In a landmark achievement that has resonated across global military circles, the Dominican Republic has secured the top position at Fuerza Comando Paraguay 2026, one of the world’s most grueling international special operations military competitions. The Dominican special operations team rose above elite commando units from 17 other participating nations, turning in a standout performance across every discipline of the multinational contest. Throughout the week of high-stakes challenges, competitors showcased extraordinary physical stamina, sharp tactical proficiency, pinpoint precision, confident leadership, seamless team coordination, and unbreakable mental toughness to outperform their rivals. This historic win marks the very first time the Dominican Armed Forces have claimed the overall championship title at Fuerza Comando, a milestone that cements the nation’s growing standing as a skilled player in international military training and special operations. Dominican Defense Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre of the Dominican Republic Army has publicly celebrated the team’s historic victory. He emphasized that the result is a source of immense national pride, and extended formal recognition to the competing soldiers, instructors, and training staff whose relentless preparation laid the groundwork for the win. General Fernández Onofre noted that the championship reflects the Dominican Armed Forces’ consistent, long-term investment into four core areas: ongoing skills training, institutional professionalization, structural modernization, and the adoption of cutting-edge specialized equipment. These investments, he explained, directly strengthen the nation’s overall operational capacity to address evolving modern security and defense threats. Established as a prestigious global platform for special forces, Fuerza Comando evaluates participants through a series of high-intensity, real-world scenarios designed to test critical capabilities ranging from extreme physical endurance and long-range marksmanship to strategic mission planning, rapid execution, technical mastery, and sound decision-making under extreme pressure. Beyond competition, the event also serves a key diplomatic purpose, fostering closer professional cooperation and relationship-building between military forces from participating nations across the globe. With this unprecedented first-place finish, the Dominican Republic has not only strengthened its international military prestige but also confirmed the world-class level of preparation and capability of its special operations forces, marking a new chapter in the nation’s military development.
博客
-
ECCB Generative AI and Python Summer Camp
Against a backdrop of rapid global digital transformation, regional economic bodies are stepping up efforts to equip young workforces with future-ready technical skills. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), backed by funding from the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, has launched the third iteration of its Generative AI and Python Summer Camp, a groundbreaking initiative designed to ready young people across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) for the competitive demands of the modern digital economy.
Unlike previous editions that centered on simulated learning projects, the 2026 camp introduces a game-changing new component: direct, hands-on collaboration with real enterprise and public-sector clients to tackle tangible, on-the-ground challenges. For the ECCB, this training program is far more than a seasonal youth activity — it forms a core pillar of the bank’s broader strategy to drive regional economic transformation and build a competitive, future-ready local workforce.
“What the camp does is that it arms our youth to be able to have the competencies to compete at a global level in the digital space. And this is what it’s all about,” explained Sybil Welsh, ECCB Project Manager and Senior Project Specialist. This year’s move beyond simulated projects places participants directly in authentic work environments, where they are tasked with identifying client pain points and co-developing innovative, practical solutions. Welsh emphasized that this immersive model pushes young learners to exceed their own perceived limits: “When you have a real client, what you do is immerse our young people in real-life skills, a real innovation lab. You have real clients, you have real projects, and now you really inspire our young people to do all that they need to do, to dig deep, to go beyond what they thought was possible, to meet and I would say even surpass the expectations of clients.”
Telly Onu, the camp’s Lead Trainer, Instructional Design Specialist and Chatbot Edition Hub Coordinator, noted that the real-client model fosters holistic professional growth alongside technical coding proficiency. Beyond mastering generative AI and Python, participants build soft skills that are critical for long-term career success. “The key skills that they really learn, number one, is really problem solving. They all had several meetings with their clients. So obviously they learn how to now do consultative engagements. They build their confidence in that way so they can conduct client interviews, do requirements collection. So basically, each team, we train them on how a real development team actually works,” Onu said.
For the young participants hailing from across ECCU member states, the experience has already delivered transformative personal and professional growth, with many highlighting the unique value of working on live projects. Nia Jack, a 16-year-old participant from St Kitts and Nevis, helped build a custom chatbot for the ASPIRE Programme, a government financial literacy initiative that teaches young people about saving and investing from an early age. “It’s been really fulfilling. I, as a 16-year-old, having the honour of working with the Aspire Programme,” Jack shared.
Simlet Pierre, a participant from St Vincent and the Grenadines, credited the camp with helping him develop critical leadership and collaboration skills he had previously struggled with. “A lot of persons used to tell me that I’m a bit self-centred, so I’ve worked …in large groups. Now I am leading a group of 20 members, to be exact,” Pierre said.
Emma Morris, another St Kitts and Nevis participant, described the experience as equal parts challenging and rewarding. “It was stressful at times for sure because, you know, these are real clients and real people with real needs and having to meet their needs and make sure you make a product that is good enough to not only satisfy them, but satisfy their customer engagement,” Morris said. “So it was challenging, but once we got it done, it felt really nice.”
Alisha Gordon of Grenada called the program transformative, highlighting how it has built foundational skills that will serve her throughout her future career. “It was an incredible and transformative experience. We worked as a team, and we built up a foundation in coding, and I feel like I developed my presentation skills and communication skills,” Gordon said. “The camp has given me the opportunity to learn skills that I know I can use in the future. Working with a real client was especially valuable because we had to listen to their needs, understand the problem and then work together to find a solution.”
Program facilitators echoed participants’ positive assessments, noting that the camp moves far beyond passive technology education to active problem-solving. Kelvin Pompey, an Assistant Facilitator from St Vincent and the Grenadines, highlighted the shift participants have made in understanding the power of collaborative work: “They realised for themselves what they can do together as a group and as a team.”
Eugine Whint, an Assistant Facilitator from Grenada, emphasized that the camp places young Eastern Caribbean learners at the cutting edge of global technological development, giving them a years-long head start on in-demand skills. “This programme is really advanced. What (the campers) are doing are things that, to be honest, people in 5 years’ time will be like, wow, why didn’t I do that before? They are at the forefront of technology,” Whint said.
Co-sponsored by the ECCB and the Republic of China (Taiwan), the 2026 camp also operates in partnership with education ministries across all ECCU member states and specialized delivery partners. The program will conclude on 28 August 2026 with a public showcase, where participating teams will present their completed AI and Python projects to clients, stakeholders and the public, demonstrating the skills and solutions they have built over the course of the camp.
Through initiatives like this Generative AI and Python Summer Camp, the ECCB continues to invest in building a new generation of digitally skilled young leaders who are prepared not only to participate in the evolving global digital economy, but to shape the future growth of the Eastern Caribbean region.
-
Tropical Storm Dolly Forms in the Atlantic, Leeward Islands on Watch
A new tropical cyclone, named Dolly, has officially developed in the central basin of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, triggering official weather watches for populations and authorities across the Leeward Islands. Regional meteorological services have urged local stakeholders to keep close track of the storm’s trajectory as it moves across the open ocean toward the Caribbean island chain.
As of 11:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time on August 27, 2026, the center of Tropical Storm Dolly was positioned approximately 1,555 miles east of the Leeward Islands. The system is currently progressing westward at a forward speed of nearly 24 miles per hour, a steady movement that forecasters project will persist for the next 48 to 72 hours. On its current path, the remnants of Dolly are expected to approach the Leeward Islands by the end of this weekend.
At present, the storm’s maximum sustained winds measure around 40 miles per hour, with occasional gusts reaching higher speeds. Meteorological analysis suggests only minimal intensification is likely over the next two days. In fact, the National Hurricane Center’s forecast indicates that Dolly will most likely degrade into an open tropical wave before it reaches the Leeward Islands.
Even though significant weakening is anticipated before the system reaches populated Caribbean territories, weather officials still warn that heavy precipitation poses a major hazard. Rainfall associated with the decaying system is forecast to begin impacting the Leeward Islands between late Saturday and early Sunday. By Sunday and Monday, the wet weather will extend to the nearby Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. Forecasters note that the heavy downpours could trigger dangerous flash flooding, especially in hilly and mountainous areas with higher elevation, where runoff accumulates rapidly.
-
Climate Change awareness programme in Grenada’s schools
On August 27, Grenada’s Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy brought together youth-focused environmental organizations, international partners, and educational groups for a strategic orientation and collaborative planning workshop. The gathering centered on scaling up the Youth in Action for Climate Change Adaptation School Awareness Campaign, an initiative designed to embed climate literacy across the country’s primary and secondary education systems.
First launched in June 2025, the campaign tailors interactive, age-appropriate learning activities to students from pre-primary through secondary school. Its core goal is to help young learners grasp how climate change uniquely impacts Grenada’s small island ecosystem, and understand the adaptive actions that individuals and local communities can take to build long-term resilience.
Hosted at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Conference Room in the national Ministerial Complex, the August 27 workshop aligned with the ministry’s broader strategy to strengthen cross-sector partnerships, expand the campaign’s geographic reach across Grenada, and build the capacity of youth organizations to lead climate education both in classrooms and through community-based extracurricular programs.
The workshop opened with opening remarks from Permanent Secretary Peron Johnson, who stressed that intentional collaboration with active youth-led groups is critical to expanding the campaign’s impact, deepening meaningful youth engagement on climate issues, and driving collective climate action across schools and local neighborhoods. Following Johnson’s address, Clive Murray, Programme Specialist for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change at UNICEF, outlined UNICEF’s ongoing support for Grenada’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, with a specific focus on integrating child-centered priorities into national climate planning.
Dr. Roxanne Graham-Victor, Grenada’s National Climate Change Adaptation Officer, then delivered a detailed overview of the country’s updated Revised National Adaptation Plan 2025–2030, explaining how the school awareness campaign aligns with the plan’s targets and Grenada’s broader national goals for sustainable development and climate resilience.
Attendees at the workshop represented a diverse range of organizations, including the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) Grenada Chapter, the Caribbean Youth Climate Council (CYCC), Akata Farms, UNICEF, 195in365 Be the Change, the T A Marryshow Community College Environmental Awareness Movement (TEAM), the St George’s University Education Conservation Outreach (ECO) Club, and RCC Caribbean. During the session, participating partners were introduced to the range of interactive methodologies already being deployed through the campaign. These include age-adapted activities such as interactive classroom presentations on climate science, traditional storytelling for preschool learners, hands-on prop and visual aid activities, lessons on Grenada’s historical relationship to water resources, creative writing and poetry competitions focused on climate themes, student-led role-play enactments of local climate adaptation projects, and poster-making campaigns that center youth-produced climate messaging. All activities are designed to make climate change accessible, relatable, and engaging for learners across every age group.
Beyond introducing existing campaign frameworks, the workshop created an open space for participating organizations to share new ideas for strengthening the initiative, and to outline how their unique networks and expertise can support future school outreach efforts. Partners also had the opportunity to outline what types of support — including specialized training, updated educational materials, access to resources, and administrative backing — they would need from the ministry to fully participate in the campaign’s expansion.
Through this collaborative, stakeholder-driven approach, the Ministry of Climate Resilience aims to build a broad, coordinated network of trained individuals and organizations that can collectively advance climate change awareness and action among Grenada’s children and young people. Ultimately, the Youth in Action campaign supports the full implementation of Grenada’s Revised NAP by translating national climate resilience priorities into hands-on, practical learning experiences. These experiences encourage young people to understand the climate challenges facing their local communities, and empower them to take ownership of building a more climate-resilient future for Grenada.
-
Cabinet Supports Young Antiguan Artist as Part of CHOGM 2026 Outreach Efforts
In a formal display of support for homegrown creative talent, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has pledged to continue nurturing 21-year-old Antiguan visual artist Kimberly Pimentel, after she presented her original Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026-themed work during Wednesday’s weekly Cabinet gathering.
Pimentel was handpicked by the CHOGM 2026 Outreach Committee to take on the creative commission: crafting a one-of-a-kind piece that would embody the unique spirit of Antigua and Barbuda as it prepares to host the 2026 iteration of this major international summit. The finished work weaves together iconic elements of the nation’s natural landscapes, centuries-old cultural traditions, and core national identity, while also underscoring the historical importance of Antigua and Barbuda stepping into the global spotlight as the host of this high-profile event.
During her appearance at the meeting, Pimentel walked Cabinet members through the conceptual framework of her artwork, breaking down the personal and national inspirations that shaped each creative choice she made. In response, Cabinet members voiced widespread admiration for Pimentel’s work, framing continued support for the young artist as a core component of the government’s broader push to elevate emerging local talent and foster a thriving creative ecosystem across the twin-island nation.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the Honorable member for St. John’s City East, publicly welcomed the outreach initiative and extended his personal gratitude to Pimentel for her meaningful contribution to the national preparations for CHOGM 2026.
Briana Anthony, lead for the CHOGM 2026 Outreach initiative and Public Relations Officer for the planning committee, explained that the project grew out of the committee’s core mission: connecting with everyday Antiguans and Barbudans through a diverse range of accessible platforms, ensuring that the message and excitement around the 2026 summit reaches people across every sector, community, and interest group.
“We made a conscious decision that our outreach couldn’t be limited to traditional political or policy spaces – it has to meet people where they are, whether that’s in creative communities, local arts scenes, or neighborhood groups,” Anthony noted. “It felt perfectly natural to challenge Kimberly to use her remarkable artistic talent to help us expand our outreach and create a new, relatable pathway for people across the country to engage with CHOGM 2026. Her work does double duty: it showcases the incredible skill of a young Antiguan creator, while also telling a distinctly Antiguan story as we get ready to welcome delegates and visitors from across the Commonwealth.”
For her part, Pimentel says she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the national CHOGM 2026 effort, and for the unwavering support she has received from the government of Antigua and Barbuda as she advances her creative career.
“This opportunity has allowed me to share my art with the nation and contribute to something that will put Antigua and Barbuda on the global map,” Pimentel shared. “I couldn’t have asked for a better platform to grow as an artist, and I’m thankful for the government’s belief in young creative talent like me.”
-
Now expired documents show Mohamed’s boat was certified, inspected
On a pre-dawn raid in late August 2026, Guyanese opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed faced the detention of his private vessel, the *Prince AZ II*, after a joint police-coast guard maritime patrol stopped him for failing to produce valid operating documentation. What followed has since clarified the situation while raising new regulatory questions over the incident.
Shortly after the Maritime Administration (MARAD) released an official statement claiming neither Mohamed nor his vessel held valid operating licenses, the opposition leader announced Thursday that he had located the missing paperwork. However, the discovered documents reveal a critical issue: both the operating license and the required certificate of inspection expired seven years prior, in September 2018. Both documents were originally issued in December 2017.
Public records from the license lay out the vessel’s approved operating parameters: the fiberglass passenger-cargo vessel is cleared to carry up to six passengers and two crew members, operate with two 600-horsepower outboard engines, and is restricted to routes along the Demerara and Essequibo rivers and their tributaries. The inspection certificate adds further restrictions: the vessel is prohibited from traveling during nighttime hours between sunset and sunrise, and must be crewed by one Grade 3 boatmaster and one Category 4 deck rating.
The sequence of events that led to the detention began on Tuesday, August 25, when Mohamed and five fellow parliamentarians from his We Invest in Nationhood party traveled via the *Prince AZ II* to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma. The trip was organized to meet with survivors and family members of victims of the July 2026 sinking of the state-owned ferry MV Barima, a major public incident that has already sparked political debate in the country.
According to official police accounts, joint patrol officers spotted the vessel traveling along the Demerara River toward Friendship at approximately 9:50 PM that night, well after the sunset curfew listed on the expired inspection certificate. Officers activated their sirens to order the vessel to stop, but it reportedly failed to comply and accelerated away, prompting a short pursuit before it was finally intercepted and detained at the Friendship wharf. The vessel and all occupants were then escorted to the Ruimveldt marine police base in Georgetown ahead of further review.
Mohamed has defended his position, noting that he previously held a valid personal captain’s license, but cannot currently produce it because the Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit seized a collection of his personal documents earlier in 2026.
Legal analysts who have reviewed the case say that there is a key legal distinction between operating a vessel with no license ever obtained versus operating with documentation that has lapsed. Even so, they note that a seven-year expiration window is likely to be viewed as a serious violation by Guyana’s maritime regulatory authorities, which will have final say over any potential penalties.
-
Regering stelt Grassalco aansprakelijk voor vervuiling Moeroekreek
In a breaking press briefing held on August 27, Suriname President Jennifer Simons announced that the national government will formally hold state-owned gold mining company Grassalco accountable for widespread ecological damage stemming from toxic pollution along the Moeroekreek, which has triggered mass fish die-offs in the region.
Preliminary findings from the country’s National Environmental Authority (NMA) have confirmed with high certainty that the pollution originated on a mining concession held by Grassalco, Simons confirmed during the ongoing press conference. Additional test results show that toxic substances remain detectable in fish caught from the affected waterway, leading public health authorities to strongly advise against consuming fish from the area for the foreseeable future. The National Assembly, currently convened for its regular session, is scheduled to receive a full briefing from the administration on the unfolding situation before the end of the day.
According to Simons, the central government only recently received the NMA’s official final report, and Grassalco has already been notified that a formal notice of liability is en route. The document, expected to be delivered by Thursday evening or no later than Friday morning, will outline the government’s claim for damages and initiate discussions on how the company will contribute to remedying the pollution’s far-reaching impacts.
Grassalco has informed the administration that it has already implemented initial corrective measures and relocated the mining unit that operated at the contaminated site, Simons said. However, government officials are still waiting for a formal written account of these actions from the company. Starting Friday, a joint interagency task force including NMA inspectors, national police, military personnel, and other security services will deploy to the Moeroekreek region to conduct on-site inspections. The team will verify whether the relocated mining operation now meets all required national environmental and safety regulations.
Should the inspection find the operation still non-compliant, the site will be immediately ordered to suspend activities pending further corrections, the president announced. Authorities will also launch a deeper probe into the company’s past operational practices at the concession. Simons stressed that the investigation and remediation process is far from over, and the government’s warning against consuming local fish remains in full effect while toxic residues persist.
The president has already held initial consultations with community leaders from Indigenous and local villages in the affected area. On Friday, she will lead expanded talks with community members to share full investigation results, outline potential impacts, discuss upcoming regulatory and remediation measures, and map out the next steps for the response.
Beyond addressing the Moeroekreek incident, the Simons administration is using this case to push for broader regulatory reform of Suriname’s gold mining sector, which has long been linked to widespread environmental degradation in the country’s interior. New and renewed mining permits are currently paused across the country as authorities conduct a full sector-wide audit to map out legal and illegal mining operations across the interior. Authorities are also deploying advanced monitoring technology to track unreported mining activity across remote regions.
The government expects to release a new package of broader protective regulations within two weeks, aimed at safeguarding vulnerable interior regions including community residential areas, critical river ecosystems, and watersheds that are essential to preventing future large-scale pollution events. Simons emphasized that the administration is moving away from the longstanding practice of only responding to pollution incidents with ad-hoc measures, and is working to build a permanent, structural framework for regulating the gold sector and protecting Suriname’s natural environment.
“Gold is found across almost all of Suriname, but we cannot allow prospecting and mining to take place everywhere,” the president stated.
-
Men are not born leaders
A coalition of four prominent Caribbean civil society organizations — the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA), IGNITE, Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM) Grenada, and Caribbean Religious Voices for Justice (CRVJ) — has called for open, constructive public dialogue after a top Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) official made controversial comments framing leadership as an inherent male birthright. Dr. Nicole Manning, CXC’s Chief Operations Officer, recently claimed that men are born to lead, and that wider society should actively work to keep men in positions of authority. The coalition is pushing back against this claim, not to exclude men from leadership roles, but to challenge the dangerous idea that gender alone should grant access to power.
Drawing on theological framing from the Christian faith, CRVJ noted that the foundational creation story shared by most Abrahamic religions emphasizes equal dignity for all people, stating “So God created humankind in his image… male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27). The coalition points out that while selective religious interpretations have historically been used to prop up male privilege and justify gender-based inequality, these readings directly contradict Jesus Christ’s core message of radical love, liberation, and radical inclusion for all people.
The coalition emphasizes that there is no biological basis for dividing leadership and followership along gender lines. All children are born with unique potential, the group argues, and effective leadership is cultivated over time through intentional development of character, access to quality education, equal opportunity, meaningful relationship building, and practice taking responsibility for serving others. What is often mislabeled as “natural male leadership” is simply the outcome of systemic advantage: societies have long granted boys unearned authority from childhood while pressure girls to accept subordinate roles, turning repeated privilege into a pattern that appears natural to casual observers.
This dynamic is particularly visible across the Caribbean, the coalition notes. For generations, Caribbean women have stepped into leadership roles across every sector — leading households, grassroots communities, churches, schools, businesses, national advocacy movements, and entire nations — yet much of this transformative work has remained invisible or under-compensated, sidelined by persistent gender norms.
Instead of asking how society can help men retain their grip on power, the coalition argues, the public should confront deeper structural questions: Who designed the current systems that reserve leadership for men? Who is locked out of these spaces? And why should gender, rather than proven competence, strong character, and genuine calling, determine who gets to lead?
Rooted in Christian teaching, the coalition offers an alternative model of leadership, aligned with Jesus’s radical reorientation of power: “Whoever wants to be first must be servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). True leadership, the group argues, is defined by service, accountability, and a commitment to lifting up all community members, not domination of others or a sense of inherent entitlement to power.
The coalition supports a region-wide conversation about supporting boys and men, but stresses that this dialogue must center on building healthy masculinity — one that encourages boys to grow into compassionate, courageous, collaborative, and emotionally whole people, rather than equating manhood with control over others. This same freedom must extend to girls and women: they deserve the unapologetic right to pursue and hold leadership positions on their own merit.
Closing the persistent gender leadership gap is not about swapping male leaders for female leaders, the group clarifies. The ultimate goal is transforming the systemic structures that have tied power and leadership access to gender for centuries. Schools, churches, universities, workplaces, and public institutions across the region should assess leadership potential based on proven competence, personal integrity, clear vision, commitment to service, and accountability — not biological sex.
The coalition calls for a coordinated, region-wide response to address gender gaps in leadership, and frames this work as a collective opportunity to build a more equitable Caribbean. In this vision, both women and men can bring their full, authentic selves to leadership, power is shared rather than hoarded by a privileged group, and leadership is exercised to serve the common good rather than to rule over others.
This work is not an attack on men, the coalition emphasizes. It is an open invitation to all Caribbean people to reimagine and build a more just, effective model of leadership for the region.
A disclaimer notes that NOW Grenada does not take responsibility for the opinions and content shared by contributing organizations, and provides a channel for reporting abusive content.
-
‘Major discrepancies’ at 2 schools causing delay of CXC results press release
A planned public release of the annual national aggregate results for this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations has been put on hold by education officials, after two major grading inconsistencies were uncovered affecting multiple subject areas at two separate institutions, Education Minister Phillip Jackson confirmed to Parliament this Thursday.
The announcement comes more than a week after individual test-takers gained access to their personal grades via the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)’s online student portal on August 18. According to Jackson, the delay is limited exclusively to the compilation and publication of the broad national performance breakdown that compares outcomes across schools; it has not impacted any student’s ability to view, share or use their personal results for post-secondary enrollment processes.
“Two major discrepancies were identified for a number of subjects across two schools. We flagged the issue internally first, then immediately notified the CXC, which is currently working to correct the errors,” Jackson explained to legislators. “We made the call to hold off on releasing the full national dataset because publishing it with these inconsistencies intact would have been premature. It could have skewed inter-school performance rankings and distorted the overall national picture, which would have been unfair to institutions and students alike.”
Jackson emphasized that the disruption has not derailed the academic progression of the vast majority of CSEC candidates. Almost all test-takers have already accessed their individual grades and submitted them to support college admissions, with many having already secured enrollment for upcoming terms. The minister even offered a personal example, noting that his own son had passed all of his CSEC subjects and had completed his college registration already.
“For over a week, every candidate has held their own results. Parents have been fully informed of their children’s performance, and the entire education system is continuing to operate as normal, with no interruptions to student progression,” Jackson said. “This delay only affects the aggregated public data report, not the individual outcomes students rely on for their next academic steps.”
Officials from the Ministry of Education are continuing to work closely with the CXC to resolve the grading anomalies, Jackson confirmed. Once all corrections are finalized and the accuracy of the national dataset is verified, the ministry will publish the full performance summary via an official public statement. “We are working assiduously alongside the CXC to sort out this issue as quickly as possible, and we will release the full results as soon as that process is complete,” he added.
In a closing note to candidates, Jackson reminded students who did not achieve the scores they had targeted that a second chance is already scheduled. Those wishing to improve their results will be able to resit their affected CSEC examinations this coming January. While the minister declined to share specific details on the nature of the identified discrepancies or name the two impacted institutions, he framed the delay as a necessary precaution to safeguard the integrity of school performance rankings and guarantee the accuracy of the national CSEC results report.
-
Hopeful sign for Grenadines reefs as rare staghorn coral found off Battowia
Marine conservationists across St. Vincent and the Grenadines are hailing a recent rediscovery as one of the most hopeful developments for local coral ecosystems since two devastating environmental events: Hurricane Beryl and the 2023–2024 global coral bleaching event. Both disturbances left severe, lasting damage to coral populations across the island chain, particularly for two keystone Acropora species.
Staghorn coral and its close relative elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) are far more ecologically significant than their abundance would suggest in the Grenadines. These branching coral species act as natural coastal barriers, absorbing wave energy to shield shorelines from erosion and storm damage, while their complex structures provide critical habitat, feeding grounds, and nursery space for hundreds of species of reef fish that support both local biodiversity and artisanal fishing communities. Following the consecutive climate-driven shocks of the bleaching event and hurricane, scientists formally classified both species as functionally extinct in local waters—meaning they could no longer sustain viable, self-sustaining populations in the region.
To change this outcome, two regional conservation organizations—the Windward Islands Environment Foundation-affiliated WAM Inc. and the Centre for Livelihoods, Ecosystems, Energy, Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean, Ltd. (CLEAR Caribbean Ltd.)—launched an innovative citizen science campaign last year. The initiative invited diverse groups that spend regular time on the water, including local dive operators, artisanal fisherfolk, tourists, and frontline conservation staff, across St. Vincent and the Grenadines to report any potential sightings of elkhorn and staghorn coral to research teams. The project centered the local knowledge of communities that interact with these marine ecosystems daily, a perspective often overlooked in traditional scientific research.
That community-centered approach delivered a breakthrough last week, when Ormar McKinnis, a long-time veteran fisherman based in Paget Farm on the island of Bequia, contacted WAM to report a cluster of staghorn coral he had spotted off the uninhabited coast of Battowia Island. Within days, a joint research expedition was organized: WAM’s Bequia-based researchers Jessica Jaja and Holly Bynoe teamed up with Cathy Howard-Sachs and Scott Hutton from the local dive operator Dive Bequia to survey the reported site, a stretch of coast none of the team members had previously visited for research.
To the team’s surprise and delight, the reconnaissance trip documented roughly 15 live staghorn coral colonies, many of which were young, newly established colonies in the earliest stages of healthy growth, thriving along the Battowia coastline. The number of corals found on this first exploratory trip far exceeded the team’s pre-expedition expectations. Researchers also noted that far more young staghorn colonies were visible growing in the area than the team could measure and document during their initial visit, prompting the immediate scheduling of follow-up systematic surveys to monitor the population’s growth and health over time.
In the coming weeks, tissue samples will be collected from the newly discovered corals for genetic testing. This analysis will help scientists determine whether the colonies are distinct, genetically unique individuals or fragmented clones of a single surviving parent colony, data that will be critical for future conservation planning.
Owen Day, a coastal scientist and executive director of CLEAR Caribbean, explained that the rediscovery has the potential to significantly strengthen the entire region’s coral conservation efforts. “It is really excellent news and will help increase the genetic diversity in our nurseries throughout SVG. It could be a lifeline for this once dominant species. The site could be a refugium, where strong currents have kept the temperatures down a little and reduced bleaching mortality,” Day said.
Marion Isaacs, executive director of WAM Inc., echoed that optimism, noting that the find provides an unprecedented opportunity to understand natural coral recovery after major disturbance. “It gives us a real window into what’s returning post-bleaching and post-Beryl, and a starting point for understanding the growth patterns and sizes we’ll need to age these colonies properly,” Isaacs said. Most importantly, she emphasized, the discovery underscores the critical value of community participation in marine conservation. “More than anything, this mission reminds us how vital it is for fishermen and everyone else out on the water to keep sharing what they see. This discovery simply wouldn’t have happened without Ormar sharing his knowledge, and it’s exactly the kind of citizen-led intelligence our campaign was designed to unlock,” she added.