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  • Catholic Church Defends HPV Vaccine Position

    Catholic Church Defends HPV Vaccine Position

    A public debate over HPV vaccination policy in Belize has intensified in recent days, as the Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan has issued an official statement clarifying and defending its long-held stance on school-based administration of the vaccine, pushing back against widespread misinterpretation of its position.

    Contrary to circulating rumors that the Church opposes the life-saving immunization itself, the diocese made clear that it fully acknowledges the public health value of HPV vaccines and deems them ethically acceptable for use. The core of the institution’s objection is not to the vaccine, but to the government’s chosen model of delivering doses directly on school campuses, a policy the Belizean Ministry of Health has already implemented across the country.

    Under the ministry’s current nationwide initiative, registered nurses and other qualified medical personnel travel to public and private schools to administer HPV vaccines to eligible students. The diocese argues that this framework is improper for a vaccine that targets a sexually transmitted infection, centering its critique on the critical issue of informed parental consent.

    In its statement, the diocese emphasized that parents must receive full, unfiltered medical information about the vaccine without any external pressure or coercion to consent. The institution maintains that decisions about childhood HPV vaccination should be made exclusively in clinical settings, where parents — who hold the legal and ethical right and responsibility to make medical decisions for their minor children — can weigh the risks and benefits alongside trusted healthcare providers, aligned with their own moral and cultural values.

    The Church also raised a practical note about the limitations of the most widely used HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9. While acknowledging that the shot provides robust protection against multiple high-risk strains of the virus, the diocese pointed out that it does not cover every cancer-causing HPV variant circulating in Belize. This clarification aligns with data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which confirms that more than 200 distinct HPV strains exist globally, and Gardasil 9 only targets the nine strains responsible for the majority of HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

    Despite its public disagreement with the ministry’s rollout model, the diocese stressed that it shares the same core goal as the government: protecting the health and wellbeing of Belizean children. The institution added that it remains open to collaborative dialogue with the Ministry of Health to adjust the policy, though it has no plans to reverse its position on the inappropriate nature of school-based delivery. For its part, the Ministry of Health has stood firm on its current strategy, framing the nationwide HPV vaccination initiative as a critical public health priority.

    The debate comes as global health authorities widely recommend HPV vaccination for pre-adolescent children, as the vaccine provides the strongest immune protection before the onset of sexual activity, when exposure to the virus typically occurs.

  • Grenada advances trade and investment agenda in Ireland

    Grenada advances trade and investment agenda in Ireland

    Grenada’s newly appointed Ambassador to Ireland, Rachér Croney, who also serves as the country’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has concluded her first official working visit to the Republic of Ireland. The milestone trip centered on her participation in one of the region’s most high-profile annual economic gatherings linking Ireland with the Caribbean and Latin America, where she held in-depth discussions with senior Irish government leaders and pushed forward Grenada’s core trade and investment priorities.

    Croney took part in the 2026 Ireland–Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Horizons Forum, hosted on May 13 at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park. The cross-regional gathering was jointly organized by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, built around the central theme of “Trade, Investment, Prosperity: Growing the Ireland–Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Partnership.”

    The forum brought together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, including cabinet ministers, trade agency leaders, C-suite business executives, global investors, and diplomatic representatives from Ireland and 30-plus nations across Latin America and the Caribbean. This year’s agenda focused on four core thematic areas that align directly with Grenada’s long-term economic development goals.

    The first thematic track, Partnership in a Changing Global Economy, explored pathways for small developing Caribbean economies to adapt to and capitalize on shifting global trade dynamics through structured bilateral collaboration with Ireland. The second track, Innovation Driving Growth, examined how Ireland’s world-leading innovation ecosystem can open new market and development opportunities for Caribbean nations via targeted foreign investment and cross-border knowledge sharing. The third track, Technology and Collaboration, centered on deepening tech-focused partnerships between Irish and Caribbean private sectors, a priority that matches Grenada’s ongoing push to expand and grow its domestic digital economy. The final track, Food and Agriculture Opportunities, hosted substantive discussions on unlocking untapped agri-food trade potential, with input from top Irish agribusinesses and leading academic researchers, a topic directly tied to Grenada’s efforts to modernize its agricultural sector and boost agricultural export volumes.

    In addition to breakout working sessions, the forum featured major keynote addresses from Christopher Sinckler, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, and Delano Seiveright, Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce of Jamaica. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered a formal welcome message to attending delegates, while Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD delivered closing remarks to conclude the two-day gathering.

    Croney’s appointment as Grenada’s first resident-connected Ambassador to Ireland marks a key step in deepening longstanding bilateral ties between the two island nations. Her inaugural official visit created a critical opportunity to formalize Grenada’s diplomatic presence in Dublin, establish open communication channels with senior Irish government stakeholders, and raise Grenada’s profile within Ireland’s expanding economic partnership framework with the wider Caribbean region.

    During her time in Dublin, Croney held one-on-one and small-group engagements with senior Irish government officials to advance conversations around areas of shared mutual interest, including bilateral trade, targeted foreign investment, and development cooperation. These discussions laid solid foundational groundwork for a more structured, productive bilateral relationship between Grenada and Ireland in the coming years.

    Speaking following her participation in the forum, Croney emphasized the strategic value of the gathering for small island developing states: “Ireland presents real, tangible opportunities for Grenada, and participation in this Latin America and Caribbean trade forum ensures that we have a seat at the table. It allows us to actively contribute to shaping the Caribbean SIDS Strategy and the design of future investment initiatives that will benefit our entire region.”

    Ireland has emerged as a global hub for high-growth sectors including advanced technology, pharmaceuticals, agri-food processing, and international financial services — all sectors that align directly with Grenada’s goals to attract targeted foreign investment and diversify its traditional tourism-dependent economy. Croney’s active, high-profile participation in the forum sent a clear signal to both the Irish government and Irish business community that Grenada is a committed, proactive, and accessible trade and investment partner.

    The outcomes of Croney’s visit, from formal forum sessions to bilateral meetings and cross-stakeholder diplomatic engagement, form part of a sustained, long-term outreach effort led by Grenada’s High Commission in London to ensure the country is represented at key global and regional forums where economic partnerships and policy decisions are shaped.

    This report was issued by the High Commission for Grenada, UK.

  • Prostate cancer deaths top 300 annually as screening declines

    Prostate cancer deaths top 300 annually as screening declines

    Barbados is facing a growing public health crisis over prostate cancer, with health officials sounding the alarm after a dramatic drop in routine screening rates for the CDE. The Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) highlighted the urgent situation while launching its 4th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk at the Jada Group of Companies complex in St Peter, where leaders outlined the devastating gap between early detection outcomes and current screening participation.

    According to BCS President Professor David Rosin, even as medical science continues to advance, fewer Barbadian men are stepping forward for routine testing. This downward trend carries uniquely severe risks for the local population: Caribbean men of African descent already face the highest prostate cancer mortality rate in the world. In Barbados alone, the disease claims more than 300 lives each year, a statistic Professor Rosin says is entirely preventable. “This is one of the five cancers that people should not die from if it is diagnosed early,” he explained. “Regular screening can fundamentally change this outcome.”

    Professor Rosin drew a stark global comparison to illustrate the impact of widespread screening: while Australia has the world’s highest incidence of prostate cancer, it maintains a very low mortality rate thanks to routine population testing. In contrast, Caribbean nations rank sixth globally for incidence but hold the unenviable top spot for mortality. Local data underscores this gap: men of African descent in Barbados are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as American men, and six times more likely to die from the disease.

    To address the limitations of current screening practices, the BCS is pushing for adoption of an updated screening protocol designed to boost accuracy and cut down on unnecessary invasive procedures. The long-standing standard initial test, the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) exam, frequently produces false positive results triggered by non-cancerous conditions such as enlarged prostate or urinary tract infections.

    To remedy this issue, the organization has introduced a specialized genetic blood test that analyzes patient DNA and RNA to identify cancer-related markers. Data from a clinical trial of 565 male participants showed the genetic test achieved a 92% specificity rate, compared to just 83% for the conventional PSA test. “The gene test was significantly more accurate for detecting prostate cancer, and it correctly identifies men carrying cancer-related markers when they have no outward symptoms or signs,” Professor Rosin noted. This improvement eliminates the stress, cost, and potential complications of unnecessary follow-up procedures for false positive PSA results.

    Beyond screening protocol reform, Professor Rosin also pointed to critical gaps in Barbados’ local healthcare infrastructure. Currently, the nation lacks access to parametric MRI technology and robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, two tools that improve early detection and simplify treatment. He added that even when less invasive curative treatments such as High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) are available, late detection caused by low screening rates makes these options unusable for most patients.

    Cultural stigma around male health seeking also poses a major barrier, Professor Rosin argued, pointing to the far higher participation rates in breast cancer screening as a comparison. “I have been known to say that men are wimps because they don’t like to show any weakness, whereas women come forward much more commonly,” he said. To shift this norm, he called on women in Barbados to encourage the male partners, family members, and friends in their lives to get screened.

    The launch event included a virtual address from Dr. Jonathan Noel, a Barbadian consultant urological and robotic prostate surgeon based at London’s Guy’s Hospital, who reinforced the gravity of the regional crisis. “Prostate cancer death rates in the Caribbean are double those of other developed countries,” Dr. Noel warned. “It’s a staggering figure we should all be alarmed by. We shouldn’t be reactive when we have symptoms; we should be screened before symptoms develop.”

    Dr. Noel noted that modern surgical technologies such as robotic-assisted procedures have drastically shortened recovery times, with many patients able to return home just one day after surgery. But he stressed that even the most advanced medical technology cannot offset the impact of low screening participation: treatment can only save lives if men seek care early.

    The BCS is now urging the public to support its upcoming “Strength in Every Step” community walk and run, scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 28, as part of its ongoing push to raise awareness and encourage widespread screening participation. The core message from all speakers remained consistent: early screening saves lives, and the only way to reverse the current high mortality trend is for Barbadian men to get tested before symptoms appear.

  • Suspect at large after shooting at police in Chaussee Road operation

    Suspect at large after shooting at police in Chaussee Road operation

    A targeted anti-crime operation in Saint Lucia ended in a violent armed exchange this Tuesday, after an armed suspect opened fire on serving law enforcement officers along Chaussee Road in Castries. While the alleged attacker managed to evade capture following the confrontation, police have confirmed that one illegal weapon was recovered, and all individuals connected to the incident have already been identified.

    In an official public statement released Thursday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas — who heads the force’s Central Division — detailed the sequence of events that unfolded. The operation was carried out by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s specialized Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit, with backup support from other departmental units. Its core goal was to crack down on rising violent crime and the proliferation of unregistered illegal firearms across the Central Division.

    According to Defreitas’ account, when officers encountered the armed suspect on Chaussee Road, the individual fired multiple shots directly at the police team, putting every officer present in immediate lethal danger. In response, officers returned fire, acting with what Defreitas praised as “discipline and lawful restraint” that prevented unnecessary escalation. Despite the exchange of gunfire, no officers suffered serious injury or death, a close call that Defreitas credited to the team’s quick thinking and training.

    After the confrontation, law enforcement recovered a Glock 27 pistol from the scene. Defreitas noted that the handgun is engineered for close-range lethality, a characteristic that makes its seizure a critical win for public safety. The recovery, he stressed, highlights just how severe the threat of illegal firearms circulation remains across the island.

    Though the suspect successfully escaped, Defreitas issued a direct warning to the attacker and any accomplices: all involved have been identified, and they are urged to turn themselves in to police custody immediately.

    Defreitas framed the attack on officers as an assault on the nation’s foundational security, stating clearly that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force will not tolerate such acts of violence against its personnel. He linked the incident to a recently documented sharp rise in gun violence across Saint Lucia, where criminal networks continue to deploy weapons with total reckless disregard for innocent civilian life.

    Pushing back against any perception that the suspect’s escape emboldens criminal elements, Defreitas noted that the outcome reflected the force’s commitment to protecting broader public safety. “While the offenders have escaped, this was in the interest and safety of the wider public. Under different circumstances, the outcome would have been different,” he said.

    He commended the officers involved for their courage and professionalism during the high-stakes confrontation, adding that their conduct stopped what could easily have become a catastrophic mass casualty event. Finally, Defreitas called on the general public to partner with law enforcement in the ongoing fight against gun crime, emphasizing that long-term success requires widespread community vigilance, active cooperation with police, and universal respect for the rule of law.

  • Surinaamse afgestudeerden krijgen internationale training voor offshore-sector

    Surinaamse afgestudeerden krijgen internationale training voor offshore-sector

    A transformative skills development initiative for young Surinamese energy professionals reached a key milestone recently, when six program participants met SBM Offshore CEO Øivind Tangen during a gathering in Malaysia. The meeting took place on Life Day, an annual company event dedicated to centering workplace safety, employee health and overall staff well-being across global operations.

    The graduate training program, launched earlier this year, is a collaborative venture between STS, a joint partnership of SBM Offshore, Technip Energies and the government of Suriname, created specifically to support the $1.2 billion GranMorgu FPSO oil and gas production project off Suriname’s coast. Designed to build local capacity for the fast-growing offshore energy sector, the program prioritizes preparing young Surinamese talent for long-term careers in the emerging industry.

    Over the 19-month comprehensive training curriculum, participants complete rotational stints across three international training hubs in Guyana, Malaysia and China, gaining hands-on practical experience alongside veteran industry teams. Trainees work directly on operational activities, join core project working groups, and even spend time at the shipyard where the GranMorgu FPSO production vessel is under construction, giving them first-hand insight into every stage of large-scale offshore energy development.

    All six participants are recent graduates from three leading Surinamese higher education institutions: Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Polytechnic College Suriname, and IBW University of Applied Sciences. They bring diverse academic backgrounds aligned with critical needs for Suriname’s offshore sector, including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, process technology, occupational safety, and supply chain procurement.

    Program organizers note that each of these skill sets is essential to the sustained growth of Suriname’s nascent offshore oil and gas industry. Upon successful completion of the full 19-month program, graduates will be eligible for open positions at SBM Offshore Suriname, giving them a direct pathway to full-time employment in their chosen field.

    The core mission of the initiative extends beyond individual job placement: partnering companies aim to upskill a new generation of local workers, strengthen domestic expertise in offshore energy operations, and create opportunities for Surinamese professionals to take on larger, more central roles in all future national offshore projects, including the landmark GranMorgu development.

    During the Malaysia meeting, safety and employee well-being were also core discussion topics. SBM Offshore reaffirmed that these two priorities will remain non-negotiable foundational values for all its future operations across Suriname’s offshore sector.

  • Taiwan en Straat van Hormuz domineren cruciale top in Beijing

    Taiwan en Straat van Hormuz domineren cruciale top in Beijing

    On May 14, during U.S. President Donald Trump’s two-day state visit to China, Chinese President Xi Jinping held high-level bilateral talks with his American counterpart, laying out core principles for stable China-U.S. relations and addressing pressing global and regional issues. Xi opened the discussion by emphasizing the far-reaching significance of the bilateral relationship, noting that it shapes the well-being of more than 1.7 billion people across both nations, and reverberates across the entire globe, touching the interests of nearly 8 billion people worldwide.

    Xi underlined that mutual respect for core interests and commitment to peaceful collaboration are non-negotiable foundations for maintaining long-term stability between the world’s two largest powers, and called on both countries to uphold shared responsibility to keep bilateral ties on a steady, constructive trajectory. By the end of the talks, Trump was scheduled to depart China and return to Washington the same day.

    A key point of global economic relevance raised during the meeting was the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Both leaders agreed on the urgent necessity of keeping the strategic waterway open to ensure unobstructed flow of global energy trade. Trump confirmed that China has explicitly opposed the militarization of the strait and the imposition of any transit tariffs, a position that comes as escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran have severely disrupted shipping through the route, threatening global energy security and pushing fuel market volatility upward.

    Currently, the situation in the region remains highly tense. Iran has implemented strict shipping regulations through the strait, requiring all commercial vessels to obtain pre-approval before transiting the waterway. In response to what the U.S. frames as an Iranian blockade, Washington has redirected 70 commercial vessels and disabled four ships to counter the restrictions. Recent incidents have further amplified friction: a commercial vessel was seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and an Indian cargo ship was sunk in an suspected attack involving drones or missiles.

    One of the most sensitive core issues addressed in the talks was the question of Taiwan, which Xi identified as the most consequential and sensitive topic in China-U.S. relations. Xi explicitly warned that misunderstandings or missteps on the Taiwan question could cause severe damage to bilateral ties and even lead to open conflict. China reaffirmed that full U.S. respect for the one-China principle is a fundamental precondition for any continued productive cooperation between the two countries. For his part, Trump maintained the longstanding U.S. policy of strategic ambiguity, acknowledging Taiwan as part of China while stopping short of supporting Taiwanese military independence.

    Despite the unresolved tensions on sensitive issues, both leaders reaffirmed that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral partnership in the world today. The two sides also discussed expanding economic cooperation, including improved market access for U.S. businesses operating in China and attracting increased Chinese investment into U.S. industrial sectors. According to Chinese official readouts, recent negotiating rounds held in South Korea have already yielded what Beijing describes as “balanced and positive” outcomes for both parties.

  • Is Ambergris Caye’s Tourism Driving Belizeans Off Their Own Land?

    Is Ambergris Caye’s Tourism Driving Belizeans Off Their Own Land?

    Nestled in the heart of Belize’s Caribbean coastline, Ambergris Caye has long stood as one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing thousands of annual visitors with its turquoise waters, coral reefs, and laid-back island culture. But as the tourism sector continues to expand at a breakneck pace, a growing public debate has emerged over who exactly benefits from this boom — and whether long-time local residents are being pushed off the land their communities built.

    As of May 14, 2026, Andre Perez, the area’s elected representative, acknowledged publicly this week that large-scale development across the island has progressed “a bit too fast,” confirming that the national government has been “acutely aware” of the mounting pressures facing local communities. Despite this acknowledgment, construction activity shows no signs of slowing: cranes remain operational across the island, dredging work for new resort and residential projects continues, and new construction sites are still being cleared, particularly in the less developed northern stretches of the caye.

    This unrelenting growth has forced an uncomfortable question into the public spotlight: Is the island’s main town of San Pedro being developed for native Belizeans, or exclusively for the foreign tourists that power its economy?

    Perez pushed back against widespread claims that local residents are being priced out of the land market in an interview with local outlet News 5 on Wednesday. He pointed to a government initiative that has delivered more than 1,000 developed lots to first-time Belizean landowners as evidence that officials are still working to preserve access for locals. He argued that this program directly counters narratives of displacement, noting that young, first-time buyers now have clear pathways to secure property on the island.

    “Everyone here, the new generation, first-time landowners, are getting the opportunity to get a piece of land,” Perez told reporters. “So that is actually counteracting those that are saying [they] are being outpriced.”

    He added: “It remains on them to decide whether they want to sell or not, but they have been delivered in their hands a title that says they have a piece of Ambergris Caye.”

    While the government frames its land initiative as a solution to affordability concerns, local residents argue that rising property values driven by tourism investment are about more than just upfront housing costs. The steady influx of outside capital and tourism-related infrastructure has gradually shifted the island’s cultural and economic identity, reshaping a community that was once built around local fishing and small-scale commerce into a hub catering almost exclusively to international visitors.

    Many locals now worry that the same rapid growth that has boosted the island’s GDP will ultimately displace the intergenerational communities that gave Ambergris Caye its unique character. Perez acknowledged these growing anxieties this week, admitting that calls for a slowdown in development merit serious consideration.

    “I can hear the concerns of certain people, especially in the tourism business,” Perez said. “Perhaps it’s time to look and say, ‘Let’s take a pause in development,’ because it’s going a bit too fast. So as a government, we are aware of it, acutely aware of it.”

  • Unsung Heroes programme opens for 2026 nominations

    Unsung Heroes programme opens for 2026 nominations

    A regional search is now open across 10 Caribbean markets to shine a long-overdue spotlight on ordinary people whose quiet, consistent contributions make extraordinary differences to their communities, as CIBC Caribbean brings back its popular Unsung Heroes programme for 2026. The initiative, which was first relaunched last year, offers thousands of dollars in cash prizes to standout winners, and organizers are now calling on members of the public across Barbados to submit their nominations.

    Speaking at the official launch event held Thursday at Bridgetown’s Michael Mansoor Building, Victor Boyce, CIBC Caribbean’s Barbados Country Head, highlighted the overwhelming success of the 2025 relaunch and reiterated the programme’s core mission: to celebrate unrecognized acts of service, bravery, and compassion that often fly under the public radar.

    Operating across all 10 Caribbean territories where the bank maintains a presence, the Unsung Heroes programme follows a two-stage judging process. First, each participating territory selects its own local winners. Those local champions then advance to a regional judging panel, which picks one overall regional unsung hero and two second-place runners-up.

    When the programme was relaunched in 2025, organizers expanded eligibility to include any individual aged 10 and older, a change that uncovered a wealth of inspiring stories from young community changemakers that would have otherwise gone uncelebrated, Boyce explained. Beyond youth involvement, the programme accepts nominations across three core categories: outstanding community service, acts of bravery or heroism, and extraordinary acts of kindness, all carried out within the past 12 months.

    Boyce noted that a common thread across all past nominees and winners is their humility: most had no idea how much their actions had impacted the people around them. “Almost all of our heroes whom we have identified via this programme have been surprised when they were chosen, and they tell us that they were humbled even to have been nominated,” he said.

    As a standout example of the kind of work the programme celebrates, Boyce pointed to 2025’s Barbados national winner, Carla Daniel, whose grassroots work protecting local sea turtle populations and boosting community environmental awareness captured widespread public admiration. Daniel once even dove into a muddy drainage ditch to rescue a trapped sea turtle, and her efforts have not only helped stabilize local turtle populations but also inspired hundreds of Barbadians to care more about coastal conservation, Boyce added.

    Organizers are encouraging nominations from a broad group of people, including native Barbadians, visitors, and temporary residents who have encountered an unsung champion making a tangible difference in the country. “Do you know of someone who has performed an act of heroism or bravery which has not been recognised?” Boyce asked the public. “Log on to our corporate website, CIBCCaribbean.com, and follow the easy steps to nominating your CIBC Caribbean Unsung Heroes.”

    The prize structure for 2026 offers substantial rewards for honorees. Barbados’ national winner will take home BBD $10,000, with the national runner-up receiving BBD $5,000. At the regional level, the top winner earns US $10,000 (equal to BBD $20,000), while the two regional runners-up receive US $7,000 (BBD $14,000) and US $5,000 (BBD $10,000) respectively. New for 2026, the person who nominates the eventual regional winner will receive a US $1,000 (BBD $2,000) incentive prize for their participation.

  • Auditor General’s reports being used to assess REOs, other accounting officers- Pres Ali

    Auditor General’s reports being used to assess REOs, other accounting officers- Pres Ali

    GEORGETOWN, Guyana – May 14, 2026 – In a gathering of top Guyanese government officials including cabinet ministers, incoming Regional Executive Officers (REOs), Permanent Secretaries and leadership of the National Procurement and Tender Administration, President Irfaan Ali has laid out a sweeping set of leadership changes across the public sector, pushing back against claims that upcoming REO replacements are tied to corruption investigations.

    Addressing swirling speculation surrounding the shuffle of 10 regional leadership posts, President Ali clarified that the personnel moves are not rooted in findings of corrupt practice. While the administration does leverage Auditor General’s reports as a formal performance assessment tool for REOs and all public accounting officers, the President noted all officials are given full opportunity to respond to concerns raised in audit documents, and the upcoming changes align with a broader strategy to align regional leadership with the country’s evolving development priorities.

    “That narrative has no basis,” President Ali told Demerara Waves Online News in a post-gathering interview, when asked if the changes stemmed from poor performance flagged by audit reports. “I won’t say that they were wanting in relation to the Auditor General’s Report.”

    The President explained that the newly appointed REOs bring targeted skill sets that match ongoing and upcoming large-scale projects across Guyana’s 10 administrative regions. For regions rolling out new hospital construction and major modern infrastructure upgrades, for example, the administration is installing leaders with deep specialized expertise in healthcare development and large project management. Other regions targeted for high-priority economic growth initiatives will get leadership tailored to those investment goals. Contrary to framing of the move as a mass sacking of 10 REOs, President Ali emphasized that many outgoing officers will transition into new advisory roles within government until their existing contracts expire, framing the shuffle as a routine effort to refresh public sector leadership and nurture emerging talent for senior posts.

    To strengthen ongoing oversight of public spending and procurement, the Ali administration announced it will deploy artificial intelligence to conduct quarterly compliance assessments for REOs and Permanent Secretaries. The technology will be used to actively monitor procurement processes, boost operational efficiency, and flag irregular or unethical practices. President Ali stressed that any violations of financial or procurement rules – including inappropriate conflicts of interest involving multiple vendors – will result in serious disciplinary action, up to and including immediate removal from office for severe breaches.

    Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo reinforced the administration’s commitment to accountability, noting in an official government statement that all public expenditure must be evaluated based on its tangible contribution to citizen welfare and national development. The government is working to strengthen oversight systems, eliminate wasteful spending, and embed core principles of accountability, efficiency and transparency across all levels of governance.

    The leadership overhaul extends beyond regional administrative posts. President Ali confirmed that the long-struggling state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), which has suffered years of chronically low production and relies on billions of dollars in annual government subsidies, will see management changes consistent with commitments the administration made several months prior.

    Additionally, a broader shake-up of government-run service agencies is set to take place within the next three weeks, fulfilling a pledge President Ali made during his inauguration speech. The President confirmed that leadership changes will be implemented at agencies where performance targets have not been met, following a comprehensive nationwide evaluation of public service delivery.

    In its official statement released Wednesday, the Guyana government reaffirmed that President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo underscored the administration’s unwavering commitment to accountability, transparency, fiscal prudence and improved service delivery across all government tiers. Those priorities were laid out directly to attending officials, who include cabinet members, incoming REOs, Permanent Secretaries, National Procurement and Tender Administration Board officers and accounting officers from all 10 regions.

    “The President stressed that sacred trust accompanies public office and that every dollar spent must be to advance the welfare of the people and support national development. All procurement systems, including regional tender boards, are required to operate with full transparency and strict adherence to the law,” the government statement read.

  • GAIA bosses reject NUPW wage talks inaction claim

    GAIA bosses reject NUPW wage talks inaction claim

    Two days after airport workers held a public protest over stalled wage negotiations, leadership at Grantley Adams International Airport Inc. (GAIA) has pushed back against allegations from the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) that company management has refused to engage in collective bargaining.

    In an official statement provided to local outlet Barbados TODAY on Thursday, GAIA spokesperson Sharleen Browne-Jones refuted the union’s claim that airport leadership has ignored multiple outreach attempts to schedule formal negotiations. “That assertion is incorrect,” Browne-Jones stated, pointing to a documented trail of communications between GAIA Inc. and the NUPW spanning several months, with confirmed exchanges on February 10, April 2, April 7, April 14, and May 8.
    Browne-Jones explained that scheduling conflicts rooted in conflicting availability on both sides have been the primary barrier to holding formal talks, rather than deliberate delay from management. “At different points, availability constraints arose on both sides, including instances when NUPW representatives were unavailable and other instances when GAIA Inc. was unavailable,” she said. “It is therefore not accurate to suggest that GAIA Inc. has been unresponsive or that it is delaying the process.”

    Browne-Jones’ comments came in direct response to industrial action held at the Barbados airport on Tuesday, when dozens of workers walked off the job to demonstrate against what union leadership described as months of silence from management in response to a formal wage adjustment proposal. The NUPW, which represents the airport’s frontline and administrative staff, submitted its formal bargaining package nearly five months ago, calling for a 20 percent wage increase for the 2025–2027 period. According to the union, GAIA management has still not tabled a formal counter-proposal to the workers’ request.

    Speaking at Tuesday’s protest, NUPW president Kimberly Agard accused GAIA Inc. of refusing to enter meaningful negotiations despite the union’s repeated requests for a meeting. “The NUPW would have put a position to the management of GAIA Inc. since last year December, and to this date, no response has been given,” Agard told reporters. She emphasized that the union had “continuously reached out to management” in an effort to return to the bargaining table, noting that staff frustration had grown steadily over the months of delay. “The members are frustrated. They work hard, they deserve better,” she added.

    In Thursday’s statement, Browne-Jones pushed back against that narrative, confirming that discussions remain active and that management is fully committed to reaching a resolution through open, constructive dialogue. “The management of GAIA Inc. remains in communication with NUPW. A meeting in June has already been proposed, and GAIA Inc. continues to work toward that date,” she said. Browne-Jones added that if an earlier time slot that works for both parties becomes available, airport management stands ready to convene negotiations ahead of the planned June date.

    “GAIA Inc. values its employees tremendously, respects the role of the union, and remains ready and willing to engage constructively,” Browne-Jones said.