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  • Agriculture Minister congratulates Capuchin farmer on international honor

    Agriculture Minister congratulates Capuchin farmer on international honor

    A pioneering farmer from Dominica’s Capuchin community has earned international acclaim, drawing formal congratulations from the island nation’s top agricultural official following her selection as one of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s 100 Women Heroes in Agri-Food Systems and Rural Development.

    Roland Royer, Dominica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, called the historic recognition a moment of collective national pride, shining a spotlight on Gilles Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s extraordinary 40-plus-year career dedicated to sustainable farming and stewardship of Dominican lands.

    For Royer, who also holds the position of parliamentary representative for the Cottage constituency that Carbon-Jno Baptiste calls home, the achievement carries deeply personal local significance. In his remarks, he framed Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s success as more than an individual honor: it is a powerful reflection of the foundational role all Dominican farmers play in advancing the country’s long-term development.

    Royer emphasized that agriculture extends far beyond basic food production. The sector, he explained, acts as a binding force for local communities, a platform for intergenerational knowledge sharing, a creator of meaningful economic opportunity, and a core pillar of Dominica’s overall social and environmental resilience.

    The minister also used the announcement to uplift the often-overlooked contributions of women across Dominica’s agricultural industry. He noted that Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s global award spotlights the quiet, consistent work of thousands of unsung Dominican farmers who show up daily to feed their communities and sustain local livelihoods.

    Extending congratulations on behalf of both the Government of Dominica and the residents of the Cottage constituency, Royer shared his expectation that Carbon-Jno Baptiste’s trailblazing story will inspire a new generation of young Dominicans—especially young women—to pursue careers in agriculture, a sector he says offers meaningful opportunity, deep personal dignity, and widespread national pride.

  • Chevrier makes his mark at World Champs

    Chevrier makes his mark at World Champs

    A trailblazing moment for Caribbean sailing has emerged from the waters of Dublin Bay, as 27-year-old two-time Olympian Luc Chevrier from Saint Lucia has etched his name into the annals of the sport by clinching the first individual elite-level race win in his nation’s sailing history. Competing at the 2026 ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship hosted at Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, Chevrier crossed the line first in Race 5 of the tournament’s competitive Red Fleet on Wednesday.

    This milestone comes just weeks after another watershed achievement for Saint Lucian sailing: earlier this month, Chevrier claimed a silver medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games held in Santo Domingo, another result that marked the first major podium finish for his country in Olympic-class sailing. The seasoned competitor, who has already represented Saint Lucia at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, wrapped up his five-race qualifying series in Dublin with a cumulative net score of 67 points, securing his spot in the tournament’s elite Gold Fleet by finishing 55th out of a field of 141 competing sailors from across the globe.

    Reflecting on his historic race victory immediately after crossing the finish line, Chevrier emphasized the role of a strong opening in securing his win. “It’s super nice to be winning at least a race in the World Championships,” he said. “I finally had a good start. That played a big part in it.” The sailor went on to break down his race strategy, noting that his performance on the first downwind leg created the decisive gap between himself and the chasing pack. “Basically, I made the difference on the downwind. In that first downwind, I managed to separate from my competitors and put that distance between me and second place. Then I just kept controlling the race on the second upwind, not taking too much risk, just following the fleet and covering as I know how to.”

    Chevrier, who has already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Pan American Games, faced a rocky start to the Dublin regatta, opening with a 32nd-place finish in the opening race. However, he steadily improved his positioning across the next three qualifying races, notching 20th, 25th, and 21st place finishes to stabilize his overall standing. Competing in light wind conditions of 7 to 9 knots for his winning Race 5, the consistent performance across his qualifying runs brought his average counting score down to 16.75, enough to advance as the highest-ranked Caribbean competitor in the field.

    For Chevrier, the win carries extra significance as a representative of a small island nation with a growing athletic community. “It’s always a pleasure to represent my country. We’re a small country, but we have a lot of rising athletes in sailing and athletics. It’s a good thing to be from a small country, but it’s also really nice to put us on the map, and I’m super proud of this first place, for sure,” he added.

    The tournament now moves into its elimination final series, which kicks off on Thursday with two back-to-back high-stakes races on Dublin Bay. Daily blocks of multiple races will continue through Friday and Saturday, with the final championship medal race scheduled to take place on Sunday.

  • Glacial Collapse Triggered Deadly Nepal-Tibet Floods

    Glacial Collapse Triggered Deadly Nepal-Tibet Floods

    On August 27, 2026, a catastrophic natural disaster unfolded across the Nepal-Tibet border region, after a sudden glacial collapse triggered devastating flash floods that have left hundreds of people from across the globe unaccounted for, new findings from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirm. Contrary to initial official assessments that pointed to an earthquake as the root cause, the USGS has verified that a large section of a Himalayan glacier broke apart near the shared border on Wednesday, releasing a massive surge of water that rushed down steep mountain gorges before inundating Nepal’s Trishuli River valley. The concurrent initial landslide also sparked a destructive mudslide that hit Gyirong Port, a critical major land crossing on the Chinese side of the border.

    While researchers have not yet pinned down the exact trigger for this specific glacial collapse, the disaster aligns with long-standing warnings from climate scientists who have documented the accelerating melt of Himalayan glaciers driven by global temperature increases tied to anthropogenic climate change. For decades, experts have sounded the alarm that this warming trend is sharply elevating the risk of sudden, catastrophic glacial outburst events across the high mountain region, which is often called the “Third Pole” for its massive store of freshwater.

    The floodwaters have wiped out communities across three Nepali districts: Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. More than 500,000 people, including members of the Tamang, Gurung, and Newar ethnic groups, call these river valley areas home. Most local residents depend on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods, but in recent years the region has also grown into a popular destination for international trekkers, white-water rafters, and religious pilgrims. Each summer, hundreds of pilgrims from Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Bonpo traditions traverse the district on their way to Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash.

    These communities were already among Nepal’s most vulnerable to climate shocks before this week’s disaster. The region has long grappled with high poverty rates and repeated climate-driven disasters, including annual landslides and seasonal forest fires. Many residents had only recently finished rebuilding their homes and lives after the devastating 2015 Gorkha earthquake, which killed more than 8,000 people across Nepal, and resettled on the fertile low-lying riverbanks that have now been completely destroyed by the floodwaters.

    As of Thursday, official casualty data remains incomplete, but confirmed deaths have reached at least 157, and the number of missing people has climbed into the hundreds. The Nepal Tourism Board reports that at least 517 foreign nationals are unaccounted for in Nepali territory alone, including 178 from India, 53 from Ukraine, 51 from Malaysia, 35 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom, 25 from Canada, and smaller groups from more than 25 other countries. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that 90 American citizens are also missing. On the Chinese side of the border, Chinese state media reports that 558 people remain unaccounted for, including 260 foreign nationals. Large-scale cross-border rescue operations were active as of Thursday, but officials have not yet released full lists of the deceased or missing.

  • Four students receive DOMLEC scholarships for secondary school

    Four students receive DOMLEC scholarships for secondary school

    In a formal ceremony held on Wednesday morning, Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) has awarded full secondary education scholarships to four outstanding local students, reaffirming the energy provider’s longstanding commitment to investing in the island nation’s youth and educational development.

    The event was attended by senior members of DOMLEC’s executive management team, who formally presented the awards to the four recipients. Each scholarship will cover the students’ educational costs over the next five years of their secondary schooling, removing financial barriers that could otherwise hinder their academic progress.

    Addressing the new scholarship holders during the ceremony, DOMLEC Customer Service Clerk Alex Honore-Thomas shared practical and motivational guidance as the students prepare to embark on this critical phase of their academic journeys. Honore-Thomas urged the recipients to approach their secondary studies with intentional commitment, clear purpose, and a proactive mindset, encouraging them to seize every learning and growth opportunity available to them during their secondary school years.

    The four awardees represent four different secondary institutions across Dominica. Merjhana Guiste will attend Portsmouth Secondary School, while Daville Alexander and Kira Bertrand will enroll at Dominica Grammar School. The fourth recipient, Kaley Fabien, will pursue studies at Author Waldron SDA Academy.

    This scholarship initiative is not a one-off effort, but part of DOMLEC’s ongoing corporate commitment to supporting local student advancement. Company leaders framed the program as a strategic investment in education, noting that strong educational outcomes for young Dominicans form the foundational building blocks for long-term collective and individual success across the island.

  • Regering verhoogt lonen landsdienaren met 15%, geen akkoord met vakbeweging

    Regering verhoogt lonen landsdienaren met 15%, geen akkoord met vakbeweging

    In a joint announcement released on August 27, the government of Suriname has ordered a 15 percent across-the-board salary increase for all civil servants and equivalent public sector employees, marking a major step to address long-running demands for wage adjustments amid the country’s ongoing economic pressures.

    According to the official statement, the salary increase will take effect immediately, with the adjusted pay and backdated disbursements scheduled to reach employee accounts by the end of September 2026. While the decision comes after a series of closed-door negotiations between government officials and national labor union representatives, both sides have explicitly confirmed that no final comprehensive agreement on public sector working conditions has been reached.

    Suriname President Jennifer Simons shared the outcome of the negotiations during a press conference immediately following the release of the statement, emphasizing that dialogue with the labor movement will continue in the coming months to resolve remaining sticking points.

    To move forward with unresolved discussions, the two sides have agreed to establish a mixed joint working group tasked with developing detailed policy proposals. The panel will be composed of 8 government delegates and 7 representatives from various labor unions, and will be given a three-month timeline to finalize concrete plans for future adjustments to employment terms and the long-term financial framework for public sector salaries.

    The explicit emphasis on the lack of a final comprehensive agreement in the joint statement highlights that talks over public sector working conditions remain open, even with the immediate 15 percent wage increase now confirmed. Discussions over broader labor reforms and additional wage adjustments are expected to continue after the working group delivers its preliminary findings.

    The statement was signed on behalf of the Suriname government by Minister of Internal Affairs Marinus Bee, who also serves as chair of the presidential negotiation commission, and Vincent Fernandes, Director of the country’s Finance Department. Signatories on the labor side included senior representatives from two of the country’s largest union bodies, Ravaksur PLUS and BVL/ALS, alongside other labor movement leaders.

  • Why Everything From Ground Beef to Gas Costs More Right Now

    Why Everything From Ground Beef to Gas Costs More Right Now

    New official data published by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) confirms that the country’s overall consumer inflation hit 4.1% year-over-year in July 2026, with steep increases in fuel, housing and food costs accounting for the vast majority of the upward price pressure.

    The national Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key benchmark for tracking broad price changes across the economy, reached 125.3 in July this year, up from 120.4 in the same month of 2025. A breakdown of price shifts across sectors shows that three core categories – transport, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and food and non-alcoholic beverages – combined to contribute more than 75% of July’s total inflation. Notably, insurance and financial services were the only segments of the consumer basket that recorded no price increase over the 12-month period.

    Of all measured categories, transport saw the sharpest annual acceleration, climbing 12.4% year-over-year, with the entire increase almost exclusively traced to spiking fuel costs. Per-gallon prices for all major fuel grades jumped dramatically: diesel rose the most, adding $2.98 to reach $14.32 per gallon, while premium gasoline increased by $2.33 to hit $15.54 per gallon, and regular gasoline added $1.91 to settle at $13.77 per gallon. Beyond fuel, passenger transport services – including local bus and taxi fares as well as international air travel – also saw a double-digit increase of 15.5% over the year.

    The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category recorded a 3.9% annual increase, driven primarily by higher residential rental rates and new utility tariffs that took effect earlier in 2026. Average monthly bills for households have risen in line with these changes: a typical home using 225 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month now pays $91.50, up from $84.25 a year earlier, while a household consuming 4,500 gallons of water monthly now pays $91.13, compared to $86.38 12 months prior. A 100-pound cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly used for residential cooking, has also increased by $7.44 to reach $137.54.

    Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded a more modest 1.9% annual increase, though key staple products saw much steeper jumps. The overall meat and poultry segment rose 4.6%, with ground beef alone climbing 11.8% to $8.49 per pound. Sugar recorded a 16.4% price increase, rising from $1.02 to $1.26 per pound, while bread and bakery products went up 1.8%, and grapes increased 10.3% to $11.11 per pound. Despite these broad increases, a handful of fresh produce items saw price declines: tomatoes dropped 19.9%, grapefruits fell 24.7%, and limes decreased 9.6% year-over-year.

    Other consumer segments also recorded moderate price gains: health care costs rose 7% amid higher hospital admission and surgical fees, clothing and footwear went up 3.3%, and restaurants and accommodation services increased 3.4% annually.

    Inflation rates also varied significantly across Belize’s municipalities. The San Ignacio/Santa Elena municipal area recorded the country’s highest July inflation rate at 5.3%, with above-average price increases across transport, rent, food, medical services and clothing. In contrast, San Pedro Town recorded the lowest national inflation rate at 3.0%, supported by smaller-than-average increases in taxi and sea transport fares, restaurant services, LPG and medical costs.

    Between June and July 2026, national consumer prices remained largely unchanged, with a marginal overall decrease of 0.02% that signals short-term price stability after months of steady increases. A 0.3% month-over-month rise in food costs, driven by higher prices for fresh vegetables and meat, was fully offset by a 0.5% drop in transport costs, which followed a $1.01 per gallon reduction in diesel prices during July.

    Looking at the full-year trend through the first seven months of 2026, Belize’s cumulative year-to-date inflation stands at 2.7% compared to the same period in 2025. As with the July data, the same three core categories of transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and housing-related utilities contribute nearly three-quarters of the total cumulative price increase so far this year.

  • SIB: Belizeans Are Feeling Better About the Economy

    SIB: Belizeans Are Feeling Better About the Economy

    In a surprising shift after months of stagnation, Belize’s consumer sentiment has recorded its first monthly uptick of 2026, new official data shows. The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) announced on August 27 that the national Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rose 3.6 percentage points from June’s reading of 41.1 to hit 42.6 in July.

    The modest overall improvement masks broad-based gains across all three core metrics that make up the benchmark index. The largest jump was seen in the Present Conditions component, which measures public perception of current economic circumstances relative to 12 months prior. This metric climbed 7.1 points to reach 40.2, up from June’s 37.6. Sentiment around big-ticket durable goods purchases, the second index component, rose 3.3 points to settle at 35.5 from 34.4. The Expectations component, which tracks consumer outlooks for future economic performance, posted the smallest gain, inching up 1.2 points from 51.4 to 52.0.

    While the national trend is positive, the uptick in confidence is far from uniform across the country’s districts, demographic groups, and regions. Orange Walk District notched the most dramatic increase, with overall consumer confidence surging 12.6 percentage points. That gain was fueled by an extraordinary 45.6 percent jump in consumer willingness to commit to major household purchases. By contrast, Stann Creek District recorded the nation’s sharpest decline, with overall confidence falling 10.7 percent. The drop there was driven by a 19.2 percent plummet in future expectations, as local residents grew markedly more pessimistic about long-term economic trajectories.

    A similar divide separates urban and rural consumer sentiment across Belize. Urban consumers saw their overall confidence climb 6.5 percent, led by a 16.9 percent surge in durable goods sentiment. More urban residents reported growing openness to purchasing big-ticket items including consumer electronics, home furniture, and personal vehicles. Rural confidence saw only a modest 1.4 percent uptick, driven entirely by improved views of current economic conditions rather than future spending plans. Notably, rural sentiment toward durable goods purchases actually fell 6.1 percent over the month.

    Demographic breakdowns by age also reveal sharp divergences in sentiment. Adults between the ages of 25 and 34 recorded the largest confidence gain of any age group, with an overall 10 percent increase that included improvements across all three index components. On the opposite end of the spectrum, younger consumers aged 18 to 24 posted the steepest overall confidence decline of any cohort. That drop stemmed from a 21.6 percent fall in durable goods sentiment, paired with weakening views of both current economic conditions and future job and income prospects.

    Ethnic breakdowns also show conflicting trends: Creole respondents recorded a 10.8 percent overall improvement in confidence, powered by a 22.6 percent jump in willingness to make major purchases. Garifuna respondents reported the opposite trend, with overall confidence falling 10.7 percent amid growing pessimism about both current economic circumstances and future big-ticket spending.

    Even by gender, gaps in confidence growth are visible. Overall confidence among male consumers rose 2.4 percent, while female consumers saw a stronger 4.8 percent increase. Women’s gains were driven primarily by improving perceptions of current domestic economic conditions.

    For context, the SIB’s CCI is a monthly benchmark that ranges from 0 to 100, with readings above 50 generally indicating that consumers hold overall optimistic views about the economy. The institute notes that the index serves as an important leading indicator for broader national economic performance, since consumer spending accounts for a large share of Belize’s total economic output. Changes in consumer confidence typically signal upcoming shifts in household spending, saving, and investment patterns that shape overall economic growth in subsequent quarters.

  • Final Call: EPIC’s Love the Caribbean Photo Contest

    Final Call: EPIC’s Love the Caribbean Photo Contest

    Photography enthusiasts and Caribbean lovers across the globe have just seven more days to submit their work to the second annual Seas & Scenes: Love the Caribbean Photo Contest 2026, hosted by non-profit environmental organization EPIC in collaboration with regional publication Caribbean Compass. More than a simple photography competition, this event is designed to honor the multifaceted character of the Caribbean: its breathtaking natural landscapes, diverse wildlife, vibrant local communities, and centuries-old sailing traditions that define life across the region.

    This completely free-to-enter competition will close its entry portal at the end of 31 August 2026, offering participants 12 distinct opportunities to take home a share of over $3,000 USD in total prizes. Awards for first, second, and third place are offered across four core competition categories: Caribbean Life & Nature, which captures everyday moments and native ecosystems; Sailing, Yachting & Life on the Water, which celebrates the region’s deep maritime heritage; Environmental Impact & Stewardship, which spotlights efforts to protect Caribbean ecosystems; and the popular Audience Choice award, which lets the public vote for their favorite entries up to five times per day.

    As the contest enters its final week, organizers have already confirmed that more than 300 original photographs have been submitted from 26 different Caribbean nations and territories – a figure that already exceeds the total entry count and geographic representation from the inaugural 2025 contest. Winners for the three jury-judged categories will be selected by a diverse panel of regional experts, whose backgrounds span professional photography, marine conservation, sailing, regional journalism, and Caribbean cultural studies, ensuring a fair and context-aware evaluation process.

    Tabitha Stadler, Executive Director of EPIC, shared her perspective on the value of this year’s submissions. “This year’s photos and stories show the care, connection, and resilience that bind people to one another and to the places they love. That is what makes these images so powerful and these places so worth protecting,” Stadler said.

    The 2026 competition is backed by headline sponsors DSL Yachting and IGY Marinas St Maarten, with additional prize donations from a network of local businesses and regional partner organizations that all share EPIC’s core mission of celebrating and preserving Caribbean natural and cultural heritage. To submit photographs, vote in the Audience Choice category, or review full contest rules, visit the official competition page at epicislands.org/photo-contest-2026/.

    This story was published via NOW Grenada, which notes that it is not responsible for individual contributor opinions, statements, or shared third-party content. Users can report abusive content through the platform’s official reporting channel.

  • Deputy PM reports to Parliament on eye scare

    Deputy PM reports to Parliament on eye scare

    On Thursday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock, 75, opened up to members of the national Parliament about his unexpected recent absence overseas, explaining that a sudden decline in his long-managed eye condition forced him to pause all official responsibilities to pursue urgent medical care abroad. The veteran lawmaker, who has served in national legislative bodies for 25 years and held the Central Kingstown parliamentary seat since 2010, said he chose to address the House directly to clear up any uncertainty among his constituents and the general public about his whereabouts and well-being.

    Leacock first revealed that his battle with serious eye issues dates back 13 years, when he developed retinal tears in both eyes that required emergency surgery and left him completely without vision for more than a week. Calling that period an extraordinarily unpleasant experience, he noted that the condition has required ongoing monitoring ever since. The latest health scare emerged on the very morning he was set to travel to Barbados to stand in for Prime Minister Godwin Friday at the funeral of iconic West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, when he detected a sudden, worrying deterioration in his right eye’s vision.

    Recognizing the severity of the change, Leacock made the call to reschedule his official funeral duties and prioritize his health. Medical evaluations confirmed that immediate corrective intervention was necessary, and following his children’s recommendation, he opted to seek treatment in the United States rather than returning to Barbados, where his original surgery took place decades prior.

    Emphasizing that unplanned absences from parliamentary sessions are extremely out of character for him, Leacock told the chamber that in his quarter-century of service as both a senator and elected member of Parliament, he cannot recall ever missing a scheduled sitting. He confirmed he has now returned to his duties and is in overall good health, and shared his renewed commitment to proactive management of his eye health going forward. As part of that plan, he will undergo regular follow-up examinations over the next 12 months, which will require additional short trips overseas.

    Even during his medical trip, Leacock noted that he did not step away entirely from his ministerial responsibilities. He met with representatives of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate in New York to work through ongoing matters tied to his portfolio, and indicated that he may share more details about that work when responding to an upcoming important parliamentary question. Parliamentary proceedings resumed as scheduled following his address.

  • Fuel Prices in the Dominican Republic remain unchanged for the week of August 29

    Fuel Prices in the Dominican Republic remain unchanged for the week of August 29

    SANTO DOMINGO – In a targeted move to shield working families and preserve economic momentum amid volatile global energy markets, the Dominican government has announced it will hold fuel and gas prices steady for the seven-day period running from August 29 through September 4. The freeze applies to all major retail energy products, including premium and regular grade gasoline, both standard and high-performance diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and residential and commercial natural gas.

    This price stabilization effort is not a one-off adjustment, but a core component of the administration’s long-running Anti-Crisis Plan, a strategic policy framework crafted to guard the nation’s economic stability and prevent rising global energy costs from eroding the purchasing power of low- and middle-income households that are most sensitive to price swings.

    To make the frozen price structure possible, the Dominican state is covering the gap between current global wholesale energy costs and the capped retail prices charged to consumers. Under the freeze, LPG will remain locked in at RD$135.20 per gallon, holding steady for consumers who rely on the fuel for cooking and home heating across the country.

    For this specific weekly pricing period, the government has earmarked a total of RD$1,209.1 million in targeted fuel subsidies to absorb international market price hikes that would otherwise be passed directly to motorists, businesses, and households. The substantial public investment translates to direct savings of up to RD$95.65 per gallon for local drivers and domestic industrial operators, keeping transportation costs and operational overhead lower than they would be without government intervention.