标签： Antigua and Barbuda

In a landmark decision aimed at dismantling financial barriers to education, the Prime Minister has officially declared the complete elimination of examination fees for all students undertaking Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) tests. The policy, announced during a national address, is framed as a transformative investment in human capital and regional competitiveness.

The Prime Minister articulated that the primary impetus behind the sweeping initiative was direct, poignant feedback from constituents across the nation. He recounted numerous interactions with families who described the substantial financial strain of CXC fees, which often forced difficult choices between educational advancement and basic household necessities. This collective hardship, he stated, highlighted a pervasive inequity where a student’s academic potential was being stifled by economic circumstance rather than intellectual capability.

Beyond immediate financial relief, the government’s strategy is underpinned by a broader vision for long-term national development. The move is calculated to boost overall student participation and performance in these critical standardized assessments, which serve as fundamental gateways to higher education and skilled employment opportunities throughout the Caribbean community. By ensuring every student can sit for exams without fiscal fear, the administration aims to cultivate a more highly educated workforce, thereby stimulating economic growth and fostering greater social mobility.

The policy has been met with widespread acclaim from educators, parents, and student advocacy groups, who have long campaigned for such a measure. It represents one of the most significant educational reforms in recent years, fundamentally altering the accessibility of secondary education certification for an entire generation.

Antigua and Barbuda’s public education system has embarked on a comprehensive technological transformation with the initiation of a large-scale computer replacement program for students. The initiative, confirmed by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during Friday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, represents a critical component of the nation’s broader digital upgrade strategy for educational institutions.

The technology modernization effort is currently underway across public schools, with aging devices being systematically phased out and replaced with updated models designed to enhance learning capabilities. This hardware refresh aims to better prepare students for increasingly technology-driven educational environments and future workforce demands.

Infrastructure upgrades accompany the device replacement program, recognizing that enhanced technology requires robust connectivity. The government has identified the need for improved national broadband capacity to support the expanded use of newer devices throughout the school system. This connectivity requirement is expected to be addressed through the APUA’s planned WITS program—a high-speed internet service touted by the Prime Minister earlier in the week that promises sub-$100 pricing to improve accessibility.

Merchant emphasized the critical relationship between reliable connectivity and effective utilization of the upgraded devices, noting that both components are essential for creating a modern learning ecosystem. The computer replacement initiative was announced alongside other education-focused measures, including the government’s decision to assume all CXC examination fees beginning next academic year.

Together, these developments form part of a concerted governmental effort to strengthen digital infrastructure within the education sector and ensure equitable technology access throughout Antigua and Barbuda’s public school system.

A residential community in Cashew Hill has been plunged into a state of heightened anxiety following a terrifying home invasion by four armed assailants in the early hours of Thursday, December 4. The harrowing incident, which occurred at approximately 6:50 a.m., targeted the home of Shabo Nedwell and her father, triggering urgent calls for enhanced security measures and increased police patrols in the neighborhood.

According to an eyewitness account from a concerned neighbor, the confrontation began when Ms. Nedwell’s father was confronted in his yard by two masked individuals brandishing firearms. The intruders immediately demanded his ‘big gold chain,’ initiating a tense physical altercation during which the homeowner courageously pushed a weapon away from his face and struggled with one assailant. Simultaneously, two additional masked accomplices scaled the property’s gate, forced their way onto the gallery, and kicked in the front door, shattering glass to gain entry into the home where Shabo was present indoors.

The situation reached a critical turning point when a neighbor investigating the commotion approached the property, prompting the four armed men to abandon their mission and flee the scene. The perpetrators were observed escaping over the gate and retreating to a white Vitz vehicle parked two streets away from the crime scene.

Remarkably, the family reported no stolen possessions following the invasion, deepening the mystery surrounding the attackers’ motives. The psychological impact on the residents appears profound, particularly for Shabo Nedwell, who had previously survived a traumatic pit bull attack just two months earlier at her aunt’s residence. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Ms. Nedwell reportedly composed herself and proceeded to work merely an hour after the violent break-in.

The community now grapples with pressing security concerns, with residents explicitly requesting the installation of surveillance cameras and improved police protection. The neighborhood’s sense of safety has been fundamentally compromised, leaving families questioning why their community was targeted and fearing future incidents.