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  • ‘Costs Are Going to Go Up’: Canada Slaps U.S. with Retaliatory Tariffs

    ‘Costs Are Going to Go Up’: Canada Slaps U.S. with Retaliatory Tariffs

    In a sharp escalation of cross-border trade tensions, Canada has announced it will enact retaliatory tariffs matching U.S. levies on a dollar-for-dollar basis, after negotiations between the two North American neighbors broke down earlier this week. The countermeasures, scheduled to enter into force on September 8, target a wide range of American-made products including steel, dairy goods, household appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and consumer electronics, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the new tariffs during a press conference in Ottawa on Saturday. The announcement came in direct response to the Trump administration’s recent imposition of a 50% tariff on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian exports, covering more than 500 distinct product categories. The U.S. tariffs impact a broad spectrum of Canadian goods, ranging from alcohol, dairy, timber, and hockey equipment to technology and general consumer products.

    Notably, the new American levies extend to several product categories that were previously granted duty-free or preferential access under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the landmark regional trade bloc that governs trade across North America. Carney condemned the U.S. move, saying the Trump administration not only sought to curtail Canada’s sovereign right to negotiate independent new trade deals with other global partners but also placed unacceptable demands related to Quebec’s unique French language and cultural policies.

    Trade analysts have issued warnings about the far-reaching economic fallout from the escalating tariff dispute. With approximately 73% of all Canadian exports destined for the U.S. market, higher tariffs will drive up the cost of Canadian goods for American buyers, a shift that is expected to dampen demand. For Canadian businesses, this could translate to shrinking profit margins, reduced production, and eventual job cuts across export-reliant sectors.

    The impact will not be limited to Canada, however. Higher cross-border shipping costs will filter through the supply chain to American consumers, who will ultimately face elevated price tags for a wide range of everyday goods imported from Canada. American producers that rely on Canadian intermediate inputs will also see their production costs rise, creating ripple effects across the U.S. economy.

    In response to the deepening trade rift, the Canadian government has moved forward with long-planned efforts to diversify its trade portfolio, reducing the country’s overreliance on its largest and closest trading partner. Carney’s administration is actively courting new trade agreements and expanded commercial partnerships with economies across Asia and Europe, as it works to build alternative export markets for Canadian goods.

  • 21-year-old Marigot woman charged in Jerbiah Paul investigation

    21-year-old Marigot woman charged in Jerbiah Paul investigation

    A major new development has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the death of 16-year-old Jerbiah Paul in Dominica, with law enforcement officials confirming that a 21-year-old woman from Marigot has been formally charged in connection with the case.

    The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force named the accused individual as Nyoka James, who faces a single count of perverting the course of justice. This charge is legally distinct from the murder accusations that have already been leveled against other people linked to Paul’s disappearance and death, investigators have clarified.

    In a second, unexpected development tied to the probe, police have also confirmed that they have taken an additional serving police officer into custody. Law enforcement has so far released no additional details about the arrested officer, including their name, the specific circumstances that led to their arrest, or whether formal charges will be pursued against them.

    Investigators continue to work through the circumstances that led to Paul’s disappearance and eventual death, and authorities have emphasized that the full investigation remains active and ongoing as they piece together all evidence related to the case.

  • Customs reports revenue loss from concessions, waivers and fraud

    Customs reports revenue loss from concessions, waivers and fraud

    Speaking at the 121st anniversary church service of the Barbados Customs and Excise Department held at Power in the Blood Assembly in Tudor Bridge, St. Michael on Sunday, Acting Comptroller Lynette Padmore has revealed key figures and pressing challenges facing the country’s border management and revenue collection agency. Between the start of the 2023 fiscal year and July 2024, the department collected roughly $5.46 billion in total revenue, but Padmore cautioned that overall collections would have been significantly higher if not for more than $3 billion in lost revenue stemming from legal trade concessions, official duty waivers, and widespread suspected fraudulent tax evasion.

    Padmore specifically called out two pervasive illegal practices that are bleeding public revenue: the intentional undervaluation of imported goods and falsified under-invoicing that lowers the tax base for cross-border shipments. Beyond its core revenue mandate, the department has also made significant progress in intercepting illicit goods at the country’s entry points. Padmore reported that customs officers posted at Barbados’ international airport, seaports, and the General Post Office seized just under 1,000 kilograms of illicit vegetable cannabis, with an estimated street value of roughly $8 million. The agency also confiscated 12 unregistered firearms, 15 unauthorized ammunition magazines, and approximately 900 rounds of live ammunition. A wide range of other prohibited contraband, including cocaine, methamphetamine, dangerous tactical equipment, camouflage material, tasers, and unapproved power drills for illicit construction, have also been seized at Barbados’ borders in recent months.

    Padmore warned that small island nations like Barbados face growing, evolving threats from transnational smuggling and tax fraud, and that these risks can not be addressed if local agencies work in isolation. She emphasized that coordinated inter-agency cooperation is critical to securing the country’s borders, noting that the Customs and Excise Department already maintains active operational partnerships with the Barbados Police Service, the Department of Immigration, the Barbados Defence Force, the Barbados Coast Guard, and a network of regional and international law enforcement partners. “Together we engage in targeted operations which aid in developing strategies for specific border controls, anti-smuggling efforts, and fraud investigations,” Padmore explained.

    To keep up with rapid shifts in global trade and increasingly sophisticated smuggling and fraud tactics, Padmore said the department is pursuing a wide-ranging modernization agenda centered on digital transformation. “This modernised Customs and Excise Department must now adapt and lead from the front with automation, data-driven risk management, efficiency, and integrity in this fast-paced environment where we find ourselves today,” she said. The agency is also confronting a human resources gap created by a wave of recent retirements that has led to the loss of decades of institutional knowledge. With a large cohort of new, relatively inexperienced staff now learning core customs procedures, Padmore said targeted upskilling has become a top organizational priority, and the department is moving aggressively to expand training opportunities.

    Starting this week, 18 customs officers will begin an intensive valuation training workshop hosted in partnership with the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC). That program will be followed by a agency-wide “Art and Heart of Service” professional development course run through the National Transformation Initiative. In recent months, officers have already completed specialized training in high-priority areas including small arms and light weapons identification, illicit trafficking detection techniques, synthetic drug recognition, artificial intelligence for cybersecurity, and advanced data analytics. Most recently, three Barbados customs officers returned from specialized training programs in China: two completed coursework on smart customs systems and digital border management, while the third focused on sustainable green finance for trade regulation.

    Padmore added that the department is currently exploring the adoption of new emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools and integrated smart management systems, to boost operational efficiency and enforcement effectiveness. Acknowledging that the department has faced public criticism in recent months over its performance, Padmore urged all staff to reaffirm their commitment to the agency’s core values of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and transparency. “Together, we can restore our image, renew our efforts, and seek to change our current direction,” she said. The department’s 121st anniversary celebrations are being held this year under the theme “The Rise to Excellence Continues.”

  • ExxonMobil confirms “small fire” forced suspension of Liza Unity FPSO operations

    ExxonMobil confirms “small fire” forced suspension of Liza Unity FPSO operations

    On August 23, 2026, Exxon Mobil’s Guyana subsidiary confirmed that a small fire incident on the company’s floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Liza Unity has forced a complete suspension of all on-board operations, including critical crude oil offloading activities. The incident unfolded in the laundry room located within the vessel’s living quarters, prompting an immediate safety response from the operating team.

    In an official statement released to the public Sunday afternoon, the energy giant outlined the sequence of events: on-board heat detection systems first triggered an alert after identifying abnormal heat levels linked to the small blaze. Crews acted rapidly to contain and extinguish the fire before it could spread to other parts of the vessel, the company confirmed.

    As a precautionary measure aligned with the firm’s long-standing industrial safety protocols, all production and logistics operations were halted immediately following the alert. “Operations were suspended as part of our established safety response and will resume following completion of the necessary checks,” the statement read, indicating that no timeline for restart has been set pending comprehensive safety and structural inspections.

    Exxon Mobil Guyana also moved quickly to reassure stakeholders and the public that all personnel on board the Liza Unity FPSO at the time of the incident have been confirmed safe, with no reports of injuries or missing crew members. The incident comes as Guyana’s oil sector, led by Exxon Mobil’s developments in the Stabroek Block, continues to ramp up production capacity, making any operational disruption a closely watched development for global commodity markets and the small Caribbean nation’s economy alike.

  • Progress Made, Challenges Ignored

    Progress Made, Challenges Ignored

    As the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) releases its 2026 preliminary examination results for multiple certification levels, the moment offers both an opportunity to honor students’ hard work and a critical juncture to address longstanding gaps in regional assessment transparency and system integrity.

    First, it is important to extend congratulations to every candidate who crossed this key academic threshold, and to recognize high-achieving students for their dedication. Outstanding performers deserve full commendation, not pressure to downplay their success; a core goal of education should always be to encourage every learner to reach their maximum potential. For candidates who did not get the results they hoped for, the broader education community – from parents and guardians to teachers – must offer targeted empathy and support. Crucially, all students must be reminded that while academic results carry weight, they do not define a person’s worth or future potential. These assessments are just one chapter in a much longer life journey. We also acknowledge the collective effort of every stakeholder in the regional education ecosystem: CXC administrative staff, CARICOM education ministries, school leaders, classroom teachers, private tutors, students and family members, all of whom contribute to making these large-scale examination cycles possible.

    While the release of preliminary results for CAPE, CSEC, CVQ, CCSLC and other credentials is a welcome step, much deeper analysis and transparent data sharing are still needed. Education stakeholders across the region are awaiting more granular national and regional breakdowns, as well as comparable year-over-year data that allows for accurate assessment of trends. Based on the preliminary figures released, three core areas demand urgent, focused examination.

    The first issue is the urgent need for improved public reporting of pass rates. The 2026 regional pass rate (Grades 1-3) for CSEC stood at 72.18%, while CAPE posted an overall pass rate of 93.5% – but CXC defines CAPE passing grades as Grades 1-5, a framing that obscures a key reality: most competitive universities and employers do not view Grades 4 and 5 as strong passes, and even a Grade 3 often fails to meet entry requirements. While the 93.5% overall pass rate looks impressive on paper, CXC would serve the public far better by following international best practice and publishing disaggregated data: the share of candidates earning Grade 1, and the share earning Grades 1-3. For context, the United Kingdom publishes annual data on the proportion of students earning top A* and A grades at A Level, alongside detailed school-level performance data, to give stakeholders a full picture of outcomes.

    It is encouraging that the CSEC Mathematics pass rate rose to 42% in 2026, up from 38% in 2025 and 36% in 2024, an improvement that deserves recognition. However, CXC’s reporting has been inconsistent year over year. In 2024, the council publicly shared the share of candidates who passed five CSEC subjects including Mathematics and English A, a key benchmark required for most further education and employment opportunities – that figure came in at less than 5%, but no comparable statistic was included in this year’s result announcement. CARICOM member states should commit to publishing this critical benchmark and other comparable national statistics on an annual basis, to avoid incomplete narratives that prioritize surface-level self-congratulation over a full accounting of regional academic attainment.

    Second, a number of systemic challenges within CXC itself have been sidelined in public discussion, despite their impact on the reliability, validity and fairness of examinations. CXC’s annual post-exam analysis typically focuses on student-side issues: absenteeism, cheating, collusion, misuse of smartphones and more recently, inappropriate AI use in school-based assessments. The more than 35,000 absences recorded among CSEC and CAPE candidates this year are a major cause for concern that demands solution-oriented analysis: how does this figure compare to previous cycles, and what targeted support systems are needed to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism? While cheating is undeniably unacceptable, the 128 reported irregularities this year – even with an increase from 80 last year – represent less than 1% of all candidates, yet they receive far more public attention than far more impactful systemic issues rooted in CXC’s own operations.

    For example, the January 2026 hybrid e-testing cycle for English A and Mathematics drew widespread complaints from students and parents over connectivity failures, launch delays, unequal device access and lack of reliable paper backup options. CXC later hailed the cycle as a success, noting that more than 10,000 candidates across 17 Caribbean states completed the first fully electronic and hybrid assessment session. But the valid complaints raised by test-takers and their families cannot be omitted from any formal assessment of this transition to digital testing.

    Longstanding concerns have also persisted for years around examination administration, grading transparency and repeated reuse of multiple-choice test items. After the 2020 grading controversy, CXC’s own Independent Review Team recommended that the organization replenish and expand its test item banks on a fixed schedule, to avoid overuse and reduce the risk of security breaches for Paper 1 assessments. CXC subsequently outlined plans to address this recommendation, but public updates on progress have been lacking. Continued transparency around efforts to resolve these long-running issues is critical to maintaining public trust in the regional examination system. If core administrative basics cannot be delivered consistently, adding new layers of complexity to an already under-resourced system carries significant unnecessary risk.

    Another key concern is the persistent gender gap in participation: females make up 62% of CAPE candidates and 59% of CSEC candidates, a disparity that reinforces growing evidence that boys in the region face systemic educational barriers. That said, the framing of this issue by some commentators – including Dr Manning’s claim that “men are born leaders, and we have to … help them to stay in that place” – reflects outdated, gendered stereotypes that do not advance evidence-based solutions.

    Third, while CXC has declared the pilot of its new Caribbean Technical and Vocational Education and Training Certification (CTEC) a success, and the pilot demonstrates that CXC can effectively launch new credentials and digital assessment models, critical open questions remain. CTEC holds promise as an alternative pathway for students to earn skills recognition and industry-aligned certification, which fills an important gap in the current regional education landscape. But stakeholders need clear answers on how students will be supported to complete these new programs successfully, and what lessons have been learned from the discontinuation of the earlier Basic Proficiency CSEC pathway, to avoid repeating past missteps. Incorporating lessons from previous failed vocational pathways will be critical to ensuring CTEC delivers long-term value for students.

    After the 2020 grading controversy, CXC convened an Independent Review Team that put forward 23 actionable recommendations for systemic improvement. CXC published initial responses to these recommendations, noting which measures had been implemented and which remained in progress. Regular public updates on the implementation of these recommendations would allow stakeholders across the region to track progress and prioritize areas that still need attention. True continuous improvement of the regional examination system depends on three core pillars: transparency, accountability and public trust.

    This year’s results bring many achievements worth celebrating, from incremental improvements in core subject pass rates to the successful launch of a promising new vocational certification. But there are also serious systemic issues that demand open public discussion and targeted action. CXC, working alongside CARICOM’s regional leadership, owes the taxpaying public clear, honest answers on all the concerns raised in this analysis. Only through transparent self-reflection and sustained, intentional improvement can the region build an examination system that truly serves all students, and advance the educational transformation the Caribbean needs to support future generations.

  • Alfred second in Silesia behind Wooden

    Alfred second in Silesia behind Wooden

    The Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, hosted at Stadion Śląski in Chorzów, Poland, delivered a highly anticipated 100-meter sprint showdown on Sunday that lived up to its billing, as reigning world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States held off Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia to claim victory. This race marked the first 100-meter meeting between the two top rivals this year, and their first clash over the straight sprint distance since the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

    Jefferson-Wooden crossed the finish line in 10.78 seconds – a time that matched her own 2026 season best, recorded into a steady +0.6 m/s tailwind. For Alfred, the sprinter delivered a season-best personal time of 10.83 seconds, but it was only enough to secure second place, marking the sprinter’s third consecutive 100-meter loss to Jefferson-Wooden in their head-to-head rivalry. American star Sha’Carri Richardson rounded out the top three with a 10.96-second finish.

    A detailed breakdown of the race highlights the dramatic shifts in momentum that unfolded from the opening blocks. Jamaican sprinters and twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton got off to a blistering early start, holding the first and second positions through the opening 30 meters. By the 40-meter mark, however, Jefferson-Wooden had surged past the field to claim the lead, clocking 5.08 seconds to that point. At that stage, Tina Clayton sat second, with Alfred trailing closely in third at 5.11 seconds.

    Alfred made steady progress up the field, overtaking Tina Clayton before the 50-meter mark to move into second, crossing the halfway point in 6.06 seconds. But Jefferson-Wooden had built an insurmountable lead, holding off Alfred’s late charge all the way to the finish line. The result levels the all-time 100-meter head-to-head series between Alfred and Jefferson-Wooden at four wins apiece.

    In her post-race comments, Alfred shared mixed feelings about her performance. “Running in a race of this quality feels amazing; I missed it a lot,” she said. “But I am in second place, so ‘great’ is not the right word, rather ‘disappointed’. But I am healthy. Melissa is a great athlete, and a lot of us give her a lot of respect.”

    With several high-profile meets still on the upcoming schedule, Alfred remains focused on improving ahead of the championship stretch of the season. She has already qualified for next month’s Diamond League Final in the 200 meters, and currently sits third in the overall 100-meter Diamond League rankings heading into her final qualifying race this Thursday in Zurich. She also has the 200-meter event in Brussels and the 100-meter at the Ultimate Championships still to come. “I hope that in Zurich I will race better,” she said. “It is the start; if I get better there, then I can win. It is a lot to work on.”

    Notably, Jefferson-Wooden has held an undefeated record over 100 meters throughout the 2026 season, but Alfred remains the only sprinter to beat the American this year, having claimed victory over her in an earlier 200-meter race. Coaches and track analysts note that Alfred’s overall development remains on track: her elite top-end speed is clearly established, and her upright running mechanics remain solid. The key area for improvement heading into the final stretch of the season, they say, will be sharpening her opening steps out of the starting blocks, a small adjustment that could push the Olympic champion to the top of the podium in coming championship events.

  • Fire aboard Liza Unity FPSO, lift delivery suspended

    Fire aboard Liza Unity FPSO, lift delivery suspended

    A small fire that broke out in the laundry facility of the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, a key component of ExxonMobil’s offshore oil operations in Guyana, has prompted an immediate halt to a scheduled crude offloading operation that was set to move approximately 1 million barrels of oil, an anonymous industry source with direct knowledge of the incident confirmed Saturday.

    Emergency response teams deployed aboard the vessel quickly contained and extinguished the blaze, the source added, with no reported injuries to any crew members working on the unit. No structural damage to the FPSO itself has been reported as of the latest update.

    The incident, which was first reported by local Guyanese outlet Demerara Waves Online News on 23 August 2026, comes as ExxonMobil continues to expand its oil production footprint off Guyana’s coast, a region that has emerged as one of the most promising new oil frontiers in the Americas over the past decade. The Liza Unity FPSO, which launched operations in 2022, has a production capacity of around 220,000 barrels of oil per day, making it a critical asset for the company’s Guyana portfolio.

    Representatives for ExxonMobil’s Guyana operations have not issued an immediate statement on the incident, with the company indicating that a formal update will be released later on the same day as the fire. Market analysts are currently monitoring the situation to assess whether the suspension will impact near-term regional crude supply or delivery timelines for the planned cargo.

  • PM Browne Offers to Help Finance Tian Winter Album for Carnival’s 70th Anniversary

    PM Browne Offers to Help Finance Tian Winter Album for Carnival’s 70th Anniversary

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of its iconic Carnival celebration in 2027, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stepped forward with a commitment to back one of the nation’s top musical talents, promising financial support for leading soca artist Tian Winter to create a full-length studio album tailored for the milestone event.

    Browne publicly recognized Winter’s standing as Antigua and Barbuda’s preeminent contemporary soca performer, issuing a call for the artist to leverage his decades of industry experience to craft a compelling, high-quality collection of tracks that will honor the anniversary’s legacy. The prime minister emphasized that established, successful artists carry a critical responsibility to nurture the growth of the local music ecosystem, noting that consistent release of polished, culturally resonant work is foundational to advancing the sector.

    To illustrate this point, Browne drew a parallel to legendary figures who have shaped the nation’s cultural landscape: the late iconic soca artist Swallow and beloved local band Burning Flames. Across multiple generations, the consistent output from these cultural trailblazers helped forge and solidify Antigua and Barbuda’s unique cultural identity, leaving a lasting impact that endures today. While Browne acknowledged the raw talent and promising future of emerging young soca performers across the country, he noted that Winter uniquely combines the seasoned experience, proven artistic skill, and national profile required to raise the bar for Antigua and Barbuda’s soca scene.

    Following his remarks, the prime minister made a formal public offer to contribute directly to the production costs of the proposed album. This government backing comes as event organizers prepare for a significantly expanded 70th anniversary Carnival celebration, aligned with broader national efforts to strengthen the domestic music industry. As regional and global competition for audience attention in Caribbean festival and music markets intensifies, the initiative aims to position Antigua and Barbuda’s cultural offerings for greater international recognition.

  • Coping with Workplace Pressures

    Coping with Workplace Pressures

    Across both public and private sectors worldwide, the modern workforce is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, driven by sweeping global forces: accelerating globalization, fast-paced technological advancement, the redefinition of what work looks like, and the growing integration of artificial intelligence into daily operations. This paradigm shift has reshaped work in profound ways, moving the global employment market away from the long-standing model of stable, physical, human-managed roles toward a new landscape of flexible, digital, algorithm-managed work arrangements — a shift that has sparked widespread anxiety among workers about their long-term professional stability.

    The traditional promise of a lifelong job with a single employer is rapidly fading into history, as companies increasingly shift toward short-term and contract-based hiring models. This shift has systematically eroded the core job security that previous generations of workers took for granted. Permanent tenure, along with the traditional benefits tied to long-term employment — including retirement gratuities and pensions — are no longer guaranteed for most workers, leaving large swathes of the workforce uncertain about their financial futures.

    In the Caribbean region specifically, this workforce upheaval has been compounded by the policy of free movement of labor across regional blocs, which has intensified competition for available positions. Today, workers are under constant pressure to maintain up-to-date knowledge, in-demand skills, and professional competencies just to remain competitive in a crowded job market. The growing adoption of artificial intelligence across industries adds an extra layer of risk: automation and AI-driven tools are already displacing some roles, leaving many workers questioning whether their positions will exist in the coming years.

    Unemployment has become a constant, pressing concern for many Caribbean workers. Those who lose their jobs often must rely on limited unemployment benefits, which are only available to qualified workers and are typically only paid out for a fixed period. Compounding this vulnerability, many workers face additional disadvantage when employers fail to remit the National Insurance contributions that are already deducted from workers’ paychecks, leaving workers without access to critical social safety nets when they need them most.

    In response to this gap in worker protections, the government of Barbados recently passed the Protection of Wages Bill, a piece of legislation that includes new provisions designed to strengthen safeguards for workers against unlawful non-payment of these deducted contributions. While the bill has been welcomed as a step forward for worker rights, analysts note that its success will depend entirely on consistent, robust enforcement. If employers face only minor penalties for violations or find loopholes to evade the new rules, the entire purpose of the legislation will be undermined, leaving workers to place their faith in a system that may not deliver on its promised protections.

    Beyond job security and financial vulnerability, modern workers are facing growing pressure from excessive workplace demands and shifting employer expectations. Many workers report growing concerns about how they are treated as people, rather than just productivity assets, and this frustration has translated into strained attitudes between employers and staff across industries. The cumulative effect of this unrelenting pressure is widespread burnout and chronic stress among workers, which in turn fuels a range of negative outcomes including rising rates of mental health challenges, increased workplace absenteeism, plummeting team morale, reduced overall productivity, and declining quality of customer service.

    Industry research consistently confirms that worker stress and work-life balance have emerged as two of the most pressing challenges facing employers across the Caribbean today. Multiple studies have found that a large share of workers report consistently high stress levels, persistent fatigue, and a pervasive feeling of losing control over their work and personal lives. This reality underscores the urgent need for workers to build strategies to cope with ongoing industry disruption. Experts argue that workplace resilience has become one of the most critical skills for modern workers: the ability to adapt to traumatic workplace changes and process stressful experiences is now essential for professional survival. For workers forced to transition from stable traditional roles to precarious gig work or self-employment as entrepreneurs, building a flexible, adaptive new mindset is key to navigating the new world of work.

    This analysis comes from Dennis De Peiza, a labor and employment relations consultant at Regional Management Services Inc.

  • H.O.W. with Halo Gives a Cool Start to TechByte STEM Academy

    H.O.W. with Halo Gives a Cool Start to TechByte STEM Academy

    A major step forward for youth STEM education has been made this week, as the Halo Foundation has formally transferred a set of new air conditioning units to Verlyn Richards, principal of St. John’s Catholic School. The equipment upgrade is intended to lay the groundwork for the campus’ upcoming TechByte STEM Academy, which is on track to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2026.

    The climate control upgrade will transform learning spaces at the academy, giving students a far more comfortable environment to dive into hands-on STEM projects, conduct exploratory work, and build technical skills outside the constraints of traditional, lecture-based classroom settings.

    The official handover ceremony was led by Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams, president of the Halo Foundation. This donation is not an isolated contribution: it forms a core part of early preparations for the foundation’s new signature program, H.O.W. with Halo – short for Hope, Opportunity and Well-being through STEM. The initiative is being developed in partnership with Elijah James, founder of local tech platform The LocaL App, and aligns with Lady Williams’ long-standing commitments under the broader Fostering the Future Initiative.

    The H.O.W. with Halo program traces its roots to the Global Coalition Summit of First Spouses, an international gathering hosted by former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, D.C., scheduled for March 24-25, 2026. At its core, the initiative aims to build accessible pathways for young people to develop the critical skills, foundational knowledge, and self-confidence needed to thrive in all areas of their future lives, whether they pursue further education, enter the workforce, or engage in civic leadership.

    In remarks at the handover, Lady Williams emphasized that intentional investment in accessible learning infrastructure is a prerequisite to creating impactful opportunities for youth. “Creating the right environment for young people to learn is an important part of creating meaningful pathways,” she said. “We want young people, especially girls, to have spaces where they can explore, experiment, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.”

    James echoed this focus on experiential learning, noting that existing youth programs under the partnership – DadliBots and BRIGHT Hacks – have long centered on learning through hands-on practice. “This support from Halo Foundation helps us create more interactive spaces where that learning can continue beyond the summer, towards a year-round model after-school model,” James explained.

    Looking ahead, the full launch of H.O.W. with Halo is designed to serve 3,000 students each year, and organizers are actively inviting other mission-aligned organizations to join the partnership to expand reach further. Additional details regarding student registration and available scholarship opportunities will be released publicly as the initiative approaches its official launch date.