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标签： Antigua and Barbuda

安提瓜和巴布达

  • Hermitage Bay Antigua Named To Condé Nast Traveler’s Inaugural Triple Crown

    Hermitage Bay Antigua Named To Condé Nast Traveler’s Inaugural Triple Crown

    One of the Caribbean’s most iconic luxury retreats has cemented its global standing with a rare new industry honor: Hermitage Bay Antigua has been selected for Condé Nast Traveler’s first-ever Triple Crown distinction, an award reserved for elite hotels and resorts that have claimed top spots across the publication’s three most prestigious industry honors: the Hot List, Gold List, and Readers’ Choice Awards.

    Launched to honor the most extraordinary hospitality properties of the past 30 years, the Triple Crown distinction recognizes venues that have consistently won acclaim from both Condé Nast Traveler’s expert editorial team and the outlet’s global audience of seasoned, discerning travelers. Hermitage Bay Antigua now joins an extremely exclusive small group of properties around the world to hold this title, a testament to its decades-long reputation as a standout luxury destination in the Caribbean.

    Tucked along a quiet, secluded bay on Antigua’s untouched west coast, the resort has built its identity around understated high-end luxury, heartfelt Caribbean hospitality, and a deep commitment to protecting and centering the surrounding natural environment. With only 30 standalone suites spread between lush tropical hillsides and a flawless crescent-shaped beach, this independently owned resort caters to travelers seeking an intimate, private escape rooted in authentic local culture and a strong sense of place.

    Owner Daniel Shamoon, the international hotelier behind acclaimed properties including Puente Romano Marbella, Nobu Marbella, and Nobu Marrakech, called the recognition an extraordinary honor that reflects the core values Hermitage Bay Antigua has championed since its founding. “From the beginning, our vision was to create a resort that felt deeply personal – a place where genuine hospitality, natural beauty, and a sense of tranquility come together in a meaningful way,” Shamoon explained. “To see that vision celebrated by Condé Nast Traveler’s editors and readers alike is incredibly rewarding, and we are deeply grateful to our guests and team members who have been part of this journey.”

    Following a full property renovation completed ahead of its November 2024 reopening, Hermitage Bay Antigua now offers guests a range of elevated experiences. These include innovative farm-to-table dining led by a pop-up residency from La Petite Maison Antigua, a world-class wellness spa developed in partnership with leading luxury skincare and wellness brand ESPA, and exclusive access to unique private boating experiences, headlined by a historic 1929 schooner. Rejecting fleeting hospitality trends, the resort has intentionally cultivated a timeless luxury experience rooted in simplicity, authenticity, and genuine connection to Antigua’s natural landscape and local culture.

    As an adults-only, all-inclusive member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, every villa suite at the resort features expansive open-air living space, sweeping unobstructed ocean views, and complete privacy for guests. At its core, the property’s philosophy centers on relaxed island living and warm, personalized service, with a mission to deliver an authentic luxury experience that keeps guests returning year after year. It also maintains a longstanding commitment to preserving the pristine natural beauty that draws visitors to its shores.

    This latest landmark recognition further solidifies Hermitage Bay Antigua’s position among the top luxury resorts globally, highlighting its enduring popularity with travelers searching for meaningful, restorative getaways in the Caribbean. Property images are available here, and additional information can be obtained by contacting FINN Partners.

  • AUA Launches Free Virtual Bootcamp for Aspiring Doctors

    AUA Launches Free Virtual Bootcamp for Aspiring Doctors

    For high school graduates harboring ambitions of building a career in the medical field, a new, no-cost opportunity has emerged to demystify the fast-track route to a medical degree. The American University of Antigua College of Arts and Sciences (AUACAS) has launched a six-part virtual bootcamp, delivered entirely via the Zoom video conferencing platform, designed to walk aspiring doctors through its accelerated pathway into medical study.

    The structured program is scheduled to run over a two-week window, kicking off on June 16 and concluding its final session on July 1. Unlike generic pre-med informational events, this bootcamp is tailored specifically to help recent secondary school graduates understand the structure and benefits of AUACAS’s unique articulated program: completion of an Associate of Science in Health Sciences that allows for seamless, direct transition into the American University of Antigua College of Medicine through the institution’s Fast Track admissions track.

    Participants who successfully finish all six sessions of the bootcamp will walk away with more than just insider knowledge. The university is offering a range of tangible incentives to participants, including an official certificate of completion, a $750 USD tuition grant that can be applied to tuition costs once a student officially enrolls in the program, a personalized readiness assessment to help students gauge their preparation for rigorous medical study, and one-on-one guidance from an experienced AUACAS admissions counselor to answer questions about applications, prerequisites, and program logistics.

    Registration for the bootcamp is completely free of charge, and university organizers are actively encouraging parents to join their students in the sessions to learn more about the pathway and the opportunities it unlocks. Anyone interested in securing a spot can complete their registration online through the university’s admissions portal, or reach out directly to the AUACAS admissions office for additional details about the session schedule and program structure.

  • Director of Education Urges CSEC Awardees to Pair Academic Success With Integrity

    Director of Education Urges CSEC Awardees to Pair Academic Success With Integrity

    At the 40th anniversary National CSEC Awards Ceremony, held this year under the forward-looking theme “Architects of Tomorrow”, Director of Education Clare Brown has issued a compelling call to Antigua and Barbuda’s highest-performing Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students. Instead of framing academic success as a final destination, Brown challenged the awardees to leverage their outstanding 2025 examination results as a stepping stone for ethical leadership, community service, and sustainable national development.

    Opening his address to the gathering of top scholars, Brown extended warm congratulations to the students on their remarkable accomplishments, before emphasizing that true educational excellence stretches far beyond numerical grades and test scores. Looking across the room of honorees, he shared a optimistic vision of the nation’s future, noting that the assembled students represent the next generation of Antigua and Barbuda’s doctors, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and public servants.

    Brown stressed that the elite standing these students have earned did not come by luck or random circumstance. Their success, he argued, is the product of intentional discipline in the face of widespread distractions, unwavering persistence when academic or personal obstacles arose, and deliberate courage to make the sacrifices required to reach their goals. “Your performance in the 2025 examinations has earned you a place among our nation’s finest scholars,” Brown told the awardees. “This distinction is not an accident of circumstance. It is the result of discipline when distractions beckoned, persistence when obstacles emerged, and courage when success demanded sacrifice.”

    Beyond celebrating individual academic achievement, Brown highlighted that these top students are already active contributors to shaping the long-term trajectory of Antigua and Barbuda. “The future is not built by chance,” he said. “It is built by minds that dare to imagine, hearts that refuse to quit and individuals who transform opportunity into achievement.”

    Even as he praised the students’ hard-won scholastic success, Brown urged the honorees to avoid narrowing their focus solely to grades and academic advancement. He argued that intellectual brilliance alone pales in comparison to achievement rooted in strong moral character. “As important as academic excellence is, it is not enough on its own,” he said. “A brilliant mind can achieve much. A noble character can achieve even more.”

    Brown encouraged the students to anchor all their future accomplishments in three core values: unwavering integrity, genuine compassion for others, and a sustained commitment to lifting up communities across the nation. He reminded the gathering that the true marker of success is not measured by how far an individual climbs, but by how many people they empower and uplift along their journey. “The true measure of excellence is not simply how high you rise, but how many lives you uplift along the way,” he said.

    The education director also advised students to cultivate long-term resilience as they move forward to pursue higher education and professional careers, noting that setbacks and unforeseen challenges are an inevitable part of any meaningful path. “There will be moments when the road ahead appears uncertain and the destination distant,” he said. “Do not surrender your dreams to your difficulties. Greatness is often born in the space between challenge and perseverance.”

    In his closing remarks, Brown encouraged the awardees to carry the values of Antigua and Barbuda with distinction in all their future endeavors, and to keep building on the foundational success they have already earned. “Today we celebrate your achievements. Tomorrow we will witness the impact of your contributions,” he said.

    This year’s ceremony marked a major milestone: four decades of recognizing top CSEC performers across Antigua and Barbuda. Along with honoring students who earned regional merit placements, the event awarded honors to scholars in four distinction tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

  • New Sexual Offences, Mental Health and Workplace Safety Bills Head to Parliament Next Week

    New Sexual Offences, Mental Health and Workplace Safety Bills Head to Parliament Next Week

    The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has formally thrown its support behind a sweeping package of legislative reforms set to move forward in the country’s House of Representatives when the chamber convenes on Monday, June 16, 2026. Senior government officials have framed the full slate of proposed bills as transformative milestones that will update the nation’s legal architecture, boost public safety, bring governance practices into the 21st century, upgrade public health systems, and deepen collaborative ties with global partners.

    Among the key measures scheduled for their first parliamentary reading are nine priority bills spanning multiple policy areas. These include an update to the nation’s popular Citizenship by Investment programme, a completely restructured Sexual Offences Act, a revised Theft Bill, new frameworks for voluntary indictments and court-approved plea negotiations, amendments to existing cannabis regulations, groundbreaking legislation to prevent workplace violence and harassment, a modern overhaul of the country’s mental health laws, and new regulatory standards for medical laboratories across the twin-island nation.

    Government leaders emphasized that each of these proposals forms a core part of a years-long ongoing effort to modernize Antigua and Barbuda’s national legal system. The reform agenda is explicitly designed to update judicial processes, expand safeguards for workers, strengthen oversight of the healthcare sector, and ensure that domestic laws keep pace with the rapidly evolving social, economic and public health challenges facing the country in the modern era.

    Beyond the new bills introduced for first reading, a number of additional measures are already advancing through later stages of the parliamentary approval process, with second and third readings scheduled in the coming session. These include the Fatal Accidents Bill, amendments to the Magistrates Code of Procedure, updates to the Electronic Crimes Act, and the same voluntary indictment and plea negotiation bills that will also complete their final legislative steps during this sitting. Officials project that these targeted adjustments will streamline court operations, expand legal protections for ordinary citizens, and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that have slowed the delivery of justice in recent years.

    In the critical domain of border security and immigration management, Cabinet highlighted steady progress on two key bills: the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Bill and the Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill. Once enacted, these pieces of legislation will equip national authorities with more robust tools to regulate migration flows, reduce security risks at ports of entry, and bring Antigua and Barbuda’s border management systems in line with the latest international standards adopted by peer nations across the globe.

    The legislative package also includes a series of proposed resolutions to ratify a host of new bilateral and multilateral international agreements. Most notably, these cover mutual visa exemption arrangements that streamline travel for diplomatic and official passport holders between Antigua and Barbuda and five nations: Kenya, Benin, Ghana, Rwanda, and the United Arab Emirates. Cabinet officials noted that these travel agreements will strengthen diplomatic ties, open new doors for cross-border business collaboration and tourism growth, and advance the country’s core strategic foreign policy goals in the Caribbean and beyond.

    Additional ratifications on the agenda include an amendment to the Constitution of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a step that reaffirms Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding commitment to upholding globally recognized labour standards and participating in multilateral cooperation on workers’ rights. The government also plans to ratify updates to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, a move that will deepen the nation’s active engagement with the global aviation community, a critical sector for Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism-driven economy.

    Closing out its announcement, Cabinet reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advancing a forward-looking legislative agenda that prioritizes inclusive economic growth, social equity, enhanced public safety, expanded international cooperation, and sustainable national development for all residents of Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Kaylei John-Baptiste Named Antigua and Barbuda’s 2025 CSEC Student of the Year

    Kaylei John-Baptiste Named Antigua and Barbuda’s 2025 CSEC Student of the Year

    A teenage scholar from Antigua has made history across the Caribbean’s secondary education landscape, clinching Antigua and Barbuda’s highest 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) honor after posting a nearly perfect examination performance. Kaylei John-Baptiste, a graduating senior from the Baptist Academy of Antigua, walked away with the 2025 CSEC Student of the Year title at the 40th annual National CSEC Awards Ceremony, an event that gathered education leaders, families, and top-performing students from across the nation to celebrate excellence in the 2025 regional exam cycle.

    John-Baptiste’s landmark achievement is 18 Grade One passes across 20 total CSEC subjects, a result that few students across the Caribbean region ever achieve. This outstanding capstone matches the trajectory of her entire secondary school career: she maintained an average above 90 percent in all coursework over four years, graduated as the 2025 valedictorian of her Baptist Academy class, and holds an overall 3.84 grade point average.

    Speaking during the award presentation, Dr. Hensworth Jonas highlighted that John-Baptiste’s drive for excellence was evident from her earliest school years. “From the onset, Kaylei demonstrated self-determination and a strong drive to achieve the extraordinary,” Jonas shared. He added that John-Baptiste was one of just two students in her entire graduating cohort to attempt all 20 CSEC subjects in a single exam sitting, and she secured top national rankings across multiple disciplines. She earned first place nationally in Economics, Human and Social Biology, and Principles of Accounts, and landed in the top three across several other subject areas.

    Beyond her academic prowess, John-Baptiste has compiled an impressive record of extracurricular achievement across leadership, arts, and athletics. She served as a school prefect, held a performing role in the Baptist Academy Steel Ensemble, plays violin for the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra, and competes actively as an avid tennis player.

    Her long-term career goals are rooted in a deep passion for scientific advancement and public service. John-Baptiste, who aims to become a medical doctor, is already pursuing preliminary studies in natural sciences to prepare for medical school. She has completed volunteer work at a local medical clinic and earned a coveted spot in the competitive Bold Summers Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, gaining hands-on experience in clinical and research settings.

    Jonas extended praise not only to John-Baptiste but to her family, whose consistent support helped nurture the young scholar’s growth and commitment. “The Baptist Academy of Antigua congratulates Kaylei John-Baptiste on her exceptional achievement in the May-June 2025 CSEC examinations,” he said.

    The 40th anniversary ceremony, held under the theme “Architects of Tomorrow,” recognized dozens of high-achieving students from across Antigua and Barbuda for their performance on the regional exams. Khaliq Harris of St. Joseph’s Academy took second place in the national Student of the Year rankings, while Nayima Lewis, also from the Baptist Academy of Antigua, claimed third place.

    In her first public remarks after accepting the award, John-Baptiste offered gratitude to God, her family, teachers, and the broader community that supported her academic journey. She also left a message of encouragement for her fellow students, urging them to frame every academic milestone as a stepping stone rather than a final destination.

    The annual National CSEC Awards Program was created to honor top academic performance across the Caribbean’s standardized secondary exams, while also celebrating students who exhibit strong leadership, personal discipline, and a sustained commitment to lifelong learning.

  • Prime Minister Browne appoints Dr. Deborah Brosnan as Special Envoy for Coastal Resilience and Ocean Economy

    Prime Minister Browne appoints Dr. Deborah Brosnan as Special Envoy for Coastal Resilience and Ocean Economy

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – June 12, 2026 – In a strategic move to amplify its global leadership in climate adaptation and sustainable ocean development, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has named world-renowned marine science and climate resilience expert Dr. Deborah Brosnan, Ph.D. to the newly created post of Special Envoy for Coastal Resilience and Ocean Economy.

    Official appointment documentation issued by the Prime Minister’s office on May 12, 2026 outlines that Dr. Brosnan will serve as the nation’s official representative on a wide range of priority issues, including coastal hazard mitigation, marine biodiversity protection, climate change adaptation and the equitable sustainable growth of the ocean economy. Her one-year term is set to conclude on May 11, 2027.

    This appointment lands at a defining juncture for the Caribbean Small Island Developing State (SIDS), which confronts escalating existential threats driven by climate change: accelerating sea-level rise, worsening coastal erosion, more intense hurricane activity, and steady degradation of the marine ecosystems that underpin the country’s core tourism, commercial fishing and local livelihood sectors.

    Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Gaston Browne emphasized that tapping Dr. Brosnan’s global expertise underscores Antigua and Barbuda’s unwavering commitment to advancing evidence-based solutions for the interconnected climate and environmental crises that disproportionately threaten small island nations. The government has long pushed for more ambitious collective global action on climate change, expanded access to affordable climate finance, and targeted international support for low-lying and vulnerable coastal states.

    With over 25 years of specialized experience spanning marine research, environmental policy design, climate resilience building and large-scale ecosystem restoration, Dr. Brosnan has earned international acclaim for her advisory work supporting governments, multilateral bodies and private sector stakeholders to deliver actionable climate adaptation and sustainable coastal development outcomes. Through her groundbreaking OceanShot initiative, she has pioneered cutting-edge approaches to coral reef restoration and leveraged natural infrastructure to shield coastlines while boosting local economic opportunity. The initiative is already being rolled out in partnership with Antigua and Barbuda, with a focus on reviving critical reef ecosystems that enhance biodiversity, strengthen fish stocks and buffer vulnerable shorelines from storm damage.

    Dr. Brosnan’s appointment dovetails neatly with Antigua and Barbuda’s long-term strategy to expand its ambitious Blue Economy agenda. In recent years, the government has taken an active leading role in global ocean governance negotiations, national sustainable ocean planning, region-wide marine conservation projects and climate resilience programs all designed to protect the country’s vast, economically vital marine territory. Recent high-profile engagements include participation in major global ocean conservation summits, United Nations negotiations for the High Seas Treaty, and the rollout of national policy frameworks to advance science-based sustainable ocean management.

    For Antigua and Barbuda, the ocean is far more than an environmental treasure—it functions as the foundational pillar of the nation’s economic growth, food security, $3 billion tourism industry and natural climate resilience. By appointing Dr. Brosnan, the government aims to deepen cross-border collaborative partnerships, attract targeted green investment for marine and coastal infrastructure projects, and cement the country’s position as a trailblazer among SIDS in responsible, equitable ocean resource stewardship.

    In her role as Special Envoy, Dr. Brosnan is expected to be a driving force in advancing the government’s vision: climate-resilient coastal communities, healthy, thriving marine ecosystems, and the full unlocking of the blue economy’s transformative potential to deliver shared prosperity for current and future generations of Antiguans and Barbudans.

  • OPINION: Caribbean Bail – How Long Is the String

    OPINION: Caribbean Bail – How Long Is the String

    A decades-long former criminal lawyer based in the Cayman Islands has sounded the alarm on a cascading crisis of failing criminal justice systems across the Caribbean, rooted in outdated colonial-era structures that current regional governments have repeatedly failed to reform.

    New data from Cayman Islands law enforcement underscores the scale of the problem: more than 800 residents of the small British Caribbean territory are currently living under court-ordered liberty restrictions amid open, slow-moving investigations. When including defendants awaiting trial, that figure is expected to double, leaving thousands trapped in legal limbo. Strikingly, more than 20% of the Cayman Islands’ total population holds a criminal conviction – a statistic that gives unsettling new context to the territory’s annual Pirates Week cultural festival.

    This crisis persists despite the Cayman government allocating $100 million to law enforcement, a budget that prioritizes other enforcement priorities over proactive crime prevention. The issue is not isolated to the Cayman Islands: the same systemic failures are replicated across nearly every Caribbean nation, with little meaningful action taken to overhaul broken frameworks. The territory’s recently elected administration has drawn particular criticism for its inaction on the persistent crime and justice crisis, even after a mass shooting took place in the Premier’s own electoral district, with no substantial youth violence intervention programs launched in the aftermath. In its first months in office, the government prioritized approving budget allocations for official government chauffeurs, a perk that several principled ministers openly rejected.

    These problems stretch far beyond the Cayman Islands. Across the region, archaic, colonial-era law enforcement and legal systems inherited from past imperial rule remain entrenched, acting as enablers for ineffective, failing administrations. In Jamaica, for example, hundreds of accused individuals have languished in prison for decades, only to be released on the brink of death with minimal compensation for their wrongful or unnecessary detention.

    For ordinary law-abiding Caribbean residents, the scope of the crisis often goes unseen in daily life. As residents go about routine activities – grocery shopping, visiting banks, or walking through city neighborhoods – they are routinely surrounded by individuals out on police bail, defendants awaiting trial, and repeat offenders released from overcrowded prisons. If the public fully grasped how widespread this issue is, many would be too afraid to leave their homes, analyst Peter Polock argues.

    Regional governments have a long track record of kicking meaningful reform of broken crime prevention and justice systems down the road, perpetuating the cycle of crisis. Polock points to a striking example from the Cayman Islands: a former Director of Public Prosecutions, now a sitting judge, once claimed that any public criticism of the justice system would damage its reputation, a defensive mindset that has kept failed systems stagnant for years. Today, there remains a severe lack of both innovative policy thinking and funding to address backlogged court dockets, overcrowded police holding cells, and overcapacity prisons across the region.

    Polock outlines simple, immediate reforms that could begin unclogging broken systems. One low-cost change is to allow administrative rescheduling of court and police hearings, a practice already used in some lower courts, that would eliminate the requirement for defendants to make repeated unnecessary court appearances outside of trial, charging, or release proceedings. The current system of endless, repeated bail hearings creates massive unnecessary bureaucratic bloat that clogs dockets and traps defendants in limbo for years. Jamaica’s justice minister has already taken a small step toward addressing this issue by adopting a reform model first tested in Rwanda, but Polock argues this incremental change is far from sufficient, and other regional governments must go further to implement full systemic change.

    Another critical shift that needs to happen, Polock argues, is dispelling the widely held myth that harsher criminal penalties reduce or eliminate crime. This policy has never worked, he notes: even in jurisdictions where murder rates have fallen, other violent crimes including rape, assault, and home invasion often remain high or continue to rise. Announcing tougher sentencing is a tired political tactic, used by politicians and their legal advisors to mislead the public into thinking meaningful action is being taken, when no substantive prevention work is actually underway. The only effective way to reduce crime is to address root causes before offending occurs, Polock emphasizes.

    Meaningful systemic change cannot come from within the existing political and bureaucratic establishment, Polock argues. Building more security grilles for homes and businesses is not a solution to the underlying crisis. Instead, progress requires modern, practical policy proposals from a new generation of political leaders, rather than the entrenched old guard that has preserved the failing status quo for decades, often promising not to run for reelection only to continue blocking reform.

    Polock calls on the Caribbean diaspora to stop supporting performative, fake administrations that have consistently failed to deliver effective anti-crime strategies. There is no shortage of young, innovative politicians with modern ideas, who do not come from nepotistic political dynasties, that deserve the chance to lead regional reform and rescue Caribbean communities from this ongoing crisis. At the end of the day, regional residents must take action to help themselves, Polock concludes.

    Peter Polock practiced criminal law in the Cayman Islands for several decades. He is the author of multiple nonfiction books including *The Last Hot Battle of the Cold War: South Africa vs. Cuba in the Angolan Civil War* (2013), *Jamaica, The Land of Film* (2017), and *Guerrilla Warfare: Kings of Revolution* (2019), and contributed to the *Encyclopedia of Warfare* in 2013. His latest work documents Soviet and Russian espionage activities, profiling nearly 500 Soviet spies expelled from almost 100 countries between 1940 and 1988.

  • Hope for the Future in Antigua and Barbuda Engages Community on Protecting Children from Unhealthy Food Marketing

    Hope for the Future in Antigua and Barbuda Engages Community on Protecting Children from Unhealthy Food Marketing

    Across the small twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, a growing public health movement named Hope for the Future is bringing together local community leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and parents to address an often-overlooked threat to child well-being: pervasive marketing of unhealthy, high-sugar, high-fat processed foods aimed directly at young people.

    The initiative, rooted in local public health advocacy, emerged in response to mounting data showing rising rates of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental decay across the country, trends that public health officials link directly to aggressive advertising of nutrient-poor food and beverage products on social media, local television, in-store displays near school routes, and community events. Unlike broad national policy pushes that can feel distant to local residents, Hope for the Future centers community engagement at every step: organizers host interactive town halls in parishes across both islands, run parent education workshops that break down how marketing tactics target developing brains, and partner with local schools to teach children how to identify misleading advertising claims.

    Community participants have welcomed the approach, with many parents noting they had not previously recognized how ubiquitous unhealthy food marketing is in spaces their children frequent every day. Local healthcare providers have also backed the effort, emphasizing that preventative action to reduce children’s exposure to these marketing tactics can cut long-term public health costs and improve lifelong health outcomes for the next generation. Organizers say the next phase of the initiative will include developing community-led guidelines for local businesses to limit child-targeted unhealthy food marketing, and pushing for broader regional policy changes to support local restrictions, with the ultimate goal of building a healthier environment for Antigua and Barbuda’s children.

  • CARICOM trade ministers meet in Georgetown for 62nd COTED

    CARICOM trade ministers meet in Georgetown for 62nd COTED

    The 62nd Regular Meeting of the Caribbean Community’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) kicked off on Thursday, June 11, hosted at the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana. Chaired by Hon. Dr. Vince Henderson, Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy, the two-day gathering brings together regional trade ministers and delegates to confront pressing economic challenges and advance the bloc’s shared development agenda.

    In her opening address to assembled attendees, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett framed the meeting against a turbulent global economic landscape marked by overlapping cascading crises. Barnett emphasized that persistent disruptions to global energy markets and cross-border supply chains have sent ripples through international financial systems, driven up consumer and producer prices, and created widespread uncertainty that undermines projections for global growth.

    Drawing on latest analysis from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Barnett outlined a sobering near-term outlook: global merchandise trade is projected to contract, while prices for critical commodities including fuel, food, and fertiliser remain at elevated levels. These combined pressures, she warned, will fuel sustained high inflation, put growing strain on regional food security, and leave small open CARICOM economies disproportionately exposed to sudden external shocks that can reverse years of development progress.

    Against this challenging backdrop, the Secretary-General stressed that the outcomes of this COTED session carry far-reaching consequences for every corner of the Caribbean Community. “Our resilience is being tested, and safeguarding our trade and economic development agenda requires strategic, coordinated and focused efforts,” she stated. “In this regard, the COTED deliberations and decisions continue to be consequential for every member of the Community, particularly businesspersons, consumers, the self-employed, and our young people.”

    At the top of the meeting’s policy agenda is a comprehensive assessment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the integration framework that Barnett described as “the Region’s core platform for economic development and resilience.” The ongoing review, she explained, reinforces the urgent need for more robust implementation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, a step required to build a stronger, more durable CSME that can withstand external pressures.

    Barnett specifically highlighted Article 164 of the Treaty, a provision designed to support industrial development across the bloc, particularly in CARICOM’s Lesser Developed Countries. The article enables temporary tariff protection and targeted market access support to nurture growing regional industries, and the Secretary-General extended recognition to the CARICOM Development Fund for its sustained work assisting local firms that leverage these development-focused measures.

    Beyond advancing the core single market agenda, trade ministers will turn their attention to fast-emerging priority areas that align with the shifting demands of the 21st-century global economy. One key topic is digital trade, where regional negotiators have already made steady progress on developing a unified CARICOM digital trade policy that positions the bloc to capitalize on the growing digital segment of global commerce.

    Ministers will also conduct a full review of ongoing developments in the global multilateral trading system, an institution that Barnett acknowledged has faced persistent structural and functional challenges in recent years that have weakened its ability to support small developing economies.

    The 62nd COTED Regular Meeting is scheduled to continue through Friday, June 12, with delegates expected to finalize decisions and forward recommendations to broader CARICOM leadership for implementation. COTED, as the permanent body dedicated to advancing the Caribbean Community’s trade and economic priorities, holds formal responsibility for advancing integration and overseeing the ongoing operations of the CSME.

  • Barbados To Host Caribbean Travel Marketplace, After Antigua and Barbuda’s successful hosting

    Barbados To Host Caribbean Travel Marketplace, After Antigua and Barbuda’s successful hosting

    The Caribbean tourism industry is preparing for one of its most anticipated annual gatherings, as Barbados has officially stepped forward to host the upcoming Caribbean Travel Marketplace. This decision comes after Antigua and Barbuda delivered a widely praised, successful iteration of the event in its most recent hosting cycle, setting a high bar for the island nation of Barbados to build on.

    As a cornerstone event for the regional travel and hospitality sector, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace brings together hundreds of stakeholders, from hotel operators and tourism boards to airline executives, cruise line representatives, and international travel buyers. The event serves as a critical networking hub, where industry leaders forge new business partnerships, showcase destination upgrades, and negotiate travel booking contracts that drive billions in regional tourism revenue annually.

    Barbados’ selection as the next host marks a strategic milestone for the country’s own tourism recovery and growth agenda. In recent years, Barbados has invested heavily in upgrading its hospitality infrastructure, expanding its international flight connections, and positioning itself as a leading destination for both leisure travelers and remote workers through its popular Welcome Stamp visa program. Local tourism officials have noted that hosting the high-profile marketplace will not only highlight Barbados’ ongoing improvements to the global travel community but also generate immediate and long-term economic benefits for local businesses, from transportation and catering to accommodation services.

    Industry analysts point out that the handover from Antigua and Barbuda to Barbados reflects the collaborative spirit of Caribbean tourism stakeholders, who work collectively to boost the entire region’s global visibility. Following the disruptions of the global travel slowdown, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace has taken on renewed importance, as destinations across the region look to rebuild visitor numbers, attract new investment, and adapt to shifting traveler demands, including rising interest in sustainable tourism and experiential travel.

    Preparations for the event are already well underway in Barbados, with organizers confirming that they are incorporating new sustainability initiatives into the event framework, aligning with the region’s collective goal of cutting carbon emissions from tourism and promoting eco-friendly travel practices. Early registration numbers from international buyers and regional exhibitors have already exceeded initial expectations, signaling strong industry confidence in Barbados’ ability to deliver another successful gathering.