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  • Dominica records improved performance in 2026 CXC examinations

    Dominica records improved performance in 2026 CXC examinations

    The Caribbean island nation of Dominica has announced notable across-the-board progress in student performance on the 2026 regional examinations administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), with the country’s Ministry of Education framing the outcomes as clear proof of systemic improvement across its education sector.

    Preliminary official results for this year’s exams were publicly unveiled during a formal ceremony hosted this week by Dominica’s Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training and National Excellence. The event drew a cross-section of key education stakeholders, including senior government education officials, primary and secondary school principals, classroom teachers, participating students and their guardians, members of the press, and other community partners.

    This year’s CXC assessment cycle covered five core credential pathways: the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and the newly launched Caribbean Vocational/Targeted Modular Assessment (CTEC) initiative.

    Speaking to attendees at the launch ceremony, Chief Education Officer Dr. Jeffrey Blaize explained that the 2026 results should be interpreted as more than just a snapshot of individual student achievement. When measured against regional performance benchmarks, he noted, the outcomes also act as a reliable indicator of how effective the national education system has been in delivering learning outcomes. “We are indeed proud of our students,” Dr. Blaize told the audience, emphasizing that the overall quality of student performance has improved steadily compared to results from recent years. This year’s cohort, he confirmed, turned in exceptionally strong results that outpace performance from the recent past. “They deserve a round of applause. This year, our results revealed that our students have performed extremely well, even better than in the recent past. More specifically, the quality of our students has significantly improved.”

    Dr. Blaize added that the ceremony was not just a venue to release official scores, but also an opportunity to honor the hard work, resilience, and growth that students across the country demonstrated throughout the academic year, while highlighting the wide range of future opportunities open to graduates. He also offered a reminder to students that even as they celebrate their successes, a single set of examination results does not define a person’s inherent worth, innate ability, or long-term future trajectory. “There are many pathways to success and our education system must continue to ensure that every young person has an opportunity to find and pursue that pathway,” he said. “We are proud that we have made significant gains in areas where we expressed concern in past years.”

    Among the most encouraging gains is progress in a long-troubled subject area: mathematics. Dr. Blaize revealed that numeracy pass rates have jumped 10 percentage points compared to 2025 results, putting the national average 7 percentage points above the baseline average that the ministry set years ago. He called the improvement “probably the highest in recent memory.”

    Another key win for the education system came in School-Based Assessments (SBA), a mandatory graded component for most CXC subjects. Three years prior, in 2023, Dr. Blaize had publicly called out the widespread issue of students failing to submit SBA assignments, a problem that was needlessly dragging down overall student grades. At that time, the ministry committed to implementing targeted measures to fix the issue. While incremental progress was seen in 2025, officials were still not satisfied with the submission rate. This year, however, over 90% of schools achieved full SBA submission, with many schools hitting a 99% completion rate or higher. “This is worth celebrating. We are aiming for 100 percent next year,” Dr. Blaize said.

    Beyond test scores, Dr. Blaize emphasized that holistic education extends far beyond examination results. If the education system is to properly prepare young people for full and productive lives, he argued, it must prioritize opportunities for students to build real-world skills and contribute to their communities, and those contributions deserve to be recognized alongside academic achievement. He called on schools across the country to prioritize the development of core soft skills in students, including critical thinking, creative problem-solving, independent decision-making, confidence, strong character, and personal discipline. He also encouraged schools to expand participation in extracurricular activities such as volunteer work, student leadership programs, club participation, and sports, and to formally recognize these contributions during school graduation and awards ceremonies, a practice that he said is often overlooked even as schools encourage students to take part.

    Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 academic year, Dr. Blaize announced that the Ministry of Education will place an increased focus on expanding and deepening stakeholder participation across all levels of the education system, adding that the ministry welcomes constructive feedback from all partners, including the media.

  • Massy Worthing demolition begins, 200 new spaces coming

    Massy Worthing demolition begins, 200 new spaces coming

    A major expansion project at Massy Stores’ newly opened Worthing supercentre in Christ Church, Barbados, has officially entered its second phase, with the firm moving forward on a long-awaited plan to resolve ongoing customer parking shortages by adding 200 new spots.

    The redevelopment initiative launched this week, with scheduled demolition of the site’s half-century-old original building set to begin after dark on Wednesday, September 2. Dionne Clarke-Emtage, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Massy Stores (Barbados) Ltd, formally announced the project’s kickoff at a press briefing held Wednesday on the grounds of the existing supercentre, joined by other company leaders including Operations Manager Kim Forde.

    This phase of work comes just weeks after the official opening of the brand-new Massy supercentre, constructed on land behind the aging original structure that has stood in Worthing for more than 50 years. While Clarke-Emtage declined to publicly disclose the total monetary cost of the expansion, she framed the investment as a critical commitment to both local communities and the national economy, noting that the value of improved customer experience cannot be measured by a price tag alone.

    “Putting a number to it does not replace what it’s going to do for the comfort of the customer, but I will not say that it’s cheap either,” Clarke-Emtage told reporters. “we are happy to continue to invest in the community and to continue to invest in Barbados and ensure that our customers have the best experience possible. So the cost, while it was heavy and is heavy for us, does not replace what the effect is going to be after its completion.”

    Clarke-Emtage made clear that the rapid push for the second phase is a direct response to customer feedback, with parking shortages emerging as the top complaint since the new supercentre opened. Preparations for the demolition work have already reduced available parking, as large sections of the site in front of and beside the old building have been cordoned off for construction, leading to growing congestion and customer frustration around parking access and on-site traffic flow.

    To minimize disruption to daily shoppers and local commuters, all demolition work will be carried out exclusively overnight over four consecutive nights, running from Wednesday, September 2 through Saturday, September 5, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Clarke-Emtage emphasized that the overnight scheduling was chosen specifically to cut down on daytime traffic interference, and to ensure the new supercentre can remain open for business throughout the demolition process with no disruption to regular operating hours.

    The project also includes upgrades to the area’s drainage infrastructure, a much-needed improvement for the site. To address common concerns around construction impacts, the company has put mitigation measures in place for noise, dust, and public safety. Dust control, identified as the top priority, will rely on continuous site watering and installed sprinkler systems to keep particulate levels low throughout the demolition. Clarke-Emtage also confirmed that no heavy overnight drilling will take place, further cutting down on noise disturbance for nearby residents.

    Following the completion of demolition and site preparation, construction of the new 200-space parking lot will begin, with the expansion on track to be finished by the end of November, in advance of the busy Christmas holiday shopping season. A follow-up sub-project, labeled Phase 2A, will see the repaving of the existing parking lot stretching from the nearby post office to Peronne Village, with completion scheduled for January of next year.

    In addition to infrastructure improvements, the expansion project has also created new local jobs, Clarke-Emtage revealed. Including both new in-store hires and external contracted construction workers, the project has added roughly 30 to 40 new positions to the site’s workforce. Extra staff have already been deployed to manage parking and speed up checkout processes, as the new supercentre has already seen a noticeable uptick in customer traffic since its opening less than a month ago. With parking currently the biggest barrier to a smooth customer experience, adding extra support and accelerating the completion of the new parking areas is a top priority for the company, Clarke-Emtage said.

  • WIOC Eyes Potential Benefits From Renewed Venezuelan Oil Production

    WIOC Eyes Potential Benefits From Renewed Venezuelan Oil Production

    The small Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda stands to unlock tangible economic benefits from rising oil output in neighboring Venezuela, if expanded production develops into a stable new regional supply hub, according to Gregory Georges, chief executive officer of the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC).

    This potential upside carries particular weight given the existing structural ties between the two countries’ energy sectors: Venezuela’s state-run national oil firm Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) holds a 25 percent equity stake in WIOC, creating a direct commercial link that would position Antigua and Barbuda to capture value from growing Venezuelan production activity.

    Beyond Venezuela, Georges also highlighted the rapid expansion of Guyana’s burgeoning offshore oil industry as a second promising opportunity for the Caribbean nation to grow its regional energy footprint and economic gains. As neighboring South American countries ramp up oil output, Antigua and Barbuda is well positioned to leverage its existing industry connections to turn these regional developments into local economic advantages.

    This reporting is based on original work from Island Press Box.

  • ‘Fish cheap’: Fisherfolk urge Barbadians to buy

    ‘Fish cheap’: Fisherfolk urge Barbadians to buy

    A sudden and massive surplus of fresh wild-caught fish has sent wholesale and retail prices tumbling at Barbados’ Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, forcing vessel owners and local fisherfolk to issue an urgent public call for residents to step forward and purchase the overflowing stock.

    The appeal was publicly made Wednesday by experienced boat owner Donna Nobel during an on-site interview with Barbados TODAY, when she confirmed that thousands of pounds of freshly caught fish remain unsold and stored on ice across the facility, with popular species including amberfish, snapper, and tuna all facing excess supply.

    Nobel explained that the current market dynamic has flipped the usual pricing logic entirely. Where limited catches in previous periods pushed retail prices higher, the sudden flood of new catches has forced sellers to slash margins to move inventory. She highlighted the exceptional value currently on offer: whole amberfish is available from fishing vessels at just $6 per pound, a price point that undercuts even affordable poultry products in Barbados.

    Minor additional service fees apply for post-purchase processing, she clarified. Fisherfolk charge an extra $1 per pound to clean, debone, and fillet catches, bringing the retail price of processed amberfish to $7 per pound. For context, she outlined common pricing structures for bulk and small purchases: two one-pound packs of processed amberfish total $16, a far lower cost than many comparable protein sources on local grocery shelves. Other species also carry steep discounts: fresh snapper retails at $14 per pound (plus $1 per pound for processing), while tuna is priced at $11 per pound for smaller orders, dropping to $10 per pound for bulk purchases of 10 pounds or more.

    The amberfish surplus has also created an unexpected shift in the local fishing market that explains recent price increases for flying fish, a regional staple. Nobel noted that flying fish require long, expensive offshore trips to catch, with vessels traveling up to 500 miles from shore. A single excursion can cost as much as $7 000 in fuel alone, before accounting for additional costs for crew provisions and ice. With high volumes of easily accessible amberfish already available close to shore (which swim in areas with dense seaweed populations, unlike flying fish that inhabit clearer offshore waters), most fishing boats have opted to remain closer to home instead of making the costly trek for flying fish. This reduction in supply has naturally pushed flying fish prices higher in recent weeks.

    In terms of infrastructure support, Nobel confirmed that the Ministry of Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries has an existing agreement in place to supply fisherfolk with daily ice on demand, which allows operators to store and freeze excess catch to prevent spoilage. The Bridgetown Fisheries Complex itself features a centralized blast freezer that serves the entire facility, and additional cold storage capacity is available at nearby BICO facilities, so short-term storage is not a critical issue.

    Even with that support, however, the extreme supply surplus has created operational challenges. The complex’s existing receiving infrastructure has reached full overcapacity, so when new vessels return to port with additional catches, operators are forced to absorb extra unplanned costs to manage the overflow.

    Veteran fisherman William Mosley echoed the urgency of the appeal, explaining that he has been forced to travel off-site to sell his catch just to clear inventory. “Right now I done selling, I sell my fish at Oistins, I sell my fish all over the place just to get it done,” Mosley said.

    The steep discounts have created an unexpected opportunity for Barbadian consumers to access high-quality fresh seafood at record low prices, as producers work to clear the current glut.

  • Agricultural Science Teachers Prepare for New Academic Year

    Agricultural Science Teachers Prepare for New Academic Year

    On September 2, more than 40 agricultural science teaching professionals from across the region converged for the annual national seminar and workshop hosted by the Ministry of Education. Centered on the forward-thinking theme “Growing Greatness,” the three-day event was specifically designed to equip participating educators with updated skills, knowledge and frameworks ahead of the 2026–2027 academic year, focusing on three critical, timely pillars for modern agricultural education: advancing domestic food production, integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools into classroom learning, and addressing persistent systemic challenges facing the agricultural education sector.

    Throughout the interactive workshop sessions, educators collaborated in working groups to develop actionable, context-specific strategies for converting locally grown staple crops into high-value, value-added consumer goods. This approach not only supports small-scale local farmers but also creates real-world, community-connected learning opportunities for secondary and post-secondary agricultural students. Leading agricultural education specialist Dr. Andrew Hunte used a keynote address and hands-on breakout session to encourage attendees to embrace generative AI tools such as ChatGPT as complementary teaching aids, demonstrating how these technologies can streamline lesson planning, create customized learning materials for students with diverse skill levels, and help learners explore complex agricultural data sets more efficiently.

    In addition to teaching strategy discussions, senior education and agricultural officials updated attendees on ongoing infrastructural developments and institutional expansion plans. They detailed progress on several new school-based irrigation projects designed to give students hands-on experience with sustainable water management for crop cultivation, and shared early-stage plans to introduce formal accredited agricultural science degree programs at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, a move that would expand access to advanced agricultural training for local students and reduce the need to study the discipline abroad. To close the event, organizers celebrated the contributions of long-serving educators, with several participants receiving formal awards and public recognition for their decades of outstanding service to advancing agricultural education across the country.

  • Canada to provide biometric processing for visa applications in Saint Kitts and Nevis

    Canada to provide biometric processing for visa applications in Saint Kitts and Nevis

    In a collaborative announcement between the governments of Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, Canadian immigration officials will travel to Basseterre to offer on-site biometric data collection for Canadian visa applicants on September 17 and 18, 2026. This new temporary service eliminates the need for local applicants to travel abroad to complete this mandatory step of the Canadian visa application process.

    Biometric data, including fingerprints and a digital photograph, is a required component of nearly all Canadian immigration and travel applications for eligible applicants. This requirement applies to applications for tourist visas, study permits, work permits, temporary residence status, and permanent residence. Prior to this scheduled on-site visit, Saint Kitts and Nevis residents who needed to submit biometrics were required to travel to official collection centers in neighboring countries, including Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. The temporary on-site service represents a major convenience for local applicants, cutting out the cost and hassle of international travel just to complete this mandatory step.

    The on-site biometric collection service will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both days at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort. The service is open to three groups of eligible applicants: nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis planning any form of travel to Canada; applicants who have already submitted their visa, permit, or permanent residence applications online or by mail and have received an official Biometric Instruction Letter; and nationals of other biometric-required countries who currently reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis and intend to travel to Canada.

    To secure an appointment for biometric collection, eligible applicants must send an email to BDGTN-VISA@international.gc.ca and include their unique visa application file number in the correspondence. Canadian officials note that they will only collect biometric data from applicants who have already received their official Biometric Instruction Letter; walk-in applicants without this documentation will not be served. All attendees are required to bring their official Biometric Instruction Letter to their scheduled appointment to complete the process.

    Authorities are urging prospective applicants to complete their online visa applications as soon as possible to ensure they receive their Biometric Instruction Letter in time to take advantage of this temporary on-site opportunity. This service is only available during the scheduled September visit, and the standard requirement to travel to off-island collection centers will remain in effect for all other periods outside of these two days.

  • Ministry of Sports, Principals Discuss Plans for New School Year

    Ministry of Sports, Principals Discuss Plans for New School Year

    Leaders from Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Sports have gathered with principals from across the twin-island nation to map out a collaborative strategy for boosting school-based sports programs as the new academic year gets underway. The roundtable discussion brought two key stakeholders together: national sports officials and the education leaders who oversee youth athletic activity on a daily basis, with a shared goal of unlocking greater potential for young people across the country.

    Following the closed-door meeting, ministry representatives described the talks as highly productive, noting that both sides left the session aligned on a shared vision for the future of school sports. Officials confirmed that the Ministry of Sports stands ready to partner closely with school administrators, combining resources, expertise, and on-the-ground support to foster consistent, sustainable growth of athletic programs at all education levels. Unlike ad-hoc interventions of the past, this initiative centers on embedding long-term development frameworks into school structures rather than one-off events.

    A core priority emphasized during the meeting is the critical role that K-12 and secondary schools play in building Antigua and Barbuda’s next generation of competitive athletes. As the first point of contact for young people with an interest in sports, schools are uniquely positioned to spot early talent, provide consistent training opportunities, and nurture emerging skills before athletes move to higher-level national programs. This grassroots focus is expected to create a stronger talent pipeline for national teams across a range of Olympic and regional sports in the coming years.

    Ministry officials stressed that Wednesday’s meeting is just the first step in a year-long series of upgrades to school sports. Additional targeted initiatives, ranging from infrastructure investment to coach training programs and new inter-school competition formats, will be rolled out and announced incrementally throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, with updates shared with school communities and the public as plans are finalized.

  • Albouystown scrap metal dealer arrested for stolen Demerara River bridge cable

    Albouystown scrap metal dealer arrested for stolen Demerara River bridge cable

    In a recent development in Guyana, law enforcement authorities have taken two individuals into custody in connection with the high-value theft of heavy-duty copper cable from the iconic Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB), a key infrastructure asset in the country. The breakthrough in the investigation came after the first suspect, a 39-year-old day labourer, led investigators to the scrap metal dealer who he admitted sold the stolen material, senior police officials confirmed Thursday.

    Wendell Blanhum, Deputy Police Commissioner and head of the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department, confirmed to local media that both the labourer and the 52-year-old scrap dealer are currently in police custody as the investigation continues. The labourer was first taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday night, after bridge patrols found him on BJDRB property carrying a specialized cutting tool. He was disguised in standard work safety gear including a protective helmet and a high-visibility reflective vest, a ruse investigators believe he used to convince passersby and bridge staff that he was an authorized contractor working on the bridge.

    Acting on the information the detained labourer provided, police executed coordinated cordon-and-search operations at two linked locations: a property at 93 Sussex Street in Albouystown, Georgetown, and a secured storage yard attached to the dealer’s private residence in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. No stolen cable was recovered at the Albouystown site, but investigators uncovered two segments of copper cable matching the specifications of the material stolen from the bridge at the Tuschen storage bond.

    When questioned by detectives, the scrap dealer admitted he had purchased 30 pounds of copper from the labourer the previous week for a total of GY$15,000, far below the market value of the stolen cable. However, he claimed he could not recall the exact dimensions of the copper he purchased and told investigators he had no knowledge of where the labourer had obtained the material.

    Blanhum told Demerara Waves Online News that the labourer has formally confessed to the theft, admitting he stole 90 feet of high-capacity four-conductor cable, with each conductor rated at 350 thousand circular mils. The stolen infrastructure material has an official estimated value of GY$1.62 million, more than 100 times the amount the labourer sold it for. Blanhum added the suspect told investigators he carried out the theft over a roughly week-long window between midnight on August 23, 2026, and 9 AM on September 1, 2026, to get cash to buy food and illegal drugs.

    The stolen cable powers the bridge’s distinctive decorative LED lighting system, which is mounted on steel poles along the structure’s high span and powered by an on-site generator located beneath the bridge. The LED system is regularly used to display custom colour schemes to mark regional and national events, and it was last confirmed to be fully operational on August 23, the same day the theft began. Bridge management did not notice the theft until August 31, when the system failed to light up one half of the bridge in the national colours of Trinidad and Tobago for the CARICOM neighbour’s independence anniversary celebration. The investigation into the theft and recovery of the remaining stolen cable is still ongoing.

  • VAT-Free weekend draws crowds and traffic

    VAT-Free weekend draws crowds and traffic

    Grenada’s first ever two-day VAT-free shopping event, held on August 28 and 29, has wrapped up with strong consumer turnout that delivered a major boost to local retailers, but also raised questions about actual savings for shoppers and left major commercial hubs grappling with unexpected traffic gridlock. The initiative is a core component of the government’s EC$18 million Cost of Living Assistance Programme, designed to ease household financial strain while stimulating stagnant activity in the country’s retail sector.

    Under the terms of the policy, the standard 15% value-added tax that registered businesses normally collect on behalf of the government is waived for a select list of goods during the designated event weekends. Many retailers opted to go a step further, layering their own additional discounts on top of the VAT exemption to draw more foot traffic, amplifying potential savings for consumers. Unlike regular shopping periods, the event attracted unprecedented crowds to supermarkets, hardware stores, appliance retailers and other commercial outlets across the island.

    Salim Rahaman, the private sector’s representative in Grenada’s Upper House of Parliament, framed the inaugural event as a clear success, noting that any early operational and logistical challenges faced by participating businesses were quickly resolved. Rahaman pointed out that VAT-free shopping periods are a well-established cost-of-living relief tool, having been deployed for more than a decade in countries including the United States. Looking ahead, he confirmed that additional retailer-driven discounts could become a regular feature of future events, telling reporters “we would see more of that in the upcoming VAT-free days.”

    The massive turnout, however, came with a notable downside: severe traffic congestion in the island’s busiest commercial districts, particularly downtown St George’s and the popular tourist hub of Grand Anse. Rahaman compared the crowded conditions to the peak traffic seen during Grenada’s annual Christmas shopping season or Carnival celebrations, with supermarkets and hardware stores recording the largest influx of visitors.

    When reached for comment on the traffic situation, the Community Relations Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) confirmed it had not put in place any special traffic management measures to accommodate the increased vehicle traffic during the event. The RGPF redirected all inquiries about traffic planning to the Grenada Transport Commission (GTC), and as of press time, multiple requests for comment from the GTC have gone unanswered. It remains unclear whether the commission implemented any extra mitigation measures, and how the weekend’s congestion compares to typical traffic volumes on regular Friday and Saturday shopping days.

    Early feedback from participating businesses has been largely positive. M&N Hardware, one of the island’s major suppliers of building and home improvement goods, reported a sharp uptick in customer foot traffic and called the overall execution of the event “well executed.” Foodland Supermarket, another major retail player, extended its operating hours to 10 pm on the event’s second day to accommodate the continued flow of shoppers.

    For consumers, experiences with the promised savings have been sharply divided. Shoppers making large purchases of eligible goods, such as building materials, appliances and bulk groceries, have reported substantial savings. One shopper who bought a large volume of construction supplies told reporters they saved as much as EC$2000 through the VAT exemption. But other consumers have raised red flags, noting that some retailers did not appear to adjust prices at all to reflect the waived tax, and a small number even reportedly increased base prices on some goods ahead of the event, erasing any potential benefit for shoppers.

    These contrasting experiences have underscored the importance for consumers to compare pre-event prices and check itemized receipts to confirm they are actually receiving the full benefit of the VAT exemption. The event also carries a tangible cost for the Grenadian government, which forgone all VAT revenue on eligible goods sold during the weekend. The Inland Revenue Division under the Ministry of Finance is expected to release an official figure for the total revenue lost from the inaugural event in the coming weeks.

    Rahaman acknowledged that the policy cannot be made permanent due to its impact on government revenue, noting that “it’s not something that the government would offer all time because they are giving up revenue, but it is a targeted measure, and I believe it was very successful.” Two more two-day VAT-free shopping events are already scheduled for later this year: one on September 25 and 26, and a second on October 30 and 31. These upcoming events will give policymakers and stakeholders a chance to further evaluate consumer demand, retailer participation, the actual impact on household savings, and the full fiscal cost of the programme. While the first event has already confirmed strong consumer interest and a clear boost to retail sales, the full scope of its benefits and shortcomings will not emerge until official data on revenue and savings is published.

  • Antigua and Barbuda’s Janet Simon Appointed Dean of CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Janet Simon Appointed Dean of CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has made a landmark announcement for regional youth development: Janet Simon, a youth advocate hailing from Antigua and Barbuda, will take up the post of Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps starting September 1, 2026.

    Simon has outlined a clear, action-focused agenda that will shape her one-year rotating tenure, with six core priorities at the forefront of her leadership: expanding evidence-based nutrition education across regional education systems, scaling up prevention initiatives for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), expanding accessible youth mental health support, advancing community peacebuilding, boosting practical life skills training for young people, and creating clearer, more equitable pathways to sustainable youth employment. Her overarching mission is to arm Caribbean young people with the knowledge, capabilities, and systemic support they need to become engaged, active citizens and drive the future direction of the CARICOM bloc.

    In a statement following the announcement, Simon shared her enthusiasm and on-the-ground perspective for the role. “I am deeply honoured to take on this responsibility as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps,” she said. “My years of work alongside young people across every corner of the region have made clear just how urgent it is that we strengthen mental health services and improve nutrition access for our youth. I firmly believe that by empowering young peers to lead outreach and service design, we can fundamentally transform how young people access the support they need.”

    Michele Small-Bartley, the CARICOM Secretariat’s Programme Manager for Youth Development, extended a warm welcome to Simon, highlighting the unique value she brings to the regional programme. “Janet arrives in this role with a profound, long-standing passion for youth development, a creative approach to longstanding challenges, and an unwavering commitment to public service,” Small-Bartley noted. “I am particularly encouraged by her dedicated focus on mental health advocacy and the fresh, thoughtful strategies she plans to bring to the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme. Her leadership comes at a key moment as we work to expand the voice, increase the visibility, and strengthen the meaningful participation of CARICOM Youth Ambassadors across the entire region.”

    Beyond her regional work, Simon has already built a robust track record of impactful youth-focused initiatives at the national level. She is widely recognized for her national School Tour programme, which has delivered practical life skills education to thousands of secondary and primary students across Antigua and Barbuda, as well as her innovative “Peace through Art” community series, which uses creative expression to resolve conflict and build social cohesion. She also regularly leads capacity-building workshops for local and national youth organisations, and is an active core member of Healthy Caribbean Youth, where she has led advocacy for comprehensive school nutrition policies and expanded school-based mental health services. Her advocacy has also extended to the global stage, where she has presented Caribbean youth priorities to senior leaders at both the World Bank and the United Nations, centering the unique needs of small island developing states’ youth populations in global policy conversations.

    To contextualise the role, the position of Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps rotates annually among CARICOM Member States and Associate Members, following an alphabetical order rotation system. The CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme (CYAP), which the Dean leads, is the official youth wing of the 15-nation regional bloc. It functions as a dynamic regional network of young leaders, tasked with advocating for the needs of their peers, amplifying youth perspectives in regional and national policy discussions, and advancing the bloc’s core Caribbean integration goals.

    The programme traces its origins back to 1993, when it launched under the name Regional Youth Ambassador Programme (RYAP) during the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, held to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. It was formally established as an official CARICOM programme in 1994, initially operating under the coordination of the Culture Desk at the CARICOM Secretariat, before being transferred to the reactivated Youth Desk in 1997. Since its founding, the programme has delivered three core long-term impacts: it has expanded young people’s knowledge and awareness of regional CARICOM priorities and challenges; it has raised the profile of youth leadership at both national and regional levels; and it has created formal pathways to integrate the views and experiences of young people from across the Caribbean into national, regional, and international policy and programming.