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  • Government to train 20 air traffic controllers in preparation for completion of international airport

    Government to train 20 air traffic controllers in preparation for completion of international airport

    The Government of Dominica is proactively developing specialized workforce capabilities in preparation for its forthcoming international airport, with Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton announcing comprehensive training initiatives for 20 air traffic controllers this year. This strategic move forms part of the island nation’s broader employment generation strategy tied to the airport infrastructure project.

    During an inspection tour of the International Airport Development Project site, Minister Charles-Pemberton emphasized the substantial employment potential the facility represents. “Projections indicate approximately 200 new positions will be created upon the airport’s operationalization,” she stated. “This aligns perfectly with the employment opportunities Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit consistently highlights. Our current focus involves meticulous assessment of existing skill inventories and identifying specific competencies required for seamless airport operations.”

    The training pipeline has already commenced with three air traffic controllers undergoing instruction, while selection processes for the remaining 17 candidates are underway. The Minister explicitly encouraged citizen participation: “We require diverse expertise including maintenance specialists, air traffic controllers, and technical staff. Interested individuals possessing relevant qualifications may submit applications through the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA).”

    Complementing these aviation-specific roles, Charles-Pemberton noted parallel demand for electrical engineers, maintenance technicians, and immigration personnel, asserting that employment prospects will encompass virtually every skilled Dominican seeking airport-related careers.

    Prime Minister Skerrit, concurrently evaluating project progress, expressed considerable satisfaction with developmental milestones. Technical preparations are advancing systematically with runway foundation stabilization preceding concrete and asphalt surfacing scheduled post-2026 rainy season. Critical infrastructure including an arterial tunnel connecting Wesley to Woodford Hill and Portsmouth is progressing toward August-October 2026 completion.

    All essential facilities—terminal buildings, VIP services for private aviation, fire and rescue services, and customs infrastructure—are currently under construction. Based on contractor timelines, structural completion is anticipated by November 2026, followed immediately by interior works. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Prime Minister projected full operational readiness by late 2027.

    Skerrit characterized the enterprise as a transformative national achievement, emphasizing its potential to catalyze socioeconomic advancement through enhanced connectivity and tourism infrastructure. The government maintains confidence that this strategic investment will substantially elevate Dominica’s global accessibility and economic prospects.

  • A Growing Crisis in Caribbean Media

    A Growing Crisis in Caribbean Media

    The Caribbean media landscape faces an existential threat as Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday announces its closure after 32 years of operation. The Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) has characterized this development as a profoundly sobering moment that transcends the collapse of a single publication, revealing instead a deep structural crisis engulfing traditional media throughout the region.

    According to MIC’s analysis, the shuttering of Newsday exemplifies a dangerous regional pattern where historically robust print news organizations are struggling to maintain viability. This crisis stems from a perfect storm of challenges: constricted advertising markets, escalating operational expenses, and fundamental shifts in audience consumption patterns that have left numerous newsrooms in financial peril.

    The implications extend far beyond mere job losses within news organizations. MIC emphasizes that this trend directly jeopardizes media pluralism and undermines the public’s fundamental right to access independently verified information. The organization references UNESCO-supported research that has consistently documented the precarious state of media sustainability across Caribbean nations.

    Compounding these challenges is the growing dominance of global technology platforms and the accelerated implementation of artificial intelligence systems. MIC notes that these technological forces frequently utilize local news content without providing appropriate compensation to content creators.

    Kiran Maharaj, President of MIC, asserts that the survival of Caribbean media now hinges on critical decisions by newsroom leadership, media proprietors, and policy makers as the industry undergoes continuous transformation. The closure of Newsday serves as a stark warning about the fragility of democratic institutions when independent journalism faces existential threats.

  • BPS expanded medical services must guarantee prisoners’ health – attorney

    BPS expanded medical services must guarantee prisoners’ health – attorney

    The Barbados Prison Service (BPS) is implementing significant changes to its healthcare delivery system for inmates following security breaches that prompted tightened protocols. This strategic shift toward expanded in-house medical services comes as a direct response to last year’s incident involving an inmate escape from Queen Elizabeth Hospital during external treatment.

    Prison Superintendent DeCarlo Payne confirmed that numerous medical assessments and procedures previously conducted at external hospitals are now being performed within the prison facility. This adjustment particularly affects treatments requiring the removal of restraints, which previously created security vulnerabilities during transport and off-site medical visits.

    Despite these security-driven changes, prominent human rights attorney King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim emphasizes the government’s non-negotiable obligation to maintain proper healthcare standards for incarcerated individuals. Pilgrim asserts that while the location of service delivery is administratively flexible, the quality of care must align with civilized societal standards.

    “The Government of Barbados, through the prison service, bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring prisoner safety and adequate healthcare provision,” Pilgrim told Barbados TODAY. “Whether treatment occurs at the prison or hospital remains an operational decision—what matters is that care meets proper medical standards, even for complex procedures like open heart surgery.”

    Regarding potential legal implications, Pilgrim acknowledged that the prison administration could face liability for medical complications arising within the facility, though establishing fault might present evidentiary challenges. The legal expert clarified that while the government maintains discretion in determining treatment venues, its fundamental duty to provide appropriate healthcare remains unequivocal under Barbadian law.

  • Landowners warned of fines over derelict properties under health law

    Landowners warned of fines over derelict properties under health law

    Barbados has initiated formal enforcement proceedings against landowners violating the amended Health Services Act, with Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde announcing the issuance of official compliance notices. The minister revealed this enforcement action during a ceremony at the National Botanical Gardens honoring winners of national gardening competitions.

    Forde drew a stark contrast between the award recipients’ environmental stewardship and what he termed the “opposite behavior” of negligent property owners. He expressed personal frustration with the widespread land neglect, describing it as “maladaptive” and contrary to Barbadian values, while invoking the principle that “cleanliness is next to godliness.”

    The ministry, with legal support from the Solicitor General’s office, has begun formally notifying property owners whose lands contain excessive vegetation or exist in derelict conditions. Forde characterized these notices as both an “early warning” and a “New Year’s warning,” urging immediate remedial action to create “beautiful, clean and safe” community environments.

    Beyond aesthetic concerns, the minister emphasized significant public health implications. Neglected properties with overgrown vegetation and stagnant water create breeding grounds for diseases including dengue fever and leptospirosis. The enforcement effort aims to eliminate these health hazards from Barbadian communities.

    Separately, Forde addressed the ongoing challenge of illegal dumping, which he described as “an albatross” around the ministry’s neck. Authorities have responded with covert surveillance measures, installing hidden cameras at known dumping sites, gullies, and problem areas. The minister warned offenders that detection is inevitable, expressing hope that subsequent prosecutions would serve as public deterrents.

  • Saint Lucia win at last for 3rd place in Windward women’s cricket

    Saint Lucia win at last for 3rd place in Windward women’s cricket

    Saint Lucia concluded their Windward Islands Women’s T20 Championship campaign with a triumphant 17-run victory against Dominica, securing third place in the tournament. The match, held on Friday, January 9th at Kingstown’s Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, showcased remarkable individual performances that overturned early adversity.

    After electing to bat first, Saint Lucia faced immediate disaster as their top order collapsed to 15-4 within the opening overs, eventually stumbling to 35-5. Dominica’s Abini St Jean spearheaded the assault with impressive bowling figures of 3-10 from her four-over spell.

    The recovery began with captain Zaida James anchoring the innings with a resilient 67 runs from 54 deliveries, including six boundaries and two sixes. Her partnership with Krishna Joseph, who contributed a brisk 21 from 15 balls, proved crucial. A particularly productive 16th over yielding 26 runs significantly boosted their total, eventually posting 122 all out – their highest team score of the competition.

    Dominica’s response appeared promising initially, reaching 43-2 after the powerplay and 80-3 at the midway point. However, left-arm pacer Nerissa Crafton dramatically shifted momentum with a devastating two-wicket maiden over in the 12th. Her exceptional bowling performance culminated with 4-2 from her allotted overs, including the key dismissal of Earnisha Fontaine for 31 runs. Fifteen-year-old debutant Gilia McLaurent also claimed a wicket in supporting role.

    Despite early promise, Dominica ultimately fell short at 105-9, handing Saint Lucia their first victory of the championship. The outstanding performances from senior players now positions them as strong contenders for selection in the upcoming Wind Indies T20 Blaze tournament.

  • Barbados says renewable energy ‘a developmental imperative’ for SIDS

    Barbados says renewable energy ‘a developmental imperative’ for SIDS

    ABU DHABI, UAE – At the 16th International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, Barbados delivered a compelling address framing renewable energy as a critical developmental necessity rather than merely an environmental consideration for small island developing states (SIDS). Ambassador Annalee C. Babb, representing both Barbados and the UAE, articulated the unique challenges facing Caribbean nations during the session focused on renewable pathways across Latin America and the Caribbean.

    The ambassador emphasized that energy transition represents a strategic imperative for reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels, stabilizing electricity costs, and reallocating national budgets toward socioeconomic development. However, she identified significant structural barriers including limited procurement volumes, absence of economies of scale, and prohibitively high storage costs that complicate this transition.

    Babb highlighted the particular challenge of energy storage integration, noting that Barbados has reached a pivotal stage where storage solutions are essential for further renewable deployment. She detailed how Caribbean SIDS operate isolated grid systems unlike interconnected Latin American networks, resulting in higher perceived risks and consequently elevated capital costs for energy projects.

    The diplomat called for differentiated financing approaches that acknowledge SIDS’ vulnerabilities through simplified application procedures and more accessible funding pathways. She proposed that IRENA could enhance technical assistance for energy storage planning, wind resource assessment, and hybrid system configurations while facilitating concessional finance instruments specifically tailored for small-scale projects.

    The assembly proceedings occurred against the backdrop of the United States’ withdrawal from IRENA and numerous other international organizations. Meanwhile, IRENA’s Regional Energy Transition Outlook report presented a comprehensive roadmap for South America to achieve net-zero emissions by the 2050s through scaled renewables, improved efficiency, and enhanced regional power integration.

    Babb concluded by advocating for stronger representation of SIDS-specific challenges in IRENA’s analytical work and global advocacy efforts, suggesting dedicated procurement windows for energy storage systems that accommodate small order sizes and extended lead times peculiar to island nations.

  • PRESS RELEASE: Dominica’s Mas Domnik 2026 officially opens today

    PRESS RELEASE: Dominica’s Mas Domnik 2026 officially opens today

    ROSEAU, DOMINICA – The vibrant island of Dominica has officially inaugurated its premier cultural festival, Mas Domnik 2026, with a spectacular National Parade and Opening Ceremony on Saturday, January 10th. The festivities commenced at 2:30 PM in Pottersville, situated in the parking area adjacent to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, marking the formal commencement of the extended Carnival season, which is celebrated as ‘The Real Mas’.

    The ceremonial opening featured the official proclamation of the Carnival season, a special tribute to cultural figure Darnley Guye, the symbolic handing over of the Carnival key, and addresses from key stakeholders. This was immediately followed by the National Parade from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, a dynamic procession showcasing the island’s rich cultural tapestry. The parade was spearheaded by approximately 60 traditional ‘sennsés’ groups, followed by over 60 participating troupes. The spectacle featured a magnificent display of Traditional Mas, including Kalinago têt mas, big boom-boom characters, agile stilt walkers, and dramatic black devils, alongside elaborate costume bands, pageantry, and artistically designed floats.

    The parade route traversed major thoroughfares, beginning along the E.O. LeBlanc Highway at the St. Alphonsus grounds, proceeding down Goodwill Road, crossing the EC Loblack Bridge, and continuing along Independence Street, King George V Street, Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard, and Kennedy Avenue. The daytime celebrations transitioned into the evening with performances by electronic bands and a calypso truck, offering a tantalizing preview of the energy anticipated for Carnival Monday and Tuesday on February 16th and 17th.

    Authorities issued advisories urging motorists and residents along the parade route to remove vehicles from the streets beforehand to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of participants. The public was encouraged to adhere to all traffic directives from law enforcement to support an orderly event.

    Gerard Cools-Lartigue, Chair of the Dominica Festivals Committee, emphasized the event’s national significance, stating, ‘Mas Domnik is one of the most anticipated events on Dominica’s calendar with direct impact on economic activity, employment and visitor arrivals.’ Echoing this sentiment, Marva Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Discover Dominica Authority, highlighted the season’s robust foundation: ‘Last season recorded a 34 percent increase in visitor arrivals and an estimated EC twenty-five million dollars in economic activity, setting the pace for a season focused on stronger organization, greater creativity and wider participation.’

    Mas Domnik 2026, which runs from December 13, 2025, to February 26, 2026, features over forty events across the island. Residents and international visitors are invited to participate in the festivities that celebrate Dominica’s unique cultural heritage.

  • TTFA boss laments gun violence: Footballers need clear path to going pro

    TTFA boss laments gun violence: Footballers need clear path to going pro

    The Trinidad and Tobago football community is confronting a devastating crisis as multiple young football talents have fallen victim to gun violence, prompting urgent calls for systemic reform. Within the past year alone, several promising players have been killed, including 27-year-old former national under-17 footballer Tekay Hoyce, 17-year-old Arima North Secondary player Zwade Alleyne, and 19-year-old Caledonia footballer Jayden Moore among others.

    TT Football Association president Kieron Edwards has identified inadequate career pathways and insufficient salaries as fundamental contributors to this tragedy. Edwards emphasizes that current compensation in the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) fails to provide a viable livelihood, with many players earning wages that cannot support basic living expenses. “When you look at some of the salaries these young men are working for, they can’t look at it as a career,” Edwards stated in a January 11 interview.

    The association is now pursuing comprehensive restructuring to establish clear professional pathways, collaborating with international bodies for investment and engaging with government authorities. Edwards highlighted the timing is particularly appropriate as a Joint Select Committee prepares to examine the social impact of sports programs on youth delinquency and crime reduction on January 21.

    Former national women’s coach Jamaal Shabazz offered a contrasting perspective, asserting that professional football represents “a very narrow path” that requires individual assessment of financial viability. Shabazz noted that some TTPFL players earn between $5,500 and $9,000, comparable to many factory workers’ take-home pay of $4,000-$4,500 after taxes.

    Both leaders agree that addressing the crisis requires multifaceted solutions beyond football. Shabazz emphasized that criminal activity affects all societal sectors and called for politicians to ensure equitable distribution of state resources, stating that unequal allocation makes them “criminals too” in their own right. He advocated for strategic discussions with those involved in criminal activities to better understand root causes.

    The football community now seeks sustained investment in sports infrastructure, particularly in high-risk areas like La Horquetta where the establishment of La Horquetta Rangers and facility improvements have already demonstrated positive impact. Edwards stressed that investment must be continuous rather than limited to World Cup years, describing sports as “a vehicle to not only inspire the country but to save lives.”

  • Wider protection for parents, retrenched workers

    Wider protection for parents, retrenched workers

    The Trinidad and Tobago government is undertaking sweeping reforms to modernize labor legislation, offering enhanced protections for workers facing redundancy and expanding parental benefits. Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development Leroy Baptiste unveiled the comprehensive amendments during a January 11 press conference, addressing critical gaps in existing laws.

    The revisions to the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act of 1985 represent a significant expansion of worker safety nets. The proposed changes would increase severance pay calculations to three weeks’ wages per year of service for employees with one to five years of tenure, and one month’s pay per year for those exceeding five years of service—substantially improving upon current compensation structures.

    Crucially, the government is redefining ‘redundancy’ to include insolvency, receivership, and operational discontinuation, closing legal loopholes that allowed unscrupulous employers to evade severance obligations. ‘These activities would have rendered workers without any recourse under the act,’ Baptiste explained, emphasizing that the amendments would ensure compensation regardless of termination circumstances.

    Parallel reforms to the Maternity Protection Act of 1994 introduce groundbreaking parental benefits extending to fathers and adoptive parents. The amendments eliminate the 24-month limitation on leave benefits that previously penalized women for multiple pregnancies within a year. Nursing mothers will gain statutory protections for paid breastfeeding breaks, while explicit provisions prohibit termination, demotion, or reduced pay due to pregnancy, maternity, paternity, or parental leaves.

    The legal framework is also being strengthened through evidentiary shifts in discrimination cases, placing the burden of proof on employers. Industrial Court fines will be introduced for violations, and pregnancy testing for job applicants or employees will be prohibited. Contract workers gain protection against pregnancy-based non-renewal of contracts.

    Minister Baptiste confirmed the revisions are currently with the Attorney General and will be presented to Parliament shortly, reflecting the government’s urgency in addressing outdated compensation structures and procedural gaps affecting vulnerable workers.

  • Mohit condemns elderly abuse, says all grants paid on time

    Mohit condemns elderly abuse, says all grants paid on time

    In the wake of the tragic discovery of 74-year-old Doodhani ‘Mary’ Sooknanan’s decomposing body at her Edinburgh 500 residence, Chaguanas East MP and Minister of People, Family Development and Social Services Vandana Mohit has issued a forceful condemnation against violence targeting senior citizens. Speaking at a UNC press conference on January 11, Minister Mohit emphasized that while specific details of the ongoing investigation remain undisclosed, her government maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward elder abuse and called for collective action to protect vulnerable elderly populations.

    Simultaneously, Minister Mohit presented a comprehensive overview of her ministry’s substantial social welfare initiatives, vehemently denying allegations of reduced grant funding. She confirmed that all January 2026 social services grants were processed and disbursed by January 1, acknowledging only a minor delay attributable to technical issues at the National Insurance Board.

    The minister revealed that approximately $3 billion in pension payments has been distributed to 100,000 senior citizens through these programs. Between May and December 2025, the government allocated millions in social assistance, including $60 million through the food support program (benefiting 275+ new recipients), over $1 million in home repair grants, and $4 million in disaster relief assistance.

    Notable innovations include the inaugural implementation of temporary food card support, with Members of Parliament across all 41 constituencies receiving 60 food cards valued at $550 each for distribution during the Divali season. This initiative expanded during Christmas with 250 food cards per constituency, representing a $5 million investment.

    Minister Mohit announced forthcoming reforms to the standard means test assessment, promising modernization that would enhance fairness and better reflect contemporary socio-economic conditions. Additional initiatives include examining child poverty studies, developing a $5 million women’s health fund to address period poverty, and creating structural support systems for disabled citizens.

    The ministry is also addressing administrative backlogs through collaboration between NIB and the Immigration Division, with formal mechanisms currently in development. In sports infrastructure, Cabinet has approved designs for an inclusive sporting arena to complement the National Therapeutic and Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities, which began preliminary operations in December 2025 and is scheduled to open fully after staffing and equipment finalization.