alarms that a mandatory two-day cleaning shutdown would cut into already scarce revenue amid a sluggish retail season. The policy change was officially unveiled this past Saturday, as the popular downtown tourist hub reopened its doors to shoppers following the deep cleaning initiative. Originally, authorities had only planned to offer a one-week rent waiver to vendors who participated in an empowerment session hosted Friday by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage — the new 30-day concession is four times the length of that initial proposal.

    Culture Minister Leslia Miller-Brice explained that the ministry opted to expand the relief package after directly acknowledging that the temporary closure placed an unplanned extra financial strain on the market’s 470 small-scale vendors. “We recognized from the start that shutting down for two days would impact vendors’ income, and we wanted this cleaning effort to deliver more than just a spruced-up facility,” the minister noted.

    The two-day shutdown marked the first full, comprehensive deep cleaning of the public market since 2021. Work crews removed accumulated debris, deep-cleaned floors and overhead fans, and performed critical maintenance on the market’s central cooling system, hauling away at least five full dumpsters of discarded waste over the closure period. Beyond professional maintenance, vendors seized the moment to organize and clean their individual stalls, fostering a strong sense of collective community spirit during the process, according to Miller-Brice. Younger vendors stepped up to assist older colleagues with moving materials and cleaning their spaces, turning the closure into a collaborative effort rather than a disruption.

    At Friday’s pre-reopening listening and empowerment session, multiple vendors voiced gratitude for the government’s responsive approach to their concerns. Vendor Manette Maycock praised both the deep cleaning initiative and the expanded rent concession, noting that the local economy has not returned to pre-slowdown levels, making the month of waived rent a vital lifeline for small operators. “We are indeed appreciative of what is taking place today, even including the reduction of our rents,” Maycock said. “because you know the economy is not what it used to be, and we appreciate that month off, and also the empowerment for the straw vendors.”

    Fellow vendor Charltaneka Johnson echoed that sentiment, saying the move made long-overlooked vendors feel seen and valued by the government. “Nobody ever done something like this for us,” Johnson said. “We feel seen. We feel loved.” Johnson also used the session to raise a longstanding safety concern: recurring flooding around entryways during heavy downpours, which creates slip and fall hazards for both vendors and tourists navigating the area.

    Miller-Brice confirmed that the government is already moving forward to address a slate of ongoing vendor concerns, including persistent high temperatures inside the market, with the long-term goal of drawing more tourist foot traffic to the hub. New cooling units have already been installed and are currently undergoing testing, and the culture ministry plans to hold coordinated talks with the Ministry of Tourism to develop strategies for increasing visitor numbers to the market. Vendors have told the minister that a cooler, more comfortable shopping environment will encourage tourists to stay longer and increase their spending at local craft stalls.

    Since taking office in May, Miller-Brice has made regular unscripted visits to the market to meet directly with vendors and hear their concerns firsthand. “I simply just sit there, and I ask them, ‘What is it that we can do better?’” she said. All concerns raised during these sessions are formally forwarded to the Straw Market Authority for review and action, she confirmed. Currently, weekly rent for a stall at the market is set at $37, making the one-month waiver equal to roughly $148 in relief per vendor.

  • Stefan Davis remembered as artist, father and friend

    Stefan Davis remembered as artist, father and friend

    On a somber Saturday, hundreds of mourners gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of beloved Bahamian artist and entrepreneur Stefan Davis, better known to the community by his professional moniker “Stefan Legend.” Davis died in a tragic car crash in South Florida on September 2, just three days shy of what would have been his birthday, while traveling on what was planned as a celebratory birthday getaway with friends.

    The funeral service was a deliberate reflection of the life Davis built: one deeply rooted in Bahamian culture and unapologetically creative. Junkanoo decorations framed the ceremony, chronological portraits of Davis across every stage of his life lined the walls surrounding his casket, and a striking life-size sculpted bust of the artist anchored the front of the service. Many attendees paid quiet tribute by wearing small red pixelated hearts pinned to their chests, a nod to Davis’ iconic artistic style.

    As the founder of the popular creative brand Airbrush Junkies and a father of two, Davis left a mark on the art world that stretched far beyond The Bahamas’ borders. Friends and colleagues remembered his relentless work ethic, recalling he would often pour hours into creative projects, working well into the early morning – 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. was not an unusual end to his workday. But for his oldest daughter, Teja Davis, the public acclaim and artistic legacy that made him a local icon paled in comparison to the role he cherished most: being a devoted father and her closest confidant.

    “My dad was my best friend, and if you take a look at me, he was quite literally my twin,” Teja told the gathered crowd. She shared that while Davis carried a deep passion for people, art, Junkanoo, and Bahamian culture, family always sat at the top of his priorities. The last time she saw her father alive was at their local church, moments before he departed for his Florida trip.

    Teja painted a portrait of a warm, playful parenthood defined by constant connection: daily phone calls, gentle teasing when he arrived late to church with his usual Starbucks order, and lighthearted check-ins when he missed his self-imposed curfew. When Teja chose to build a career in juvenile justice, Davis fully supported her ambition, even as he openly worried about the risks of her night shifts in correctional facilities and rescue operations.

    “My dad approached parenthood differently. He did it with humility, love, gentleness, transparency, and a whole lot of jokes,” she said. Davis gave his daughter the space to grow into a bold, ambitious, and resilient person, while instilling a core faith that remained central to her life.

    Despite Teja’s calm demeanor throughout the service, she made clear that her composure did not reflect the depth of her loss. “This is an unimaginable loss, as I absolutely adored my daddy,” she said. “I’m mourning not only his passing, but all the future moments we will never share: him walking me down the aisle, watching me raise my children, seeing me hit career milestones, and celebrating many more birthdays together. To many he was an icon, an artistic genius, a creative mastermind – and although it’s all true, to me he was just my daddy, and I was just his baby girl.”

    Friend Khari Albury shared intimate insights into Davis’ final days, recalling how the artist personally organized the group birthday trip that would be his last. Albury, who also celebrated a birthday that September, had initially turned down the invitation, struggling with the emotional weight of the milestone birthday. But Davis refused to take no for an answer, sending constant reminders, photos, and encouraging videos until Albury changed his mind and booked a ticket. Davis was the first person waiting to greet him when he arrived, and Albury said he knew immediately he had made the right choice.

    On the eve of Albury’s September 2 birthday, Davis reminded his friend that not everyone gets the chance to reach his current age – a line that has taken on haunting new meaning in the wake of Davis’ sudden death. Albury also recalled a near-miss car collision on their drive back to Miami on his birthday, when another vehicle swerved directly into the side of the car where he and Davis were sitting. “Steph looked at us and said, ‘I got you. You all covered,’” Albury remembered. What felt like a quick, casual reassurance between friends that day has stuck with him in the months since.

    “I’m still waiting for this reality not to be reality, but I find myself going back to those words over and over,” Albury said. He echoed others in describing Davis as larger than life, with endless energy that allowed him to work on his feet for a full day, finish a project in the early hours of the morning, and still head out to connect with friends afterward.

    Childhood friend Leslia Miller Brice shared memories of growing up with Davis on Taylor Street, where the tight-knit neighborhood was built on close community bonds, strong family values, and mutual respect. She remembered Davis as a quiet but unshakable protector, whose love and loyalty showed far more in his actions than in grand speeches. “His love was quiet. His loyalty was unshakable, and those who knew him felt it in ways words will never fully capture,” Miller Brice said.

  • Energy and Mines Minister to address Dominican Republic’s rare earth potential in Washington

    Energy and Mines Minister to address Dominican Republic’s rare earth potential in Washington

    As global demand for critical raw materials and cross-border energy connectivity accelerates, Dominican Republic’s Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos is heading a high-profile delegation to 2026 Dominican Week in Washington, D.C., where he will put the Caribbean nation’s untapped potential in rare earth elements and critical minerals at the center of international dialogue. A core highlight of Santos’ agenda will be his keynote address at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) event titled *Rare Earths and Critical Minerals: A Strategic Opportunity for the Dominican Republic*, where he will outline the country’s ongoing work to map and evaluate potential mineral deposits, as well as its policy push to build collaborative, responsible development partnerships with global stakeholders. This engagement comes amid a sharp uptick in global interest in the Dominican Republic’s mineral reserves, a shift driven by the nation’s recent efforts to forge international cooperation frameworks. Just recently, the Dominican government and the United States formalized a joint agreement focused on bolstering resilient critical mineral and rare earth supply chains, attracting private sector investment, and advancing mutually beneficial development projects. Parallel to that, the Dominican Republic and the European Union have also moved forward with a pact to fund and support geological studies of rare earth elements, gallium, and scandium embedded in bauxite reserves located in the Ávila Mining Fiscal Reserve in Pedernales, a project that could unlock significant new resource potential for the region. Beyond mineral development, Santos will also contribute to a high-level panel discussion focused on the transformative Hostos Project, an ambitious infrastructure initiative that plans to build a submarine electricity interconnection between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico across the Mona Passage. Developed by the Caribbean Transmission Development Company, the project calls for a high-capacity undersea cable that will be able to transmit up to 700 megawatts of power between the two territories. The panel will unpack the far-reaching implications of the proposed interconnection, including the potential integration of the two regional electricity markets, improvements in cross-border energy security, the expansion of usable generation capacity, and the long-term goal of strengthening holistic energy interconnection across the broader Caribbean region.

  • Dominican Republic and Argentina sign agreement to expand air connectivity

    Dominican Republic and Argentina sign agreement to expand air connectivity

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, a pivotal new air transport pact between the Dominican Republic and Argentina has been finalized, marking a major step forward in deepening bilateral ties across key economic sectors. The historic deal was signed by Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó and Pablo Quirno, Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, on the global stage of New York’s annual UN gathering.

    This landmark Air Services Agreement establishes a modern, flexible regulatory framework designed to unlock expanded air connectivity between the two Caribbean and South American nations, opening new avenues for growth in tourism, cross-border trade, and foreign direct investment. Unlike restrictive older aviation pacts, the new framework grants both nations the right to appoint one or multiple air carriers to operate international services between their territories. Carriers will also enjoy broad autonomy to adjust flight frequencies and seating capacity based on real-time market demand, eliminating the rigid regulatory limits that often stifle route development.

    The agreement’s scope extends to both regularly scheduled commercial flights and one-off charter operations, while also explicitly permitting codeshare partnerships and other collaborative commercial arrangements between airlines from both countries. It additionally lays out clear, standardized rules covering critical operational areas including aviation safety oversight, consumer protection for airline passengers, ground handling services, and fair competition between carriers, ensuring a level playing field for all operators.

    Under the agreed route network structure, airlines designated by either country will have the right to operate between any point in the Dominican Republic and any point in Argentina, with additional provisions allowing carriers to add intermediate stopovers in third countries and continue onward to other destinations beyond both contracting nations, in line with the agreement’s terms.

    In a statement following the signing, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the deal is a core component of the national government’s broader economic diplomacy strategy. By strengthening international air connections and creating new, accessible opportunities for the country’s productive industries, the agreement aligns with the government’s core economic goals: expanding export market access, attracting targeted foreign investment, and growing the Dominican Republic’s key tourism sector.

  • Abinader accepts William Paterson University’s Presidential Meda

    Abinader accepts William Paterson University’s Presidential Meda

    In a formal ceremony held on the campus of William Paterson University in New Jersey, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader was awarded the institution’s Presidential Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on distinguished public figures. First Lady of the Dominican Republic Raquel Arbaje accompanied President Abinader for the honorary event.

    Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, president of William Paterson University, opened the ceremony by outlining the rationale for the recognition. He explained that the medal celebrates Abinader’s decisive leadership and unwavering dedication to serving Dominican communities both at home and across the globe, including thousands of Dominican people holding dual citizenship in the United States.

    Helldobler went on to detail the breadth of progress the Abinader administration has delivered across multiple critical policy sectors. He called out specific advances, from strengthening institutional transparency and boosting national citizen security to advancing a national energy transition and expanding digital transformation across the country. The university president also highlighted progress in upgrading urban mobility infrastructure, expanding universal access to clean drinking water, modernizing the national electrical grid, and ramping up environmental protection initiatives. Beyond domestic policy, he noted the Dominican Republic has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination for foreign direct investment, expanded women’s equal access and participation in the national labor market, and achieved a robust, inclusive economic recovery in the years following the global COVID-19 pandemic.

    Helldobler also emphasized the deep, long-standing ties between William Paterson University and the large Dominican community rooted in New Jersey, noting the institution has built sustained collaborative partnerships with a range of Dominican educational, cultural and governmental organizations and leaders over decades.

    After accepting the medal, Abinader addressed the assembled audience, framing the honor not as a final recognition but as a renewed commitment to upholding the core governance principles that have defined his administration: efficiency, honesty, and full transparency in public office.

    A central focus of Abinader’s remarks centered on strengthening democratic governance in the Dominican Republic. He identified the consolidation of democratic institutions as the defining legacy of his time in office, and stressed the critical importance of placing clear limits on presidential reelection to safeguard democratic stability.

    Abinader explained that despite winning reelection in the 2024 general election and securing a governing majority in the national congress – a political alignment that could have allowed his administration to pursue constitutional changes to open the door for additional presidential terms beyond current limits – his administration instead backed reforms that make it harder to amend the constitution to extend executive term limits.

    Reiterating his long-held stance, the president emphasized that peaceful, regular alternation of power is a non-negotiable foundation of any healthy democracy. He confirmed once again that he will step down from office and leave power peacefully when his current second term concludes in 2028, honoring the country’s constitutional term limits.

    Abinader also used the occasion to highlight another upcoming milestone for the Dominican nation: the country is set to receive official United Nations Zero Hunger certification on October 12, an achievement he called a transformative win for the country’s development and commitment to ending food insecurity.

    Closing his remarks, Abinader expressed profound pride in the vibrant Dominican community based in New Jersey and across the United States. He urged all Dominicans living abroad to carry forward the country’s positive reputation through their daily work and actions, serving as cultural and civic ambassadors for their home nation.

  • JICA advances projects to improve urban mobility in Greater Santo Domingo

    JICA advances projects to improve urban mobility in Greater Santo Domingo

    In a push to transform urban transportation across Greater Santo Domingo, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has deepened its collaborative ties with local Dominican institutions, centering its work on boosting traffic management capabilities, advancing digital transport innovation, upgrading road infrastructure, and building a transport system that is safer, more efficient, widely accessible, and environmentally sustainable.

    The partnership launched in 2025 as a three-year technical cooperation initiative, carried out jointly with the Dominican Republic’s National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant), with a core focus on modernizing urban mobility through intelligent transport systems.

    One of the most critical pillars of this project is the creation of a comprehensive master plan for intelligent transportation systems (ITS). This strategic framework is designed to unlock the full potential of digital technology and real-time data to streamline day-to-day traffic management and deliver data-backed insights for long-term transportation decision-making. Beyond planning, the initiative includes hands-on capacity building for local technical teams, on-the-ground testing of innovative pilot programs, and the development of interactive digital monitoring dashboards. These tools will enable transport officials to track live traffic conditions, pinpoint bottlenecks, and design targeted interventions to cut down on persistent gridlock across the metropolitan area.

    Inclusivity is also a central priority of the partnership. JICA is actively advocating for the integration of universal design principles into all urban mobility planning efforts, a change that will significantly improve access to public and private transport for people living with disabilities and senior residents who have long faced barriers to movement across the city.

    The collaboration extends beyond digital traffic solutions to address long-standing gaps in physical infrastructure, with a specific focus on the region’s bridge network. JICA is providing technical and financial support for feasibility studies for proposed new bridge construction projects that are expected to drastically cut congestion by distributing road traffic more evenly across the metropolitan area. Alongside new developments, the agency has also scheduled comprehensive structural assessments for dozens of existing bridges, including several that have been flagged as being in critical structural condition.

    These assessment projects will not only evaluate immediate needs for maintenance, structural reinforcement, and seismic retrofitting to improve the infrastructure’s resilience against natural disasters, but also include specialized training for local engineering and infrastructure management teams. This capacity building is designed to equip Dominican professionals with the skills needed to manage and maintain critical transport infrastructure independently over the long term.

    Kota Sakaguchi, JICA’s Resident Representative in the Dominican Republic, outlined the core goals of the multifaceted partnership, noting that all initiatives are aligned to cut chronic congestion, elevate road safety standards for all road users, expand accessible transport options for marginalized groups, and strengthen the country’s capacity to manage urban infrastructure. He added that the cooperation goes beyond addressing immediate transport challenges that currently disrupt daily life in Greater Santo Domingo, with a long-term vision of building a more inclusive, climate-resilient metropolitan region that is fully prepared to meet evolving mobility demands in the decades ahead.

  • Jeffrey Osborne headlines Barbados Jazz Excursion 10th anniversary

    Jeffrey Osborne headlines Barbados Jazz Excursion 10th anniversary

    For nearly a decade, the Barbados Jazz Excursion has carved out a unique legacy as one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual cultural events, blending world-class jazz and R&B artistry with opportunities to spotlight homegrown Barbadian creative talent. Since its inaugural edition nine years ago, the festival has become a staple on Barbados’ events calendar, welcoming a roll call of internationally acclaimed, Grammy-winning artists – among them Najee, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Norman Brown, and Will Downing – who have graced its stages. Beyond the artistry, the event serves as a major driver for Barbados’ tourism sector: in partnership with Barbados Tourism & Marketing Inc., it draws thousands of international visitors to the island each year, while creating invaluable collaborative opportunities that place local Barbadian acts alongside their global peers. Past festivals have showcased a diverse lineup of Barbadian talent, ranging from the Nicholas Brancker Band and beloved vocalist Alison Hinds to contemporary artists like Romaro Greaves, 2MileHill, G-Syndicate, and Kweku Jelani.

    This October, the beloved festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary, with the 2026 edition scheduled to run from October 9 through 11 across two iconic Barbadian venues. Festival-goers will enjoy two opening nights of live performances at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Resort, before the celebratory closing concert takes place at the unique Concorde Experience attraction. The 2026 anniversary lineup features a diverse mix of award-winning international talent and rising local stars: headlining the roster are Grammy-winning R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne, Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold, and Latin Grammy-winning flautist Néstor Torres. Elan Trotman, the Billboard-topping saxophonist who serves as the festival’s founder and executive producer, will also return as host for this year’s event. Representing the next generation of Barbadian music are local artists Mahalia C and Harmoni, alongside young music students from the Headstart Music Programme – the official charity partner of the festival.

    Advance tickets and all-inclusive staycation packages at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Resort are available for purchase now via the festival’s official website, www.barbadosjazzexcursion.com. A core part of the festival’s mission that often goes unrecognized is its commitment to nurturing young Barbadian musicians: all proceeds from ticket sales directly support the Headstart Music Programme, a local music education charity that has offered free music instruction and donated instruments to young people across Barbados since it was founded in 2016.

    Reflecting on the festival’s 10-year milestone, Elan Trotman, who also serves as founder of Headstart, shared his excitement for the upcoming anniversary edition. “We are humbled and honoured to celebrate 10 years of the Barbados Jazz Excursion,” Trotman said. He went on to reference one of the festival’s most beloved past moments: the memorable 2023 performance by the late Peabo Bryson at Ilaro Court. “We look forward to recreating that same nostalgic atmosphere at our closing concert on Sunday, October 11, at the Concorde Experience, featuring the legendary Jeffrey Osborne and his timeless classics, including *On the Wings of Love*,” Trotman added. “We invite music lovers from across the globe to join us for three unforgettable nights of world-class entertainment.”

  • Antigua Wants U.S. to Cover All Costs of Deportee Transfers

    Antigua Wants U.S. to Cover All Costs of Deportee Transfers

    As negotiations over a bilateral migrant transfer agreement continue between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States, the Caribbean nation has laid out a non-negotiable core demand: Washington must cover 100 percent of all costs associated with hosting and supporting any third-country nationals relocated under the deal.

    Details of the draft operating procedures, which were publicly disclosed Saturday during Pointe FM’s popular *Browne and Browne Show*, outline an extensive list of expenses that Antigua and Barbuda expects the U.S. to cover. These include accommodation, daily food provisions, medical care, immigration documentation, local transportation, language interpretation services, on-the-ground administration, and site security. The proposed U.S. funding would remain in place for every transferred individual until they either depart the country or secure independent legal status that allows them to reside in Antigua and Barbuda on their own behalf.

    Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, emphasized that the government’s primary goal is shielding the nation from unplanned fiscal strain tied to the agreement. “We don’t wish to be burdened financially by these third-country nationals,” Browne stated in his comments on the proposal.

    Under the terms laid out in the draft document, no transfers will be permitted to move forward until Antigua and Barbuda formally approves both the financial and operational frameworks of the arrangement. The draft also lays out a coordination structure: it proposes that the United States provide funding to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), or another mutually agreed third-party organization, to manage service delivery and support voluntary return processes for transferred individuals.

    Any participating organization would need to finalize its own separate agreement to take on the coordination role. The draft includes a contingency clause: if the third-party organization’s support becomes unavailable, is scaled back, or ends entirely, all new transfers will be halted immediately unless Antigua and Barbuda formally agrees to an alternative arrangement. Crucially, funding for individuals already transferred must continue uninterrupted regardless of any changes to third-party support.

    The full-cost funding requirement is one of several key safeguards the Browne administration added to the proposal after rejecting earlier terms put forward by Washington. Antigua and Barbuda has also introduced a strict cap on transfer volumes: no more than seven individuals can be relocated every three months, and every single transfer requires explicit written approval from the Antigua and Barbuda government.

    Browne confirmed that the revised draft proposal has already been submitted to U.S. officials for their review and response. As of the latest update, the funding terms have not been finalized by both governments, and no transfers under the proposed framework have been publicly announced.