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  • Sixx and Seven make peace in Trinidad: Could Saint Lucia be next?

    Sixx and Seven make peace in Trinidad: Could Saint Lucia be next?

    A high-profile peace agreement between two rival Trinidadian musical entertainers linked to the Sixx and Seven factions has ignited a renewed push for nonviolence in nearby Saint Lucia, where the same faction labels have been adopted by competing youth gangs that have divided communities.

    Nehemiah St Jean, a veteran youth and sports mentor based in Saint Lucia, is banking on the public reconciliation between Trinidadian artists KMan and Plumpy Boss to shift the mindset of young people caught up in intergroup conflict, encouraging them to abandon cycles of violence and retaliation that have destabilized local communities.

    Reflecting on the Trinidadian breakthrough, St Jean emphasized that the most powerful takeaway from the agreement is the clear recognition that no one emerges victorious from gang rivalry. “Too many lives have been lost, including the lives of innocent bystanders who had no ties to the conflict,” he noted.

    The high-stakes feud between the two Trinidadian artists came to an official end over the recent weekend, following structured peace negotiations mediated by Roger Alexander, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Homeland Security. The pair marked their new alliance with a joint public appearance at Summer Stage: The Festival this past Saturday, a dramatic display of unity after years of bitter public tension. Earlier in 2026, KMan, previously known as KMan 6ixx, dropped the faction identifier from his stage name as a signal of moving past the rivalry.

    News of this reconciliation has quickly resonated across Saint Lucia, where the Sixx and Seven faction branding has spread to local competing youth groups. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has repeatedly raised alarms about the growth of gang-linked criminal activity in the country, and both law enforcement and community organizations have intervened repeatedly to de-escalate conflicts between young people aligned with the two rival identities.

    St Jean pointed out that Saint Lucia has a long history of adopting cultural trends from its Caribbean neighbor Trinidad and Tobago, and he is optimistic that this peace example will follow the same pattern. He is calling on young Saint Lucians aligned with the Sixx and Seven factions to follow the Trinidadian example and lay down their grudges.

    “My honest hope is that we can copycat this as well,” St Jean said in an interview. “Copycat the truce and the peace treaty, and copycat the fact that they realized there is space for both of them to shine on the same stage together.”

    This message is particularly urgent in the coastal community of Soufrière, where ongoing intergroup tensions have left residents in a constant state of anxiety. St Jean, who has worked with at-risk young people in Soufrière for years, explained that the entire community remains on edge, with widespread fear that a new violent outbreak could ignite at any moment.

    “The entire community, especially in Soufrière right now, is on edge because it just seems like something will happen at any given time, something will escalate, somebody is going to die again,” he said.

    The involvement of vulnerable young people in these rivalries is what troubles St Jean most. He explained that many young men get drawn into gang activity because gangs provide the sense of belonging, care and validation that they fail to receive from family, schools or other community institutions. “A lot of these young men end up in the gangs because the gang members show them the love and attention that they are not getting elsewhere,” he explained.

    To reverse this trend, St Jean argued that intervention efforts must go far beyond simply telling young people to avoid crime. Communities need to invest in tangible, meaningful alternative pathways that give young people the tools to build stable, fulfilling lives. He pointed to vocational skills training and organized sports programs as proven models that can help young people develop their talents and build legitimate careers.

    “We try to keep them occupied in every way that they understand that they can actually gain a living from sports and other activities other than the lifestyle that they want to go down,” St Jean said.

    Even these well-intentioned intervention efforts face major barriers, however, due to the pervasive climate of fear that violence has created. St Jean noted that many residents now avoid public gatherings, organized sporting events, and even certain streets entirely, worried that they will be caught in crossfire between rival groups.

    “People don’t even want to leave their homes. People don’t want to pass certain streets. They don’t want to be certain places because they fear that a bullet might not be intended for them, but end up hitting them,” he explained.

    St Jean also pushed back against the common narrative that addressing gang violence is solely the responsibility of the national government. “I don’t think it’s just a government thing. I think it’s a whole Saint Lucia, whole community kind of thing,” he said.

    Previous attempts to broker peace between rival groups in Soufrière have only produced temporary reductions in tension, with violence flaring up again after short periods of calm. Currently, the local Soufrière Crime Prevention Task Force is working to identify new, sustainable strategies to restore safety and unity to the community.

    For St Jean, the repeated cycle of retaliation in Saint Lucia underscores the core truth of the Trinidadian example: in gang warfare, there are no winners. He warned that ongoing retaliation puts innocent bystanders and family members of those involved in conflict at constant risk, and that the harms of gang involvement extend far beyond violent shootings. Young people caught up in rivalries often lose the ability to move freely around their own communities, hold steady employment, or participate in normal community life, all because of the constant threat of attack.

    Saint Lucia has already seen organized local efforts to broker peace between the Sixx and Seven factions. Back in January 2025, local community advocacy group Strive brought rival members together for peace talks in New Village, later expanding the initiative to Wilton’s Yard in the capital city of Castries.

    With the high-profile, public reconciliation in Trinidad and Tobago now serving as a tangible example of what is possible, St Jean says he is hopeful that this example will resonate with young Saint Lucians and help break the cycle of violence that has held communities like Soufrière captive for too long.

    “We really want and hope that maybe that truce from Trinidad can trickle down here and bring the same form of peace down here in Soufrière,” he said.

  • Sandy Crest celebrates two decades of service

    Sandy Crest celebrates two decades of service

    Twenty years after a handful of passionate medical professionals and entrepreneurs first brainstormed the idea around late-night discussion tables, one of Barbados’ most beloved private healthcare institutions marked a major milestone. On August 23, Sandy Crest Medical Centre hosted a star-studded gala to celebrate its 20th anniversary, bringing together founding stakeholders, current and former staff, leading local healthcare providers, and senior government officials to look back on the facility’s growth, honor the people who built it, and lay out plans for its next chapter.

    Among the guests in attendance was Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams, who brought his wife to the celebration and shared his own unique connection to the facility as a former director of the centre. Managing Director Brian Charles, the emergency physician who co-founded the institution, opened the evening by walking attendees through the facility’s humble origins back in 2004. The idea first took root when a university classmate and fellow doctor approached Charles to ask his professional opinion on building a dedicated private emergency care facility on Barbados’ West Coast – a service that was underserved in the region at the time.

    Charles recounted that he spent countless late evenings working through the details with founding shareholder Alex McDonald, debating the feasibility of the independent venture, working through financial and operational challenges, and ultimately aligning on a vision that would guide the project forward. Once the pair agreed the concept could work, they brought on additional shareholders to launch the initiative. “Our core goal from day one was to build a medical space that paired top-tier clinical skill with sincere human compassion,” Charles explained in his anniversary address. “We wanted every patient who walked through our doors to get timely, expert care, and to leave feeling seen, treated with dignity, and cared for as people, not just cases.” Two decades later, Charles emphasized, that original vision has not shifted – it remains the central mission of every service the centre provides.

    What launched as a small, focused emergency and urgent care clinic has grown far beyond its original scope in 20 years. Today, the centre offers full-spectrum family wellness services to the local community and visitors to the West Coast alike, and it has expanded into medical education and professional development through a dedicated in-house training division. But the anniversary celebration was not centered on service expansion or institutional milestones; instead, it was dedicated entirely to the people who have sustained the centre through two decades.

    Charles paid tribute to every group that contributes to the centre’s daily operation, from founding shareholders and past and present board directors to attending physicians, nursing teams, allied health specialists, administrative staff, reception teams, drivers, janitorial crews, maintenance workers, and security personnel. “Healthcare is a field unlike any other,” he told the crowd. “It requires sharp technical skill, emotional resilience, endless patience, personal sacrifice, and a level of commitment to other people that few other jobs demand. When most people are home asleep in bed, our teams are here caring for patients. When families gather to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and life’s special moments, our staff are at work making sure someone else’s loved one gets the care they need.”

    During the gala, the centre presented special recognition awards to long-serving staff members, with Charles noting that the honors are a small symbolic gesture of the institution’s gratitude for the years of commitment their team has given. “No plaque, no certificate, no gift can ever fully measure the decades of dedication, sacrifice, loyalty, and hard work that our people have poured into this centre,” he said. The evening also included a moment of reflection to honor contributors who are no longer part of the Sandy Crest community – including former employees who have retired, moved on to new opportunities, or passed away. “Their legacy lives on in the high standards they helped us build, in every life they touched during their time here, and in the example they set for every team member who has followed in their footsteps,” Charles said.

    As Sandy Crest enters its third decade of service to the Barbadian community, Charles confirmed that the centre will continue to adapt and evolve to keep pace with advancing medical technology and shifting patient expectations. But no matter how the facility grows, its core focus will remain unchanged: delivering compassionate, high-quality care to every patient that walks through its doors. “This is more than just a medical centre that this team has built,” Charles told attendees in closing. “You have built a trusted institution that has become an indispensable part of Barbados’ national healthcare landscape.”

  • DDA and Stage 32 join forces to advance Dominica’s film industry

    DDA and Stage 32 join forces to advance Dominica’s film industry

    The Caribbean island nation of Dominica is taking a major step to grow its burgeoning creative economy, after its national tourism and development agency announced a new strategic collaboration that will open global doors for local audiovisual creatives. The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), the organization tasked with driving the country’s cultural and economic development through tourism and creative industry investment, has joined forces with Stage 32, the leading global online network for film, television and digital media professionals, to create new growth pathways for Dominican filmmakers and other audiovisual industry workers.

    This new partnership is designed to bridge the gap between local creative talent and the global entertainment industry, by connecting Dominican practitioners with specialized skill-building training and internationally accredited professional development programs that have long been out of reach for many emerging creators in small island nations. Monelle Alexis, communications specialist for the DDA, explained that the initiative will give local workers in Dominica’s fast-expanding creative sector unprecedented access to the full range of resources and learning opportunities that the international film and entertainment ecosystem has to offer.

    For participants, the program delivers more than just theoretical knowledge: it is structured to help creators sharpen both their technical craft and their professional soft skills, building a robust knowledge base that directly supports long-term career advancement in the competitive global audiovisual space. Beyond individual career growth, the collaboration also aims to strengthen Dominica’s entire local audiovisual sector as a whole. By creating clear pathways for creators to earn industry-recognized specialized certification and expand their global professional networks, the partnership lays the groundwork for a more resilient, internationally connected creative economy on the island.

    Leadership at the DDA expressed confidence that the collaboration will ultimately equip Dominican filmmakers and other creative professionals to compete on a global level, while forging lasting, meaningful connections that integrate the country’s emerging creative talent into the broader international film community.

  • Speed humps to be installed in Coulibistrie and Tarreau

    Speed humps to be installed in Coulibistrie and Tarreau

    Road safety improvements are on the horizon for two residential communities in Dominica, as the Ministry of Public Works, Public Utilities and Digital Economy has revealed a targeted infrastructure project to install three new speed humps across the neighborhoods of Coulibistrie and Tarreau.

    Scheduled to run from August 31 through September 5, 2026, this traffic-calming initiative forms part of the government’s ongoing push to cut down on traffic accidents and create safer travel conditions for both people driving through the areas and pedestrians walking along local roads. Under the project layout, two of the three speed humps will be placed at high-traffic or high-risk locations in Coulibistrie, while the third will be constructed in Tarreau.

    To prepare road users for upcoming changes and minimize safety risks during construction, ministry officials confirmed that clear advance warning signage will be posted at all entry points to the work zones well before construction gets underway.

    Motorists are being advised to adjust their travel plans ahead of the project, as temporary traffic disruptions including lane shifts and brief delays are expected throughout the construction window. Authorities urge all drivers to reduce their speed when passing through the affected areas, remain attentive to the new traffic-calming infrastructure once completed, and strictly follow all posted traffic signs and directions from on-site construction personnel.

    In a statement, the ministry acknowledged that even temporary construction activity can disrupt daily travel routines for local residents and passing motorists. Officials issued an advance apology for any inconvenience the installation works may cause, and expressed sincere gratitude to the traveling public for their understanding, patience and cooperation as the government carries out this critical road safety upgrade.

  • BFA president Harris lauds Benfica football camp in Barbados

    BFA president Harris lauds Benfica football camp in Barbados

    A groundbreaking new collaboration between one of Europe’s most iconic football clubs and The University of the West Indies (UWI) is set to transform youth football development across the Caribbean, starting with a successful inaugural training camp in Barbados. The six-day residential camp, hosted at the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Technical Centre in Wildey, marked the first major initiative launched after UWI’s Faculty of Sport formalized a strategic partnership with Portugal’s SL Benfica earlier this year.

    Randy Harris, president of the BFA, celebrated the joint initiative as a critical step forward for nurturing young homegrown talent in Barbados. “Our organization is thrilled to facilitate a program aligned so closely with our long-term vision for growing young footballers across the country,” Harris shared during the camp. “It’s incredible to see dozens of boys and girls alike enjoying their time on the pitch while mastering the core fundamentals of the sport. Right now in Barbados, too much focus goes to winning matches at youth levels, when the priority should always be building a strong foundation and understanding of the game first.”

    The project received key public sector backing from the Government of Barbados, which covered full registration fees for 50 talented young players between the ages of 7 and 17. The government support was coordinated across multiple agencies: the Division of Youth and Culture in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Sport and Community Empowerment, and Future Sport, a specialized division of national development group Future Barbados. All government-sponsored participants were selected through two existing national frameworks: the BFA’s FIFA Talent Development Scheme and the Barbados Secondary Schools Football League, ensuring the opportunity reached the most promising emerging talent across the island.

    Under the terms of the broader strategic agreement between UWI and SL Benfica, the partnership aims to expand access to high-quality football development, formal coaching education, and international career pathways for young athletes and coaches across the entire Caribbean region. The program will roll out first across UWI’s three main campuses – Cave Hill in Barbados, Mona in Jamaica, and St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago – with plans for broader regional expansion as the initiative matures.

    Amanda Reifer, Deputy Dean for International Partnerships and Business Development at UWI’s Faculty of Sport, framed the collaboration as a transformative investment in Caribbean youth. “This partnership is about building real, sustainable pathways for our young people and coaching staff, not just talking about development,” Reifer explained. “By combining UWI’s extensive regional reach and deep local connections with SL Benfica’s globally respected expertise in elite football development, we can open doors to world-class training, academic education, and international opportunities that most Caribbean talent would never otherwise access.”

    Reifer also emphasized the importance of public sector collaboration to the initiative’s early success, thanking both the government of Barbados and the BFA for their on-the-ground support. “We are incredibly grateful for the commitment from both the Barbados government and the BFA. Sponsoring 50 young players to attend is a tangible, meaningful investment in the future of Barbadian football, and the BFA’s provision of facilities, equipment and logistical coordination has been absolutely invaluable. This project stands as a clear example of what is possible when government, domestic sport governing bodies, academic institutions and international partners align to create opportunities for the next generation.”

  • Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-op helps students gear up for new term

    Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-op helps students gear up for new term

    After a multi-year pause triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, a key Barbadian transport cooperative has revived its signature community giving program, rolling out targeted back-to-school support for hundreds of vulnerable primary school students across two parishes.

    The Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-op Society Ltd officially extended its assistance to three institutions this week: St Lawrence Primary in Christ Church, St Mark’s Primary, and St Stephen’s Primary in St Michael. School leaders, including principals and senior teaching staff, accepted the donations on Tuesday on behalf of low-income families preparing for the new academic year. While the organization opted not to release the exact monetary value of the support, co-op president Adrian “Smiley” Bailey framed the initiative as a core expression of the group’s longstanding commitment to lifting local communities.

    Bailey explained that this outreach effort has been a staple of the co-op’s community work for nearly three years, but pandemic-related disruptions forced the group to suspend the program. When planning this year’s restart, the co-op’s board selected the three participating schools, but delegated all decisions about which students would receive aid to school administrators. Bailey noted that school leaders in Barbados have an unmatched understanding of student needs, especially given the scope of the national primary education system: the island counts 64 primary schools serving more than 15,000 young students, leaving no shortage of families struggling to cover back-to-school costs.

    Pointing to the particularly heavy burden placed on households with multiple school-aged children, Bailey called on other private and community organizations across Barbados to step up with similar support. He also pushed back against implicit criticism of parents who took time to enjoy the island’s iconic Crop Over festival in the weeks leading up to the new school term.

    “A year consists of 52 weeks,” Bailey argued. “If some of these parents have parented these children for 52 weeks of the year and they take a chance and enjoy Crop Over when school is around the corner just for two weeks, we have to understand that these are parents who are looking after children for 52 weeks of the year and they need to enjoy themselves at some time.”

    Looking ahead, the co-op plans to continue and expand the program in 2025, with a goal of increasing the number of participating schools from three to as many as ten. Bailey also publicly thanked key partners that made this year’s initiative possible, including the Bridgetown Port authority, local businessman Eddy Abed, and Copacabana. He added that the co-op’s current outreach is also a gesture of gratitude for the critical support the government provided to taxi operators during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when global travel shutdowns decimated the island’s taxi industry.

    “If today, on the 25th of August, we can be given back something to assist children in Barbados, this gesture, I hope it can go a very long way,” Bailey said.

    The official donation presentations were attended by St Lawrence Primary Principal Lorraine Gittens, acting St Mark’s Primary Principal Tamara Whittaker-Massiah, and St Stephen’s Primary senior teacher Wendy Archer, who accepted the contributions on behalf of their respective schools. Two elected representatives also participated in the events: Neil Rowe, Member of Parliament for St Michael North West, and Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, MP for Christ Church South and Barbados’ Minister of Agriculture. Both politicians praised the co-op’s work, with Munro-Knight highlighting the special importance of this support in the lead-up to every new school year.

    “We all know that there are certain vulnerable families within our society and therefore again this assistance, I believe, will go a long way in helping them,” she said. Munro-Knight also commended the co-op for choosing to direct its resources toward supporting children, noting that the organization’s current outreach serves as a thoughtful reflection of the government’s pandemic support for taxi operators.

    “You could have done several things with the resources that you are giving back, but the fact that you’ve chosen to do this is important as well, and that you acknowledge the fact that government would have during that COVID period, also provided some assistance, and therefore doing this is just a little bit of that recognition as well,” she added.

  • Robbery Reports Fall From 115 to 94, Police Figures Show

    Robbery Reports Fall From 115 to 94, Police Figures Show

    Against the backdrop of ongoing public safety conversations in Antigua and Barbuda, newly released official crime statistics reveal a mixed picture of law enforcement outcomes for the first seven months of 2026. While overall reported offenses and robbery cases have declined compared to recent years, the nation is confronting a disturbing uptick in severe violent crimes that has prompted urgent police action.

    Assistant Commissioner Lisbon Michael, the senior official leading the country’s Criminal Investigations Department, shared the latest data in an exclusive interview with ABS’ *Antigua Barbuda Today* program. During the discussion, he broke down key trends in criminal activity and outlined the police service’s evolving strategy to address a recent wave of gun-related violence.

    According to Michael, law enforcement agencies logged 94 reported robbery incidents between January and July 2026. That marks a notable 18 percent drop from the 115 robberies recorded in the same seven-month window in 2025, a reduction of 21 total offenses. This fall in robberies is not an isolated trend: it aligns with a broader downward shift in overall reported crime across the country.

    In total, police counted 1,756 criminal offenses from January to July 2026, down from 1,887 in the matching period of 2025. The decline is even more stark when compared to 2024, when 2,227 crimes were reported in the first seven months of that year.

    But this encouraging overall trend masks a worrying rise in some of the most harmful categories of violent crime. Homicides, for example, climbed from nine cases in the first seven months of 2025 to 11 cases in the same period of 2026. Shooting incidents also saw a significant jump, increasing from 18 incidents last year to 24 this year. Non-violent breaking-and-entering offenses also moved higher, rising from 85 incidents in early 2025 to 97 in 2026.

    In response to growing public concern over the surge in gun-related violence, the Antigua and Barbuda Police Service has ramped up targeted operational activities. A new initiative dubbed Operation Restore Confidence launched on August 15 to curb violent crime and reassure communities, as authorities work to reverse the recent uptick in deadly offenses.

  • Police Await Results of Additional Tests in Chantel Crump Investigation

    Police Await Results of Additional Tests in Chantel Crump Investigation

    The ongoing law enforcement probe into the Chantel Crump case has hit a temporary holding pattern, as senior police officials confirm that new forensic testing has been dispatched but cannot yet share conclusive results on the analysis. Assistant Commissioner Michael Lisbon, the top leader of Antigua Barbuda’s Criminal Investigations Department, shared the latest status update during a public interview on ABS’ flagship current affairs program *Antigua Barbuda Today*. During the discussion, reporters pressed Lisbon for clarity on two key points: the overall progress of the high-profile investigation and the status of the additional testing that had been previously announced for the case. “I cannot give you a definitive answer on what the results will show, but I can confirm that a new round of testing has been sent out for analysis,” Lisbon stated in the interview. Despite confirming the testing itself, the senior police official acknowledged he was unable to confirm how far the analysis has progressed at the time of the conversation. Lisbon declined to share any further key details about the process, including what specific type of forensic or evidence testing is being conducted, which facility is conducting the analysis off-island or in-house, and what timeline investigators are working with to receive the finalized results. The senior CID leader kept his comments narrow, opting not to expand on any other elements of the ongoing Chantel Crump investigation or share next steps that the investigative team will take once the testing results are returned. This incremental update comes as Lisbon outlined the current workload for the Criminal Investigations Department, which is currently juggling a number of high-stakes major cases across the country, including multiple recent shooting incidents and active murder probes.

  • Former MP Simon Distributes More Than 400 Bookbags and School Supplies in St. Mary’s South

    Former MP Simon Distributes More Than 400 Bookbags and School Supplies in St. Mary’s South

    As the new academic year approaches, communities across St. Mary’s South have benefited from a long-standing annual outreach effort aimed at easing the financial burden of back-to-school preparation for local families. This year, politician and community advocate Kelvin “Shugy” Simon and his dedicated team led the third iteration of their popular Book Bag and School Supplies Giveaway, held this week at Urlings Primary School.

    The event welcomed children of all age groups from every neighborhood across the St. Mary’s South constituency, and in total, distributed more than 400 fully stocked bookbags alongside essential school supplies to participating young attendees. Simon has maintained a multi-year collaborative partnership for the initiative with Dr. Shedia Christopher Laguer and the International Awareness and Involvement Committee of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., NJGCAC, expanding the reach and impact of the giveaway each year.

    Beyond distributing critical learning materials, the day was designed as a community gathering: children took part in a range of interactive games and recreational activities, bringing together families from across the constituency to connect ahead of the new school term. Organizers note that the initiative serves two key goals: ensuring every child has the tools they need to start the academic year successfully, and creating a shared, positive experience for local households.

    None of this work would have been possible without the widespread support of the broader community, organizers emphasized. Volunteers gave their time to coordinate the event, local and regional donors contributed funding, educators provided guidance on what supplies students need most, and community partners lent space and resources to make the day run smoothly.

    For Simon, this annual event is far more than a one-off outreach effort — it reflects his core approach to public service. In remarks after the distribution, he emphasized that his commitment to serving the residents of St. Mary’s South, particularly children and elderly residents, does not depend on his formal political position. “Community service is a responsibility that doesn’t shift with political changes,” Simon explained, expressing his sincere gratitude to every person and group that contributed to the 2024 giveaway.

    Looking ahead, the event is set to remain a staple annual initiative in St. Mary’s South, part of a broader, ongoing push to invest in youth development and remove barriers to educational access for local children. Organizers plan to continue growing the event in coming years to reach even more families in need across the constituency.

  • Young Antiguans Step Into Diplomacy Ahead of CHOGM 2026

    Young Antiguans Step Into Diplomacy Ahead of CHOGM 2026

    Ten recent graduates of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) from Antigua have been granted an unparalleled hands-on introduction to global diplomacy via a custom shadowing initiative hosted by senior government official E.P Chet Greene. Greene serves as Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, as well as chair of the National Taskforce organizing the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which the dual-island nation will host from 1 to 4 November 2026. This youth-focused programme forms a core part of national pre-event outreach activities, designed to close the gap between young people and the worlds of diplomatic work and public service ahead of the high-profile global gathering.

    Over the course of the immersive day, the participants shadowed Minister Greene directly, gaining exclusive behind-the-scenes insight into the groundwork being laid to welcome hundreds of Commonwealth leaders and delegates from across 56 member nations. The students explored every dimension of the minister’s daily responsibilities, walking away with a grounded understanding of foreign policy development, cross-border cooperation, government operations, and what it means to represent Antigua and Barbuda on the global stage.

    The schedule also included a series of interactive sessions connecting the cohort with working diplomats and senior public officials. Open discussions encouraged students to map out their long-term career aspirations and outline concrete steps to turn those goals into impactful public or diplomatic careers. In one standout activity, language educator Ninette Benta-Lares from Fluent ED led a hands-on introductory Mandarin lesson, highlighting the critical role that language proficiency and cross-cultural literacy play in successful diplomatic engagement. The session combined practical learning with fun, reinforcing how cultural exchange underpins effective global cooperation.

    Beyond observing and learning, the students stepped into active roles as outreach ambassadors for the 2026 summit. They traveled to Antigua and Barbuda’s Directorate of Gender Affairs, where they delivered their own public presentations on CHOGM 2026. The students explained the summit’s purpose, its unique economic and diplomatic significance for their home country, and why broad national participation is key to the event’s success. This task transformed the young participants from passive learners into active contributors to the national awareness campaign, letting them practice their communication and public speaking skills while educating peers and officials on the upcoming gathering.

    In remarks following the programme, Minister Greene emphasized that the 2026 CHOGM belongs to all Antiguans and Barbudans, not just the leaders and officials who will attend the formal sessions. “This event is about our people, and especially our young people, who are the future of this nation and the entire Commonwealth,” Greene noted. “I wanted these students to see diplomacy and public service in action, to understand that there are countless paths for them to contribute meaningfully to our country’s growth and global standing.”

    Briana Anthony, Public Relations Officer and Outreach Lead for the 2026 CHOGM National Taskforce, added that the programme was intentionally designed to create a personal, memorable experience for youth, rather than relying on passive, lecture-based learning. “We didn’t want students to just hear about CHOGM from a slideshow,” Anthony explained. “We wanted them to live it, to see what diplomatic work actually looks like day to day, which this shadowing programme made possible.”

    As preparations for the November 2026 summit continue, the National Taskforce plans to roll out a wide range of additional engagement initiatives across Antigua and Barbuda. Upcoming activities will target schools, government agencies, local businesses, community groups, and other key stakeholders, with the goal of building broad national awareness, encouraging wide-scale public participation, and ensuring that communities across the country understand the long-term benefits of hosting the Commonwealth’s top leadership gathering.