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  • Bescherm onze mangroven: het is nu tijd om in actie te komen!

    Bescherm onze mangroven: het is nu tijd om in actie te komen!

    On July 26, the world observes annual World Mangrove Day, a moment that draws sharp focus to the extraordinary ecological, economic and social value of Suriname’s extensive mangrove forests – one of the largest and most ecologically critical mangrove ecosystems in the Caribbean and South American region.

    Far more than just a belt of trees lining Suriname’s coastline, these unique intertidal forests deliver a wide array of irreplaceable benefits to the nation and its people. They act as a natural coastal barrier, slowing erosion and buffering inland communities from devastating storm surges and flooding. They serve as critical nursery habitats that support juvenile fish and hundreds of other wildlife species, underpinning the livelihoods and food security of thousands of small-scale fishers across the country. Perhaps most importantly in an era of accelerating climate crisis, mangroves sequester carbon far more effectively than many terrestrial forest types, helping Suriname absorb the impacts of rising sea levels and broader climate change.

    Despite these critical benefits, Suriname’s mangroves face growing, multifaceted threats that are pushing these fragile ecosystems toward increasing degradation. Climate change-driven impacts including accelerating sea level rise, prolonged droughts and altered hydrological patterns have already caused measurable harm. On top of these natural stressors, unregulated human activity and inadequate ecosystem management have disrupted natural ecological processes across large swathes of mangrove habitat. Even previously robust, healthy mangrove stands are now showing signs of damage when water flow is blocked and emerging threats are not addressed in a timely manner, experts warn.

    World Mangrove Day serves as a critical reminder that raising awareness alone is not enough to reverse these trends – tangible, coordinated action is urgently required. This means investing in science-based, sustainable mangrove management, developing clear long-term conservation plans, securing consistent and sufficient funding for protection and maintenance, and forging close collaborative partnerships between government agencies, ecological researchers and local coastal communities. Protecting mangroves is not just an environmental priority: it is central to Suriname’s public safety, food security and long-term economic stability. Safeguarding these ecosystems is equivalent to safeguarding Suriname’s future.

    Recent, comprehensive research conducted at the Bigi Pan mangrove reserve in Nickerie – one of Suriname’s most important coastal protected areas – offers a actionable blueprint for effective conservation. The study documented strategies to restore degraded mangrove areas and strengthen protection for intact healthy forest, and put forward a series of evidence-based recommendations for improved management of Bigi Pan. These include deeper collaboration between stakeholder organizations, sustained adequate funding, regular ecological monitoring, stricter enforcement of existing conservation regulations, and expanded leadership roles for local communities that live in and around the reserve. The Bigi Pan project demonstrates that meaningful conservation outcomes are achievable when scientific expertise, indigenous and local knowledge, and proactive policy are aligned. The management and monitoring frameworks developed for Bigi Pan can now serve as a replicable model for other mangrove areas across Suriname’s coastline.

    On this World Mangrove Day, the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and the Mangrove Forum Suriname are calling on the Surinamese government to elevate mangrove protection and sustainable management to a top national priority. To deliver meaningful progress, clear regulatory frameworks, defined institutional responsibilities, sustained public funding, and decision-making rooted in rigorous scientific research are all essential. Equally indispensable is the active participation of citizens and local coastal communities, who bear the closest connection to these ecosystems and depend most directly on their health.

    The appeal extends beyond government: policymakers, researchers, civil society organizations, development partners and all people of Suriname are called on to unite around shared mangrove stewardship. Protecting these ecosystems is a collective shared responsibility for all stakeholders.

    The future of Suriname’s entire coastline and the livelihoods of the communities that call it home are inextricably linked to the future of the nation’s mangroves. Without urgent action, Suriname will not only lose one of its most unique natural treasures: it will also face increasing damage from flooding and coastal erosion, declining fish stocks that threaten food security, and heightened national vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

    While public awareness is a critical first step, it is not sufficient to reverse current trends. Communities and individuals must speak up and contribute to decision-making that shapes the future of mangroves and the communities that depend on them. Now is the time for urgent action: the current rate of mangrove degradation must be slowed, and ultimately halted, to protect Suriname, its future generations, and all who rely on a healthy, resilient coast. Every person has a role to play, because the benefits of intact mangroves touch every member of Surinamese society.

    This call to action is being amplified during the first ever Mangrove Run, held July 26, 2026 in Nieuw Nickerie. Far more than a recreational public event, the run serves as a collective call to action for all people to join the effort to protect Suriname’s mangroves. Mangroves belong to all of Suriname, their value stretching from the local coastline to global climate stability, and from the present day to the far future.

    This statement is issued by Prof. dr. Sieuwnath Naipal, on behalf of the Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname and the Mangrove Forum Suriname.

  • Gouddossier 3: Een jaar na de belofte: waar staat de goudsector?

    Gouddossier 3: Een jaar na de belofte: waar staat de goudsector?

    Just over 12 months ago, Surinamese President Jennifer Simons laid out a bold new policy direction for the country’s critical gold sector in her 2026 annual address. Her agenda was clear and ambitious: ensure the industry delivers greater shared benefits to Surinamese society, crack down on rampant gold smuggling, raise government royalty rates and export levies, and update outdated national mining legislation. At its core, the plan aimed to let Suriname reclaim full control over its valuable natural resources and capture a fairer share of the sector’s massive economic value.

    Now, a full year after that landmark pledge, mounting challenges have put the government’s ability to execute its reform agenda under intense public scrutiny. A series of recent high-profile incidents — including an enforcement operation in Sarakreek, a mass fish die-off in the Saramacca River, ongoing debates over unregulated chemical use, persistent questions surrounding opaque concession awarding, and continuing concerns about unreported gold smuggling — have pushed the gold sector back to the center of national public debate. What was once a question of what reforms the government wanted to implement has shifted to whether the state has the capacity and resolve to follow through on its own commitments.

    Lawmaker Jennifer Vreedzaam of the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) argues that the environmental crisis unfolding along the Saramacca River demonstrates that the sector’s problems run far deeper than just unlicensed artisanal mining. In an interview with local outlet TBN Prime Alert, she explained that individual chemicals not currently banned under national law are often combined on gold mining sites to create a highly toxic mixture that causes severe, irreversible environmental damage. This pattern, she says, raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of border controls for chemical imports and overall regulatory oversight of the entire gold sector.

    Vreedzaam accuses the current government of failing to display sufficient decisive action to address these flaws. She emphasizes that the crisis is not just about delivering emergency aid to affected river communities: it is about protecting residents’ livelihoods, public health, and fundamental human rights tied to a healthy environment. Vreedzaam is calling for full criminal investigations into responsible parties, stricter controls on all chemical imports tied to mining, and harsher penalties for environmental crimes, noting that the issue transcends all partisan political interests.

    Even within the governing coalition, policymakers acknowledge that a fundamental restructuring of the gold sector is long overdue. Ronny Asabina, parliamentary group leader for the coalition partner BEP, argues that the challenges are not caused solely by illegal mining. Instead, he traces the current crisis to decades of ineffective, fragmented governance of the sector. For meaningful reform, Asabina says, the government must reassert central control by aligning concession policy, regulatory oversight, enforcement action, and core legislation into a cohesive, coordinated framework.

    While Vreedzaam focuses heavily on the consequences of failed environmental oversight and the urgent need to protect people and ecosystems, Asabina highlights the lack of a structural, sector-wide regulatory framework that forces enforcement agencies to constantly react to crises rather than prevent them. Despite their differing emphases, both lawmakers reach the same core conclusion: without a strong, coordinated state, the gold sector will remain unmanageable, unable to deliver benefits to the nation while curbing its harms.

    Today, President Simons’ 2025 annual address has become a critical benchmark to measure the current government’s performance. The proposed reforms were always ambitious, but the past few months of crises have laid bare just how difficult implementation will be. The gold sector represents billions of dollars in economic value for Suriname, but it simultaneously exposes major gaps in environmental protection, public safety, transparency, concession governance, and the effectiveness of state authority.

    In reality, the national debate over the gold sector has grown far beyond the industry itself. It has become a test case for how effective the Surinamese state is at protecting the country’s natural resources, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the interests of ordinary citizens who depend on healthy ecosystems for their survival. One year after the reform pledge was made, the biggest challenge facing the government is no longer drafting new policy plans — it is delivering tangible, visible progress that lives up to the promises made to the Surinamese people.

  • Haiti’s Government launches the «Back to the Neighborhoods» (Solino) project

    Haiti’s Government launches the «Back to the Neighborhoods» (Solino) project

    On July 25, 2026, Haiti took a landmark step toward national recovery and the repatriation of displaced residents with the official launch of the ambitious “Back to the Neighborhoods” (Solino) project. The launch ceremony, held as a community gathering at the Sainte-Rose de Lima Auditorium, kicked off what leaders frame as a people-centered reconstruction process rooted in inclusive dialogue, grassroots citizen participation, and renewed national hope.

    For years, widespread instability and displacement have left thousands of Haitian families cut off from their homes, local communities, and basic sense of security. The Solino project represents the Haitian government’s formal, long-term commitment to reversing this crisis, going far beyond simple physical infrastructure repairs. At its core, the initiative is designed to restore a fundamental human right: displaced families’ ability to return to their original neighborhoods, familiar surroundings, and lives with dignity. It aligns with the government’s broader national goals of establishing long-term public security, mending fractured social cohesion, and creating stable conditions for a full return to normal daily life across the country.

    The launch meeting, which included in-depth discussions with local community organizations, served a dual purpose: it introduced the public to the project’s operational framework and laid the foundational structure for local neighborhood committees. These committees will play an ongoing role in guiding reconstruction work and maintaining inclusive local governance throughout the initiative’s implementation.

    Led by civil engineer Pascale Oriol, the Solino project is organized around four clear, prioritized core objectives: restoring long-term public security to target neighborhoods, rebuilding damaged residential and community infrastructure, revitalizing local economic and social life, and gradually formalizing and securing property rights for returning residents. The project’s first phase will involve a comprehensive neighborhood-by-neighborhood needs assessment, with long-term plans to position Solino as a replicable reconstruction model for other vulnerable communities across Haiti.

    Oriol emphasized that the initiative marks a tangible shift from policy promises to actionable state commitment to the Haitian people. She highlighted three non-negotiable guiding principles for the project: full transparency in all decision-making and spending, sustained active participation from local residents in every stage of implementation, and a strict zero-tolerance policy to prevent corruption at any level.

    The initiative is being rolled out through coordinated collaboration between multiple Haitian government bodies, including the Public Buildings Construction and Housing Unit (UCLPB), the Public Enterprise for the Promotion of Social Housing (EPPLS), the Interministerial Committee for Territorial Planning (CIAT), and the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT), with technical and operational support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Haiti office. For national leaders, the partnership demonstrates the government’s commitment to turning popular hope for recovery into tangible, on-the-ground change.

    Speaking on the project’s purpose, Haiti’s Prime Minister framed the safe return of displaced families not as just another policy goal, but as a binding national duty, a fundamental act of justice for displaced communities, and an indispensable step toward building a Haiti that is safer, more cohesive, and stronger for all citizens.

  • Elections : Haiti’s Prime Minister mobilizes the State to guarantee the success of the electoral process (speech, video)

    Elections : Haiti’s Prime Minister mobilizes the State to guarantee the success of the electoral process (speech, video)

    On July 25, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé convened a high-stakes strategic gathering at the National Palace, centered on advancing the implementation of the June 2 electoral decree that lays the groundwork for the country’s upcoming general elections. Held under the theme “The Involvement of the Public Administration in the Application of the Electoral Decree”, the meeting drew a broad cross-section of key institutional and international actors, including cabinet members, senior public administration leaders, Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) President Jacques Desrosiers, national security force representatives, and global partners backing Haiti’s democratic transition. Among the attendees was Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Haiti, who used the occasion to reaffirm the UN’s ongoing backing for Haitian authorities as they work to stage the historic vote.

    This coordinated gathering marks a clear demonstration of the Haitian government’s commitment to mobilizing the full weight of the country’s state apparatus, operating in full alignment with constitutional and institutional rules, to support the CEP in carrying out its mandate. The overarching goal is to establish the conditions required for a vote that meets global democratic standards: free, credible, and transparent.

    In his remarks to attendees, CEP President Jacques Desrosiers praised the prime minister’s efforts to rally the country’s key national forces around this urgent priority. He stressed that a successful electoral process can only be achieved through shared responsibility, requiring collaboration between the CEP, national republican institutions, local stakeholders, and international supporting partners.

    Much of the discussion at the session focused on refining operational mechanisms to put the electoral decree into practice. The decree is widely viewed as a critical framework that will allow Haiti to take a decisive step toward restoring long-term democratic governance and concluding the country’s ongoing transition period.

    In his closing address, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé doubled down on his administration’s pledge to back the CEP throughout the election organization process. He noted that while the constitution assigns the CEP formal responsibility for staging the vote, delivering successful elections is fundamentally a national undertaking that demands buy-in from every state institution and core sector of Haitian society.

    “Organizing elections, although entrusted to the CEP, represents a mission of national importance that demands the firm, coordinated, and responsible commitment of the entire state,” Fils-Aimé said. “Democracy is not built in isolation; it is the collective work of a people and its institutions, united around a common ambition: to rebuild national trust and guarantee the sovereign expression of the Haitian people.”

    The prime minister called on all involved stakeholders to approach this historic moment with a sense of responsibility, dedication, and patriotism, working together to create the conditions for inclusive, transparent, and credible elections that can launch a new institutional era for Haiti.

    By the conclusion of the working session, Fils-Aimé reiterated that his government will prioritize strengthening the security, institutional, and logistical infrastructure needed for the electoral process to succeed. He also confirmed that all required resources will be allocated to provide the CEP with the support it needs to fulfill its mandate in the best interests of the Haitian nation.

  • Uitbreiding vrij verkeer binnen CARICOM moet meer beroepsgroepen kansen bieden

    Uitbreiding vrij verkeer binnen CARICOM moet meer beroepsgroepen kansen bieden

    Suriname is moving forward with plans to expand the free movement of people across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional integration bloc that aims to create a unified single market and economy for its member states. Once the required supporting legislation receives final approval from the country’s national legislature, the De Nationale Assemblée, the expanded framework will open visa-free, work permit-free access to professional opportunities in other CARICOM member states to a far wider range of skilled workers. This development was the central focus of the recent inauguration of a new national Commission for the Free Movement of Persons, a body tasked with guiding national policy implementation of binding CARICOM agreements.

    The new 10-member commission, headed by chair Steven Relyveld, was formally installed by Raj Jadnanansing, the Surinamese Deputy Minister of Public Health, Welfare and Labor, during an official ceremony held in Paramaribo. For context, CARICOM already operates a standardized skilled movement scheme that grants eligible workers the CARICOM Skills Certificate, a document that allows qualified citizens of any member state to reside and work in any other member state without requiring a local work permit. Beyond immediate employment access, the scheme also enables qualified workers to apply for permanent resident status and family reunification after completing a standard verification process. Currently, eligible professions include academics, media professionals, athletes, musicians, artists, teachers, and nurses, among other skilled roles.

    According to Deputy Minister Jadnanansing, legislative work to expand the eligibility list is already complete, and the new bill is now awaiting parliamentary approval. The upcoming expansion will add high-demand occupations including barbers, hairdressers, security guards, agricultural workers, and beauty specialists to the list of professions eligible for the CARICOM Skills Certificate, bringing thousands more Surinamese workers into the regional free movement framework.

    Beyond pushing through the expansion, the newly inaugurated commission carries three core responsibilities: guiding the day-to-day implementation of national CARICOM free movement policy, coordinating alignment and cooperation between all relevant government ministries involved in the process, and providing expert policy advice to the Surinamese cabinet on the full rollout of commitments outlined in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the foundational legal document that establishes CARICOM’s single market and economy framework.

    The overarching goal of CARICOM’s free movement policy is to create a more integrated, efficient regional labor market that matches skilled workers with labor needs across national borders. For Suriname, the expansion is expected to deliver dual benefits: it will open new cross-border career opportunities for Surinamese workers seeking employment across the Caribbean, while also making it easier for Surinamese businesses and public agencies to recruit skilled workers from the region to fill persistent labor gaps in key domestic sectors.

  • Police Admit Administrative Error Led to Confusion Over Firearms Shipment

    Police Admit Administrative Error Led to Confusion Over Firearms Shipment

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has publicly confirmed that an internal administrative error is to blame for widespread public confusion over a recent shipment of 15 firearms and over 1,500 rounds of ammunition imported into the federation. The admission comes amid growing public backlash over law enforcement’s decision not to file criminal charges against the individuals linked to the shipment.

    Earlier this July 2026, police first announced that customs officers had uncovered the cache of weapons and ammunition inside a shipping container at a private residence on the island of Nevis. The initial announcement quickly sparked public concern, and anxiety deepened when authorities confirmed no criminal charges would be pursued against the parties involved, leaving many community members questioning the decision.

    During a recently held press conference, senior police officials laid out new details clarifying the sequence of events: the firearms are owned by retired North American law enforcement officers who are relocating to Nevis, and the group submitted a formal application for an import permit before the shipment ever arrived in the country.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Cromwell Henry told reporters that the application included every required document, but it was accidentally overlooked by police staff amid a surge of correspondence ahead of the annual St. Kitts Music Festival. “The visitors did send an application ahead of the weapons being shipped…we got an application via email requesting an import permit. There was an import permit that was submitted, a list of the firearms and their serial numbers, copies of their licences to keep those firearms in Canada, as well as their passport bio page,” Henry explained. “We missed it among the list of emails that we got,” he added, confirming the internal oversight.

    In addition to the police error, Assistant Commissioner Travis Williams noted another breakdown in inter-agency communication: the shipment was properly declared to customs upon arrival, but customs officials never shared this information with the police force. “Customs knew that they were in the container before they opened the container. However, Customs did not relate that to us,” Williams said. This lack of communication led investigating officers to initially assume the firearms had been brought into the country illegally, as they had no knowledge of the pending permit application.

    After a full review of the case, Williams said investigators found no evidence of criminal intent — a core requirement to file smuggling or other criminal charges against the individuals. “Because there was an attempt to inform us, to notify us, we could not prove that they had intended to smuggle them in. Smuggling requires an intent to evade the authorities, and we cannot establish that they wanted to evade the authorities when they had already sent a list of what they are bringing in to the authorities,” Williams explained.

    While criminal charges have been ruled out, police confirmed that the retired officers did not complete the full required administrative process, as the import permit was never issued before the shipment arrived. As a result, the case has been transferred to the Customs and Excise Department for administrative action under the national Customs Act. “The law gives Customs that leeway to levy penalties for that violation. So we turned it over for Customs to deal with the persons under the Customs Act,” Williams said, adding that “because we could not prove intent, which is an important element of any crime, we leave Customs to deal with it administratively.”

    As of the latest update, the firearms remain in police custody while customs officials conclude their administrative review of the case.

  • “This Is What Our Guests Are Coming to See”: Fish Die-Off Reported in Caye Caulker

    “This Is What Our Guests Are Coming to See”: Fish Die-Off Reported in Caye Caulker

    On July 25, 2026, a devastating mass mortality event of small fish has hit the Caribbean island of Caye Caulker, leaving local communities reeling and demanding answers after footage captured hundreds of lifeless fish drifting across the waters surrounding La Isla Cariñosa.

    The ongoing incident has triggered widespread alarm among island residents, who report that the stench of decaying fish has already drifted across multiple residential zones in the village. As speculation grows over the root cause, many locals are pointing to the persistent, years-long buildup of sargassum seaweed along the island’s coastlines, questioning whether the unmanaged influx has pushed the fragile coastal ecosystem past its breaking point.

    One local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, placed blame squarely on the worsening sargassum crisis and criticized national authorities for failing to implement meaningful solutions. “The cause is clear: it’s the sargassum, and politicians have refused to invest in a real, long-term fix,” they said. “We can’t fault our local village council — they don’t have the budget or resources to handle a problem this big. But the responsible minister can’t stand by and claim there’s no funding to address this.”

    Another resident shared a firsthand account of the events leading up to the mass die-off, recounting unusual activity along the island’s popular north split on Thursday. “All that sargassum washed up onto the north split shore Thursday evening,” they explained. “We saw hundreds of birds gathering to feed, and even crocodiles came out in the early afternoon to feed on the bait fish that were already alive but clearly struggling. When we woke up the next morning, every last fish was dead. And nothing has touched the carcasses since.”

    A third resident’s widely shared video offers a stark visual of the damage: murky, brown-tinged coastal waters littered with the pale bodies of dead small fish, with what appears to be a dead eel floating among the remains. “This is what our tourists come to Caye Caulker to see? Brown, polluted water and dead fish,” the resident said in the footage, describing the unregulated sargassum influx as “a plague that is choking all our marine life.”

    As of press time, no official cause for the die-off has been confirmed by environmental or government authorities. However, marine scientists have long warned of the severe risks that decomposing sargassum poses to nearshore marine ecosystems. When large accumulations of the seaweed break down, they rapidly deplete dissolved oxygen levels in surrounding waters, while releasing toxic gases and compounds that place lethal stress on fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms.

  • Champions League 2026 : The «Yankees» crush our Grenadiers [3-0]

    Champions League 2026 : The «Yankees» crush our Grenadiers [3-0]

    The 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Champions League kicked off its group stage matches on July 25, with Haiti’s under-20 national side, known affectionately as the Grenadiers, falling to a dominant 3-0 defeat at the hands of the United States U-20 men’s national team at the Estadio Universitario BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.

    Haiti entered the match facing a late roster adjustment, as starting player Medinel Zamor was forced to withdraw from the tournament entirely due to an injury just days before kickoff. Shaun A Brun of the US-based Tacoma Defiance stepped into Zamor’s spot in the starting eleven. Haiti’s full starting lineup featured Carlos Bré of Real Hope FA; captain Arthur Alcimé (Real Hope FA); Stanley Volcin (AS Capoise); Marckidens Tanis (AS Capoise); Miguel Joseph (Exafoot); Ramy Fabilus (Real Hope FA); Clavens Exantus (Violette AC); Franco Célestin (Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant); Emerson Laissé (Mount Pleasant); Brun; and Nikolai Pierre of US club Orlando City. Five second-half substitutions were made by the Haitian coaching staff: J. Charles replaced Fabilus, W. Leconte took over for Pierre, D. Resil came on for Exantus, all in the 67th minute; M. Jean Jules replaced Brun in the 75th minute; and K. Romulus replaced Leconte just two minutes later.

    From the opening whistle, the United States controlled the flow of play, holding 69% of total possession and outshooting Haiti 8 to 3 on target. The Americans broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, when Dino Klapija slotted a right-footed shot from the left edge of the Haiti penalty box past the goalkeeper. The goal came off a neatly worked set piece: after a United States corner, Colin Guske headed a looping ball back into the center of the box, setting up Klapija for the easy finish.

    The match turned further against Haiti in the 61st minute, when starting defender Stanley Volcin was shown a red card and ejected from the game, leaving the Grenadiers down to 10 men for the final half hour. Seven minutes after the red card, the United States earned a penalty kick, and Ruben Ramos converted the spot kick to double the American lead to 2-0. As Haiti pushed for an equalizer late in stoppage time, the Americans earned a second penalty, which Santi Morales converted in the 89th minute to seal the 3-0 victory and secure all three points for the US in Group A play.

    Following the opening match defeat, the Haitian Football Federation released a statement affirming the team’s continued commitment to the tournament, noting: “Despite this result, the team continues its training with the same determination in order to best prepare for its upcoming matches. Each match is a new opportunity to demonstrate the character, discipline, and pride of a team that defends its country’s colors. Our support remains a valuable asset for our players.”

    After the first round of group matches, the Group A standings place both the United States and Cuba at the top with three points each, after Cuba also earned a 3-0 opening win over El Salvador. El Salvador and Haiti sit at the bottom of the group with zero points, having each conceded three goals without scoring. The Grenadiers are set to return to play on July 28, when they face Cuba in their second group stage match, before closing out group play against El Salvador on July 31.

  • How a young entrepreneur turned his grandmother’s recipe into a growing liqueur brand

    How a young entrepreneur turned his grandmother’s recipe into a growing liqueur brand

    In the lead-up to one of St. Lucia’s most anticipated annual celebrations, Carnival, 24-year-old entrepreneur Ajan-I Lansiquot and his family gathered at Bay Gardens Marina Haven to launch a limited-time pop-up bar. The pop-up showcased their homegrown, handcrafted spirit brand, Leonas Liqueur, serving up custom cocktails to thirsty Carnival attendees and hotel guests, drawing a lively, engaged crowd to the waterfront venue.

    Leonas Liqueur is a family-owned artisanal brand that specializes in premium creamy milk-based liqueurs, available today in three distinct, customer-favorite flavor profiles: Dark Ambition, a rich coffee-infused blend; Black and Ivory, a sweet cookies and cream variation; and Crimson Velvet, a unique combination of strawberry and peanut.

    What began as a planned feature profiling local business performance during the high-traffic Carnival season quickly became an intimate first-hand look at the grit and vision of a young small business owner building something meaningful from intergenerational roots. A correspondent from St. Lucia Times spent several hours on-site with the Leonas Liqueur team as they served Carnival revellers picking up their costumes from a nearby mas camp along with guests staying at the Bay Gardens resort.

    Speaking with St. Lucia Times, Lansiquot described Leonas Liqueur as more than just a beverage brand—it is a premium lifestyle label rooted in the values of progress and excellence. “It’s crafted for people who want to build something bigger than themselves,” he explained, his steady, grounded delivery matching the ambition of his brand mission.

    Observers on-site noted the 24-year-old carries a thoughtful, intentional demeanor as he navigates the day-to-day demands of business ownership and leadership. Every customer interaction, every detail of the pop-up bar—from the neatly displayed branded bottles with sleek, chic Leonas labeling to the preparation of each handcrafted cocktail—is handled with deliberate care, a reflection of the brand’s core values.

    That intentionality is no accident: it grows directly from the brand’s foundational purpose of honoring and extending a family legacy. The recipe for Leonas Liqueur originated with Lansiquot’s grandmother, Leona, for whom the brand is named. For decades, Leona sold her homemade liqueur from a roadside stall, and she passed the original recipe down to her grandson.

    Lansiquot’s journey to full-time brand ownership began after a turning point in his early career. He had been working a contract role at a local warehouse, a position he enjoyed that taught him valuable operational and business skills he still uses today. He always planned to launch his own venture eventually, taking careful notes on business operations every day, fully expecting his contract would be renewed. When the extension fell through, he chose to channel his frustration into building something lasting, rather than waiting for another opportunity. A core goal from the start was to build a business that prioritizes the well-being of its team: “Once you work with Leonas, or anything I build now or in the future, you’re in good hands,” he says.

    Two and a half years into building the brand, Lansiquot is open about the challenges his team has faced, noting the journey has required pushing through unexpected setbacks and financial losses to earn the small wins and growth the business enjoys today. Beyond building a profitable brand, Lansiquot is committed to growing as a leader, and setting a positive example for his 17-year-old brother Kamari, who he brought on as a co-owner and co-producer of the brand.

    Kamari shares that working on the business has been a valuable learning experience, even with its challenges. “It has ups and downs like any other venture,” he explains. “The hardest part for me is balancing my school work with the demands of the brand.” Still, he embraces the learning curve, as he nurtures his own entrepreneurial ambitions for the future.

    As the team mixed signature liqueur cocktails behind the pop-up bar, Ajan-I joked that growing the brand has unexpectedly taught the whole team professional bartending skills. Onlookers noted the team looked entirely natural as they handed off beautifully garnished drinks—some topped with fresh cherries, others with cookie crumbles—to waiting customers. Many patrons reacted with immediate positive feedback, smiling and giving thumbs up before they even finished their first sip.

    For the Lansiquot family, the Carnival pop-up is just one step in a much longer journey. While the festive season brings a welcome boost in foot traffic and sales, Ajan-I’s long-term goal is to turn Leonas Liqueur into a year-round staple for locals and visitors across St. Lucia. As the business grows, the core team is expanding too, adding brand ambassadors and new strategic partners to scale operations. Today, the brand accepts personal orders and deliveries via its dedicated social media pages, caters private events, and is building consistent, sustainable supply chains. All signs point to Leonas Liqueur being a lasting, growing presence in St. Lucia’s artisanal food and beverage scene.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Business Community Backs the U20 National Team

    Antigua and Barbuda Business Community Backs the U20 National Team

    With kickoff of the 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship just one day away in Puebla, Mexico, the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has publicly celebrated the collective support of local businesses and individual backers that have stepped in as Official U20 Corporate Partners, making the nation’s historic tournament run possible.

    The group of official partners spans multiple sectors of Antigua and Barbuda’s local economy, including the CIP Unit, Dr. Philmore Benjamin, Dawn till Dusk, Photogenesis, Justin Pereira, a joint partnership between Fitzroy’s Rewinding and Faster Freight, RVS Enterprises, and News Co Ltd. This diverse coalition reflects the widespread unity across the country’s business community in lifting up the next generation of Antiguan football talent.

    Among the most impactful contributions comes from the collaborative effort between Fitzroy’s Rewinding and Faster Freight, which sourced and donated high-altitude simulation training masks for the squad. This targeted support addresses a critical logistical challenge for the team: Puebla sits roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, and the thinner air at this elevation presents a significant physical barrier for visiting teams competing there. The donation is a tangible example of how local private sector support is directly preparing the team to compete at their best.

    For Justin Pereira, a former national player who now works as a coach and business owner, the partnership opportunity is more than just financial support—it is a chance to give back to the sport that shaped him. “As a former player, now coach and business owner, it is a real pleasure to be able to contribute to this undertaking. These are huge steps being made in Antigua football,” Pereira said.

    Antigua and Barbuda’s under-20 squad carries notable regional pride into this year’s tournament. Selected as one of just 12 teams to compete in the final championship, they are the only nation from the Eastern Caribbean to qualify, and one of only four Caribbean countries overall in the field. The team will open its Group B play against tournament host Mexico on July 24 at Puebla’s iconic Estadio Cuauhtemoc, followed by matches against Guatemala on July 27 and Costa Rica on July 30. For all participating teams, the CONCACAF U20 Championship serves as a direct qualifying route for two of global football’s most prestigious youth competitions: the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games.

    In closing, the ABFA reiterated its gratitude to all corporate partners, emphasizing that their belief in young Antiguan footballers and commitment to growing the sport in Antigua and Barbuda has been foundational to the team’s journey to the tournament.