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  • UK rejects slavery reparations as Jamaica presses case with King Charles III

    UK rejects slavery reparations as Jamaica presses case with King Charles III

    Decades-long global calls for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade have entered a new phase this September, as Jamaica has launched a formal legal push to hold the United Kingdom accountable for its historic role in the system of chattel slavery — even as British officials maintain their unyielding rejection of any financial compensation claims.

    According to international media reports, a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed that the British government’s decades-old policy remains unchanged: ‘the UK does not and will not pay reparations’ to former colonial territories impacted by the transatlantic slave trade.

    The UK’s formal restatement of its position came just five days after Jamaica’s Culture Minister Olivia Grange submitted an unprecedented slavery-related petition to King Charles III on September 7, 2026. The request asks the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the UK-based supreme judicial body that historically handles appeals from Commonwealth nations, to review three core questions related to the legality of Britain’s slave trading practice and the UK’s potential responsibility for providing redress for its harms.

    Contrary to some early media coverage that framed the petition as a direct demand for a set monetary sum, Grange has publicly clarified that the filing does not include a specified financial figure at this preliminary stage. Speaking with the Jamaica Observer, Grange explained that the petition was submitted through official, established channels after the Jamaican government received formal procedural guidance from Buckingham Palace. She also confirmed that a request for a courtesy meeting with King Charles was turned down, due to the monarch being in residence at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

    The King’s absence drew sharp criticism from anti-monarchy activists. Graham Smith, chief executive officer of the UK-based campaign group Republic, told Al Jazeera: ‘Once again Charles ducks for cover when the issue of slavery and empire is raised.’

    Jamaican officials argue that addressing the intergenerational harms of slavery demands far more than symbolic acknowledgment of historical suffering. The latest legal move aligns with a growing global momentum for reparatory justice that gained significant traction earlier this year, when the 80th United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution on March 25, 2026. The resolution formally classifies the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans as ‘the gravest crime against humanity’ in history.

    Championed by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who leads the African Union’s work on reparatory justice, the resolution passed with overwhelming global support: 123 nations voted in favor, only three voted against, and 52 countries chose to abstain. Notably, the United Kingdom was among the abstentions, while all member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) voted in support of the text.

    While the UK has consistently rejected calls for reparations, British officials have stated that they acknowledge the profound brutality of slavery and its lasting impact on global history. Jamaica’s latest legal action marks one of the most formal, institutional pushes for accountability from a former colonial territory to date, opening a new chapter in the global debate over historical responsibility for the transatlantic slave trade.

  • Suicide prevention is everyone’s job: Mental Health Director

    Suicide prevention is everyone’s job: Mental Health Director

    As the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia marked World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, a top local mental health leader is sounding the alarm about the critical importance of prioritizing suicide prevention, emphasizing that small, compassionate acts from ordinary community members can be the difference between life and death for at-risk people.

    Dr. Naomie Jn Baptiste, Director of Mental Health Services in Saint Lucia, delivered this urgent appeal aligned with this year’s global theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, an initiative designed to break down long-standing cultural barriers that silence open conversation around suicide and erode the harmful stigma surrounding mental health struggles.

    In her address, Dr. Jn Baptiste stressed that suicide prevention is not a responsibility limited to medical professionals — every member of the community has a role to play. She explained that basic, intentional actions can have an extraordinary impact: lending an non-judgmental ear to someone in crisis, extending genuine empathy, and validating their emotional experiences rather than dismissing or minimizing their pain.

    “Sometimes just by showing empathy, lending a listening ear and not downplaying people’s feelings and people’s symptoms, then it can go a long way towards preventing suicide,” Dr. Jn Baptiste said.

    The director specifically highlighted the need for greater awareness around at-risk men, noting that many avoid sharing their struggles with depression or suicidal thoughts due to deep-seated societal expectations that frame vulnerability as weakness. She urged community members to never overlook warning signs of emotional distress in their loved ones, regardless of gender.

    For people directly experiencing suicidal thoughts, anxiety, or depression, Dr. Jn Baptiste emphasized that accessible, professional support is available across the country. Free and confidential guidance can be accessed through the national mental health helpline at 203, while local wellness centers offer referrals to licensed mental health specialists. The Ministry of Health also maintains a network of trained community mental health workers, including psychiatric nurse practitioners, community nurses, and dedicated health aides, embedded across local communities to provide ongoing support.

    To build out Saint Lucia’s national suicide prevention framework, local mental health stakeholders recently completed a three-day collaborative workshop with peer professionals from neighboring Guadeloupe. Dr. Jn Baptiste noted that insights and best practices gained from the cross-regional partnership will inform the development of the island’s first national suicide prevention strategy and formal policy.

    Continuing the series of World Suicide Prevention Day outreach activities, a public town hall meeting is scheduled for September 13 in the district of Gros Islet to open community dialogue on the issue.

    Closing her appeal, Dr. Jn Baptiste reiterated her core message: community members must look out for one another and take all signs of emotional distress seriously. “We should be our brother’s keeper,” she said. “There is help out there. There are people out there who are trained in that area that are really willing to help you. We need to recognise our symptoms … and don’t downplay any symptom.”

  • New push to put youth at heart of community change

    New push to put youth at heart of community change

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is currently in active discussions to forge a new collaborative partnership between the government and the grassroots Ubuntu Movement, an initiative designed to unlock meaningful developmental opportunities for young Saint Lucians by placing them at the center of community-led projects, voluntary action and local peacebuilding work. At the heart of these negotiations is the movement’s signature Ambassadors of Justice and Peace Programme, a structured initiative that equips participating youth with targeted professional training, one-on-one mentorship, and formal platforms to lead community-focused volunteer projects, empowering them to emerge as transformative agents of positive change in their local neighborhoods.

    Leana Wallice, manager of the island’s Boys Training Centre, emphasized that the programme addresses a critical gap in Saint Lucia’s youth development ecosystem by fostering a culture of volunteerism among young people, while also giving them tangible avenues to contribute to the betterment of their communities. Wallice noted that widespread public misunderstanding of the value of voluntary service remains a persistent barrier to collective community progress across the country. She explained that embedding the Ambassadors of Justice and Peace within a formal, structured framework creates mutually beneficial outcomes: it delivers personal and professional growth for the young participants themselves, while also delivering tangible benefits to the community members that their projects serve. Beyond individual impact, Wallice argued that this collaborative initiative has the potential to help Saint Lucia make meaningful progress on a wide range of pressing social challenges the nation currently confronts.

    Beyond core programme design, ongoing talks have also centered on how the Ubuntu Movement’s initiative can complement, rather than duplicate, existing youth-focused projects run by the government and local community groups. The partnership is positioned to expand access to structured youth development opportunities across the island, reaching more young people in underserved areas that existing initiatives have not fully served. Emma Hippolyte, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons, framed the proposed partnership as part of a broader government strategy to strengthen ties with grassroots organizations already doing impactful work in local communities. Hippolyte pointed out that dozens of non-governmental organizations across the island already run similar youth and community development programs, and formal government partnership can strengthen their existing work, amplify their reach, and ensure that more community members see tangible improvements in their daily lives.

    Rooted in the traditional Southern African philosophical principle of “I am because we are,” the Ubuntu Movement centers its work on the values of collective responsibility and shared community well-being. The organization has already established a track record of impactful work across Saint Lucia, having previously supported community-led violence intervention programs in three major population centers: Castries, Vieux Fort and Soufriere. Those previous initiatives were co-led by the movement’s Deputy President, Honourable Priest Kailash. If finalized, the proposed government partnership will scale up the movement’s work to advance three core priorities: empowering young Saint Lucians to take leadership roles, growing a culture of active volunteerism across the country, and embedding peacebuilding work at the local level. The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to support the development of safer, more socially connected and more resilient communities across all of Saint Lucia.

  • Remembering Dominican victims of 9/11

    Remembering Dominican victims of 9/11

    On the 25th anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history, communities across the United States and around the globe are pausing to reflect on the lives cut short on September 11, 2001. On that fateful Tuesday morning, four coordinated suicide attacks targeted key sites across New York City and Washington D.C., with two hijacked commercial planes crashing into the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. This attack remains the deadliest act of terrorism ever carried out on United States soil, leaving a permanent mark on global collective memory.

    Among the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that day were two Dominican natives: 40-year-old Fitzroy St. Rose and 62-year-old Virgin Lucy Francis, whose legacies are being remembered by their home nation this anniversary.

    St. Rose, born in April 1961 in Canefield, Dominica, built a life rooted in service long before he moved to the Bronx, New York. A graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, he worked as a firefighter in his home country before migrating to the U.S., where he took up a role as a computer technician for General Telecom on the 96th floor of One World Trade Center. Close friends remember him as a kind-hearted man with a gentle smile and a steady, optimistic demeanor, noting he carried himself with particular pride when doing quiet acts of good for others. After the first plane collided with his tower, St. Rose managed to place several calls to his mother to let her know what was unfolding. When the towers collapsed, search teams combed through rubble and checked every hospital across New York in a frantic, desperate search for survivors, but no trace of St. Rose was ever found, and the grim reality of his death was soon confirmed.

    For Virgin Lucy Francis, 9/11 cut short a life of steady work and quiet dedication. Born in Dominica in March 1939, Francis lived briefly in Barbados before permanently moving to the United States in 1986. She worked as a housekeeper at Windows on the World, the iconic restaurant and event space located on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Described by her family as a woman who took enormous pride in her work, Francis almost always arrived earlier than her scheduled shift. On the morning of the attack, she was set to start at 9:00 AM, but caught the A train from Fulton Street and reached the building well before the first plane struck. More than two decades later, her family still grapples with the shock of her loss, unable to fully accept that she is gone.

    Today, the names of St. Rose, Francis, and all 2,983 victims of the 9/11 attacks are permanently inscribed into bronze parapets surrounding the two giant memorial pools that sit in the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Each year, on the anniversary of the attack, visitors run their fingers over the etched names, leaving flowers and mementos to honor the lives that were lost.

  • Reconstructed St Dominic’s RC School Block #5 handed over

    Reconstructed St Dominic’s RC School Block #5 handed over

    On September 10, 2026, the Government of Grenada marked a major milestone in national educational infrastructure development with an official ceremony to celebrate the handover of the fully reconstructed St Dominic’s RC School Block #5. More than just an upgraded learning space, the new facility is purpose-built as a climate-resilient structure that doubles as a certified emergency shelter for the surrounding St David community, delivering dual benefits for education and public safety.

    The EC$1.436 million reconstruction project was financed through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) via its Basic Needs Trust Fund Programme, with local contractor H Lewis Construction Limited tapped to complete the works. Construction kicked off on June 3, 2024, and wrapped up on August 28, 2026, two weeks ahead of the official handover ceremony. The upgraded block includes a suite of modern improvements: four fully updated classrooms, dedicated administrative office space for teaching staff, new compliant washroom facilities, fully replaced electrical and plumbing systems, integrated fire detection and alarm infrastructure, upgraded telecommunications connectivity, improved on-site drainage, reinforced concrete walkways, and a range of supporting external site works.

    Addressing attendees at the handover event, Dr. Solomon Isaac, CDB Vice President of Operations, underlined that sustained investment in educational infrastructure remains a core pillar of inclusive national development and community empowerment across the Caribbean. “The Caribbean Development Bank is proud to have partnered with the Government of Grenada on this transformative project, which advances three critical priorities: quality education, climate resilience, and community-led development,” Dr. Isaac said. “We are honored to help create safe, modern learning environments for Grenada’s young people, and we remain committed to supporting ongoing educational and social development programs that lift up communities and expand opportunity across the country.”

    Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for the St David constituency, emphasized that the new facility represents far more than concrete and steel—it is a tangible investment in Grenada’s future. “This new block sends a clear message to our young people: we believe in you, which is why we choose to invest in you,” Prime Minister Mitchell stated. “Education is one of the most impactful investments a government can make for its nation. When we invest in our children’s education, we invest in Grenada’s future, our workforce, our communities, and our long-term, sustainable development.”

    The Prime Minister went on to note that every child in Grenada deserves a safe, modern, and comfortable space to learn, grow, and pursue their personal and academic goals. “With the completion of this reconstructed block, our students now have an environment that is intentionally designed to support quality education, encourage academic excellence, and help every student reach their full potential,” he explained. “As a climate-resilient structure and officially designated emergency shelter, it will also serve as a secure refuge for local community members when disaster strikes. This is an investment in both education and national resilience.”

    Beyond its core role as a school facility, the upgraded block significantly enhances the school’s ability to operate as an emergency shelter, offering improved safety and reliable accommodation for St David residents during hurricanes, flooding, or other national emergencies—an increasingly critical function as small island developing states across the Caribbean face growing climate-related risks.

    The Government of Grenada formally extended its gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the project’s successful completion, including the CDB through the Basic Needs Trust Fund Programme, the Roman Catholic Church, St Dominic’s RC School administration, H Lewis Construction Limited, and all partner groups that supported the initiative.

    The completion of Block #5 marks another key milestone in the steady development of the St David region, embodying the government’s ongoing commitment to upgrading educational infrastructure that boosts student learning outcomes, strengthens community cohesion, and expands opportunity for current and future generations. As students prepare to move into their new classrooms this academic term, the reconstructed facility stands as a lasting symbol of collaborative progress, climate resilience, cross-sector partnership, and a shared national commitment to investing in Grenada’s most valuable asset: its people.

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  • Social : 30,500 kits already distributed by FAES to the most vulnerable families.

    Social : 30,500 kits already distributed by FAES to the most vulnerable families.

    As the 2026 academic year kicks off across Haiti, thousands of low-income households continue to grapple with the rising financial burden of purchasing school supplies for their children. To address this persistent annual challenge, Haiti’s Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) has launched a nationwide distribution initiative, and has already delivered 30,500 supply kits to students in need across four of the country’s departments. The ongoing operation expanded to two new regions on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, marking another key milestone in the program’s rollout. Early that morning, FAES teams transferred 6,500 pre-assembled school kits to the Departmental Emergency Operations Center (COUD) based in Fort-Liberté, which serves Haiti’s Northeast department. Just hours later, a second shipment of 7,500 kits was delivered to the COUD facility in Vaudreuil, located in the country’s northern department of Cap-Haitien. These latest deliveries push the total number of kits distributed across the country since the initiative launched on September 6 to 30,500. All collected supplies will be passed from regional COUD offices to local public high schools and national public primary schools, which will handle final redistribution directly to targeted students and their families. FAES designed the program with two core goals in mind: first, to guarantee that every participating child starts the school year with the basic materials they need to participate in class, and second, to cut down on the crippling back-to-school expenses that push many vulnerable households further into financial instability. The initiative covers five of Haiti’s most underserved departments: Artibonite, Northwest, Northeast, North, and Centre, with plans to expand to the Greater South region once initial rollouts are complete. The distribution campaign first launched in Artibonite on Sunday, September 6, where FAES handed over 10,000 kits to local education representatives shortly after the launch event. The following days brought a 6,500-kit shipment to the Departmental Directorate of Education (DDE) for the Northwest department, before the operation moved to the Northeast and North regions this week. As of mid-September, the mission remains ongoing. After wrapping up distribution logistics in the four already reached departments, FAES deployment teams will shift their focus to the Centre department, before moving onward to serve communities in the Greater South region in the coming weeks. For low-resource families that struggle to cover basic monthly expenses, each full school kit represents far more than a collection of notebooks and writing utensils: it is critical, timely relief that eliminates one major line item from their back-to-school budget, at a time when education-related costs are rising steadily across Haiti. For students, the kits also address a key barrier to equal access to education: many low-income children have previously been forced to start the school year without basic supplies, putting them at an immediate disadvantage compared to their peers from higher-income households. For Haiti’s most vulnerable communities, the back-to-school season is never just a routine transition. It is an annual financial shock that many households working with limited incomes struggle to absorb. By directly targeting this unmet need with targeted on-the-ground assistance, FAES’s initiative aims to remove one critical barrier to education access, making the start of the new school year a little more equitable and accessible for the children and families that need support the most.

  • Project Dawn expands skills training for vulnerable youth

    Project Dawn expands skills training for vulnerable youth

    Two years after its 2022 launch, Barbados’ flagship youth skilling program Project Dawn has already delivered life-changing opportunities to more than 500 young people across the island, and this week it welcomed a fresh cohort of 115 participants set to gain hands-on vocational training tailored to boost employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term personal growth.

    The official orientation for the 2024 cohort took place Thursday at the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute in Marine Gardens, Hastings, where government officials and institute leaders outlined the program’s proactive, community-centered mission to address youth disengagement and expand economic inclusion. Senator Shane Archer, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Youth and Culture, emphasized that Project Dawn was intentionally designed to intervene early, rather than respond to crisis after the fact.

    “Through Project Dawn, over 500 young people are being upskilled through different forms of training, delivered across leading Barbadian educational institutions including the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute, Barbados Community College, and the Vocational Training Board, as part of a broader national youth strategy,” Archer told the assembled participants. “The idea is simple. We do not want to wait until a young person has fallen through the cracks and then say we should have done something. We are trying to be proactive. We want to reach you early, expose you to the opportunity to build confidence and give you something productive that you can turn into a realistic future.”

    Archer added that the initiative forms a core pillar of the government’s broader work to steer young people away from disillusionment and idleness by providing tangible, hopeful alternatives. “We are working to prevent young people from going astray by giving them alternatives — alternatives to idleness, alternatives to hopelessness and alternatives to believing that Barbados has no place for us,” he said.

    The new cohort will undertake structured practical training across seven focused classes, covering in-demand hospitality sector skills including professional cookery, bartending, hotel housekeeping, and international cuisine. According to Archer, this industry-aligned training opens doors to opportunities that extend far beyond local borders, with pathways to full-time employment, small business ownership, and long-term careers available locally, across the Caribbean region, and globally.

    “Today is not simply about an orientation. Today is the beginning of an opportunity,” Archer said. “These are skills that can lead you into employment, entrepreneurship and for some of you, careers that can take you across Barbados, across the region, and potentially across the world.”

    He urged participants to approach the training with intentionality, noting that current life circumstances do not predetermine future success. “Your circumstances today do not have to determine your destination tomorrow,” Archer said. “You have been given an opportunity through the Division of Youth Affairs. Take it seriously. Build the skill, build the discipline, build a network and build something for yourself, your family and by extension, your nation, Barbados.”

    Roderick Prescod, Director of the Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute — which runs the on-site training facility at PomMarine Hotel — echoed Archer’s enthusiasm, noting that the government-backed initiative delivers far-reaching benefits for the entire Barbadian economy. “The opportunity being provided through the government is critical for our development, not only as the industry, not only for tourism and hospitality, but for the economy of Barbados as a whole,” Prescod said.

    To ensure trainees receive training that matches modern global hospitality standards, Prescod announced the institute is currently undertaking a major upgrade of its core training facilities, including front-of-house operations spaces, conference areas, and reception zones. “The purpose of these upgrades is to make sure that we are presenting an environment that is aligned with current industry standards, which would allow you, the students, to have the best possible environment for training,” he added.

  • Suriname en Venezuela mikken op samenwerking in landbouw, visserij en energie

    Suriname en Venezuela mikken op samenwerking in landbouw, visserij en energie

    On September 11, diplomatic relations between Suriname and Venezuela entered a new phase of deepened engagement, as acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez carried out an official working visit to the South American Caribbean nation at the invitation of Surinamese President Jennifer Simons. The visit marks the first in-person meeting between the two heads of state, and centers on expanding cross-border economic partnerships across a range of high-priority sectors. Rodríguez and her delegation arrived in Suriname on the evening of Thursday ahead of the official schedule of meetings and ceremonies. On Friday, she received a formal ceremonial welcome at Suriname’s Presidential Palace, followed by plans to lay a wreath at the monument of Simón Bolívar, the iconic Venezuelan independence leader, located on Kerkplein. Later the same day, Rodríguez held scheduled talks with President Simons to advance bilateral cooperation discussions. According to the Surinamese government, the two countries have identified agriculture, fisheries, and hydrocarbons as core focus areas for expanded collaboration. Additional sectors including cross-border connectivity, tourism, education, and institutional capacity building are also on the negotiating agenda during the visit. Suriname’s top diplomat Melvin Bouva, who serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation, noted that the two neighboring nations have long-standing ties and hold extensive complementary strengths that create mutual opportunities for growth through closer partnership. Suriname and Venezuela have maintained formal diplomatic relations for more than 50 years, and this high-level visit is intended to strengthen and deepen the long-standing bilateral connection. During the negotiations, the two sides are working to identify concrete, actionable avenues for expanded cooperation. Beyond individual sector projects, officials are also exploring pathways to scale up broader economic and technical partnerships between the two countries. As of the latest update, no specific projects or binding agreements resulting from the talks have been publicly announced. The Surinamese government has confirmed that any outcomes reached during the visit are expected to set a clear, forward-looking direction for a long-term sustainable and results-driven partnership between the two nations.

  • VAT-Free lists and new dates for October VAT-Free Shopping Days

    VAT-Free lists and new dates for October VAT-Free Shopping Days

    The Ministry of Finance of Grenada has issued an official update announcing a schedule adjustment for one of the flagship initiatives under its 2026 Cost of Living Assistance Programme. The popular VAT-Free Shopping Days, originally planned for an unannounced earlier date, will now take place on October 2 and 3, 2026, giving consumers and businesses ample time to prepare for the tax-free event aimed at easing household financial pressures.

    Beyond this scheduled tax-free weekend, Grenada already maintains a permanent zero value-added tax rate on a wide range of goods and services categorized to support core livelihood needs, local agricultural and fishing production, public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The full scope of permanently VAT-free items covers multiple key sectors of daily life and local industry.

    First, the government has extended permanent zero VAT to essential food items that make up a large share of household grocery budgets. These include unsweetened bread, specified cuts of fresh, chilled, or frozen chicken, plus a range of unprocessed agricultural produce such as fresh fruits, ground provisions, honey, most vegetables, fresh whole eggs, and fresh or chilled poultry and meat. Additional permanently zero-VAT food items added effective December 31, 2021 include Alaska pollock, cheddar cheese, cod, various dried and salted fish, split peas, specified turkey cuts, multiple types of cooking oil, black-eye peas, lentil peas, red kidney beans, veggie patties, brown, white and broken bulk rice for repackaging, wheat flour, and fresh, condensed, powdered, and evaporated milk. Infant milk-based preparations are also exempt from VAT.

    To support local agricultural and fishing production — two foundational economic sectors in Grenada — all core industry inputs carry a permanent 0% VAT rate. For agriculture, these include agricultural seeds, seedlings and plantlets, fertilizers, herbicides, agricultural pesticides, beekeeping supplies and breeding bees, animal feed (excluding pet food), agricultural and horticultural-specific tools and machinery, cardboard packaging and egg trays for unprocessed farm produce. For the commercial fishing sector, VAT exemptions extend to all key inputs including fishing hooks, lines, and nets, GPS devices, marine communication equipment, boat engines, bilge pumps, commercial fishing boats, and various other supplies required for daily fishing operations. Unprocessed agricultural products and fresh/frozen non-crustacean, non-mollusk fish are also permanently VAT-free.

    Permanent VAT exemptions also apply to critical public health and hygiene goods. Chronic disease medicines for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, glaucoma, cancer, and asthma are always VAT-free. Added to the permanent exemption list effective December 31, 2021 are adult and baby diapers, bathing soap, hand sanitisers, laundry soap, sanitary napkins and tampons, toilet paper, toothpaste, and condoms, all of which are essential daily hygiene products.

    To advance Grenada’s climate and sustainability goals, a range of energy-saving and hurricane mitigation devices are permanently exempt from VAT. This includes energy-saving light bulbs, solar panels, inverters, deep-cell batteries, solar water heaters, as well as hurricane shutters (both manual and mechanised) and hurricane straps and ties, helping households reduce energy costs and improve disaster preparedness.

    Additional permanently zero-VAT goods and services include residential electricity for the first 99 kilowatt hours supplied by Grenlec, residential pipe-borne water from Nawasa, newspapers, prescribed textbooks, fuel (gasoline, diesel, cooking gas, kerosene), postage stamps, service charges at hotels, guest houses and restaurants, vacant and agricultural lands, and micro-computers and their regulated accessories. Additional targeted VAT exemptions have also been rolled out in recent years to support economic development: since April 2016, building materials for qualifying investments over $30 million under the Investment Act 2014 have been zero-rated, and electric vehicles and their charging stations have also carried permanent VAT exemption. Effective April 2023, production equipment approved for business use in the creative economy is also exempt from VAT.

    This announcement, which combines an update to the upcoming VAT-free shopping event with a comprehensive clarification of permanent VAT exemptions, forms part of the government of Grenada’s ongoing efforts to reduce the cost of living for residents, support key local industries, and advance policy priorities ranging from climate action to economic diversification.

  • Army : Ongoing modernization of the FAd’H regulatory framework

    Army : Ongoing modernization of the FAd’H regulatory framework

    Haiti’s defense sector is moving forward with a key phase of military institutional modernization, as senior leaders work to finalize updated governing rules for the country’s Armed Forces (FAd’H). On September 9, 2026, Defense Minister Mario Andrésol led a dedicated working session with top FAd’H High Command members during his weekly scheduled meeting, focusing specifically on wrapping up revisions to the force’s draft general regulations.

    The updated regulatory document is designed to lay the groundwork for the armed forces’ long-term institutional evolution, establishing clear definitions for the service’s organizational structure, core responsibilities, and standardized operational protocols. During the day’s discussions, High Command officials conducted a full review of the FAd’H’s proposed overall organizational chart and the mandate of each of its individual branches and units. Attendees also contributed targeted observations and actionable proposals aimed at boosting internal structural coherence and streamlining cross-unit coordination across the force.

    Addressing the meeting, Minister Andrésol stressed that modernizing Haiti’s armed forces cannot be reduced to upgrading hardware or physical infrastructure alone. True transformation, he argued, requires equally robust efforts to consolidate institutional structures, update outdated operational standards, and codify clear rules that help every rank and department within the force understand its unique role and accountabilities.

    Andrésol emphasized that the ongoing regulatory development work must continue to be carried out in a collaborative spirit with the FAd’H High Command, to deliver a final regulatory framework that is sturdy internally consistent, and fully functional for on-the-ground operations.

    In addition to finalizing the general regulation draft, Haiti’s Ministry of Defense is also in the late stages of developing an entirely new operational doctrine for the FAd’H. The two overlapping projects are core components of the government’s sustained national effort to modernize and professionalize Haiti’s armed forces, marking a key milestone in the institution’s ongoing restructuring.