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  • Police Recruit Course #47 graduates after rigorous six-month training

    Police Recruit Course #47 graduates after rigorous six-month training

    Basseterre, Saint Kitts – A new cohort of 28 trained police officers has officially joined the ranks of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, capping off half a year of demanding physical, mental, and academic training designed to prepare them for modern law enforcement challenges. The 20 men and eight women of Police Recruit Course #47 marked their achievement at a formal Passing Out Ceremony held October 8 at Newtown Playing Field, one day before the official public announcement of their graduation.

    The passing out parade followed traditional police ceremonial protocols: the 28 recruits split into two platoons for inspection by Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd, then executed precision marches in both slow and quick time. Inspector Marvin Thompson, Commandant of the Police Training School, served as parade leader. Platoon One was commanded by newly minted Police Constable D’Angelo Thompson, while Cadet Cwana Francis led Platoon Two. Francis, who will turn 18 in the coming days, will officially transition to the rank of Woman Police Constable once her birthday passes.

    Course #47 first began training on March 16, 2026, with a curriculum that balanced grueling physical conditioning, mental resilience building, and in-depth academic study of core police practices. Thompson outlined that the Police Training School’s core mission is to develop officers who are not only highly skilled and physically fit, but also dependable and equipped to tackle the evolving complexities of 21st-century law enforcement.

    “We release them to go forth into the world of professional policing,” Thompson said in remarks following the parade. “We release them not to make a name for themselves, but to make a positive difference in the communities they serve. We release them as a vanguard of a young generation of officers who will serve their nation with pride, professionalism and dignity.”

    The ceremony also included awards to recognize top-performing recruits throughout the training period. Constable Zavian Harris, badge number 500, claimed the honor of Best Recruit, taking home the Baton of Honour from Police Commissioner James Sutton, the Prime Minister’s Plaque from Acting Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, and the Best Recruit Trophy. Harris also won additional awards for excellence in weapons training and pistol marksmanship.

    Other award winners included D’Angelo Thompson (badge 488), who took top honors for self-defense, drills, and kit preparedness. Tejohn Braide (badge 484) won the Best Rifle Shot award, while Tyrese Anderson earned recognition for top performance in police subject exams, and Cwana Francis claimed the award for highest scores on the final graduation exam. Nathan Huggins (badge 492) was named Most Improved Recruit, the Best Physical Training honor was split between K’Quancia Fraser (badge 489) and Raheim Browne (badge 482), and Ian Lewis (badge 491) and Gerisha Grant (badge 496) shared the Most Disciplined award.

    In his congratulatory address to the graduating cohort, Commissioner of Police James Sutton urged the new officers to carry the lessons and core values of their training into every part of their new roles, noting that a career in law enforcement will bring no shortage of difficult moments. Sutton offered the new constables guiding principles for their service: “Be courageous but not reckless, be firm but always fair, be confident but remain humble, be vigilant but also compassionate.” He emphasized that the police badge carries a responsibility to maintain the public trust that is foundational to community safety.

  • TDC Home and Building Depots continue to support and advocate for National Breast Cancer Awareness

    TDC Home and Building Depots continue to support and advocate for National Breast Cancer Awareness

    As October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, regional retail chain TDC Home and Building Depots has launched its annual community health initiative to expand access to preventive breast care and raise public awareness of the disease. Open to all community members regardless of age or gender, the initiative centers around free on-site breast screenings conducted by licensed, qualified healthcare professionals, with an additional incentive to encourage broad participation.

    Screening sessions are held every Saturday in October from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at TDC’s retail locations in both St. Kitts and Nevis. All attendees who complete a free screening are automatically entered into a raffle for a complimentary full mammogram — a critical diagnostic tool that helps identify early-stage breast cancer when treatment is most effective. The program builds on the retail chain’s long-running annual commitment to breast cancer advocacy, which aims to normalize routine preventive care and lower barriers to accessing life-saving early detection services.

    In a statement accompanying the launch, Jhanelle Brown, Head of TDC Client Relations and Marketing Department, emphasized that the initiative extends far beyond the company’s core business operations. “Supporting the communities we serve means investing in more than just building supplies — it means investing in the long-term health and well-being of the people who walk through our doors every day,” Brown explained. “Breast cancer touches countless individuals and families across St. Kitts and Nevis, and too many people delay screening due to cost or lack of access. We created this program to remove those barriers and encourage everyone to take an active role in protecting their own health.”

    Brown added that early detection is the single most impactful factor in improving breast cancer survival outcomes, and the program is designed to turn awareness into actionable care. To demonstrate solidarity with survivors, patients, and loved ones impacted by breast cancer, all TDC stores have been decorated with pink awareness materials, and the exterior walls of the chain’s flagship St. Kitts location are being lit pink throughout the month of October.

    This year’s screening initiative is part of TDC Home and Building Depots’ broader ongoing commitment to building healthier, more connected, and resilient communities across the region. The program was announced as a press release from TDC Group and published originally by SKNVibes.com, which does not edit original submitted press release content.

  • T&HD goods wharf appeared ‘fixed up’ for MV Barima inquiry visit; areas of MV Ma Lisha badly corroded

    T&HD goods wharf appeared ‘fixed up’ for MV Barima inquiry visit; areas of MV Ma Lisha badly corroded

    On Thursday, members of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the July 18 MV Barima sinking tragedy that killed over 100 people arrived for a scheduled site inspection of Guyana’s Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) goods wharf in Kingston, Water Street — and immediately noticed signs that the facility had been heavily prepped for their visit.

    The five-member panel, appointed by President Irfaan Ali to investigate the disaster and recommend maritime safety reforms, first turned their attention to a new vehicle weigh scale installed under a temporary tent on the wharf. Upon closer inspection, commissioners found that despite the equipment being clearly brand new — confirmed by still-sticky adhesive on its product tags — none of the scale’s connecting cables were hooked up to any weight-displaying device. It was only minutes after the commissioners pointed out this disconnect that a T&HD staff member retrieved two locked portable digital weight indicators from an internal storage room and unlocked them for the inspection team.

    Other signs of last-minute preparation were widespread across the terminal, according to on-site observations and anonymous source reporting from Demerara Waves. Multiple T&HD workers were issued brand-new high-visibility reflective vests specifically for the visit, and the passenger waiting area’s child-friendly play zone was found to be spotless and seemingly unused, with workers documented cleaning waiting area chairs earlier that morning. When approached by reporters to answer questions about the apparent last-minute touch-ups, T&HD General Manager Yolanda Hughes declined to comment on any aspect of the site preparation.

    Beyond the wharf inspection, the commission extended its probe to the MV Ma Lisha, a four-year-old ferry purchased by Guyana from India in 2022 for US$12.7 million to serve passenger and cargo routes to the North West District — the same route the sunken MV Barima operated. During a walkthrough of the vessel, Captain Hamada Fouda, a senior maritime surveyor, compliance auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, and CoI member, discovered widespread premature corrosion and poor maintenance across multiple components. In one striking example, a rusted protective cap for a tank air vent crumbled into pieces when Fouda touched it, and a nearby identical vent was found to be missing its manual valve wheel entirely.

    CoI Chairman Justice Godfrey Smith outlined the panel’s broad mandate in comments Thursday: the team is tasked with reviewing every环节 contributing to maritime safety in Guyana, including inspection protocols, vessel certification, routine maintenance systems, operational procedures, regulatory supervision, staffing levels, crew training, and overall enforcement of existing safety rules. The inquiry’s end goal is to identify gaps in current legislation and regulation that require updating, clarify blurred lines of institutional responsibility, outline necessary policy overhauls, map required training and certification upgrades, improve emergency response frameworks, and flag critical infrastructure and system upgrades needed long-term to prevent future disasters.

    Smith confirmed that the commission stands ready to submit interim safety recommendations directly to President Ali at any point if urgent public safety risks are identified before the final report is completed. The July 18 sinking of the MV Barima occurred roughly 10 miles off the Essequibo Coast, as the ferry was traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, with 179 passengers and crew on board.

  • Che lives on among the youth—alive, contrary to the enemy’s wishes

    Che lives on among the youth—alive, contrary to the enemy’s wishes

    On the morning of Thursday, October 8, a solemn, emotionally charged gathering unfolded in Portocarrero Hall at Cuba’s Palace of the Revolution, bringing together senior Cuban government and party leaders alongside a cross-section of young activists to mark the anniversary of Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s death in combat decades ago.

    Opening the intergenerational discussion, Meyvis Estévez Echevarría, First Secretary of the National Committee of the Young Communist League (UJC), framed the event as a commitment to keeping Guevara’s political ideology relevant and alive, in direct opposition to efforts by his opponents to erase his legacy. The gathering was also attended by other senior Cuban officials, including Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Party’s Central Committee, and Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh.

    Carlos Tablada, a Doctor of Economic Sciences and president of Ruth Casa Editorial, shared insights from decades of rigorous research into Guevara’s economic thought, work first published in the 1980s that reshaped public discourse in Cuba and continues to challenge contemporary society. Addressing the young audience, Tablada urged attendees to embrace a rebellious spirit, reject complacency, and uphold Guevara’s unwavering commitment to ethics, noting that “the day we lose our ethics, we lose everything.” He also highlighted Guevara’s sharp analytical foresight, recalling that the revolutionary had predicted the collapse of the Soviet bloc 25 years before it unfolded.

    Doctor of Historical Sciences Daily Sánchez Lemus followed, describing October 8 as a landmark date for national reflection, pointing to widespread tributes held across Cuban schools for each new generation. She emphasized that Cubans carry a historic responsibility to preserve Guevara’s legacy beyond symbolic statues and monuments, particularly as his anti-imperialist values and commitment to constant improvement grow more resonant amid growing geopolitical hostility toward the island. Sánchez also urged young Cubans to continually ask a critical question: In the current hostile global context, what would Che Guevara do?

    The meeting’s “Guevarist Voices” segment showcased grassroots work led by young Cubans across the island, proving that Guevara’s legacy of solidarity and resistance remains active in daily life. Attendees heard from Leanet Proenza del Hoyo, lead coordinator of Farma Joven (Young Pharmacy), a UJC-led solidarity initiative that now connects more than 1,000 volunteers via digital platforms to deliver free medication to low-income communities, elderly residents, nursing homes, children’s shelters and maternity facilities, with donations sourced from youth organizations across the globe. Dr. Alejandra de la Cruz Moreno, a recent graduate and Farma Joven coordinator for East Havana, added that the network has expanded beyond regional borders, with 30 young medical volunteers recently supporting work at Centro Habana Pediatric Teaching Hospital, establishing an on-call contingency ready to respond whenever needed.

    Other young representatives from the Community Youth Network shared accounts of their ongoing projects, including free meal delivery for children, mobile community cinema screenings, and professional training for social workers. They emphasized that as heirs to Guevara’s legacy, young Cubans maintain a spirit of resistance even amid sustained external pressure, without losing their core compassion for vulnerable communities.

    A particularly moving testimony came from a Palestinian orthopedics resident and graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), who hails from the Gaza Strip. He recalled Guevara’s historic visit to Palestine, where the revolutionary recognized the unyielding, un-surrendering spirit of the Palestinian people. He expressed profound gratitude for Cuba’s open-arms welcome to him and hundreds of other Palestinian students, and shared that the Palestinian people have reciprocated that solidarity by donating medication to Cuban hospitals. He closed his remarks by embracing President Díaz-Canel, explaining that the gesture represented an embrace of the entire Cuban people.

    Closing the gathering, Cuban President and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez noted that the tribute takes on special meaning in the centenary year of Fidel Castro Ruz, highlighting the deep principled friendship and mutual admiration between Guevara and Castro. He echoed the core sentiment of the day: “Che Guevara has not died; Che Guevara has multiplied,” noting that the young leaders in attendance are living proof that new generations carry forward Guevarist humanism, which remains the backbone of Cuba’s resilience amid difficult global and domestic challenges.

    Díaz-Canel highlighted that Guevara’s legacy of resistance to external dominance is the core of Cuba’s ability to withstand ongoing pressure, noting that the revolutionary’s altruism, austerity, honesty and commitment to giving everything without expectation of reward continue to shape the country’s values. He revisited Guevara’s iconic concept of the “New Man” — a vision championed by Fidel Castro — stating that nurturing this ideal remains critical to building a better world, and that Cuba must continue to embed Guevara’s values into daily national life. “Being like Che is very difficult,” he acknowledged, “but even the aspiration to emulate him brings us much closer to his virtues.”

    Reflecting on his own personal connection to Guevara’s legacy in his native Santa Clara, Díaz-Canel recalled the emotional national moment when Guevara’s remains were returned to the province for interment, remembering how even international revolutionary figures like Spanish dancer and communist militant Antonio Gades were overcome with emotion at the mausoleum. Closing his remarks with a distinctly Guevarist message, Díaz-Canel emphasized that Guevara remains present every day in the work of young Cubans across the island, declaring: “the present is a time of struggle; the future is ours.”

  • You also had a blue scarf

    You also had a blue scarf

    Each year on October 8, Cuba opens a new chapter of national legacy as hundreds of young children across the island are inducted as members of the country’s iconic pioneer youth movement, a tradition rooted in honoring Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the iconic revolutionary figure known globally as the Heroic Guerrilla. For generations of Cubans, the memory of that first milestone remains etched in family history: even if the young inductee cannot clearly recall the exact moment their first bright blue neckerchief was fastened around their neck, their parents and grandparents do. Many families still remember the rush of emotion that comes with watching a small child stand in the morning induction lineup, whether they hid nervously in the back row, cried searching for a familiar face in the crowd, or stepped up with a leading role carrying the school flag or fumbling with a microphone to join the group in singing the movement’s anthem, with its memorable lyrics “even if the world changes color, I am here.” Regardless of the small mishaps that mark the day, every child takes their place in a tradition that has shaped millions of Cuban lives.

    This year was no exception. On the annual induction date, students at Fabricio Ojeda Primary School, located in Havana’s Camilo Cienfuegos District, formally received the insignia that marks them as official Moncadista Pioneers, joining the ranks of the José Martí Pioneers Organization. For those who have already gone through the experience as children themselves, the occasion is far from a casual school event. In the days leading up to the ceremony, students spend hours rehearsing their formations, which are arranged with the kind of meticulous precision more commonly associated with military drills. Uniforms are pressed and checked until they are spotless, and all slogans, poems and chants must be memorized word for word—reading from a prepared script is never accepted.

    This centuries-old induction ritual stands as a powerful reflection of the priority Cuba places on lifting up its children and centering their place in national life. It is for this reason that the attendance of Cuba’s highest leadership at this year’s ceremony came as no surprise to attendees. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and President of the Republic of Cuba, joined the event and personally fastened the iconic blue neckerchiefs for an entire row of newly inducted pioneers—an honor many of the young children will likely remember for the rest of their lives. The ceremony was also attended by other senior government and party leaders, including Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Party Central Committee.

    As part of the official program, the annual “Los Zapaticos de Rosa” award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to youth and pioneer programming in Cuba, was presented to three dedicated education professionals: Maricel Gálvez Hernández, Deputy Director of the Mariana Grajales Pioneers Palace in Cerro; Caridad Leonila Pérez Robbio, Principal of host school Fabricio Ojeda Elementary; and Eric Paradella Milian, Provincial Methodologist for the José Martí Pioneers Organization. Naming these honorees is no afterthought: in Cuba, honors awarded in recognition of work done for children carry enormous weight and respect.

    Like all pioneer induction ceremonies held across Cuban schools every year, the event concluded in a wash of joy and emotion: with celebratory music, warm hugs, peals of childlike laughter, and proud tears from family members in attendance, from parents and grandparents to aunts, uncles and older siblings. What set this year’s ceremony apart, however, was the special opportunity for a handful of attendees and new inductees to take commemorative photos with President Díaz-Canel.

    As the ceremony drew to a close, it is important to acknowledge the quiet, unwavering work of the teachers and education staff who make these meaningful intergenerational traditions possible. Day after day, these resilient educators show up, ready to share warmth and guidance with the next generation, even amid the many challenges facing the country, turning milestone moments like this induction into lasting memories for children and families alike.

  • Taiwan gives US$100,000 to SVG flood recovery during National Day celebration

    Taiwan gives US$100,000 to SVG flood recovery during National Day celebration

    A gathering held in Kingstown on Thursday to mark Taiwan’s 115th National Day quickly shifted focus to a demonstration of cross-nation solidarity, as Taiwanese Ambassador Fiona Fan announced a $100,000 emergency aid package for communities impacted by severe flooding that hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Monday night.

    Fan emphasized that the donation is earmarked explicitly to support local flood recovery and rehabilitation work across impacted areas. “Our thoughts are with every affected family and community,” she stated during the event, adding, “Taiwan stands shoulder to shoulder with you throughout this difficult period.”

    Turning to Taiwan’s own developmental trajectory, the ambassador framed the island’s progress as a remarkable transformation: moving from an authoritarian system to a fully functional democracy, and evolving from a fledgling emerging economy to a prominent global leader in advanced technology. She drew specific attention to Taiwan’s unmatched strengths in key high-tech sectors, including semiconductor manufacturing, information and communications technology, advanced industrial production, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence innovation.

    Fan also addressed growing global concerns over regional stability, speaking on the critical importance of maintaining security and peace across the Taiwan Strait. She noted that nearly half of the world’s total container shipping traffic transits through the strategic waterway, meaning any unplanned disruption or conflict involving Taiwan would send shockwaves through global supply chains and the entire international economy. “A contingency for Taiwan would be a contingency for the world,” she emphasized, reinforcing the global stakes of regional peace. She further asserted that “Taiwan’s sovereignty rests in its people.”

    Moving to the long-standing bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and SVG, Fan outlined a wide range of joint development projects spanning agriculture, infrastructure, public safety, and education. In the agricultural sector, she explained that a targeted young farmers training initiative has already equipped 75 local Vincentian farmers with specialized skills in sustainable crop production, post-harvest quality management, and market-oriented agribusiness. Parallel to that, a livestock development partnership has helped double local pig production while simultaneously raising the overall quality of the national herd.

    On infrastructure, Fan highlighted several landmark SVG projects that received key support from Taiwan, including the Rabacca Bridge, Argyle International Airport, and the ongoing modernization of the Kingstown Port. Beyond physical infrastructure, Taiwan has also backed upgrades to SVG’s national healthcare information systems, and supported the installation of 330 closed-circuit security cameras across the country to boost public safety.

    In the education space, Fan reported that more than 12,500 young Vincentians have received financial aid through the Taiwan Bursary Programme, and 357 students have earned full scholarships to pursue higher education on Taiwan’s soil.

    SVG Governor-General Sir Stanley John offered official congratulations to Taiwan on its 115th National Day, commonly referred to as Double 10 Day, and praised Taiwan as “an international benchmark for democracy, innovation, technology, economic development, and global cooperation.” He noted that Taiwan and SVG share a core set of common values, including a commitment to democracy, social justice, and equality before the law, and described Taiwan’s remarkable technological achievements as a powerful source of inspiration for small developing nations around the world. “May our bonds of friendship endure to the mutual benefit of our two countries,” he said.

    For his part, SVG Prime Minister Godwin Friday reflected on his official visit to Taiwan this past August, where he and his governmental delegation received a formal welcome from Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. “We were welcomed as family by President Lai, and treated as such by everyone that we met during our entire stay,” Friday recalled.

    The prime minister shared that the trip left a lasting impression, noting he left thinking less about Taiwan’s impressive economic and technological statistics and more about the warmth and resilience of its people. He offered particular praise for Taiwan’s consistent long-term investment in education, innovation, and inclusive technological development.

    Friday also reaffirmed SVG’s long-standing public support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in global international organizations. “We are happy to be your friend … and we will continue to advocate on your behalf in multilateral forums,” the prime minister stated.

    He characterized the bilateral relationship between Kingstown and Taipei as a people-centered partnership built over decades through tangible, practical development projects and deep personal connections, particularly through the community of Vincentian students who have pursued studies in Taiwan. “Relationships between countries ultimately become most meaningful when they create relationships among people,” he concluded.

  • Four jet bridges, redesigned terminal in 12-month project at GAIA ‘to bring disruption’

    Four jet bridges, redesigned terminal in 12-month project at GAIA ‘to bring disruption’

    Barbados’ government has put a years-long, $300 million public-private partnership (PPP) management deal for Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) on indefinite hold, clearing the way for an $80 million terminal expansion project set to break ground this November, Finance Minister Ryan Straughn revealed in an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY.

    The one-year expansion project, which secured final loan approval from the Caribbean Development Bank and CIBC last week when Straughn signed the funding agreement, will center on a full redesign of the airport’s passenger terminal and add four new jet bridges to upgrade passenger experience. Straughn confirmed that all legal requirements for the funding have been finalized, clearing the final hurdle for construction to get underway in earnest by November. He added that once financing is fully disbursed and construction progresses, travelers should see a vastly improved facility ready in time for the December 2025 winter travel season.

    While construction will not disrupt incoming or outgoing flight operations, Straughn warned that passengers and airport workers should prepare for temporary alterations to regular routines during the build. “In the same way when you go overseas and you see construction underway, that is going to be the case here,” he explained, noting that the 12-month timeline is intentionally tight to minimize disruptions for the traveling public. “That is why we are pushing to get in and out as quickly as possible.”

    The decision to pause the PPP deal, which would have handed day-to-day management of the state-owned airport to a Dubai-Chilean consortium made up of the Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and Chilean firm Agencias Universales SA, marks at least the fifth major setback for the project since negotiations first launched years ago. The most recent progress on the PPP came in July 2023, when GAIA Inc., the consortium, and the Barbados government signed a memorandum of understanding covering not just airport operations and upgrades, but also development of a hemispheric cargo hub, expanded airlift capacity, additional luxury hotel development, and job creation. A core goal of the broader PPP plan was to implement full security scanning for all passengers, workers and people transiting the airport to meet United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for Category 1 designation.

    Category 1 status, awarded under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, confirms a country’s civil aviation authority meets all global safety regulations, allowing Barbadian air carriers to operate direct service to the U.S. and participate in code-sharing agreements with U.S. airlines. Throughout negotiations for the PPP, the Mia Mottley administration has repeatedly stressed that it will never sell the airport, and that it will protect existing jobs and employee terms and conditions under any future management agreement.

  • Resolution supporting Cuba approved by Italian lawmakers highlighted

    Resolution supporting Cuba approved by Italian lawmakers highlighted

    A growing wave of opposition to the decades-long U.S. embargo on Cuba has emerged in Italian politics, after the country’s Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee passed a unanimous resolution calling for concrete support for Havana amid mounting economic hardship caused by the blockade. The cross-party vote marks a rare moment of unity in Italian politics, with major political figures and factions aligning to condemn the 65-year-old trade embargo and the additional strain placed on Cuba’s economy by energy-related sanctions introduced during the Trump administration.

    Elly Schlein, an Italian Member of Parliament, was among the first high-profile politicians to voice support for the resolution, taking to her Instagram page to urge the Italian government to step in and address the “dramatic situation” facing the Cuban people. Schlein emphasized that the nearly 65-year embargo has already created deep-seated hardship for Cuban citizens, a crisis that has been significantly worsened by the Trump-era energy sanctions.

    The Five Star Movement (M5S), one of Italy’s largest political parties, issued a public statement voicing full satisfaction with the committee’s unanimous decision, according to reports from Italian news outlet Agenzia Giornalistica Opinione. The party framed the parliamentary initiative as a meaningful milestone in delivering tangible, on-the-ground support to Cubans who have endured decades of isolation. In its statement, M5S stressed that the U.S. blockade is an unjust and inhumane policy that has gutted daily life across the island, pushing already vulnerable communities into deeper suffering.

    The party called on Italian political leaders to hold firm to their new position and refuse to bow to pressure from the United States to abandon support for Cuba, urging continued action to challenge the aggressive policies pursued by the Trump administration against the Caribbean nation.

    The text of the approved resolution reinforces Italy’s commitment to its constitutional principles and multilateral obligations, noting that the country is obligated to advance the universal right to health, expand global cooperation, and reject secondary sanctions. This position aligns with the most recent vote at the United Nations General Assembly, where a large majority of member states voted to condemn the unilateral U.S. embargo on Cuba.

  • Republic Bank donates interactive classroom equipment

    Republic Bank donates interactive classroom equipment

    Grenada’s secondary education sector has reached a notable milestone, as Republic Bank has launched a major digital classroom upgrade initiative at St John’s Christian Secondary School through its flagship corporate philanthropy platform, *The Power to Make a Difference*. The bank has officially handed over the first two of 11 fully outfitted interactive smart boards to the rural campus, kicking off a project that will transform teaching and learning across the institution.

    The full donation package includes not just interactive whiteboards, but also high-resolution projectors, connected computers, and a suite of additional modern educational tools. All resources are designed to elevate digital learning experiences for both educators and students, bridging the gap between traditional classroom instruction and 21st-century digital learning standards.

    Mavis McBurnie, Republic Bank’s General Manager of Operations, led the official handover ceremony. In her remarks, she framed the contribution as far more than a simple technology gift. “These upgraded classrooms are windows to the world,” McBurnie explained. “They give students the tools they need to explore new ideas, create original work, collaborate with peers, and compete on both a local and global stage.”

    She also took time to recognize two key stakeholders that made the project possible: the school’s teaching body, for their proactive willingness to adopt new digital teaching tools, and the St John’s Christian Secondary School Alumni Association, whose long-term vision and on-the-ground dedication were critical to moving the initiative from plan to implementation.

    The investment falls under the *Power to Learn* pillar, one of four core focus areas of Republic Bank’s *The Power to Make a Difference* CSR programme. For St John’s Christian Secondary School, the upgrade marks a historic first: once complete, all 10 general classrooms and the campus Food and Nutrition lab will be fitted with interactive smart board technology, making the school one of the first secondary institutions in Grenada to achieve full digital classroom retrofit — a pioneering step for a small, rural but resilient community.

    Dr. Nerine Augustine, principal of St John’s Christian Secondary School, expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the entire school community. “We are deeply grateful to Republic Bank for this transformative investment in our school,” Dr. Augustine said. “These smart classrooms will open new doors for our students, allowing them to engage with technology in meaningful ways and access learning resources that reach far beyond the walls of the traditional classroom. This is an investment not only in our school, but in the future of our students and the entire St John’s community.”

    She added that the new technology will also empower educators, giving them innovative resources to refine lesson delivery and build more dynamic, interactive learning experiences that resonate with modern students. Looking ahead, the school has already outlined plans to continue its digital upgrade, with the next phase focusing on equipping the Visual Arts, Technical Drawing and Electronics rooms, alongside the campus Computer and Audio-Visual labs.

    Republic Bank’s *The Power to Make a Difference* initiative was designed to drive positive community change across four key priority areas: Power to Learn (education), Power to Help (social development), Power to Care (health and wellness), and Power to Succeed (youth empowerment). The programme focuses on creating lasting, meaningful impact by investing in core community infrastructure and opportunity-building across Grenada.

  • High Court claims concerning electoral process being addressed appropriately

    High Court claims concerning electoral process being addressed appropriately

    Grenada’s Office of the Attorney General, under the leadership of Attorney General Senator the Honourable Claudette Joseph, has issued an official statement confirming it is actively addressing a recent legal claim filed with the country’s High Court. The claim targets specific provisions of Grenada’s ongoing electoral process, prompting the office to take formal defensive action.

    To secure robust legal guidance and representation for the respondents named in the claim, the Attorney General’s office has recruited a team of high-profile external legal experts. Leading the team is Dr. Francis Alexis KC, with additional support from seasoned legal professionals Ruggles Ferguson KC and Ian Sandy. According to the official statement, the assembled legal team is proceeding with the judicial process in line with all proper procedural standards, working diligently to protect the interests of the respondents and support the High Court as it deliberates on the questions raised in the claim.

    Crucially, the office reaffirmed its confidence in the integrity of Grenada’s electoral framework, emphasizing that all electoral activities are being carried out in full compliance with the country’s Constitution and existing statutory laws. The statement closed by reiterating the office’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law, with the ultimate goal of facilitating an electoral process that is fair, transparent, and conducted in an orderly manner. This official release was published by the Office of the Attorney General under Grenada’s Ministry of Legal Affairs. Local outlet NOW Grenada notes that it does not take responsibility for the content or opinions shared in contributed official statements, and provides a channel for users to report any suspected abusive content.