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  • Successful GPPA men’s health clinic signals new era for men’s healthcare

    Successful GPPA men’s health clinic signals new era for men’s healthcare

    On July 2, 2026, a major step forward for men’s healthcare in Grenada took place, as the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association (GPPA) formally unveiled its long-awaited dedicated Men’s Health Initiative. The launch was anchored by a well-received one-day specialist Men’s Health Clinic, developed through a collaborative partnership between GPPA, Dr. Jonathan Noël — a leading robotic urological surgeon based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom and Medical Director of Global Robotic Prostate — and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, a local funding partner that made the project possible.

    The clinic saw far higher turnout than organizers initially anticipated, drawing widespread interest from men across all regions of the Caribbean island nation. Over the course of the day, participating men received one-on-one specialized consultations covering a full spectrum of common male health concerns, from prostate health monitoring and urinary symptom assessments to sexual health support and treatment for other urological conditions. Public health experts emphasize that early detection and intervention for these conditions drastically improves long-term health outcomes and patients’ quality of life, filling a critical gap in access to specialized care for Grenadian men.

    For more than six decades, GPPA has anchored sexual and reproductive health services across Grenada, focusing its efforts on advancing the well-being of women, young people, and families. The launch of the Men’s Health Initiative marks a meaningful expansion of the organization’s core mandate, a shift that reflects both the central role men play in family and community health and GPPA’s commitment to delivering confidential, compassionate care to all members of the public, regardless of gender. GPPA leadership notes that dedicated men’s health services have been needed for years, making the new initiative a landmark milestone for the organization.

    “The turnout and engagement we saw at our first ever Men’s Health Clinic makes one thing clear: Grenadian men are ready to prioritize their health when they have access to specialist services that are accessible and welcoming,” explained Dr. N’Kosha Fletcher, a family practitioner with GPPA. “This clinic is just the first step. Through our ongoing partnership with Dr. Noël, we are dedicated to sustaining consistent access to expert urological care, and building a culture where men make regular screening and early intervention a core part of their health routine.”

    In response to the overwhelming demand for services at the inaugural clinic, the partnership has already mapped out plans for ongoing care beyond one-off in-person events. When Dr. Noël is not visiting Grenada for on-site clinics, patients will be able to access his specialized expertise through a telehealth consultation program, linked directly through GPPA’s existing patient referral system. “I was incredibly encouraged by the tremendous response we saw and how willing men were to reach out for care,” Dr. Noël shared. “The reality is that most urological conditions can be managed very successfully when they are caught early. I’m looking forward to continuing this important work with GPPA, and returning to the island later this year to treat even more men across Grenada.”

    GPPA has publicly extended its gratitude to the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, whose generous financial and programmatic support made the launch of the initiative possible. The organization also recognized the work of its full-time staff, volunteer team, and other community partners, whose collective commitment ensured the inaugural clinic ran smoothly and successfully.

    GPPA is currently encouraging all men across Grenada to take proactive control of their health by booking an appointment, either to see one of the association’s in-house family practitioners or to access the new telehealth urology service. The initiative is rooted in a simple, powerful public health motto: Healthy Men. Healthy Families. Healthy Communities.

    Men seeking more information or interested in scheduling an appointment can contact the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association via telephone at (473) 440-3341 or (473) 403-3341, or reach out by email at [email protected].

  • Saint Lucia to host Windwards School Games over 8 days

    Saint Lucia to host Windwards School Games over 8 days

    On Wednesday, local organizers officially introduced the complete roster of athletes that will represent host nation Saint Lucia at the upcoming Windward Islands Secondary School Games (WISG), during a public ceremony held at the Euralis Bouty Pavilion within the Vigie Multipurpose Sports Complex. Kicking off this Saturday, July 25, the eight-day multi-sport competition will bring together 62 participating athletes from four Windward Islands nations: host Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and St Vincent & the Grenadines. Competitors will vie for top honors across five core sports – athletics, basketball, boys’ football, girls’ netball, and volleyball – with matches spread across four purpose-built competition venues across the island. The 2026 iteration of the games receives primary backing from two major sponsors: Canadian Bank Note and Windward Islands Lotteries.

    Saint Lucia’s national roster features a lineup of standout young athletes headed by CARIFTA high jump champion Destinee Cenac. The girls’ netball contingent is led by Under-16 team captain Naija Ferdinand, with additional key players including Lizzy Dorvius and Hayla Samuel. For the volleyball competition, Saint Lucia will field talented young athletes Abigail Evans and Cumaury Toato, while the men’s football squad boasts a deep roster of promising youth talent including Josh Hunte, Thierry Morille, Dervaj Edward, Rickelme Lionel, and A’Dee Germe, several of whom hold youth international caps.

    Clivus Jules, director of sports for Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Youth Development and Sports, shared his assessment of the host team’s months-long preparation process. “There’s always room for refinement when it comes to getting ready for a major competition like this, but we have prioritized shoring up the weak points that held us back at last year’s tournament,” Jules explained. He highlighted the deliberate preparation steps taken across different disciplines: the host nation’s men’s basketball team traveled to Martinique for a targeted warm-up tournament months in advance, and has been training consistently in the lead-up to the games. For track and field athletes, the local program keeps competitors integrated with their home club training routines through the National Championships, after which the full national squad gathers for centralized team training. While he noted incremental improvements can still be made, Jules expressed overall satisfaction with the team’s preparation status.

    For football, Jules added that all of Saint Lucia’s young footballers are currently active in the island’s semi-pro league, meaning they already maintain consistent match fitness heading into the WISG. “The only remaining step is to bring all the players together to build on-field chemistry and coordinate their team play, to set us up for a strong performance. But I am genuinely pleased with how preparation has gone,” he said.

    First established in 1912, the Windward Islands Secondary School Games ranks among the longest-running continuous school sports competitions in the global calendar. This marks the first time Saint Lucia has hosted the tournament since 2018; the nation last claimed the overall WISG title in 2019, and finished third out of the four competing participating nations in both the 2023 and 2025 editions.

    Jules noted that visiting delegations consistently prioritize competing in Saint Lucia due to the island’s reputation for high-quality event hosting and top-tier sports infrastructure. “When we held the directors’ coordination meeting several months back, all participating delegations expressed full satisfaction with how our planning was progressing, and that same enthusiasm has carried through to their arrival this week,” he said. “All athlete registrations are finalized, travel itineraries are confirmed, and every logistical detail – from accommodation to catering to on-ground operations – is fully in place. We are ready to welcome everyone and deliver a successful games.”

    Competition gets underway early Saturday morning with athletics field events hosted at Mindoo Phillip Park, with track events kicking off later the same day at Soufrière Stadium. Entry to all athletics sessions is open to the public free of charge. Court-based sports including basketball, netball, and volleyball will begin Sunday at the Beausejour Gymnasium, while all football matches will take place at the Francis Baba Lastic grounds in Gros Islet.

  • Former top GUYSUCO official and literary figure, Ian McDonald dies

    Former top GUYSUCO official and literary figure, Ian McDonald dies

    On Friday, 24 July 2026, the Caribbean region mourned the passing of Ian McDonald, a towering figure whose decades-long career left an indelible mark across the sugar industry, media, literature and sports across the bloc. He was 93 years old at the time of his death.

    Born in Trinidad, McDonald built his professional legacy over decades in Guyana’s sugar sector, starting his tenure with the private Bookers enterprise before transitioning to the nationalized Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), where he rose to the rank of top senior executive. Later in his career, he took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC), leading industry collaboration across the region.

    Beyond his work in agriculture, McDonald also held prominent positions in Guyana’s independent media landscape. He served as former Chairman of Guyana Publications Inc, the company that published the now-defunct independent private newspaper Stabroek News, working alongside outlet founder David DeCaires and the late prominent lawyer Miles Fitzpatrick to uphold independent journalism in the country.

    Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali released a statement expressing profound sorrow at McDonald’s passing, describing him as a respected literary voice and one of the Caribbean’s most distinguished public figures. Ali noted the particularly poignant timing of McDonald’s death, coming as Guyana grapples with the aftermath of the MV Barima ferry tragedy, an incident that has so far been unofficially linked to more than 100 fatalities. “It is sad that he should leave us now, when the hour is so dark and our nation longs for the wisdom that flowed from his pen,” Ali said. “At this time when grief drapes our nation, we need more than ever his words to steady us, to console us, to remind us that even in loss, there is the promise of renewal.”

    McDonald’s contributions extended far beyond industry and media, earning him widespread regional recognition. In 1997, the University of the West Indies awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Letters to honor his service to the Caribbean sugar sector, sports, and literary communities. A lifelong sports enthusiast, McDonald held a unique distinction as the only person from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to have competed in tennis at the iconic Wimbledon Championships, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer across multiple fields.

  • Guyana says new US ‘forced labour tariff’ will not burden Guyanese exporters

    Guyana says new US ‘forced labour tariff’ will not burden Guyanese exporters

    As of Friday, July 24, 2026, the United States has implemented a new 12.5% tariff targeting imports from 60 global trading partners, a policy framed as a penalty for nations that continue to allow trade in goods produced through forced labor. In response to the policy, Guyanese officials have moved quickly to clarify that local exporters will not face new disproportionate costs, while confirming the country will actively push for a full exemption from the measure.

    In an official statement released Friday, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud emphasized that the new 12.5% duty does not add an unplanned financial burden to local producers. The tariff replaces a 10% global tariff that expired July 24 under Section 122 of the U.S. Trade Act, and marks a continued downward trajectory from higher rates announced in previous months: a 38% rate unveiled in April 2025 was revised down to 15% before settling at the current 12.5% level.

    Crucially, the tariff does not extend to Guyana’s top export commodities, oil and gold, multiple sources familiar with the policy confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer first announced the tariff’s scope Thursday, noting that all affected nations, including Guyana, would be required to pay the 12.5% duty for targeted goods to gain entry to the U.S. market.

    Persaud stressed that Guyana was not singled out for punitive action in the policy, which includes major global economies and regional neighbors across every continent: affected partners include Canada, the European Union, India, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, among 55 other nations. Sixteen other countries are facing ongoing linked investigations, Persaud added, and Guyana is not included in that group.

    Beyond that, top Guyanese officials have forcefully rejected any suggestion that forced labor-produced goods are traded through Guyana’s borders. “Guyana was not aware of evidence demonstrating that goods produced through forced labour are being manufactured in, imported into, or exported from Guyana,” Persaud said, a position reaffirmed during public hearings held by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) earlier this month.

    Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, Permanent Secretary of Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the USTR’s July 7-9 public hearing that any forced labor allegations must be resolved through lawful, evidence-based investigations, according to official hearing transcripts. Roopchand-Edwards backed the government’s position with official labor data: as of June 2026, more than 2,000 inspections across all major economic sectors have failed to turn up any substantiated cases of forced labor. The Guyana Revenue Authority has also confirmed no record of forced labor-produced goods entering the country through official ports of entry, she added.

    Under Guyana’s existing Customs Act, Roopchand-Edwards noted, the government already has full authority to block imports of goods confirmed to be produced through forced labor. “When it is conclusively determined that imported goods were produced using forced labour, the responsible minister has powers to prohibit importation,” she said.

    Persaud also framed the new U.S. tariff as a product of domestic U.S. political and legal shifts, rather than a judgment on Guyana’s trade practices. He explained that the policy was crafted by the current Trump administration to work around a U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued earlier this year that limits the executive branch’s authority to impose unilateral tariffs. “It is not a judgment on Guyana, and Guyana was neither singled out nor treated differently from dozens of other economies navigating the same recalibration,” Persaud said.

    While the new tariff does not create new immediate costs for Guyanese exporters, Persaud confirmed the government will continue lobbying for a full exemption from the duty. Parallel to that effort, the administration is also finalizing work on a new reciprocal trade agreement with the U.S. that reflects the deepening, mature bilateral relationship between the two nations. “We are confident this process will continue on the basis of facts, mutual respect, and shared interest,” Persaud said, adding that Guyana remains fully committed to its ongoing trade and diplomatic partnership with the United States. Government officials have already engaged directly with USTR and other relevant U.S. agencies to reinforce Guyana’s position, most recently during the July public hearings, which Guyana participated in voluntarily.

  • BARP moves to formalise elder abuse reporting as cases rise

    BARP moves to formalise elder abuse reporting as cases rise

    Against a backdrop of surging reports of mistreatment against older people and growing numbers of seniors visiting its headquarters seeking direct support, the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) is moving to establish a standardized, formal framework for handling elder abuse cases across the island nation. The announcement came Thursday as BARP held its annual general meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, where association president Marilyn Rice-Bowen shared that the organization is in the final phases of developing a structured reporting system designed to deliver more consistent, coordinated responses to elder abuse complaints brought forward by members.

    Rice-Bowen told meeting attendees that incidents of elder abuse have grown increasingly frequent in recent months, marking a notable shift from past patterns of engagement. Where seniors previously reached out to BARP primarily via phone or email to raise concerns, growing numbers of vulnerable older adults are now traveling to the association’s offices in person to ask for direct intervention with their cases of mistreatment. “One of our most important initiatives will be the introduction of a formal reporting protocol for elder abuse,” Rice-Bowen said in her address to the gathering.

    Under the current ad-hoc process, BARP staff document reports shared by visiting seniors and pass along details to the Family Conflict Unit, a specialized division within the Barbados Police Service, for official follow-up. The new system will build on this existing relationship by adding structure and accountability to the process. Once fully implemented, BARP personnel will complete a standardized reporting form for every abuse case brought to the organization, which will then be sent directly to the police unit for official investigation. Unlike the previous process, BARP will also maintain active oversight of each open case, tracking progress and following up with both authorities and the affected seniors to ensure cases are resolved appropriately.

    “We’re in the process of having a reporting form designed. That form will be completed at BARP and forwarded to the Family Conflict Unit of the Barbados Police Service, and of course, then we will be able to follow up to see what’s happening,” Rice-Bowen explained. She framed the new protocol as a far more robust and proactive approach to combating the growing problem of elder abuse, noting that BARP stands ready to take a leading role in protecting older Barbadians if called upon.

    “From BARP’s perspective… it is a more serious approach to elder abuse,” she said. “Every senior deserves to live in safety, dignity and respect.” The new initiative follows public comments Rice-Bowen made one month prior, when she characterized elder abuse as a silent crisis unfolding across Barbados. At that time, she warned that the island was facing a expanding but underreported pattern of abuse, including deliberate targeting of socially isolated older adults for financial exploitation, and called on national stakeholders to implement stronger protective measures for the country’s aging population.

  • CARPHA opens regional laboratory in Jamaica to boost Caribbean’s fight against antimicrobial resistance

    CARPHA opens regional laboratory in Jamaica to boost Caribbean’s fight against antimicrobial resistance

    The Caribbean region has taken a transformative step to address one of the globe’s most pressing public health crises, with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) officially opening a new Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Regional Reference Laboratory on the island of Jamaica. This cutting-edge facility marks the final piece of a years-long effort to upgrade the region’s interconnected laboratory referral network, unlocking expanded access to life-saving specialized testing for all 26 of CARPHA’s member states across the Caribbean.

    Global public health authorities have long ranked antimicrobial resistance — the phenomenon through which bacteria, viruses and other pathogens evolve to resist existing drug treatments — as among the most severe threats to global wellbeing. Leading projections warn that AMR could be responsible for as many as 10 million deaths annually worldwide by the middle of the century. For the Caribbean, the challenge has been amplified by longstanding systemic gaps: limited regional AMR surveillance infrastructure, consistent delays in pathogen diagnosis, uneven access to high-quality antimicrobial medications, and widespread overuse and misuse of antibiotics across both human healthcare and agricultural animal production.

    Housed within CARPHA’s existing Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department, the new laboratory was formally inaugurated at a ceremony attended by key regional and international stakeholders. Officiating the opening were Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar. Delegations from the British High Commission in Jamaica, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and multiple other partner organizations were also on hand to mark the milestone.

    The facility’s development and operations are backed by funding from the Fleming Fund, delivered through the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA) with technical and policy support from UKHSA and the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care. Andrew Bowden, a representative of the British High Commission, confirmed the UK’s total investment in the project reaches at least £480,000, equal to roughly 105 million Jamaican dollars, which covered equipment procurement, facility refurbishment, and the formal establishment of the laboratory. This investment drastically boosts CARPHA’s capacity to detect, track, and respond to AMR outbreaks, while expanding access to advanced microbiology and clinical diagnostic services across the region.

    The new Jamaican facility joins two existing regional AMR reference laboratories in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia, forming a fully integrated, interconnected regional referral network. Officials project this unified system will cut down on testing turnaround times, dramatically improve the accuracy and scope of AMR surveillance, and enable far faster public health intervention when resistant pathogens are detected.

    In remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Indar framed the launch as a watershed moment for Caribbean public health infrastructure. “Today’s landmark launch represents the successful completion of a major investment in the Caribbean’s public health infrastructure. Together, our laboratories in Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia and Jamaica now form a fully integrated regional referral laboratory network, enabling us to provide faster, more equitable access to specialised diagnostic services for all 26 CARPHA Member States,” she said. “This is not simply an investment in laboratories—it is an investment in stronger surveillance, more effective outbreak response and a more resilient Regional Health System.”

    Dr. Tufton highlighted that Jamaica has already advanced its own domestic AMR response through targeted action across four core pillars: expanded surveillance, improved infection prevention protocols, stronger antimicrobial stewardship programs, and widespread public education campaigns. He added that the new regional laboratory will strengthen Jamaica’s domestic efforts while supporting neighboring countries across the Caribbean.

    CARPHA officials noted the opening of the facility builds on the agency’s broader Integrated AMR Programme, launched in 2025 to coordinate regional action against resistant pathogens. The milestone reinforces CARPHA’s core commitment to ensuring equitable access to high-quality diagnostic and laboratory services for all member states, while boosting overall regional health security through ongoing cross-border and international collaboration.

  • 20 young ambassadors chosen to give children a stronger voice in national policies

    20 young ambassadors chosen to give children a stronger voice in national policies

    In a landmark step toward centering youth perspectives in governance, the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia has sworn in 20 young people from across the island as its first-ever Child Rights Ambassadors. The groundbreaking initiative was designed to guarantee that children and adolescents have a direct seat at the table when national policies and decisions shaping their lives are being made.

    Over the coming months, these appointed ambassadors will work directly with peers in their local schools and communities, carrying out three core missions: spreading critical awareness of fundamental child rights, documenting the pressing concerns of young Saint Lucians, and bringing those on-the-ground perspectives to national discussions spanning child protection, public education, healthcare access, juvenile justice, and social service delivery.

    The programme was officially launched earlier this month during Saint Lucia’s first National Child Rights Symposium, and is a joint effort between the country’s Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It aligns directly with Saint Lucia’s binding commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a global treaty that explicitly enshrines children’s right to express their views and have those views included in decisions that impact their well-being.

    Permanent Secretary Dr. Charmaine Hippolyte-Emmanuel emphasized that the initiative is far more than a symbolic gesture—it is designed to give children a meaningful, actionable role in conversations that touch every part of their lives. “If we do not protect our children that we call the future, do you think, or do you foresee us having a future? Not at all,” she told attendees. “Therefore, we are committed to that kind of protection for you. As we convene, I encourage every child and young person to be a part of this conversation. It makes absolutely no sense to speak about you and you are not a part of the conversation.”

    The 20 ambassadors were selected from a pool of student nominees after an open call for applications was distributed to every school across the island. Organizers noted that geographic distance limited participation from schools in southern Saint Lucia during the initial selection round, so a second phase of the programme will be rolled out in the coming months to expand representation from that region.

    Before assuming their posts, all ambassadors completed an intensive five-day training programme covering core topics including child rights frameworks, leadership development, advocacy strategy, and communication skills. The training also included instruction in photography and visual storytelling, tools organizers say will help young ambassadors highlight the issues affecting their communities more effectively.

    Joan Tull, UNICEF’s Partnerships Officer for Advocacy, explained that visual storytelling gives young people a flexible, powerful new medium to share their lived experiences and push for systemic change. “Photography is a powerful way to stand up for your rights,” Tull said. “By capturing images of your school, your community, your friendships or issues that affect children and young people, you can help raise awareness and encourage positive change. Your photos can highlight things that are working well and draw attention to areas where improvements are needed, helping to ensure that your voices are heard and your experiences are valued.”

    The ambassadors will officially begin their outreach work with children and young people in communities across Saint Lucia in the next several months.

  • Mixed reactions to new Pic-O-De-Crop venue

    Mixed reactions to new Pic-O-De-Crop venue

    Barbados is grappling with a last-minute event scheduling shift that has split public opinion, after the iconic annual Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop calypso competition finals was relocated from its planned home at Kensington Oval to CARIFESTA House in Waterford. The change was made to clear the venue for the upcoming state funeral of national hero Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the most revered figures in the country’s history.

    The National Cultural Foundation (NCF), the body organizing the cultural event, announced the venue adjustment this Wednesday, confirming that the competition will still proceed as scheduled one week from Friday, kicking off at the original start time of 8 p.m. The organization explained that the tight timeline between Sobers’ funeral and the calypso finals left no room to prepare Kensington Oval to host both major events to the expected standard.

    Public reaction to the decision has been far from uniform, with Barbadians offering a range of perspectives on the trade-off between honoring the national hero and preserving the tradition of one of the island’s most anticipated cultural events. Priscilla Giles, a local resident who spoke with Barbados TODAY, framed the shift as a reasonable compromise given the circumstances, noting “It’s not a big deal to me. I’m on split opinions, but most of it just boils down to it’s not really a big deal.” Even so, Giles raised valid practical concerns for attendees and local vendors alike. She pointed out that ticketing arrangements remain unclear for fans who already purchased passes, and that CARIFESTA House’s smaller capacity could limit access for attendees. For vendors who had already prepared to set up operations at Kensington Oval, the sudden relocation creates new barriers, she argued, questioning whether all 100 vendors originally planned for the old venue can be properly accommodated at the new site.

    Giles also acknowledged the necessity of making space for Sobers’ funeral, noting that the national icon deserves a large venue to host the thousands of Barbadians expected to gather to grieve and celebrate his legacy. “One way or the other, things should work out if they have the aspect done right, but the general public just will enjoy one way or another,” she added.

    Omar, another local attendee, said the venue change itself does not personally impact him, but argued that postponing the competition by a week and a half to two weeks would have been a more practical solution, allowing the event to keep its original planned venue at Kensington Oval after the funeral concluded. “I think they could have postponed it to like two weeks, week and a half… by then Crop Over would be finishing up. Kadooment would have passed,” he explained.

    Not all reactions have been critical, however. Junior “Rambo” Hamilton expressed support for the shift to CARIFESTA House, arguing that the venue is actually better equipped to host the calypso finals than Kensington Oval, pointing to improved facilities including restrooms as a key advantage. Even so, he acknowledged that parking shortages could create headaches for attendees traveling to the new location.

    Other locals have suggested an entirely different alternative venue: the National Botanical Gardens. Benjie Alleyne noted that while Kensington Oval is a perfectly suitable location for the competition, the Botanical Gardens offer unbeatable comfort and layout for large-scale events. “It’s a ventilated area. You can’t be hot,” he explained, adding that the space can easily accommodate varied seating arrangements, including VIP sections, seated areas for attendees who cannot stand for long periods, and open party spaces. The Botanical Gardens actually hosted the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals for three consecutive years before this year’s planned return to Kensington Oval.

    Thus far, the impact of the venue change on ticketing has been minimal. Staff at one local ticket outlet confirmed to Barbados TODAY that only one attendee has returned a ticket since the relocation was announced. The NCF says its production teams are already hard at work adapting CARIFESTA House to meet the needs of the event, upgrading staging, sound systems, lighting, crowd flow planning, accessibility and other key logistics to ensure the competition meets the high standards attendees expect, while still allowing the nation to properly honor one of its most beloved icons.

  • Dominica Cricket Association mourns loss of two respected members in one week

    Dominica Cricket Association mourns loss of two respected members in one week

    The tight-knit cricketing fraternity of Dominica is engulfed in grief this week, following the announcement of the passing of two of its most beloved and respected members: Benton Thomas, a former national youth cricket captain, and John Fabien, a ex-player turned long-serving coach.

    In an official public statement released this week, the Dominica Cricket Association (DCA) opened by extending its deepest, heartfelt condolences to the family members, close friends, former teammates and all loved ones left behind by Thomas and Fabien. The governing body emphasized that the duo’s deaths represent an immeasurable, significant loss to the entire cricketing ecosystem across the island nation.

    According to the DCA’s tribute, both men built enduring legacies through their far-reaching contributions to the growth and development of Dominican cricket. Through consistent leadership, unwavering commitment to the sport, dedicated mentorship of emerging talent, and a contagious passion for the game, Thomas and Fabien played a foundational role in shaping the athletic careers of dozens of young domestic players. Beyond their on-field achievements, their positive influence rippled across the entire local cricket community, touching the lives of players, officials and fans alike.

    Association representatives also shared that the values and contributions of Thomas and Fabien will remain a lasting source of inspiration for upcoming generations of Dominican cricketers, carrying their legacy forward long after their passing. Beyond official tributes, DCA members have extended ongoing thoughts and prayers to all those navigating grief in the wake of the loss, noting that the entire community is navigating an exceptionally difficult period.

    In closing its tribute, the DCA reiterated its gratitude for the decades of service both men gave to the sport, contributing not just as players but as mentors, volunteers and ambassadors for cricket on and off the pitch. The governing body stressed that their dedication and impact will never be forgotten by the Dominican cricket community.

    Across the island, current and former players have shared personal tributes this week, remembering the pair not only for their notable career achievements but for the lasting, positive impact they had on every young person they mentored over decades of involvement in the sport. Their passing has left a somber mood across local cricket circles, as the community comes together to honor their lives and legacies.

  • Farm school grads urged to turn skills into wealth

    Farm school grads urged to turn skills into wealth

    On a momentous Thursday at the St. Lucy campus of the Hope Agricultural Training Institute (HATI), more than 40 trailblazing graduates from the institute’s inaugural Farming and Fishing Gateway Initiative cohort crossed the stage after completing 10 weeks of intensive hands-on training. The milestone event carried more than just celebratory weight: it marked the launch of a national push to redefine agriculture in Barbados from a subsistence practice to a profitable, innovation-led entrepreneurial sector. The call for this paradigm shift came from Dr. Chelston Brathwaite, a veteran agricultural leader and HATI consultant, who addressed the newly minted graduates with a clear, ambitious vision for their futures.

    Brathwaite, who previously served decades as the head of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), emphasized that the training program was not designed to prepare participants for small-scale, hand-to-mouth farming. Instead, it is a foundational stepping stone for a new generation of Barbadian agri-entrepreneurs equipped to leverage modern technology to build scalable, wealth-generating businesses. “We are not here to teach people to eke out a living,” Brathwaite told the assembly. “Our goal is to cultivate a new cohort of informed, skilled Barbadians who can use cutting-edge agricultural technologies to build lasting wealth for themselves and our nation.”

    A core pillar of Brathwaite’s message was the urgent need to move beyond traditional raw commodity production and unlock the massive potential of value-added agriculture. He reminded attendees of a vision he first articulated more than 10 years ago: transforming breadfruit from a simple staple crop into the center of a full-fledged domestic industry. Rather than just exporting or selling whole unprocessed breadfruit, Brathwaite argued, Barbados could build a market for value-added breadfruit products ranging from chips, flour, and pancake mix to wine and baked goods. This approach, he said, creates far greater economic value than raw production alone.

    “Only 30 percent of the total value of any agricultural product exists in the initial growing stage,” Brathwaite explained. “Seventy percent of the value comes after production: in processing, marketing, transportation, cold storage, and distribution. When you harvest a raw crop, that is just the starting line, not the finish line. Your job is to add that value and capture those economic gains for yourself.”

    He also stressed the importance of aligning product development with evolving modern consumer preferences, noting that convenience, nutrition, and organic certification have become non-negotiable priorities for today’s buyers. “Convenience is the new watchword in global food markets,” Brathwaite said. “Consumers do not want to put in hours of preparation; they want safe, nutrient-dense, organic options that are ready to use. As you build your businesses, you must prioritize what the market demands, not just what you are able to produce. That customer focus is what will drive your success.”

    In addition to his advice for graduates, Brathwaite framed the shift to value-added agribusiness as a critical opportunity for Barbados to diversify its national economy, which has long leaned heavily on tourism and international services. A robust, innovative agricultural sector, he argued, can create new jobs, reduce food import dependency, and open new export markets for Barbadian goods.

    Liesel Daisley, project manager for the Farming and Fishing Gateway Training Initiative, echoed Brathwaite’s encouragement while highlighting additional support systems available to graduates. Daisley reminded the cohort that the government-funded Gateway Initiative offers a range of free training programs across other high-demand sectors, including construction and hospitality, all of which include stipends for participants, job placement attachments, and starter toolkits. “These free opportunities will not be available permanently,” Daisley said. “I urge every graduate to continue building your skills by taking advantage of every resource offered to you.” She also encouraged new business owners to stay connected to their HATI instructors for ongoing guidance and to embrace resilience as they navigate the early stages of launching their ventures. “Our goal was to give you a springboard for success,” Daisley told the graduates. “We do not just want to see you build successful businesses in Barbados – we want to see you become change-makers for sustainable agriculture across the entire Caribbean region.”

    Subject instructors shared their own targeted hopes for the graduates’ work. Bernard Thompson, who taught apiculture (beekeeping) to the cohort, said he looks forward to the day when Barbados shifts from being a net importer of honey to a leading exporter of high-quality local Barbadian honey, a goal he said graduates are well-positioned to achieve. Christina Adams, the program’s aquaponics instructor who worked directly with 21 students in the fish farming track, said she expects many of her students will quickly launch their own commercial aquaponics operations. She noted that fish farming can serve multiple purposes, from improving household food security for part-time producers to serving as a full-time profitable commercial venture. “Whether you are growing to feed your own family, earn supplementary income alongside a full-time job, or build a large commercial enterprise, this training has given you the foundation to succeed,” Adams said. “I hope you all maintain that passion for agriculture and strengthening Barbados’ food security that you showed throughout this program.”