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  • LETTER: Is Antigua and Barbuda’s public-smoking ban being enforced?

    LETTER: Is Antigua and Barbuda’s public-smoking ban being enforced?

    Five years after Antigua and Barbuda passed its comprehensive Tobacco Control Act, which introduced strict restrictions on smoking in public spaces, a concerned citizen is calling out authorities for apparent inaction during one of the nation’s biggest annual public events.

    When the 2018 legislation was enacted, it codified broad smoking bans: not only does it outlaw tobacco use in enclosed public areas, work sites, and public transit, but it also extends these protections to high-traffic outdoor gathering spots, including recreational parks, children’s playgrounds, sports facilities, and public entertainment venues. Carnival, the country’s flagship public celebration, falls directly into this last prohibited category.

    On the opening Saturday of this year’s Carnival, tens of thousands of attendees from all demographic groups flooded event grounds—among them young children, elderly residents, and people living with chronic respiratory conditions, all of whom are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. For these attendees, navigating the event meant constantly moving through thick plumes of cigarette smoke, despite legal protections that are supposed to prevent exactly this outcome.

    The opening day of Carnival presented a clear, high-profile chance for local law enforcement and public health officials to prove that the national tobacco control law applies equally to large-scale celebrations as it does to regular daily life. Instead, witnesses observed smokers lighting up and smoking openly in the middle of dense crowd areas, with zero visible intervention from the officers and officials tasked with upholding the ban.

    This lack of action has prompted a series of pressing questions for responsible authorities: Were any verbal or written warnings issued to people violating the ban? Were any offenders formally reported or charged with breaking the law? Were required “No Smoking” warning signs posted throughout official Carnival event zones? Did event leadership remind vendors, band leaders, and organizers of their legal obligations to enforce the ban on their premises?

    These questions carry extra weight in light of recent public statements from authorities, who recently reiterated that people caught smoking in prohibited public areas could face arrest and a court appearance. That strong official rhetoric stands in stark contrast to the total lack of enforcement seen during Carnival’s opening.

    A public health law that remains unenforced and exists only as text on a page provides no meaningful protection to the public. If smoking is officially banned at all public entertainment venues, that ban cannot be quietly set aside just because a major annual celebration like Carnival gets underway. Selective enforcement—only upholding public health rules when it is convenient for authorities—undermines the entire purpose of the legislation, which is designed to protect all community members from harmful secondhand smoke.

    Moving forward, the writer calls on three key stakeholders—the Ministry of Health, national police forces, and Carnival organizing committee—to take immediate corrective action for the remaining days of the celebration. These groups should clearly mark all prohibited smoking zones across event grounds, publicly outline what enforcement measures will be used to uphold the ban, and follow through on penalties for violations.

    Carnival does not need to allow public smoking to remain a vibrant, joyful celebration for attendees, the writer argues. Non-smokers and children should not be forced to breathe toxic secondhand smoke to participate in a public event organized for the entire community. The law has already been written and passed; what the public now awaits is clear proof that authorities are committed to upholding it.

  • Stage set for Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop finals

    Stage set for Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop finals

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual calypso competitions is gearing up for its climactic final round, after 18 competing artists locked in their official performance order during a public drawing event held this past Saturday. The Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, sponsored by Q100.7 FM, will take place on July 31 at Barbados’ iconic National Botanical Gardens, where competitors will go head-to-head for the coveted title of calypso monarch and a luxurious grand prize.

    Securing the much-discussed first performance slot is Quon, a former Pic-O-De-Crop champion. This marks the third time in the competition’s history that Quon has drawn the opening position, and the seasoned artist has expressed nothing but confidence in the placement. Rather than seeing the lead-off spot as a disadvantage, Quon framed it as a unique opportunity to set a high bar and an engaging tone for the entire evening of competitive performances. Following Quon in the lineup will be J. Diamond in second place and Raheem in third.

    Claiming the fourth position is this year’s defending champion Mr. Blood, who will take the stage early in the night as he fights to retain his title and secure back-to-back calypso supremacy. The middle stretch of the performance order brings together a diverse mix of established and rising talent: Queen T takes the fifth slot, with Tae in sixth, Skung Yung in seventh, Niqa in eighth, iWeb in ninth, and Sir Ruel rounding out the first half of the lineup at tenth.

    The final seven positions close out the competitive lineup: Colin Spencer performs eleventh, followed by Chrystal at twelfth, Kid Site at thirteenth, Adrian Clarke at fourteenth, Yahandje at fifteenth, Billboard at sixteenth, Jamal Slocombe at seventeenth, and De Announcer closing the entire competition in the eighteenth and final spot.

    Beyond the prestige of claiming the calypso crown, the 2024 winner will walk away with a life-changing grand prize: a brand-new EMKOO GX SUV, valued at over $116,000. Festival organizers behind the event shared that public excitement for this year’s finals has reached impressive heights, with fans already buzzing over the depth of talent that has advanced to the final round. Confident in the newly drawn performance order, organizers noted that the sequencing of competitors is designed to hold audience attention and deliver dynamic entertainment from the first opening note to the final closing performance.

  • Charr’d Restaurant Mentors Antigua Grammar School Student in Junior Chef Academy

    Charr’d Restaurant Mentors Antigua Grammar School Student in Junior Chef Academy

    A groundbreaking partnership between a local dining destination and a Caribbean secondary school is opening new doors for aspiring young culinary professionals, as Charr’d Restaurant has stepped forward to mentor a student from Antigua Grammar School through the innovative Junior Chef Academy program.

    The initiative, designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry experience, gives promising young students the rare opportunity to learn hands-on skills from seasoned restaurant professionals. Unlike traditional in-school training, the mentorship program places the student directly in the dynamic, fast-paced environment of a working commercial kitchen, where they can observe daily operations, practice fundamental cooking techniques, and gain insight into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a successful food service business.

    For Charr’d Restaurant, the collaboration represents more than just a community outreach project: it is an investment in the future of Antigua and Barbuda’s hospitality and culinary sector. By nurturing local talent early in their educational journey, the restaurant aims to build a pipeline of skilled young workers who can go on to strengthen the island nation’s tourism and food industries long-term. Restaurant leadership has emphasized that they are eager to share their expertise, from menu planning and food safety standards to customer service, to help the next generation of chefs develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

    The Antigua Grammar School student participating in the program brings a long-held passion for cooking to the opportunity, and has already begun working alongside Charr’d’s head chef and kitchen team to learn core culinary practices. Educators at the school have praised the partnership, noting that work-based mentorship programs like this complement academic learning by giving students practical, transferable skills that will serve them regardless of their future career paths. Many students interested in culinary arts often lack access to professional training opportunities in small island nations, making this collaboration a model for how local businesses can partner with educational institutions to fill that gap.

  • Thunderstorms, Lightning and Heavy Rain Reported Across Antigua and Barbuda as Tropical Wave Passes

    Thunderstorms, Lightning and Heavy Rain Reported Across Antigua and Barbuda as Tropical Wave Passes

    On Sunday, the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda faced severe disruptive weather as a passing tropical wave brought hours of heavy rain, repeated lightning strikes, and intense thunderstorms across both islands. Local residents in multiple residential communities shared firsthand accounts of rapid, torrential downpours that swept through neighborhoods, paired with bright, frequent flashes of lightning that illuminated overcast skies.

    Meteorologists attribute the volatile conditions to residual moisture and persistent atmospheric instability left in the tropical wave’s wake. These conditions have created a favorable environment for the development of scattered and isolated thunderstorms across the entire country, with unstable weather patterns projected to hold as the system continues its slow movement across the islands.

    In response to the hazardous conditions, national safety officials have issued urgent public safety guidance aimed at reducing the risk of lightning-related injuries. Officials emphasize that lightning can travel as far as several miles from the core of a storm system, meaning strikes can occur even when no rain is falling at a location. For this reason, the public is strongly advised to move to safe shelter immediately whenever thunder is audible. The only recommended safe spaces are fully enclosed permanent buildings and vehicles with solid metal hard tops.

    Until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last sound of thunder, officials warn the public to avoid a wide range of high-risk locations. These include open outdoor spaces, coastal beaches, natural bodies of water such as rivers and ponds, constructed swimming pools, tall isolated trees, utility poles, overhead power lines, and metal perimeter fences, all of which increase the risk of being struck by lightning.

    As unstable weather conditions are set to continue in the coming period, local authorities are urging all residents to stay informed by regularly checking official meteorological updates. They also encourage community members to reach out to check on the well-being of vulnerable family members and neighbors, and maintain a heightened state of alert to respond to changing weather conditions.

  • Mom praised for faithfulness to blind daughter

    Mom praised for faithfulness to blind daughter

    In a remarkable achievement that has captured the attention of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a blind primary school student Faith Grant has posted exceptional results on this year’s Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), securing her a spot at the country’s most prestigious all-female secondary institution — and drawing widespread acclaim for her mother Yolanda Grant’s relentless dedication to her daughter’s success.

    Out of 1,760 students across SVG who sat the 2024 CPEA examination, Grant ranked 43rd overall and 19th among all female test-takers, a feat that stands out even among top-performing students. A product of the special education program at Fair Hall Government School, Faith was born with visual impairment, and her journey to academic success has been shaped by intentional support, persistent advocacy, and extraordinary personal grit.

    Local disability advocacy organization Voice of the Disabled (VOD), which works to remove barriers and improve quality of life for disabled people across SVG, has publicly congratulated Faith, her family, and the educators who supported her through her primary education journey. In an official press statement released this week, the group highlighted Yolanda Grant’s unwavering commitment as a key driver of Faith’s success.

    “God has blessed Faith, kept her and provided guidance along the way. With a mother who has been passionate and persistent, Faith successfully completed her primary education and ultimately showed the country that all people are capable of achieving greatness, despite differences,” the statement read.

    The partnership between the Grant family and VOD stretches back nearly a decade, when Sister Samuel, program coordinator for an annual disability recognition event hosted by Calder Adventist Church, introduced Yolanda Grant to VOD founder and president Cheryl Adams. That first meeting grew into a close friendship and collaborative partnership, with Yolanda quickly becoming an integral part of the organization’s work. Recognizing early on that targeted support and community connection would be critical to Faith’s success, Yolanda invested time in educating herself about disability inclusive education and sought out specialized resources to meet her daughter’s needs.

    Soon after joining VOD as a member, Yolanda was appointed public relations officer and parent group coordinator, expanding her impact beyond her own family to support the broader disabled community in SVG. Over her years with the organization, she has co-developed and led training sessions for educators and parents of disabled children, and partnered with Adams to engage in cross-sector collaboration with SVG’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment.

    “Not only did Ms. Grant commit to enhancing the life of her own child, but she dedicated her time to serving the community and contributing to a meaningful cause for differently abled Vincentians,” VOD noted in its statement.

    Adams and Yolanda Grant worked closely for years to secure appropriate educational placement and accommodations for Faith, a process that required sustained advocacy with government agencies. For a long period, Yolanda covered all costs for Faith’s specialized support and services out of her own pocket, placing a significant financial strain on the family. After VOD brought the family’s needs to the Ministry of National Mobilisation, which held oversight for disability issues at the time, the government stepped in to ease the burden, coordinating financial assistance through SVG’s Youth Empowerment Service (YES) program.

    Despite the many systemic and personal obstacles the Grant family navigated, Faith emerged as a consistently high-performing, determined student, VOD said, describing the 12-year-old as “a determined, talented, intelligent and resilient young person with a strong desire to learn.” That resilience is reflected in her historic CPEA results, which have paved the way for her to attend the elite Girls’ High School (GHS) in the coming academic year.

    Faith’s achievement has prompted VOD to call for broader systemic change to advance disability inclusion across SVG’s education system. The organization emphasized that “every child deserves a fair opportunity to reach their highest potential,” arguing that learning institutions at all levels must adapt to meet the diverse needs of their student populations. Key steps to build more inclusive education environments, the group said, include developing adaptive learning materials, investing in assistive technology, integrating Braille and other alternative communication methods, expanding family support services, providing specialized training for education staff, and upgrading physical accessibility across school campuses.

    VOD acknowledged that SVG still has significant progress to make as a society to fully include disabled people in all areas of public life, but called on parents and guardians of disabled children across the country to draw inspiration from Yolanda and Faith Grant’s story. “We hope that you feel inspired by Ms. Grant’s unwavering pursuit of a quality life for her child. She understands the value of education, the power of advocacy and the importance of being present. This is only the beginning,” the statement said.

    As Faith prepares to transition to secondary school, VOD noted that she will continue to need community support, particularly to cover the cost of high-priced assistive devices and specialized learning tools. The organization encouraged any community members who are able to contribute to reach out to the Grant family, and urged locals to support disability advocacy causes in their own communities to lift up other children like Faith.

    For its part, VOD reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting the disabled community in SVG. The organization pledged to continue its core work: advocating for systemic policy change, fostering independent living for disabled people through education and skills training, providing peer and resource support for parents, partnering with churches and other local institutions, expanding outreach to underserved disabled communities, collaborating with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and raising public awareness about the ongoing barriers facing disabled Vincentians.

  • Thousands Fill St. John’s as Antigua Carnival 2026 Opens With T-Shirt Mas

    Thousands Fill St. John’s as Antigua Carnival 2026 Opens With T-Shirt Mas

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated summer cultural celebrations got off to a rousing start on Saturday, as thousands of partygoers flooded the downtown streets of St. John’s to launch Antigua Carnival 2026 with the beloved annual Opening Parade and T-Shirt Mas.

    Draped in vividly hued custom T-shirts and elaborate traditional carnival costumes, attendees moved in step behind rolling music trucks, where infectious soca beats blared through every neighborhood of the capital, turning the entire city into one open-air dance floor. The procession also featured formal carnival bands and seasoned masqueraders, who amplified the energy with impromptu performances, adding layers of rhythm, movement, and bright, eye-catching color to every block of the parade route.

    Among the crowds joining in the fun was Dwayne George, Antigua’s Minister of Festivals, who skipped formal official duties to celebrate alongside attendees. George linked up with members of the popular Bacchanal Carnival group while representing the Insane Carnival troupe, mixing with revelers, sharing laughs, and dancing alongside participants all along the parade path.

    Organizers and attendees alike called the massive turnout a promising sign for the weeks-long festival, officially marking the opening of Antigua Carnival 2026. Over the course of the celebration, a full slate of events is scheduled, including skilled performance competitions, deep-dive cultural showcases highlighting Antigua and Barbuda’s heritage, and ongoing street parties open to both locals and international tourists.

    Billed for decades as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival, Antigua Carnival draws tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe each year, serving as a cornerstone of the country’s tourism sector and a beloved annual tradition for local communities. All visual documentation of the opening parade was provided courtesy of the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS), the nation’s state media outlet.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Marks International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

    Antigua and Barbuda Marks International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – In a push to highlight the irreplaceable ecological and economic value of mangrove forests to the twin-island nation, Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of the Blue Economy has organized a full slate of educational and community-focused events to observe the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

    In an official statement released to mark the annual observance on Sunday, the department outlined the wide-ranging, critical roles mangrove ecosystems play across the country. Beyond anchoring coastlines to slow erosion and buffer against destructive storm surges, these coastal forests underpin marine biodiversity, act as highly effective carbon sinks, and boost the nation’s overall capacity to adapt to the accelerating impacts of climate change.

    The first of this year’s scheduled activities took place July 24, when department organizers hosted an interactive educational workshop for attendees of the National Library Summer Camp. Through a mix of engaging educational games and hands-on learning experiences, young campers explored core themes including local marine biodiversity, coastal protection strategies, marine pollution prevention, and the natural water purification function mangrooves provide.

    The series of observance events will continue July 27 with a community mangrove-themed public mural project, led entirely by students from J.T. Ambrose Primary School. The mural will be painted at the Recreation Ground on Independence Drive, located directly opposite the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, with work running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and open to public observers.

    Department officials emphasized that while mangroves rank among the most biologically productive ecosystems on the planet, they are also one of the most threatened. These coastal forests serve as critical nursery habitats for commercially important marine species including fish, crabs and lobsters, providing a natural foundation that supports the nation’s commercial fishing industry, coastal tourism sector, and small coastal communities that rely on both for livelihoods.

    Data shared by the department adds further context to mangroves’ outsized environmental impact: Healthy mangrove ecosystems naturally filter industrial and agricultural pollutants from coastal waters, boosting water quality for both marine life and human communities, while reducing the destructive force of hurricanes and seasonal flooding. On a global scale, mangrove forests can store up to four times more carbon per hectare than most terrestrial tropical forests, and provide permanent or migratory habitat for hundreds of species of fish, birds and other wildlife.

    To extend the impact of the international observance beyond scheduled events, the Department of the Blue Economy is calling on all Antigua and Barbuda residents to join ongoing mangrove conservation efforts. Simple actionable steps the department highlights include cutting down on single-use plastic consumption to reduce marine plastic pollution, avoiding damage to intact coastal mangrove habitats, participating in local community coastal clean-up drives, and spreading public awareness of mangroves’ importance to friends and family.

    Closing the official message, the department adopted the event slogan “Healthy Mangroves. Healthy Oceans. Stronger Communities,” and encouraged local residents to share their own personal mangrove conservation activities on public platforms to honor the international observance and inspire broader action.

  • Junior Carnival Parade Brings Colour and Creativity to St. John’s

    Junior Carnival Parade Brings Colour and Creativity to St. John’s

    One of the most anticipated family-focused highlights of Antigua’s annual Carnival celebration is poised to bring vibrant energy and youthful joy to the capital St. John’s this afternoon, as hundreds of child participants prepare to lead the 2026 Smalta Junior Carnival Parade.

    Event logistics have been fully finalized for the flagship occasion, with a clear schedule and mapped route laid out for participants and attendees alike. Young masqueraders will begin gathering for registration and final preparations at 1:30 p.m. at Parliament Drive, widely known as the Old House of Culture. The parade itself will officially kick off at 2 p.m., setting off from the assembly point and winding through the heart of St. John’s before concluding at the iconic Carnival City venue.

    The official pre-planned route guides the procession through key thoroughfares of the capital: starting along Queen Elizabeth Highway, the parade will proceed to Independence Avenue, before moving through Redcliffe Street, Thames Street, and High Street. Participants will then loop back onto Independence Avenue, circle the central roundabout onto Old Parham Road, and make their final approach along Coronation Road into Carnival City, where post-parade celebrations will continue.

    Organizers behind the event have issued a public call for local residents and visiting tourists to line the route along the way, to cheer on and celebrate the young performers taking part in this year’s parade. Beyond the procession itself, the event will showcase the young masqueraders’ vivid, handcrafted costumes, high-energy dance performances, and the exceptional creative vision that has become a defining trademark of the Junior Carnival iteration of the broader Antigua Carnival.

    The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, the governing body overseeing all Carnival-related events, has shared that this year’s annual gathering will deliver exactly what attendees have come to love: vividly hued costumes, contagious joy from the young participants, and the one-of-a-kind creative expression that sets the local celebration apart. Aligned with 2026’s official parade theme “Feel the Rhythm,” the event is designed to let children lead the celebration of Carnival’s iconic cultural spirit, bringing the entire community together in celebration.

  • Jadon Wuilliez Advances to 50m Breaststroke Semifinals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

    Jadon Wuilliez Advances to 50m Breaststroke Semifinals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

    One of Antigua and Barbuda’s rising swimming stars has made history at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, etching his name into the country’s athletic record books. Jadon Wuilliez delivered a standout performance in the heats of the men’s 50-metre breaststroke event, shattering the existing national record to lock in a spot in the event’s semifinal round.

    Competing in the highly competitive Heat 6, which featured a field of in-form swimmers from across the Commonwealth, Wuilliez crossed the finish line in fourth place with an official time of 27.69 seconds. This result not only met the qualification threshold for the next stage of the competition but also pushed past the previous national benchmark, marking a new personal and national best for the young Antiguan and Barbudan athlete.

    The milestone comes as a significant achievement for Antigua and Barbuda’s swimming program, highlighting the progress of emerging talent from small island nations on the global competitive sporting stage. Wuilliez will next prepare to compete against the world’s top-ranked breaststroke sprinters in the upcoming 50-metre semifinal, with a spot in the final up for grabs.

  • Leerkrachten pleiten voor bredere invoering van ‘Het Begint Bij Mij’-programma

    Leerkrachten pleiten voor bredere invoering van ‘Het Begint Bij Mij’-programma

    Against a backdrop of widely acknowledged gaps in educator development across Suriname’s education system, 32 teachers from four local schools have completed the first national iteration of *It Starts With ME*, an international personal leadership training program designed to transform how educators approach teaching and student support. The initiative, which focuses on building personal self-awareness, responsible parenting practices, and intentional self-reflection among education professionals and caregivers, has already drawn enthusiastic praise from participants who describe the course as a transformative eye-opener that should be expanded to reach all teachers in the country.

    Founded in 2003 by educator Adéle Grosse in South Africa, *It Starts With ME* was created to support not just teachers, but also parents and primary caregivers. Over its two decades of operation, the program has expanded to roll out across multiple African nations and the Netherlands, before being brought to Suriname by the Stichting Ad Fontys, with backing from the Stichting De Vrijeschool. This inaugural Suriname-based training session was hosted at the Lalarookhgebouw, led by local trainer Monique Lansheuvel.

    Lansheuvel explained that the core mission of the program goes far beyond conventional professional development: it pushes participants to examine their identity both as educators and as individual people. “The core of the work is building awareness around your role as a parent and your sense of self,” she said. “If you don’t understand where you’ve come from, you can’t chart a clear path for where you want to go. That’s why we explore participants’ own childhoods and personal histories. We don’t frame this as a process of judging right or wrong; instead, we ask what you want to do differently or better going forward.” By the end of the training, participants leave with greater self-confidence, a clearer understanding of their personal values and norms, and a stronger sense of what they want to pass on to the young people in their care, she added.

    For participant Cherrylane Pools, the most critical lesson the training taught was the importance of self-reflection before supporting others. “The biggest takeaway is that change starts with you,” Pools said. “If you aren’t feeling grounded and comfortable in your own skin, you can’t pass that stability on to the students you work with. The training helped me become far more aware of the impact I have on children and everyone around me. You have to be the example you want to see before you can expect others to change their behavior.”

    Organizing representative Tanja Meyer noted that the long-term goal of the pilot is to roll the training out nationwide across Suriname. “We need to build greater awareness that a teacher’s role extends far beyond just delivering lessons,” Meyer explained. “Suriname’s Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Sasos) has already recognized that there are critical gaps and shortcomings in this area of educator development, which is why we launched the program here.”

    From this first cohort of participating teachers, organizers plan to train a new generation of local program trainers, with the ultimate goal of reaching as many educators and caregivers across the country as possible. Initiative leaders say they hope the program will drive lasting positive change across Suriname’s education and child-rearing sectors, centering core values of personal responsibility and intentional role modeling for the next generation.