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National CHOGM Task Force Expresses Delight With Carnival 26 Activations

The National Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Task Force has publicly shared its satisfaction with the widespread, well-executed activations rolled out for the 26th edition of the national carnival.

Carnival 26, designed as a cultural lead-up to the upcoming high-profile CHOGM summit, brought together thousands of participants from local communities, cultural groups, and event planning teams across the country. The series of activations included street parades featuring traditional folk performances, public art installations highlighting Commonwealth cultural heritage, community dialogues focused on cultural exchange, and food festivals showcasing diverse culinary traditions from across member states.

Task Force leadership noted that the events successfully achieved their core goal: building public excitement for the upcoming CHOGM gathering while celebrating the shared cultural ties that bind Commonwealth nations together. Organisers reported strong turnouts at every activation site, with both local residents and international visitors turning out to engage with the programming.

“This level of community participation and creative execution exceeds our initial expectations,” said a senior spokesperson for the National CHOGM Task Force in a media statement. “The Carnival 26 team has managed to blend local cultural identity with the inclusive, collaborative spirit that defines CHOGM, creating a welcoming atmosphere ahead of the main summit. We are incredibly grateful to every community group, artist, volunteer, and attendee that contributed to making these activations a resounding success.”

Local cultural leaders echoed the task force’s positive assessment, noting that the carnival activations have also provided a critical economic boost to small local businesses in host communities, from hospitality vendors to craft artisans. Many attendees shared on social media that the events offered a accessible, joyful way to connect with the work of CHOGM ahead of the official leadership meetings.

6 8 月, 2026
Belize’s Shrimp Industry Stages a Comeback, Cabinet Says

After years of widespread production collapse caused by a devastating aquatic disease, Belize’s iconic shrimp industry is mounting a remarkable comeback, according to an official announcement from the country’s Cabinet released this week.

A decade ago, Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), a highly contagious bacterial disease that targets young shrimp in farmed populations, swept through Belize’s coastal aquaculture operations, wiping out most of the nation’s harvest and pushing the once-thriving sector to the brink of collapse. For years, producers struggled to contain the outbreak and rebuild their operations, with far lower output and stagnant export revenues.

Today, that narrative has shifted dramatically. Cabinet officials confirmed that ongoing recovery efforts have yielded dramatic results: total national shrimp production has tripled compared to 2020 levels, and the total annual economic contribution of the industry to Belize’s GDP has climbed to nearly $25 million. The Cabinet publicly praised stakeholders across the sector for their coordinated work to reverse the industry’s decline.

Government leaders attribute the unexpected rapid rebound to a confluence of strategic changes and new investment. Three key factors have driven the turnaround: first, the widespread adoption of disease-resistant, faster-growing shrimp genetics that cut production cycles and reduce mortality rates; second, a wave of new private and public investment that has allowed operations to upgrade infrastructure and adopt modern farming practices; and third, a strategic expansion of total farmed pond acreage, managed with cutting-edge intensive production systems that boost output while reducing environmental risk.

Looking ahead, the Belizean Cabinet projects that these gains will set the foundation for sustained long-term growth in the shrimp sector. A key part of that growth will be the full revival of export routes, with shipments already resuming to key markets including Mexico, the broader Caribbean region, and Taiwan. Industry analysts and government officials alike expect continued expansion in both production and export volumes over the coming years, cementing the shrimp industry’s return as a key driver of coastal economic activity in Belize.

6 8 月, 2026
6 Optimist boats hand-built by Carriacou youth

For generations, the coastal community of Windward in Carriacou has held close to its deep maritime roots, with traditional wooden boatbuilding standing as one of its most cherished cultural legacies. This summer, that centuries-old craft got a vital injection of new energy, as a group of young aspiring builders turned raw materials into six handcrafted Optimist dinghies through a unique youth-focused training initiative.

The project was developed as part of the Division of Youth’s Camp Flame programme, created to connect younger Grenadians to fading traditional skills. Over the course of the intensive summer course, participants gathered at the purpose-built boatbuilding school facility to learn every step of the craft under the tutelage of master shipwright Bernard McLawrence, a veteran of the trade who has spent decades honing the techniques passed down through generations. Starting from nothing more than raw lumber and hand tools, the group worked together to complete six fully functional small sailboats, then added personal touches by hand-painting each vessel with bold, custom designs that reflect their own creativity.

The boatbuilding school that hosted the programme itself is the product of a forward-thinking strategic collaboration. It was established through a partnership between the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government, and Ambassador Piero Zippoli, Grenada’s Special Envoy for Investment. The entire facility was built with a clear core mission: to protect and pass on the unique maritime cultural heritage that has defined Carriacou’s identity for hundreds of years.

Now that the six new boats are fully complete, organisers are preparing to mark the milestone with a traditional launching ceremony, held true to the long-standing customs of Windward. The event will incorporate all the historic blessings, rituals, and traditions that have accompanied the launch of new vessels in the community for generations, turning the completion of the youth-built boats into a celebration of both cultural continuity and the promise of the next generation. For organisers and community members alike, the successful programme is more than just a boatbuilding class – it is a critical step toward ensuring that Carriacou’s iconic maritime legacy does not just survive, but thrives for years to come.

6 8 月, 2026
Two Villa Men Shot Near West Bus Station

A brazen shooting incident has rocked the area around St. John’s West Bus Station, leaving two young men from Villa with gunshot wounds just moments after the attack unfolded. Local law enforcement has launched an urgent investigation into the attack, which occurred as the two victims were traveling home from a public works gathering hosted at the city’s Multi-Purpose Centre, according to initial law enforcement briefs.

Preliminary medical updates confirm that one of the victims sustained a gunshot wound to his torso side, while the second victim was hit in the leg. Both men are currently receiving urgent medical care, though official updates on their current conditions have not yet been released to the public.

Investigators have also confirmed that the two injured young men are reportedly linked to a local faction known by the name “2Drilly”, a detail that has added a new layer of context to the ongoing probe into what led to the public attack. Local residents have expressed shock over the violent incident taking place in a busy transit hub, and authorities are asking any witnesses who were in the area around the time of the shooting to come forward with any information that could help move the investigation forward.

6 8 月, 2026
PM’s remarks on GPWU collective bargaining agreement

On 5 August 2026, the Government of Grenada and the Grenada Public Workers’ Union marked a historic milestone with the formal ceremonial signing of a new multi-year Collective Bargaining Agreement, an outcome forged through months of collaborative, respectful negotiation between the two parties. In his official remarks delivered at the ceremony, Grenada’s Prime Minister opened by acknowledging key stakeholders in the process, including union leadership, the government’s cross-functional negotiating team, the Office of the Labour Commissioner, trade union representatives, public sector workers, and assembled media.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the successful completion of negotiations stands as a testament to the core values that guided every discussion: open dialogue, mutual respect, intentional compromise, and a shared commitment to advancing the interests of both public service employees and the broader population of Grenada. He noted that collective bargaining is seldom a simple, linear process, requiring significant patience, disciplined negotiation, and most critically, a willingness to prioritize listening to competing priorities. Over the course of many months, both the Government Negotiating Team and union representatives held extensive talks, evaluated dozens of competing proposals, balanced conflicting national and worker interests, and never wavered from the belief that a mutually acceptable deal could be reached through constructive engagement. That shared commitment, the Prime Minister noted, made the historic signing possible.

He extended sincere recognition to the Grenada Public Workers’ Union leadership for their consistent professionalism and resolve throughout the negotiation period, and also commended the full Government Negotiating Team – chaired by Bernard Antoine, with Deputy Chair PS Lyndonna Hillaire-Marshall – for upholding a process that remained respectful, constructive, and focused on finding collaborative solutions.

From the outset of negotiations, the Prime Minister explained, the government entered talks with two equally critical, non-negotiable responsibilities. The first was to deliver fair, meaningful improvements to public sector workers’ compensation and working conditions. The second was to protect Grenada’s long-term fiscal stability, ensuring that the commitments made in the agreement remain affordable for future generations. According to the Prime Minister, the final agreement strikes this delicate balance successfully.

The agreement includes a phased salary increase schedule: a 4% pay rise in 2026, a second 4% increase in 2027, and a 5% increase in 2028. It also pairs these wage adjustments with a broad package of enhanced fringe benefits designed to improve the daily working experience for public sector employees. Key benefits include higher travel and commuting allowances, expanded eligibility and provisions for study leave, new workplace employee wellness programs, upgraded occupational safety standards, increased housing allowances for public medical practitioners, and dozens of additional targeted measures to strengthen overall employment terms across the public service.

These improvements are rooted in a clear, core principle articulated by the Prime Minister: public sector workers are the foundational lifeblood of national progress. The quality of a nation’s public service depends entirely on the commitment, professionalism, and wellbeing of the men and women who deliver public services to citizens every day. For this reason, the government frames public sector employee compensation investment as a direct investment in long-term national development. However, the Prime Minister stressed that reciprocal accountability must accompany this investment: as the government improves pay, working conditions, and employee support, the government expects a renewed commitment to excellence, transparency, accountability, and high-quality service delivery across the entire public sector.

This expectation aligns directly with the sweeping public sector transformation agenda already underway across Grenada. The government is rolling out a new Integrated Performance Management System, which modernizes how public sector performance is planned, monitored, developed, evaluated, and rewarded across all departments and agencies. For the first time, performance management will operate as a single, continuous end-to-end system, spanning from government-wide strategic planning down to individual work planning, ongoing coaching and feedback, formal performance assessments, targeted professional development, and ultimately, performance-based recognition and rewards. The Prime Minister also confirmed that the government has recently finalized validation for the Medium-Term Action Plan (MTAP), a core foundational document for the new strategic planning process.

This framework reflects the government’s core belief that a direct, positive link exists between improved working conditions and improved service performance. When the government invests in its employees, workers should in turn invest their talents, energy, and professionalism in delivering high-quality service to the people of Grenada. The Prime Minister affirmed that Grenadian citizens deserve a public service that is efficient, responsive to community needs, innovative, and centered on people.

Beyond compensation and performance reform, today’s agreement also reflects the government’s commitment to building modern, collaborative industrial relations. The agreement enshrines the principle of a just transition for public sector workers, recognizing that as the government pursues public service modernization and reform, workers must remain at the center of that transformation through fair treatment, ongoing consultation, targeted skills development, and guaranteed job security. This approach is fully aligned with the government’s broader public sector modernization agenda, which also includes workforce regularisation, pension system reform, cross-government digital transformation, and ongoing capacity building for public employees.

These interconnected initiatives are not isolated, one-off reforms, the Prime Minister explained. Together, they represent a deliberate, long-term investment in building a stronger, more agile public service capable of meeting the evolving demands of a rapidly changing global landscape.

In closing, the Prime Minister extended gratitude to all public officers represented by the Grenada Public Workers’ Union for their ongoing, dedicated service to the nation, to union leadership for their commitment to constructive dialogue, and to the government negotiating team for their diligence and professionalism throughout the process. He expressed hope that the signing marks the start of an even stronger partnership between the government and public workers, dedicated to improving public officers’ quality of life and delivering exceptional service to every Grenadian citizen, ending with a blessing for the people of Grenada.

6 8 月, 2026
New Departure Fee Coming to Belize’s Municipal Airports

Starting in the near future, both local residents and international travelers flying out of Belize’s municipal airports will face an additional new cost for their trips, after the national Cabinet gave formal approval to a $10 aviation security fee that will apply to every departing passenger. This policy change, outlined in an official Cabinet briefing released this week, is framed as a necessary step to bring Belize’s municipal airport security protocols in line with global modern standards.

As the national body tasked with overseeing the safety, security and operational efficiency of all civil aviation activities across Belize, the Belize Airports Authority will oversee the security upgrades the new fee will fund. Cabinet’s briefing notes that global aviation security requirements have shifted dramatically in recent years, driven by rising transnational security threats, rapid advancements in passenger and baggage screening technology, and more stringent international compliance mandates that all nations must meet to maintain safe air travel networks.

All revenue generated from the new $10 fee will be allocated specifically to closing the gap between Belize’s current security infrastructure and modern requirements. Government officials confirmed that the funding will go toward expanding and upgrading screening procedures, as well as supporting a slate of broader modernization projects aimed at reinforcing security infrastructure at municipal airports across the country.

Notably, the new fee only applies to passengers departing from municipal airports, and is separate from the existing international departure tax already collected from travelers leaving the country via Philip Goldson International Airport.

The push to strengthen Belize’s aviation security framework comes one year after one of the most high-stakes aviation incidents in the country’s recent history: the Holy Thursday hijacking of a Tropic Air commercial flight traveling from Corozal to San Pedro. During that incident, an armed passenger attacked the flight crew mid-flight and demanded the aircraft be diverted to the United States. Pilot Howell Grange, who sustained multiple stab wounds during the confrontation, successfully maintained control of the plane and navigated it to a safe landing. The widely reported incident fundamentally shifted the Belizean aviation sector’s approach to pre-flight security and passenger screening, prompting the urgent push for infrastructure upgrades that the new fee will fund.

6 8 月, 2026
Vrouwelijke DNA-leden hervatten werk en eisen strengere gedragsregels na uitlating Van Samson

On August 6, female members of coalition caucuses in Suriname’s National Assembly announced they would return to their official parliamentary duties, but maintained their public protest against controversial, misogynistic remarks made by ruling VHP parliamentarian Cedric van Samson. Leading the group of protesting lawmakers, Rossellie Cotino of the opposition NDP delivered a formal letter to National Assembly Speaker Ashwin Adhin, calling for tightened parliamentary ethics rules and enforceable measures to combat gender-based discrimination within the legislature.

The protest first erupted on July 30, when all female lawmakers walked out of the assembly chamber in response to comments van Samson made during a radio interview regarding women in leadership roles. At the time, the lawmakers left the chamber to pressure van Samson to retract his statements and issue a formal public apology. Cotino emphasized that the group is demanding accountability for discriminatory, anti-women rhetoric that has damaged public perception of and trust in women’s political leadership. “We will not back down from this demand, because these comments harm not just sitting female lawmakers, but all women seeking to lead in our country,” Cotino stated in her address to the assembly.

Cotino expressed clear disappointment that van Samson has refused to issue an apology to date, even after widespread calls for accountability from national women’s rights organizations and other public groups. She also noted that while the VHP, van Samson’s own party, has publicly stated his comments are out of step with modern values, the party has not pushed its member to issue a formal apology.

The formal letter delivered to Speaker Adhin outlines four core demands from the protesting female lawmakers. First, the letter labels van Samson’s comments discriminatory, offensive, and fundamentally anti-women. It calls on the National Assembly to implement formal policy to prevent gender discrimination, adopt stricter ethical and professional conduct standards for all elected representatives, update the body’s standing orders of procedure to codify these protections, and enforce the equal treatment guarantees enshrined in Article 8 of Suriname’s constitution. In addition to these domestic steps, Cotino announced the group will soon contact the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global intergovernmental body that promotes parliamentary integrity, gender equality, and standardized ethical codes for legislatures worldwide. “We are returning to the work we were elected to do, but we will never allow anyone to undermine women’s ambitions or their right to hold leadership positions,” Cotino added.

Responding to the protest, VHP caucus leader Asis Gajadien reiterated that his party publicly supports equal gender representation and women’s political rights, but argued that the body must avoid setting a constitutional precedent for penalizing statements made by lawmakers outside of official parliamentary proceedings. Gajadien called on the assembly leadership to handle the matter with extreme caution to avoid unintended institutional consequences.

Speaker Adhin responded that all sitting assembly members retain the constitutional right to raise social and political issues in the chamber, citing Article 54 of Suriname’s constitution, which protects freedom of discussion and criticism within state institutions.

The protesting female lawmakers have received cross-partisan support from multiple caucuses in the assembly. Ronny Asabina, the sole representative of the BEP party, expressed full solidarity with the group, describing van Samson’s comments as “unfit” and “unbecoming of an elected parliamentarian.” NDP caucus leader Rabin Parmessar commended the female lawmakers for choosing to resume their parliamentary duties after making their protest clear, reaffirming that Suriname’s constitutional principle prohibits all forms of discrimination, including gender discrimination. Steven Reyme of the A20 party also backed the female lawmakers’ position, noting he was raised by a single mother and highlighting that women have held critical leadership roles throughout religious history, from a Biblical perspective.

6 8 月, 2026
Dominica to establish creative economy development agency

The Commonwealth of Dominica is set to establish a specialized government body to coordinate support for its growing creative industry, a move that marks a key milestone in the island nation’s broader economic diversification push. Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre first unveiled plans for the Dominica Creative Economy Development Agency (DCEDA) during his official presentation of the 2026/2027 national budget, confirming the initiative’s place as a core priority for the current administration.

For years, Dominica’s economic landscape has been heavily tied to traditional sectors such as agriculture and tourism, leaving the country exposed to sudden external shocks ranging from global tourism downturns to climate-related agricultural disruptions. The new DCEDA initiative reflects a growing policy recognition that the nation’s rich pool of creative talent—from local musicians, visual artists and filmmakers to product designers and other cultural workers—holds untapped commercial value that can drive long-term, resilient growth.

“To further harness the creative talent of our people, the Government has decided to establish Dominica’s Creative Economy Development Agency,” Dr. McIntyre stated in his budget address. In the months ahead, the government will launch a broad consultation process to gather input from creators, cultural practitioners, event organizers and other key stakeholders across the sector. Administration officials emphasized that this inclusive feedback process is critical to ensuring the final structural framework of the agency aligns with the actual on-the-ground needs and long-term professional ambitions of the people it will serve.

Once established, the DCEDA will centralize and streamline government support for creative professionals, filling gaps in coordination that have historically limited the sector’s growth. This policy move forms a core component of the government’s wider economic diversification strategy, which aims to generate new sustainable streams of income and employment for Dominicans while reducing the national economy’s sensitivity to volatile global market shifts. By investing in the creative sector, the government hopes to build a more balanced, resilient economy that leverages Dominica’s unique cultural identity as a competitive economic asset.

6 8 月, 2026
NOAA Revises Atlantic Hurricane Outlook, Still Expects Below-Normal Season

As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season heads toward its climatological peak in early September, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reaffirmed its initial projection that the region will see substantially below-normal cyclone activity. The updated outlook, published Thursday, points to a rapidly strengthening El Niño event as the dominant factor suppressing storm formation and growth across the Atlantic basin.

Per NOAA’s revised prediction, the entire Atlantic will see between seven and 13 named storms total, counting the two systems that have already formed through the current stage of the season. Of these projected storms, two to six are expected to strengthen into full hurricanes, and just zero to two are forecast to reach major hurricane status – the classification reserved for systems with sustained wind speeds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or greater, ranking Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

The agency puts the probability of the season ending below the long-term average at 75%, with just a 20% chance of near-normal activity and a mere 5% chance of activity exceeding average levels. This updated outlook shows almost no shift from NOAA’s initial seasonal forecast released back in May, reflecting the consistent trajectory of climate conditions shaping the season.

To put the projections in context, an average Atlantic hurricane season typically generates 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. Through the first half of the 2026 season, only two named storms – Tropical Storm Arthur and Tropical Storm Bertha – have formed, and neither gained enough strength to reach hurricane status. Both systems originated in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Louisiana, bringing heavy downpours to the Gulf Coast; Arthur also spawned multiple tornadoes across the region during its passage.

Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, stressed that storm strength measured by wind speed does not capture the full scope of potential harm from tropical systems. “Inland rainfall is a major cause of damage from tropical storms and hurricanes, as Arthur demonstrated,” Graham noted. “That’s why it’s important to prepare for every storm that’s projected to impact your area, even if it never reaches hurricane strength.”

Forecasters confirm that the primary force limiting Atlantic storm activity this year is the strengthening El Niño, which first developed in the equatorial Pacific back in June. El Niño alters global wind patterns to increase vertical wind shear across the entire Atlantic basin – a condition that tears apart developing tropical systems before they can organize and intensify, sharply reducing the overall number of storms that form.

Matt Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster, explained that El Niño has solidified its role as the overriding climate influence for the 2026 Atlantic season. “When El Niño emerges, it usually becomes the dominant factor in total hurricane season activity, and this El Niño continues to get stronger every month,” Rosencrans said. “Compared to a mature El Niño, other mechanisms play a smaller role in determining the number and intensity of tropical storms in the Atlantic basin.”

Two secondary climate factors are also factored into the outlook: near-average sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic and a neutral West African monsoon. Forecasters note both will have far less impact on overall seasonal activity than the strengthening El Niño event.

While the Atlantic is set for a quieter than usual season, El Niño has the opposite effect on Pacific hurricane activity, pushing both the Eastern and Central Pacific basins toward above-average seasons this year. NOAA continues to project 15 to 22 named storms for the Eastern Pacific, where seven named storms – including two hurricanes and one major hurricane – have already formed, matching the above-average trajectory the agency initially predicted.

NOAA underlines one critical caveat to its seasonal outlook: the broad projection of total storm activity does not include predictions for where any individual storm will make landfall. Landfall location is determined by short-term atmospheric patterns that can only be reliably forecast roughly one week in advance, the agency notes. The U.S. National Hurricane Center continues to issue regular, updated forecasts, watches and warnings for all active tropical systems to keep at-risk coastal communities informed.

6 8 月, 2026
Reminder: Queen Conch Closed Season Remains in Effect Until August 31

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – As the 2026 annual queen conch closed season enters its second month, local authorities and environmental conservation groups have reissued a public reminder to all residents, commercial fishers, and businesses across the twin-island nation that harvesting, trading, or holding queen conch remains illegal through August 31.

This seasonal regulatory closure, which runs from July 1 to August 31 each year, aligns with the species’ critical annual breeding cycle. The pause in human harvesting activity gives queen conch populations unimpeded space to mate and reproduce, laying the groundwork for more robust population growth in the coming years. As one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most ecologically and economically valuable marine resources, long-term protection of queen conch is tied directly to the sustainability of the local fishing industry and the health of the nation’s coastal marine ecosystems.

The Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), a leading local environmental advocacy organization, has emphasized that widespread public compliance with the closure rule is essential to preserving the species for future generations. Environmental advocates have called on community members to not only adhere to the regulations themselves but also remain vigilant for any suspicious activity related to the protected conch.

Any member of the public who suspects illegal harvesting, sale, or possession of queen conch during the closed season is instructed to report the activity immediately to the national Fisheries Division via the dedicated contact line at 462-1372, enabling rapid enforcement of conservation rules.

6 8 月, 2026