Carib Scope

博客

  • UP IN THE AIR

    UP IN THE AIR

    After a historic 2024-2025 Women’s Super League season that ended with a second league title for Manchester City, Jamaican superstar and captain of Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz Khadija “Bunny” Shaw has cemented her status as one of the greatest players in WSL history — but her next chapter remains up in the air, with her contract at the reigning champions set to expire in June 2025.

    City secured the trophy with a commanding 4-1 victory over West Ham United on the final matchday, finishing with 55 points, four points clear of second-place Arsenal to claim the club’s second WSL crown. For 29-year-old Shaw, the title marked her first league win with the club, and she delivered a title-clinching performance, scoring two goals in the win. That double pushed her final season tally to 21 goals in 22 league appearances, earning her a third consecutive WSL Golden Boot — a feat no player in league history has ever achieved.

    Shaw’s incredible season did not end with the league title. Earlier this month, she was named the Football Writers Association Women’s Player of the Year, and just this week, she claimed the WSL Player of the Season award for the second time in her career. Since joining Manchester City from French side Bordeaux in 2021, Shaw has rewritten the club’s record books, netting 117 goals in 137 appearances across all competitions — making her the only player in Manchester City women’s history to surpass the 100-goal milestone. Next weekend, on May 31, she will look to help the club complete a historic domestic double when City takes on Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup final.

    But behind the celebrations, contract uncertainty hangs over Shaw’s time at the club. Her current deal expires next month, and according to British media reports, negotiations over a new contract have hit an impasse, with the length of the proposed extension emerging as the key sticking point.

    If Manchester City cannot agree to new terms, the striker has no shortage of suitors across the globe. Eight-time WSL champions Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign Shaw, with the London side prepared to offer her an annual salary of £1 million, a deal that would make her one of the highest-paid players in women’s football. Multiple-time Spanish Primera Division and UEFA Women’s Champions League winners FC Barcelona, as well as several top National Women’s Soccer League clubs in the United States, are also monitoring the situation and preparing formal offers if Shaw becomes a free agent.

    Speaking to Sky Sports following the title win, Shaw acknowledged she would prefer to remain at the club where she has built her career, but stopped short of confirming she would stay. “I’ve always said Manchester is my home, it’s where I want to be, but there’s a lot of things which go on behind the scenes which I won’t talk about now,” Shaw said. “Manchester is where I would want to be, but ultimately we’ll see what happens.”

    Ellen White, Manchester City’s former all-time leading goalscorer and Shaw’s ex-teammate, has spoken out publicly urging the club to get a deal done, warning that letting Shaw leave would be a critical mistake.

    “She has to do what she feels is right for her and be where she feels most wanted and most valued. Why wouldn’t you give her what she deserves?” White told the BBC. “She has won the Golden Boot for three consecutive seasons in the WSL, no forward comes close to her goal contributions, and when she’s had the chance to play in the Champions League, she’s scored too. If you have the ability to pay her what she deserves and you don’t get her to sign a contract, you’re letting her go to a direct rival like Chelsea. It’s baffling. If you want to keep winning titles, you won’t have anyone who can score that many goals season after season. Is there any other player like that in the WSL, in Europe, in the United States, or even in the world?”

    Despite the off-field speculation, Shaw says she is focused on savoring her first league title with City after a grueling season. “A lot of emotions, it’s been a long season, grind, hard work. We have ups and downs, but we live for these moments and I can’t wait to celebrate,” Shaw said. “It’s been a long season, I’ve always tried to do the best I can, the players I have around me make me look good.”

    Looking ahead, Shaw’s upcoming international schedule adds another layer of uncertainty. It remains unclear whether she will be fit and available for Jamaica’s friendly matches against Panama scheduled for June 5 and 8. Regardless of her club future, Shaw is set to lead the Reggae Girlz this November, when Jamaica will face Costa Rica in the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Women’s Championship, with a spot in the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the line. A win would book Jamaica’s third consecutive World Cup appearance, another milestone in Shaw’s already legendary career.

  • Taxi operators livid

    Taxi operators livid

    For two years, Jamaican taxi operators have waited for the implementation of a promised 16 per cent fare increase. That patience snapped on Monday, when transport and finance officials asked for more time to deliver the unfulfilled commitment during a scheduled meeting at St Andrew’s Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre. Frustrated operators voiced fierce opposition to government proposals of a phased rollout of the hike, warning that rising operational costs driven by global and domestic shocks have already pushed many to the brink of financial instability.

    The 16 per cent increase was originally the second installment of a 35 per cent total fare adjustment approved by the Jamaican government back in October 2023. Only 19 per cent of that total was ever implemented at the time, with the remaining 16 per cent scheduled to take effect in April 2024. Multiple adverse economic and natural events have repeatedly delayed the adjustment, pushing any final decision to a parliamentary deliberation scheduled for June 1, 2026.

    Speaking on behalf of operators at the press conference, which was called ahead of threatened service disruptions over the delay, Fredrick Bryan, general secretary of the National Council of Taxi Associations, explained that runaway price growth tied to ongoing global geopolitical instability — specifically the Middle East conflict between the US, Israel and Iran — has made any further delay or staggered increase unacceptable.

    “We understand nobody anticipated a war, but as a result of the war, every single cost we face is accelerating. We work on the roads every day, we have families to support just like everyone else, and we feel these price hikes every single day,” Bryan told local outlet Jamaica Observer. He added that daily operating costs now consume more than 60 per cent of operators’ average daily income, leaving workers in an increasingly unsustainable financial position. “They’re proposing splitting the 16 per cent. That is a no-no. That doesn’t make any sense,” Bryan stressed, noting that the 16 per cent was already three years overdue by 2026, following an eight-year gap between the previous fare adjustment and the 2023 approved hike. By the time the government makes a final decision in June, operators should already be negotiating an entirely new fare increase to keep up with inflation, he argued.

    Egerton Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), echoed Bryan’s rejection of a phased approach. Reports from the meeting indicated Finance Minister Fayval Williams had floated a plan to roll out the 16 per cent in two 8 per cent installments, an offer Newman flatly refused. “We have waited too long for this 16 per cent just to end up getting eight plus eight spread out over months,” Newman told ministers. “Everything has doubled, even tripled in price across the country, and that’s not just fuel prices. I cannot recommend accepting a staggered rollout at this time.”

    Transport Minister Daryl Vaz acknowledged the validity of operators’ frustration, admitting the wait for the second installment of the approved fare hike has been far longer than initially promised. He recognized that skyrocketing costs have placed immense financial pressure on the country’s taxi workforce, but defended the government’s request for more deliberation, pointing to a string of unforeseen crises that have upended the country’s economic planning over the past three years. These include lingering economic aftershocks from the COVID-19 pandemic, major damage from Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 and Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, and most recently, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has sent global energy prices soaring.

    Vaz explained that the Middle East conflict has already caused state-owned oil refinery Petrojam to absorb an estimated $4 billion in losses, as the government has capped weekly petrol price increases at $4.50 per litre to protect consumers. Without that cap, weekly price increases would have reached as high as $12.50 per litre, Vaz noted, meaning the government has had to absorb billions in subsidy costs to soften the blow of global energy volatility. “We are trying to balance a very delicate situation,” Vaz said. “Even though you have not received the 16 per cent increase yet, you have been cushioned by government policies that have kept fuel prices lower than they would otherwise be amid this crisis.”

    Not all operators accepted that justification. Charles Powell, president of the Southern Taxi Association in St Elizabeth, maintained that the full immediate 16 per cent increase is non-negotiable for operators struggling with rising costs. He did, however, express cautious hope that the June 1 parliamentary decision deadline represents a firm, trustworthy commitment from the government to finally resolve the years-long dispute.

  • Triple jumper Scott says change in mindset key to success

    Triple jumper Scott says change in mindset key to success

    As the 2024 outdoor track and field season kicks into high gear, Jamaican triple jump standout Jordan Jordan Scott entered Sunday’s Coqui International Cup — a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level competition hosted in Puerto Rico — with one clear goal: to gauge his competition readiness ahead of a stacked schedule of major championship events this summer. What unfolded on the day exceeded even his quiet expectations, as the two-time World Athletics Indoor Championships finalist delivered a personal best and world-leading leap of 17.66m with zero wind assistance, a mark that improves upon his 2023 Diamond League personal best of 17.52m.

    The competition was held on an elevated runway in a public park adjacent to the main stadium, an unconventional venue that did nothing to slow Scott down. After a few opening attempts to acclimate to the space, he hit his game-changing jump, confirming his strong form ahead of upcoming key meets.

    Speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Monday, Scott opened up about his preparation heading into the competition. “We never really went into the meet with any real expectations. We had an idea of where we were because we competed at Penn Relays a couple weeks ago — from a short approach, in the cold — and we jumped 17.23 from behind the board so we knew we’re in a good spot,” explained the former University of Virginia NCAA indoor champion. “This was the first meet this year that I jumped from a full approach so we knew there was a lot that we needed to iron out. We weren’t sure if it was going to go as smoothly as we wanted to — in all honesty, it wasn’t as smooth as we wanted it to be. But, I mean, we were able to get a good job out there, and opted to shut it down to kind of just save ourselves for upcoming meets.” The 29-year-old (who will celebrate his birthday next month) has steadily built his athletic career from his high school days competing for Jamaica’s Campion College, before moving to the United States to compete collegiately first at the University of Southern California for one year, then for the University of Virginia.

    After flying under the radar for several seasons, Scott broke into global headlines in 2023: he claimed fourth place at the World Indoor Championships in China, went on to win three Diamond League events, and closed out the season with a fifth-place finish at the outdoor World Athletics Championships in Japan. He carried that momentum into 2024, capturing a historic silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Poland — the first ever World Indoor Championships medal won by a Jamaican man in the triple jump event.

    Scott attributes his recent string of breakthrough performances to a shift in both mindset and training camp, a change that has re-energized his love for the sport. Now based in Maryland, Scott trains alongside Dominica’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games women’s triple jump gold medalist Thea LaFond, under the guidance of LaFond’s husband and coach Aaron Gadson.

    “It’s amazing to be training with the best of the best. I mean, I feel like I have one of, if not the best, training partner in Thea LaFond,” Scott said. “She’s been at the bottom of the bottle, and she’s been at the top of the top, so she knows what it takes to get there. And, I mean, I am just following her footsteps to ensure that I’m doing everything, everything to the best of my ability, and making the right decisions to be successful.” Training alongside LaFond, whose underdog Olympic gold medal run shocked the global track world, has given Scott a new perspective on what he can achieve this season.

    Even with the world-leading mark and historic medal already under his belt in 2024, Scott says he is still far from reaching his full potential, and remains focused on trusting the incremental process of improvement. “I think we’re still in the process of figuring things out so, I mean, I say it can only get better but I mean I actually believe it can only be better,” he noted.

    Scott’s top priority for the 2024 summer season is the upcoming Commonwealth Games, set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland this August. “The plan, obviously, is to medal at the Commonwealth Games,” he said. Before he competes for Commonwealth Games glory, he has two key stop on his international schedule: he is slated to compete at the JBL Jump Fest, a unique street-style jumping event held in temporary triple jump pits on the streets of Košice, Slovakia on May 26, followed by the Rome Diamond League meet on June 6.

  • New Ebola outbreak in DR Congo: What we know

    New Ebola outbreak in DR Congo: What we know

    In a high-stakes announcement that has triggered global public health alert, the World Health Organization has designated the spiraling Ebola outbreak in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the body’s second-highest global alert level. As of the latest official update from Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba released Sunday, the outbreak has already been linked to 91 suspected deaths and roughly 350 suspected cases, with a disproportionate impact on working-age adults and women: most infected individuals fall between 20 and 39 years old, and over 60% of all cases are female. Notably, most of these cases remain unconfirmed by laboratory testing, as only a small number of samples have been processed for formal verification to date.

    The epicenter of the current outbreak is the DRC’s Ituri Province, a mineral-rich region bordering Uganda and South Sudan that hosts dense, high-volume cross-border population movement driven by widespread artisanal gold mining. This constant flow of people has raised urgent alarms among regional health bodies: the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has repeatedly warned that the virus carries a severe risk of spreading to neighboring East African nations, a scenario that could exponentially expand the scope of the crisis.

    What makes this outbreak particularly challenging for global health responders is the specific strain of Ebola driving transmission: the Bundibugyo variant, a strain for which no licensed vaccines or targeted antiviral treatments currently exist. Unlike the Zaire strain that caused the largest Ebola outbreaks in recorded history, which can be prevented with existing approved vaccines, Bundibugyo leaves public health teams relying on basic infection control measures: rapid case detection, rigorous contact tracing, and strict adherence to personal protective protocols to slow transmission. This is not the first time the Bundibugyo strain has caused an outbreak; it was previously detected in limited outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012, with historical mortality rates ranging between 30% and 50% of confirmed cases. Over the past half-century, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed more than 15,000 lives total, underscoring the ongoing threat the virus poses to vulnerable, high-mobility frontier regions.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union Congratulates Malaka Parker on Senate Appointment

    Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union Congratulates Malaka Parker on Senate Appointment

    The political landscape of Antigua and Barbuda has shifted this week with the completion of opposition representation in the Senate, following the official swearing-in of veteran labor advocate Malaka Parker.

    Parker, a former president and shop steward of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU), took the oath of office during a ceremony held at Government House earlier this Monday. Her appointment was delayed from the initial scheduled investiture, after conflicting overseas travel commitments forced her to miss the first event. Sir Clare Roberts, Deputy Governor General of the nation, presided over Monday’s belated swearing-in ceremony.

    In an official public statement released immediately after the ceremony, the ABWU extended warm congratulations to Parker on her new appointment to the national Upper House. The union highlighted Parker’s longstanding track record of relentless advocacy for working people and everyday residents across the country, emphasizing that her career in labor organizing has prepared her to bring critical working-class perspectives to national legislative debate.

    “Her steadfast advocacy on behalf of ordinary people has now been elevated to the national legislature, and we are confident that her diligent and passionate service will continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of workers and the wider community,” the statement read.

    Parker’s appointment fills the final remaining opposition seat in the Senate, bringing the opposition’s full roster of representatives into place just two days ahead of the scheduled upper chamber sitting set for Wednesday. Political observers note that Parker’s background as a labor leader will likely bring a sharp focus on workers’ rights, labor policy and livelihood issues to upcoming Senate deliberations, giving the opposition a strong voice on economic and social issues affecting everyday Antigua and Barbuda residents.

  • Police Seize Firearm, Ammunition and Cannabis During Red Hill Raids

    Police Seize Firearm, Ammunition and Cannabis During Red Hill Raids

    In a coordinated early morning law enforcement operation targeting illegal contraband in Antigua and Barbuda’s Red Hill neighborhood, multiple specialized police units have seized an unregistered firearm, multiple ammunition magazines, and large quantities of cannabis, taking three suspects into custody, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda announced in an official media release Monday. The operation, launched shortly before 5 a.m. on May 18, 2026, brought together teams from four key police divisions: the Criminal Investigations Department Task Force, the Gang and Guns Suppression Unit, the Special Services Unit, and the K-9 Unit, all deployed to execute multiple search warrants across separate residential properties and a vehicle in the community.

    The first search, carried out at one targeted property, yielded the biggest haul: one illegal firearm, two loaded magazines, multiple rounds of live ammunition, and a undisclosed amount of cannabis. A single male suspect was arrested on site following the seizure, facing three charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of cannabis.

    In a second, separate search of another nearby property in Red Hill, officers uncovered additional stockpiles of cannabis. Two more individuals were taken into custody from this location, both held on suspicion of unlawful cannabis possession. A subsequent search of a vehicle linked to the investigation also turned up a smaller portion of the controlled substance.

    All seized contraband and three detained suspects have been transported to the nearest local police station, where investigators are continuing to build their case and process evidence, according to the official statement. The operation marks the latest push by Antigua and Barbuda’s law enforcement agencies to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking and narcotics possession in residential communities, part of a broader ongoing initiative to reduce gang-related violence and street-level drug distribution.

  • Malaka Parker Sworn In as Opposition Senator

    Malaka Parker Sworn In as Opposition Senator

    In a formal ceremony held at Government House on Monday, Malaka Parker took the oath of office to become the newest opposition senator, with Deputy Governor General Sir Clare Roberts presiding over the investiture.

    Parker’s path to the senate followed a slight delay: she was unable to attend the original swearing-in event held last week, after opposition officials confirmed she had to travel overseas for unforeseen, extenuating circumstances. On Monday, she finally received her official instruments of appointment and completed the required oath to formally take up her seat.

    This appointment marks the final step in filling the opposition’s full slate of representation in the Senate’s Upper House, and it comes just two days before the chamber is scheduled to hold its next sitting on Wednesday.

    Leading up to Monday’s ceremony, opposition leadership released a public statement over the weekend addressing their absence from the event. Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and Member of Parliament for Barbuda Trevor Walker both confirmed they are currently outside the country attending to personal matters, and expressed regret that they could not be present for Parker’s swearing-in. Despite their unavoidable absence, the pair extended warm congratulations to Parker, and offered their well wishes for what they described as a productive and successful tenure serving on the Senate’s opposition bench.

  • SKTA CEO discusses homeporting opportunity at CHTA Meeting

    SKTA CEO discusses homeporting opportunity at CHTA Meeting

    As the Caribbean Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis makes final preparations to welcome P&O Cruises as its first major homeporting cruise partner, tourism stakeholders have confirmed that foundational work is already underway to maximize the economic and promotional benefits of this new opportunity. Updates on the initiative were shared during the 44th annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace, held recently in St. John’s, Antigua, where senior tourism officials from St. Kitts and Nevis gathered with regional and global industry leaders to network, solidify existing partnerships, scout new collaborative ventures, and promote the destination to international media outlets.

    In an on-site interview with reporters, St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) Chief Executive Officer Kelly Fontenelle broke down the long-term value of the homeporting project for the dual-island nation, framing the P&O partnership as a transformative starting point rather than a final outcome. Fontenelle emphasized that the initiative offers the destination a unique chance to showcase its competitive advantages to other major cruise lines, once required upgrades to the island’s cruise terminal infrastructure are completed.

    “This is a major win for St. Kitts to be selected as a homeport destination for P&O Cruises, and for us, it doubles as a critical scouting opportunity to grow our cruise sector long-term,” Fontenelle told reporters. “Once our terminal infrastructure is finalized, this first partnership gives us the credibility and platform to reach out to other major cruise lines and solicit additional homeporting operations here. The fly-cruise model we’re rolling out means visitors fly into the island, spend a couple of days acclimatizing and exploring before they depart on their cruise – that adds extra nights of visitor spending right off the bat.”

    Beyond increasing overall cruise visitor volume, Fontenelle noted that the initiative opens new, sustained revenue streams for local small businesses across the hospitality, retail, tour, and transportation sectors. She traced the origin of the partnership to an early site visit from P&O Cruises’ leadership, which sparked the cruise line’s interest in the destination.

    “We were incredibly fortunate that when P&O Cruises’ president visited St. Kitts several years ago, he immediately fell in love with the island – which honestly, is never a surprise for anyone who visits,” she said. “He recognized immediately that it was the perfect fit for a homeport, and the cruise line reached out to us directly to move the project forward.”

    One of the key competitive advantages that won P&O over is the islands’ unrivaled logistics for fly-cruise passengers: the main international airport is located just a 10-minute trip from the cruise port, eliminating long, tiring transfers that can detract from a visitor’s starting experience. Fontenelle also pointed to St. Kitts and Nevis’ longstanding cultural and historical ties with the United Kingdom, P&O Cruises’ core source market, as a natural draw for British travelers.

    The destination has already made significant inroads in the UK market in recent years, with aggressive targeted marketing campaigns supported by consistent direct airlift via British Airways. Fontenelle noted that the P&O homeporting partnership will deepen the Federation’s visibility and appeal in the UK, driving even more visitor arrivals from the region.

    While full homeporting operations have not yet officially launched, Fontenelle confirmed that P&O Cruises has already opened bookings for its new fly-cruise itineraries based out of St. Kitts. The initial sailings will follow a seven-night route, with plans to introduce dedicated chartered flights exclusively for cruise passengers as operations ramp up in the coming months.

  • PM Tells MPs Election Victory Is “Not a Mandate for Slothfulness”

    PM Tells MPs Election Victory Is “Not a Mandate for Slothfulness”

    Fresh off a dominant landslide victory at the polls, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party has formally launched its new parliamentary term, but Prime Minister Gaston Browne is making clear that celebration will give way to accountability. Speaking on Monday during the inaugural sitting of the newly elected Parliament at the nation’s Parliament Building, immediately following the official swearing-in of all elected Members of Parliament, Browne delivered a blunt reminder to his party’s lawmakers that their decisive win does not equal permission to step back from public service.

    In opening remarks to the newly seated chamber, Browne doubled down on a message he has stressed repeatedly throughout the transition: the landslide result is no mandate for slothfulness. “If anything, it is actually a mandate for us to serve more faithfully the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” he told assembled lawmakers. He laid out clear expectations for all members of the legislature, calling for unrelenting effort to advance social and economic empowerment for citizens across both islands. The prime minister emphasized that Parliament retains its status as the highest decision-making body in the nation, and attendance will be a core accountability measure for all members.

    Browne stressed that casual attendance will not be tolerated, noting that lawmakers should only miss sittings when facing illness, official government travel, or other well-documented extenuating circumstances. Beyond participation, he reminded MPs that they hold a critical fiduciary responsibility to their constituents, requiring that they carry out their work with consistent dignity and professional conduct.

    The opening sitting included formal leadership appointments, with Browne extending congratulations to Osbert Frederick on his reappointment as Speaker of the House and Philmore Benjamin on his new election as Deputy Speaker. He framed the parliamentary chamber as a sacred space at the heart of the nation’s democracy, charging the new leadership with upholding the chamber’s core values. Frederick and Benjamin, he said, are tasked with leading proceedings with wisdom, fairness, and unwavering firmness, all while protecting the dignity and institutional integrity of the House.

    “You are entrusted with safeguarding the dignity, order, and integrity of this honorable house,” Browne stated, adding that the government expects the chamber to avoid descending into chaos even amid the inevitable political challenges of the coming term. He praised Frederick’s track record from his previous tenure as Speaker, noting his consistent reputation for being fair and firm, and expressed confidence he would uphold that standard in his new term.

    Ahead of the government’s policy agenda for the coming term, Browne also called for cross-party unity as the administration works to advance its national development agenda. “Let us continue to work in a united way to continue to advance Antigua and Barbuda as we seek to expand the Renaissance, this new era of progress and development,” he said.

    Before closing his remarks, Browne extended congratulations to all newly elected and re-elected lawmakers, singling out veteran parliamentarian Stedroy Benjamin for special recognition. Benjamin, the MP for St. John’s City South, took the parliamentary oath of office for the eighth consecutive time, marking a historic milestone in his decades-long career of public service.

  • IN PICTURES: Government MPs take oath in parliament

    IN PICTURES: Government MPs take oath in parliament

    A key constitutional milestone unfolded in the nation’s legislative chamber this week, as sitting government members of parliament formally marked the start of their new term by taking their official oaths of office. The timed-honored ceremony, a required step under the country’s parliamentary constitution, saw every ruling party MP affirm their commitment to uphold the nation’s laws, serve the public interest, and remain faithful to their constitutional duties before the speaker of the house and assembled legislative peers.

    The oath-taking process comes on the heels of the recent general election that delivered the current government its parliamentary mandate, clearing the way for the administration to move forward with its policy agenda, from economic stimulus plans to public service reform. Political observers note that the completion of this formal step is far more than a symbolic ritual: it legally validates the new parliament’s authority to conduct official business, pass legislation, and hold the executive branch to account. After the conclusion of the ceremony, the newly sworn-in MPs began preliminary preparations for the opening of the first parliamentary session, where the government will lay out its legislative priorities for the coming term.