标签： Antigua and Barbuda

In a significant convergence of faith and national heritage, Antigua and Barbuda’s highest officials participated in a special Salvation Army service commemorating both Advent season and the legacy of National Hero Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. The ceremony, held at the Salvation Army Citadel on Sunday, set the tone for the upcoming V.C. Bird Day observance on December 9th.

Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Prime Minister Gaston Browne joined congregants for a service that blended traditional Advent worship with patriotic tribute. The liturgical elements—including hymns, scripture readings, and prayers—were thoughtfully curated around themes of peace, gratitude, and national solidarity.

Major Malvi Graham delivered a poignant reflection on Bird’s life, emphasizing his profound connection to the Salvation Army. She characterized the nation’s first prime minister as ‘a man after God’s own heart,’ noting his consistent humility despite occupying the highest political office. Her eulogy highlighted Bird’s unwavering faithfulness in worship, generous giving, and practice of bringing his Cabinet members to services following electoral victories.

The service incorporated ceremonial elements with high symbolic value: both the Governor General and Prime Minister presented scripture readings as part of the Advent observance, while retired Salvation Army officers lit candles representing hope and peace. Worship leaders called for sustained prayer for the nation’s governance and families experiencing hardship.

Service announcements included reminders about the official V.C. Bird Day ceremony at the Market Square bust on Tuesday morning. The Salvation Army also detailed its Christmas outreach initiatives, which encompass visits to elderly and hospitalized residents, prison ministry, and food-hamper distribution programs. With community needs growing, the organization encouraged public support for its annual kettle appeal.

The ceremony concluded with prayers of thanksgiving and calls for national unity—qualities speakers directly attributed to Bird’s enduring legacy.

In a powerful demonstration of cross-sector solidarity, The Halo Foundation has joined forces with Harmony for Humanity and The Salvation Army to orchestrate a major relief operation for Jamaica following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. This strategic partnership highlights a unified approach to addressing humanitarian crises by delivering essential supplies to the most affected communities.

Dr. Onika Campbell-Rowe, speaking at the official handover ceremony, characterized the collaboration as a manifestation of a common purpose to restore hope and dignity through tangible support. The initiative, she noted, represents more than material aid—it signifies a profound commitment to standing with vulnerable populations during their most challenging times.

Major Pierre of The Salvation Army extended heartfelt appreciation to Her Excellency Lady Williams for her sustained generosity and regional advocacy. He acknowledged that while the hurricane’s impact has been widespread, the contributed resources will serve as fundamental building blocks for Jamaica’s recovery journey, enabling both reconstruction and community reunification efforts.

The Foundation is now amplifying its call to action, urging both private citizens and institutional donors to sustain their support as Jamaican communities navigate the long path toward normalcy and full recovery.

A comprehensive academic investigation led by researcher Javonson Willock reveals significant structural barriers preventing the immediate adoption of a four-day workweek in the hotel industry. The study, which gathered insights from employees, management, and union representatives, indicates widespread theoretical support for the concept but identifies critical financial, operational, and regulatory challenges that require resolution before implementation.

Hotel employees expressed strong enthusiasm for reduced working hours, citing potential benefits for mental wellness, family time, and overall rejuvenation that could ultimately enhance guest experiences. However, this support remains conditional on comprehensive income protection measures. Workers universally fear that reducing weekly hours from 40 to 32 would diminish wages and service charge earnings—an unacceptable risk given current economic pressures and rising living costs. Many indicated they would need to seek secondary employment without guaranteed full pay, potentially resulting in greater exhaustion than the current system produces.

Management perspectives acknowledge the theoretical advantages of better-rested staff but emphasize substantial operational complexities. Hotel executives caution that the hospitality industry’s 24/7 nature requires continuous coverage that cannot be compromised without affecting service quality. Implementing reduced hours would necessitate increased staffing levels, significantly raising labor costs, and require multi-year operational restructuring. Departments with high labor demands—particularly housekeeping and food services—would face intensified scheduling challenges and potential service standard deterioration.

Union representatives expressed the most substantial reservations, characterizing the four-day workweek as currently impractical without foundational reforms. Labor leaders highlight the industry’s financial fragility, existing understaffing issues, and dependence on service charge systems. Wage protection emerges as an absolute requirement, with unions warning that reduced hours without income guarantees would further destabilize workers already struggling with inadequate earnings. Additionally, union officials note that existing labor regulations and collective bargaining agreements would require substantial amendments to accommodate new working structures.

Despite these challenges, all stakeholder groups support pilot programs at select properties before considering broader implementation. The study concludes that while Antigua could eventually benefit from a condensed workweek, successful adoption would require a carefully phased approach supported by policy reforms, staffing adjustments, and wage protection mechanisms.

A groundbreaking initiative is taking shape in the heart of Antigua’s rainforest as The Blue Dragonfly Foundation partners with the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre to create transformative opportunities for individuals with disabilities at The Mount Tabor Retreat. The project has received significant backing from The Halo Foundation, which contributed $10,000 to acquire an Interactive White Board—a sophisticated assistive technology device that represents a technological leap forward for specialized education in the region.

This state-of-the-art interactive display transforms digital content into immersive, multi-sensory experiences specifically engineered to support diverse learning requirements. The system’s adaptable features include text-to-speech functionality, visual magnification tools, alternative input methodologies, and handwriting-to-text conversion capabilities. These innovations directly address challenges faced by students with learning disabilities, visual or hearing impairments, and fine motor skill difficulties, creating unprecedented pathways for engagement and self-expression.

Nestled within a serene rainforest environment offering breathtaking panoramic views, The Mount Tabor Retreat provides an intentionally designed sanctuary that reduces sensory overload and anxiety—particularly beneficial for individuals with sensory processing challenges. Beyond the educational facilities, the foundation is developing an innovative farm-to-table restaurant that will provide vocational training and hands-on work experience for autistic teens and young adults.

The comprehensive facility will include specialized learning spaces featuring the newly acquired interactive technology, dedicated sensory rooms for therapeutic interventions, and programs specifically designed to enhance communication skills for non-verbal individuals or those facing communication barriers.

Lady Williams, President and Founder of The Halo Foundation, emphasized the project’s significance: ‘We believe that every person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. The Blue Dragonfly Foundation’s vision aligns perfectly with our commitment to inclusion, compassion, and transformative change.’

This collaborative effort establishes a new benchmark for inclusive care and innovative support services in Antigua and Barbuda, creating a nurturing environment where participants can develop skills, build confidence, and achieve personal growth through tailored resources and comprehensive support systems.

Antigua and Barbuda recognized the exceptional contributions of over 70 distinguished travel advisors during the prestigious second annual Black Pineapple Awards ceremony. The black-tie gala, hosted at Sandals Grande Resort, brought together elite professionals from critical markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Caribbean.

The event, organized through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA), featured an illustrious gathering attended by Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams, alongside senior tourism officials and prominent industry representatives.

Colin C. James, Chief Executive of ABTA, addressed attendees with a powerful message about tourism’s fundamental role in the nation’s framework. “Tourism transcends mere economic significance—it represents the very heartbeat of our people,” James stated. He emphasized that every visitor to the islands embodies “opportunity, hope, and progress” for the local community.

St. Clair Soleyn, Director of Policy and Planning, delivered remarks on behalf of Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez, providing insight into the awards’ symbolic nomenclature. Soleyn explained that the black pineapple serves as “a symbol of our heritage, our hospitality, and our authenticity,” reflecting deep national pride.

Official statements highlighted how Antigua and Barbuda’s ascending status as a premier destination is fueled by robust collaborations across the travel sector, including partnerships with airlines, cruise lines, travel advisors, and digital content creators. The ceremony concluded with resounding applause for the honorees, acknowledging their instrumental role in promoting the twin-island nation’s appeal across global markets.

In the Folley’s Housing Project area of All Saints East and St. Luke, residents are experiencing renewed hope following a community cleanup initiative spearheaded by local ABLP Caretaker Lamin Newton. The project addressed longstanding neglect that had left sections of the neighborhood overgrown with wild grass and trees, creating both accessibility challenges and unsightly conditions.

The effort comes weeks after community members voiced frustrations about persistent neglect through local media channels. While road deterioration issues remain unaddressed, the vegetation clearance has restored navigability and visual order to previously obstructed areas. Residents have expressed appreciation for the tangible improvement, noting that the cleanup represents the first meaningful action on longstanding concerns.

Newton’s initiative demonstrates how targeted community engagement can produce immediate quality-of-life improvements even when larger infrastructure challenges persist. The project has sparked conversations about the importance of consistent leadership engagement regardless of political affiliations or election cycles.

Community members acknowledge that while significant infrastructure work remains urgently needed, the cleanup operation represents a positive step toward broader neighborhood revitalization. The visible results have built goodwill among residents and highlighted how relatively small-scale interventions can dramatically improve daily living conditions in underserved communities.

In a significant policy affirmation, the Prime Minister has declared that the government will not impose any limitations on the number of Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects that students are eligible to take free of charge. This decisive statement effectively dispels recent speculation and concerns within the educational community regarding a potential cap on state-funded exam entries.

The announcement underscores a continued commitment to an open-access policy for secondary education, designed to alleviate financial barriers for families and empower students to pursue their full academic potential without economic constraint. By removing the burden of examination fees, the initiative aims to foster greater educational attainment and provide equitable opportunities for all learners, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

This policy is positioned within the broader framework of national educational strategy, which prioritizes human capital development and academic excellence. The government’s stance reinforces the value placed on cultivating a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce to drive future national growth and competitiveness. The move has been widely anticipated by educators and parents alike, who view unlimited access to free CXC examinations as a critical pillar of educational support.

Analysts suggest that this approach will likely contribute to higher participation rates in advanced subject areas, particularly in STEM fields and vocational disciplines, thereby aligning student capabilities with emerging economic demands. The government’s pledge ensures that financial considerations will not hinder a student’s ability to showcase their academic proficiencies on a regional scale.

In an inspiring narrative of perseverance and academic triumph, Mr. Keion Liburd of Antigua and Barbuda has culminated his educational journey with a Pharmaceutical Studies degree from Georgia Southern University in the United States. The achievement stands as a powerful rebuttal to early childhood skepticism about his academic potential.

Hailing from Golden Grove (New Extension) Village, Liburd was raised by his mother Miss Jell Webson, grandmother Miss Sybil ‘Edna’ Parker, and father Mr. Robert ‘Bobby’ Liburd. His educational path began at Adventist Primary School, where a teacher once predicted he would not excel academically due to his opinionated nature in classroom settings. Rather than accepting this negative prognosis, Liburd transformed it into motivation for academic excellence.

His exceptional performance at Adventist Primary School earned him a scholarship to Island Academy, where he continued to distinguish himself academically. This success paved the way for another scholarship to Georgia Southern University, marking the beginning of his international educational pursuit.

The graduation ceremony earlier this year featured a poignant display of national pride as Liburd adorned his academic regalia with the Antiguan and Barbudan flag, symbolizing his roots and representing his homeland with distinction. This gesture highlighted both personal achievement and national representation on an international platform.

Family spokesperson Desrie Southwell expressed the collective pride of both the family and nation, emphasizing Liburd’s journey as testament to overcoming negative predictions through determination and intellectual resilience. The message concluded with aspirational wishes for continued success, encouraging Liburd to ‘soar like an eagle’ in his future pharmaceutical career and beyond, demonstrating that he was ‘indeed born for greatness.’

In an extraordinary academic achievement, Miss Axleigh A.D. Akez has emerged as the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) top performer for Ottos Comprehensive School’s graduating class of 2025. The remarkable scholar achieved perfect scores across all nine examination subjects simultaneously, demonstrating exceptional intellectual capability and scholarly dedication.

Despite educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented her from taking traditional Common Entrance Examinations, Akez transcended these systemic challenges through her unwavering commitment to academic excellence. Her educational journey, initially nurtured at St. John’s Lutheran School, flourished at Ottos Comprehensive where she consistently maintained honor roll status and earned the prestigious Prefect badge while sustaining superior academic performance throughout her tenure.

The graduating ceremonies recognized Akez as Salutatorian for achieving the second-highest academic standing in her class, resulting in her receiving numerous trophies, monetary awards, and gifts honoring her multidisciplinary excellence. Interestingly, the Valedictorian honor was awarded to another female student recognized for consistent improvement and extracurricular participation rather than pure academic achievement, highlighting the institution’s holistic evaluation approach.

Akez’s academic pedigree reflects a strong familial foundation in education. Her parents include Dr. Desrie Marisa Southwell, holder of multiple advanced degrees including a Doctorate in Business Administration, and Mr. Makinya A. Akez, an engineering graduate from Antigua State College.

The outstanding scholar has already commenced her tertiary education as a freshman in Business Studies at the newly established Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS). Educational authorities and community members have expressed profound admiration for Akez’s accomplishments, viewing them as inspirational for Antigua and Barbuda’s youth and a testament to educational resilience amid pandemic-related challenges.