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  • District Governor to open Rotary’s Christmas at the Point 2025

    District Governor to open Rotary’s Christmas at the Point 2025

    The Rotary Club of Grenada will host a significant ceremonial event on November 30, 2025, with District Governor Soraya Gustave-Warner of Rotary District 7030 presiding as the distinguished guest of honor. The occasion marks the official inauguration of the annual Christmas at the Point (CaTP) festival, set against the scenic backdrop of Quarantine Point Recreational Park.

    Governor Soraya brings substantial leadership credentials to the event, having dedicated over ten years to Rotary International’s service mission. Her progressive roles—including Assistant Governor, District Trainer, and strategic committee member—culminated in her election to oversee one of the organization’s most diverse districts. Rotary District 7030 encompasses 17 nations and territories throughout the Caribbean and South America, representing a mosaic of cultures and communities.

    Her participation underscores the strategic importance of the CaTP initiative, which since 2009 has served as a cornerstone of the Rotary Club of Grenada’s community outreach. More than a seasonal celebration, the project integrates family engagement, local economic stimulation, and environmental awareness within a secure and vibrant public setting.

    This year’s festival also emphasizes regional cooperation and disaster response. Building on prior support for Carriacou and Petite Martinique in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the Club now channels efforts toward Hurricane Melissa recovery in Jamaica. Governor Soraya’s involvement highlights Rotary’s commitment to compassion-driven action and inter-island resilience.

    Club President Julia G. Lawrence remarked, “Governor Soraya’s presence reaffirms our dedication to sustainable community impact. Her endorsement of Christmas at the Point illustrates how service can be simultaneously festive, inclusive, and transformative.”

    The festival will operate from November 30, 2025, through January 4, 2026, running weekly from Wednesday to Sunday. Attendees can enjoy live musical performances, open-air cinema, a Holiday Boutique showcasing Grenadian artisans, a Christmas Grotto for children, and diverse culinary offerings—all within the natural beauty of Quarantine Point.

    Further information is available through the Rotary Club of Grenada’s social media channels (@rotarygrenada, @ecodivegrenada) or via the official event portal: https://christmas.gd/.

  • SGU awards 30 Scholarships to Grenadian students

    SGU awards 30 Scholarships to Grenadian students

    In a significant move to combat physician shortages, St. George’s University (SGU) has unveiled 30 new scholarships exclusively for Grenadian students pursuing medical education. This strategic initiative forms part of SGU’s broader commitment to nurturing local talent and strengthening healthcare infrastructure both within Grenada and across the global community.

    Dr. Marios Loukas, President of SGU and Dean of the School of Medicine, articulated the institution’s vision: “Educating Grenadians remains fundamental to our institutional mission. Each scholarship represents an investment in our nation’s health security, ensuring that qualified medical professionals are available to serve local communities.”

    The global context underscores the urgency of this initiative. World Health Organization projections indicate a critical shortage of approximately 10 million healthcare workers by 2030, making localized medical education programs increasingly vital. For nearly fifty years, SGU has served as a cornerstone of Grenada’s medical education landscape, enabling hundreds of Grenadian students to pursue medical careers without leaving their home country.

    Beyond tuition support for medical and veterinary programs, SGU maintains active partnerships with local health authorities through community health initiatives. These collaborations include operating free clinics, organizing health fairs, and implementing various public health programs that directly benefit Grenadian communities.

    The university’s comprehensive approach addresses both educational access and healthcare delivery, creating a sustainable model for medical workforce development that other small nations might emulate.

  • Government House Restoration Nears Completion, Reopening Early 2026

    Government House Restoration Nears Completion, Reopening Early 2026

    The extensive restoration of the historic Government House is approaching its final stages, with officials confirming the landmark building is on track to reopen to the public in early 2025. The project update was formally presented during a site inspection tour conducted by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Dr. Gabriella Howell, Director of Historic Preservation.

    Dr. Howell verified that interior work on the main residence is progressing according to schedule and is anticipated to conclude by January. This ambitious preservation initiative, which was ceremonially inaugurated by Prince Harry in 2016, seeks to strategically modernize the operational government residence while simultaneously expanding its public accessibility and educational offerings.

    Having served as the official residence for the nation’s head of state since the late 1700s, the revitalized Government House will be transformed into a multifaceted cultural destination. New amenities will include a dedicated art gallery, educational classrooms for student groups, a café, a bookshop, an interactive living museum, and a therapeutic garden program designed for community engagement.

    In a subsequent phase of public accessibility, a brand-new public area on the grounds is scheduled for inauguration in April 2026, further cementing the property’s role as a center for heritage and community life.

  • Suriname en VS markeren 50 jaar partnerschap met jubileumpublicatie

    Suriname en VS markeren 50 jaar partnerschap met jubileumpublicatie

    Suriname and the United States commemorated five decades of diplomatic relations during a formal ceremony at the U.S. Embassy on November 26, 2025. The event featured addresses by Surinamese President Jennifer Simons and U.S. Ambassador Robert Faucher, who reflected on the historical evolution and future prospects of bilateral ties between the two nations.

    The gathering included distinguished guests from the private sector and members of the American Chamber of Commerce of Suriname (AmCham). The diplomatic relationship was formally established on November 26, 1975, exactly one day after Suriname gained independence, when the United States under President Gerald Ford officially recognized the newly sovereign nation.

    President Simons recalled the historical significance of this partnership: “This relationship was born the day after our independence. From the very beginning, Suriname could count on American support through educational programs, medical missions, and security cooperation.” She further emphasized the economic importance of the collaboration, noting that “American companies have invested in Suriname for fifty years—not just with capital, but through knowledge transfer and job creation. During various periods, they have served as pillars of our national economy.”

    Ambassador Faucher reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to deepening bilateral relations and presented President Simons with a special anniversary publication titled ‘Common Past, Shared Future: United States and Suriname — 50 Connections.’ The ambassador described the compilation as “fifty stories demonstrating how Americans and Surinamese have influenced each other for centuries,” characterizing the publication as both a tribute to the past and an inspiration for future cooperation.

    President Simons concluded with a message to citizens of both nations: “Let us move forward with wisdom and unity to write the next chapter together—a chapter of cooperation, respect, and shared ambitions.”

  • APUA Restores Water Supply Following Mainline Repair in Belmont

    APUA Restores Water Supply Following Mainline Repair in Belmont

    The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has successfully concluded critical emergency operations to address a ruptured main water line in the Belmont district. Utility crews engaged in continuous around-the-clock efforts to complete these essential repairs, with officials confirming full restoration of standard water distribution services.

    During the maintenance period, local residents encountered temporary interruptions to their water supply. The public utility corporation formally acknowledged these inconveniences while expressing appreciation for the community’s demonstrated patience and cooperation throughout the repair process.

    In an official communiqué, APUA reaffirmed its organizational dedication to sustaining dependable service delivery for all consumers. The authority emphasized its continued vigilance in monitoring infrastructure integrity and its capacity to rapidly respond to emergent technical challenges across its service network.

  • Pilot community gym opens at David Thompson Complex

    Pilot community gym opens at David Thompson Complex

    Barbados has inaugurated an innovative community gymnasium at the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex in St John, establishing a groundbreaking approach to combat the nation’s non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis through accessible physical activity programs. This pilot facility, launched Wednesday, represents the first such initiative within Barbados’ polyclinic system and could serve as a prototype for island-wide implementation if proven successful.

    Health Minister Davidson Ishmael characterized the facility as an experimental concept, noting: ‘This pilot program will evaluate the effectiveness of integrating fitness centers within our polyclinic infrastructure. Our previous success with a similar facility at the psychiatric hospital, which attracted both staff and public participation, encouraged this expansion.’

    The minister outlined ambitious expansion plans contingent on the gym’s performance: ‘Pending successful community engagement and operational efficiency, we intend to replicate this model across suitable locations throughout Barbados.’ This expansion will be bolstered by substantial financial backing from the Saudi Fund for Development, which is funding comprehensive renovations of existing polyclinics and construction of two new facilities in Eunice Gibson and Randall Phillips.

    Minister Ishmael emphasized the critical health imperative behind the initiative, revealing that NCDs account for 80% of deaths in Barbados. ‘These largely preventable conditions—including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, cancers, and hypertension—stem primarily from lifestyle factors including physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use,’ he stated.

    The gymnasium, coinciding with the complex’s tenth anniversary, will operate with a dual access system: complimentary usage for healthcare staff and a $45 monthly membership for community members and national athletes. During the opening ceremony, ministers participated in physical challenges alongside healthcare workers, symbolizing the government’s commitment to active living.

    Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Minister Charles Griffith welcomed the facility as a significant advancement in the ministry’s longstanding healthy lifestyle advocacy, noting the collaboration between health authorities and community leaders in addressing Barbados’ NCD pandemic through preventive measures.

  • Declaration of The Peoples’ Summit towards COP30

    Declaration of The Peoples’ Summit towards COP30

    BELÉM DO PARÁ, BRAZIL – From November 12-16, 2025, the historic We, the Peoples’ Summit convened in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, culminating in a powerful declaration that represents months of preparation and the collective voice of over 70,000 participants from diverse global movements.

    The unprecedented gathering brought together indigenous communities, traditional peoples, peasants, quilombolas, fishermen, extractivists, shellfish gatherers, urban workers, trade unionists, homeless populations, babassu coconut breakers, terreiro peoples, women, LGBTQIAPN+ communities, youth, Afro-descendants, elders, and representatives from forest, rural, peripheral, marine, river, lake, and mangrove regions worldwide. Their unified mission: to build a just, democratic world centered on the principle of ‘buen vivir’ or ‘good living’ for all humanity.

    The Summit’s declaration identifies capitalism as the fundamental driver of the escalating climate emergency, asserting that the current mode of production directly causes environmental destruction through its relentless pursuit of profit. The document condemns transnational corporations in collusion with Global North governments as primary beneficiaries of this system, specifically naming mining, energy, arms, agribusiness, and Big Tech industries as major contributors to the planetary crisis.

    A significant portion of the declaration addresses geopolitical conflicts, expressing unequivocal solidarity with Palestine against what participants term ‘genocide perpetrated by the Zionist state of Israel.’ The document also condemns US imperial expansion in the Caribbean through military operations like ‘Southern Spear,’ and stands with resistance movements in Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Ecuador, Panama, El Salvador, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, and emancipatory projects in the Sahel and Nepal.

    The Summit rejected market-based climate solutions, warning that financialized programs like the Task Force on Fossil Fuels (TFFF) perpetuate harmful practices without addressing root causes. Instead, delegates demanded transformative approaches including land demarcation for indigenous territories, popular agrarian reform, agroecology, and climate justice centered on ancestral knowledge and popular participation.

    Key demands include: complete demilitarization and redirection of military spending to climate recovery; fair compensation for losses and damages from destructive projects; feminist justice recognizing care work as essential labor; a just energy transition that respects national sovereignty; and climate financing mechanisms independent of IMF and World Bank influence.

    The declaration concludes with a call for strengthened international organizing against common enemies of humanity, invoking the spirit of popular internationalism with the rallying cry: ‘Peoples of the world: Unite!’

  • An open letter to the Hon. Prime Minister

    An open letter to the Hon. Prime Minister

    In a significant development in Caribbean healthcare policy, Grenadian advocacy organizations have issued a formal appeal to Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell regarding the stalled Age of Civil Legal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill. The open letter, co-signed by GPPA President Dr. Tonia Frame and ASPIRE consultant Dr. Fred Nunes, references the Prime Minister’s own compelling arguments from July 2025 advocating for the legislation’s passage.

    The proposed legislation addresses critical gaps in adolescent healthcare access, particularly regarding sexual health education and services. Proponents argue that the bill would empower medical professionals to provide necessary care to minors when parental consent is unattainable due to various circumstances, including unapproachable parents or abusive family situations.

    Notably, the letter highlights that five Caribbean nations—Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, and St. Lucia—have already implemented similar legislation over the past four decades, with two additional territories employing alternative legal frameworks for minor healthcare access.

    To break the current legislative impasse, the advocacy groups propose establishing a Joint Select Committee (JSC) as a formal mechanism for comprehensive consultation. This parliamentary tool would enable technical experts, political parties, NGOs, religious organizations, and citizens to provide structured input on the controversial legislation.

    The authors acknowledge the potential for procedural delay tactics but express confidence that with proper leadership and clear terms of reference, a JSC could facilitate genuine progress on addressing adolescent healthcare needs while maintaining parliamentary transparency and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

  • ECCO announces second major royalty distribution of 2025, topping EC$1.3 million

    ECCO announces second major royalty distribution of 2025, topping EC$1.3 million

    The Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) has announced its second major royalty distribution for 2025, allocating $1.3 million XCD (Eastern Caribbean dollars) to music creators for earnings generated during 2024. This substantial payout follows the organization’s June distribution of over $1 million XCD for 2023 royalties, with funds scheduled to reach rights holders’ accounts on December 4th, 2025.

    In a significant development for regional creators, 52% of the distributed royalties will remain with ECCO members across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), while 48% will be allocated to international rights holders through ECCO’s affiliated societies. This distribution ratio marks a notable achievement for local creators, attributed to enhanced strategic initiatives and improved data collection from live events throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

    However, ECCO identifies a critical challenge limiting even greater payouts for regional artists: many musical works performed in the territory remain unregistered in its database. Without proper registration, the organization cannot identify rightful creators or distribute earned royalties. These unclaimed funds are held in trust for three years before being reallocated to registered members with documented usage in subsequent distribution cycles.

    Revenue generation stems from ECCO’s licensing agreements with various music users, including television and radio broadcasters, concert and festival organizers, and hospitality venues such as hotels, restaurants, and bars across its six operating territories: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

    ECCO CEO Martin A. James stated: ‘We are proud to conclude the year with this second major distribution following our June payment. The fact that over half of this payout remains with creators in our region demonstrates the strength of our local music industry. Maintaining this financial support remains central to our mission, despite regional challenges.’

    The distribution is particularly noteworthy given persistent industry obstacles including widespread non-compliance, legislative inconsistencies, insufficient respect for copyright protections, and limited enforcement resources. Despite these barriers, ECCO’s collections and distributions continue on an upward trajectory, highlighting both the untapped economic potential of the region’s creative sector and the organization’s commitment to its mandate.

    ECCO Board Chairman Mr. Bruno Leonce reflected on this achievement: ‘Our 2025 distributions demonstrate what can be accomplished when we support creators’ rights, even within a challenging environment of widespread non-compliance and disregard for intellectual property laws. This represents just the beginning—imagine the possibilities if every broadcaster, venue, and business honored copyright laws. Our creators deserve a comprehensive system where their work receives consistent and fair compensation.’

    Established in 2009, ECCO serves as a crucial bridge connecting Eastern Caribbean creators to the global music rights management network. The organization continues to advocate for proper valuation and compensation for regional music both domestically and internationally, while encouraging all music users to collaborate in ensuring creators receive fair payment for their artistic contributions.

  • Grenada to host Connected Caribbean Summit 2025

    Grenada to host Connected Caribbean Summit 2025

    Grenada will serve as the host nation for the pivotal Connected Caribbean Summit 2025 (CCS2025), scheduled from December 1-5 at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort in Grand Anse. This high-level gathering will bring together over 200 senior leaders from Caribbean nations and the international community under the unifying theme “Catalysing Caribbean Transformation.

    The summit represents a decisive shift from conventional conferences, positioning itself as an action-oriented working session dedicated to accelerating tangible regional progress. Core focus areas include economic resilience, digital innovation, justice system reform, governance strengthening, educational modernization, and financial inclusion—all identified as critical enablers for sustainable development and inclusive growth throughout the Caribbean region.

    CCS2025 will convene an unprecedented assembly of regional power brokers including heads of government, chief justices, utility regulators, corporate CEOs, international investors, development partners, and civil society representatives. The explicit objective is to transcend dialogue and initiate concrete implementation strategies across three priority areas: scaling financial investment and inclusion mechanisms, addressing escalating crime and security challenges, and enhancing digital and climate resilience capabilities.

    The summit architecture features several innovative components:

    The CCS Leadership Alliance will facilitate closed-door and plenary sessions among government leaders and regional institutions to coordinate action on shared development objectives.

    A dedicated Justice Forum will spotlight comprehensive approaches to modernizing judicial organizations, improving operational efficiency, and expanding citizen access to legal services.

    CCS MasterClasses will deliver high-level instruction on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation led by international and regional experts specifically tailored for senior executives.

    The NextGen Forum will create a unique platform for Caribbean youth to engage directly with regional leaders and gain exposure to emerging career opportunities.

    An Innovation Showcase will exhibit Grenadian and regional technological solutions addressing Caribbean-specific challenges.

    The program will culminate in a Cultural Gala hosted by the Grenadian government, highlighting national culture and investment potential while providing curated networking opportunities.

    Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell emphasized Grenada’s commitment to regional cooperation through hosting this event, stating: “We look forward to welcoming leaders, experts and investors to our shores to work with us on practical solutions that benefit our citizens and our region.”

    Bevil Wooding, CCS2025 convener and Executive Director of the Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions, reinforced the action-focused nature of the summit: “We are convening the leaders and institutions that have both the responsibility and the authority to act—so that ideas discussed in Grenada swiftly translate into concrete programmes, partnerships and investments across the Caribbean.”

    The summit will feature global broadcasting capabilities and a dedicated media center to facilitate press briefings, interviews, and real-time coverage. Media organizations seeking accreditation or interview arrangements are directed to contact the CCS Secretariat, with additional information available at connectedcaribbean.org.