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标签： Dominica

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  • Government suspends increase in firearm license fees

    Government suspends increase in firearm license fees

    In a move that demonstrates responsiveness to public feedback, the government of Dominica has put a planned hike to firearm license fees on hold, announcing it will first launch extensive consultations with gun owners, industry representatives and other key stakeholders before moving forward with any changes.

    Speaking at a recent press briefing, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit clarified the original intent behind the fee increase, which was first unveiled as part of the 2026–2027 national budget presentation. Contrary to assumptions that the adjustment was designed to boost government revenue, Skerrit emphasized that the policy was framed as a mechanism to reinforce personal accountability among individuals who hold the legal privilege of owning and carrying a firearm.

    However, widespread concerns raised by multiple groups—including individual firearm owners, licensed firearm suppliers, and the Police Welfare Association—compelled the national Cabinet to hit pause on immediate implementation of the new fee structure. Skerrit noted that stakeholders have already put forward a range of constructive recommendations covering critical areas of firearms governance, from improved firearms safety training protocols to more secure storage requirements and updated regulatory frameworks for legally held weapons.

    Following a review of these submitted concerns and ideas, Cabinet formally approved the suspension of the fee increase and authorized the launch of a broad, inclusive consultation process focused on comprehensive reform of the firearms licensing system. The first gathering with participating stakeholders is scheduled to be held in the near future.

    Skerrit framed the decision to revisit the policy as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to open governance. When stakeholders raise legitimate, evidence-based concerns about the practical impact of proposed government policies, he said, the administration is willing and prepared to re-evaluate its decisions to craft more effective, widely supported outcomes.

  • Dominica Business Forum public discussion rescheduled

    Dominica Business Forum public discussion rescheduled

    A key public dialogue focused on Dominica’s ongoing voter confirmation process has been delayed and shifted to a virtual format, the Dominica Business Forum, Inc. has announced. The originally planned in-person gathering, which was set to take place on Tuesday, September 15 at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital Auditorium, will now be hosted online on September 22, kicking off at 7 p.m. local time.

    In an official audio statement released to the public, Forum president Daryl Bobb explained the catalyst behind the scheduling and format change: invited representatives from the relevant electoral commission failed to confirm their availability to attend the originally planned in-person event. Bobb noted that organizing committee members hope the adjusted date and remote structure will remove barriers to participation, making it easier for both the expected commission officials and members of the public interested in electoral matters to join the conversation.

    The discussion comes at a critical juncture for Dominican democracy, taking place roughly one month ahead of the scheduled closing of the national voter confirmation period. The forum has outlined clear core goals for the dialogue: organizers aim to evaluate the current level of public engagement with the voter confirmation exercise, assess whether the total number of confirmed voters will be sufficient to move forward with the country’s upcoming general elections, and deliberate over whether an extension of the confirmation period is warranted to allow more eligible citizens to complete the process.

    Bobb emphasized that the Constitution of Dominica explicitly permits an extension of the voter confirmation period, creating a legal pathway for adjustment if stakeholders agree it is needed. “This conversation is too critical to cancel, so we still look forward to holding it at the new date,” Bobb said in the statement.

    From its inception, the forum designed the discussion to bring greater transparency to the voter confirmation process, laying out the current status of the exercise and debating any procedural adjustments that may be needed as the deadline draws near. Bobb added that the organization remains committed to broad public involvement and continues to welcome both support and participation from across Dominican society.

    For those planning to attend the September 22 virtual discussion, a access link will be distributed to all registered interested parties. Additional updates and logistical details will also be posted to the Dominica Business Forum’s official website and social media channels in the coming days.

  • Daryl Bobb urges Dominican artists to register their work to benefit from ECCO royalties

    Daryl Bobb urges Dominican artists to register their work to benefit from ECCO royalties

    As the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) prepares to distribute more than EC$1.7 million in royalties to rights holders across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the organization’s Dominica board director Daryl Bobb is issuing an urgent appeal to local musicians and creators: formalize your work registration to unlock the full financial benefits of your creativity.\n\nScheduled for September 23, 2026, the upcoming royalty payout covers all royalties collected throughout 2025 from regional music use cases including public broadcasting, carnival celebrations, general public performances, and live events. The distribution also includes foreign royalty income remitted to ECCO by international sister copyright societies and the Mechanical Licensing Collective. Under the payout allocation framework, 55% of the total sum will go directly to ECCO’s registered members across the OECS, while the remaining 45% will be transferred to foreign sister societies to compensate international creators whose works are used within ECCO’s jurisdiction.\n\nDespite the overall size of this distribution, Bobb says Dominican creators stand to receive only a tiny fraction of the member-allocated funds. The issue, he explains, stems from two interconnected challenges: extremely low compliance with copyright registration requirements among local creators, and a large share of Dominican music makers who have not joined any collective copyright management organization at all. Currently, ECCO counts just 41 registered members from Dominica — a number that leaves most local creators locked out of rightful royalty earnings.\n\nBobb emphasized that ECCO’s sole core mission is to collect and distribute royalties on behalf of music creators, and that taking simple proactive steps can deliver lifelong financial benefits to artists and rights holders. He urged all Dominican creators to register their works with ECCO or another relevant rights management organization, maintain detailed records of all public performances of their work, and actively pursue placement of their music through licensed media platforms, licensed live events, and licensed commercial establishments that legally obtain music rights.\n\nTo tackle the systemic issues of low registration and compliance, ECCO plans to host targeted public consultations across the region, starting in Dominica, to build greater public understanding of how the royalty collection and distribution system operates for independent creators.\n\nBeyond encouraging creator action, ECCO is also calling on OECS national governments to strengthen existing copyright protection frameworks and update outdated national legislation. The organization notes that ongoing royalty collection growth is hampered by widespread non-compliance among commercial music users — including broadcasters, retail and hospitality businesses, and event organizers that regularly play music without purchasing the required copyright licenses. Updating legislation and improving enforcement, ECCO argues, will create a more sustainable and equitable ecosystem that allows music creators to earn a living from their work across the Eastern Caribbean.\n\nFor Dominican artists in particular, Bobb’s message is clear: creating music is only the first step. Formal registration, accurate documentation of performances, and intentional use of licensed distribution channels are critical to ensuring creators are compensated every time their work generates economic value.

  • Dominica among four Caribbean states to access new infrastructure support facility

    Dominica among four Caribbean states to access new infrastructure support facility

    Four Eastern Caribbean small island developing states have gained access to a groundbreaking new regional initiative that removes long-standing implementation barriers to delivering climate-resilient infrastructure, marking a major step forward for climate adaptation in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

    Officially opening operations this month, the Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility was launched on September 14 during a side event of the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum held in Miami. The initiative brings together four participating founding nations: Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with high-level representation from each country joining international partners for the launch ceremony.

    Funded entirely by the Government of Canada and hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), RIISE is structured as a Caribbean-led initiative. Its operational secretariat is based in Barbados, governance is led by the participating member countries, and independent technical guidance is provided by a panel of global and regional experts. While the four Eastern Caribbean states serve as the initial focus, RIISE leadership has confirmed that expansion to other climate-vulnerable island nations will be possible in the future as additional funding, partnerships, and resources are mobilized to meet growing regional demand.

    The core mission of RIISE is to address the persistent delays that have kept many critical climate-resilient infrastructure projects from moving from planning and investment phases to on-the-ground completion. Small island developing states in the Caribbean frequently face gaps in technical capacity, specialized expertise, and implementation support that slow the delivery of infrastructure designed to withstand intensifying climate impacts like hurricanes, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion.

    Through RIISE, participating governments can access tailored support to meet their specific needs. This ranges from short-term technical advice to solve acute implementation bottlenecks to temporary deployments of specialized experts that strengthen local public sector teams. Eligible support covers a wide range of practice areas, including full-spectrum project management, public procurement, contract administration, engineering and technical design reviews, financial management, environmental and social safeguard development, climate resilience design, gender equality and social inclusion mainstreaming, stakeholder engagement, project communications, monitoring and evaluation, and climate risk management.

    The facility supports infrastructure projects across nearly every sector critical to community well-being and climate adaptation, including water and sanitation systems, transportation networks, energy infrastructure, coastal protection barriers, public government buildings, post-disaster recovery projects, health facilities, education campuses, and affordable housing.

    Beyond supporting immediate project delivery, RIISE also has a long-term capacity-building goal: to build and retain specialized technical expertise within the Caribbean region. By placing international and regional specialists alongside local public sector teams and creating structured opportunities for member countries to share knowledge, lessons learned, and implementation experience, the initiative aims to strengthen lasting institutional capacity across the region.

    Speaking at the launch, Her Excellency Brenda Wills, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, emphasized the central role of resilient infrastructure to sustainable development in the Caribbean. “Resilient infrastructure is essential to economic development, climate adaptation, and the well-being of Caribbean communities,” Wills said, noting that Canada’s funding support is designed to help governments access the critical expertise needed to overcome implementation hurdles and deliver high-priority climate investments.

    Giuseppe Mancinelli, UNOPS Caribbean Coordinator and Country Director for Barbados, added that the UN body is proud to anchor the Caribbean-led initiative. “UNOPS is proud to provide the operational backbone for this Caribbean-led initiative,” Mancinelli said. “We will help governments turn their infrastructure plans into tangible results by providing additional capacity, expertise and implementation support.”

    Public institutions and ministries in participating countries can request support through their designated national focal points. Requests are submitted via an online portal that requires basic information about the project, the specific implementation challenge, and expected outcomes. The RIISE secretariat then assesses request eligibility and works with the requesting institution to tailor the appropriate package of assistance and expertise. More details about the facility, its services, and the request process are available on the official RIISE website at riise-caribbean.org, or via email at info@riise-caribbean.org.

  • OECS graduates celebrated at recognition ceremony in Morocco

    OECS graduates celebrated at recognition ceremony in Morocco

    On Saturday, September 12, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) hosted a meaningful graduate recognition ceremony at the Rabat Marriott Hotel in Morocco, to honor hundreds of OECS students who successfully completed their academic programs in the North African nation. Aligning with this year’s theme “Through Perseverance Comes Triumph”, the event welcomed in-person attendees including graduates, diplomatic representatives and senior education officials, while also allowing graduates unable to travel to the venue to participate virtually via a public YouTube livestream.

    Beyond simply marking the end of each graduate’s academic journey, the ceremony centered on celebrating the extraordinary resilience of these young scholars, who left their small home islands in the Eastern Caribbean to pursue higher education thousands of kilometers from their families and communities. Navigating a new cultural landscape, unfamiliar social norms, and a vastly different higher education system, these students overcame significant geographic and personal hurdles to reach this milestone. The ceremony opened with remarks from OECS Ambassador Ian Queeley, who framed graduates’ academic success as both an achievement and a calling. He urged the newly minted degree holders to translate their hard-won knowledge, specialized skills and cross-cultural experiences into tangible positive action for their home communities. Echoing the event’s core theme, Queeley reminded attendees that every triumph traces back to a deliberate choice to persist, highlighting the relentless determination that carried each student through their studies.

    The keynote address was delivered by OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules, who offered graduates a thoughtful perspective on what their accomplishment truly means. Dr. Jules emphasized that the most meaningful outcome of their time in Morocco is the personal transformation they underwent, rather than the diplomas they received. He issued a clear and heartfelt call to action: “Come home and build,” urging graduates to return to their Eastern Caribbean nations and contribute their expertise across high-impact sectors, including medicine, engineering, scientific research, architecture, and agronomy. Dr. Jules also framed the cohort of graduates as a permanent, people-to-people connection between the Eastern Caribbean and Morocco, calling them a lasting “bridge between two peoples of the Atlantic.” He acknowledged the quiet hardships of studying far from home, noting that every graduate achieved this milestone thousands of kilometers away, while loved ones on their small home islands offered constant prayers and support along the way.

    Badr Alaoui, representing Morocco’s Department of Bilateral Co-operation (AMCI), reaffirmed the North African nation’s longstanding commitment to investing in global human capital. He noted that Morocco has opened its doors to generation after generation of Caribbean students, offering access to world-class academic, technical, and professional training programs. Alaoui added that through their years of study and lived experience in Morocco, the OECS graduates have already become informal ambassadors of friendship, strengthening people-to-people ties between Morocco and Caribbean nations.

    During the ceremony, three exceptional graduates from Saint Lucia received special recognition for their standout achievements. Bryonnie Mathurin earned the Ambassador’s Award for the highest overall academic achievement, following her completion of a Bachelor of Science in Radiology. Kendlee Enrique Charlemagne was honored with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean Students in Morocco President’s Award for his outstanding contributions to the student community outside of formal executive leadership roles. Janique Raymond received the Spirit of OECSM Award for her consistent energy and encouragement that lifted up her fellow classmates throughout their studies.

    Closing out the celebratory event, Dr. Jules extended formal gratitude to the students’ family back home for their unwavering support, and to the government and people of Morocco for hosting the cohort and supporting their academic journeys. He welcomed the graduates back to the OECS community with a fitting final message that echoed the event’s theme: “Tonight, you triumph.”

  • Sport, food and heritage take center stage at first Tasty Treasures Heritage Relay

    Sport, food and heritage take center stage at first Tasty Treasures Heritage Relay

    On August 1, 2026, the mountain village of Delices in Dominica played host to the first-ever Tasty Treasures Heritage Relay – The White River Leg, a groundbreaking multi-faceted event that wove together athletic competition, cultural celebration, culinary heritage, and community engagement under the unifying theme “Honoring the Past, Racing to the Future.”

    Founded by Shirlyn James Graham and organized by the non-profit Tasty Treasures Heritage Relay Inc., the event was conceived as far more than a standard road race. From its inception, it was designed to advance a broad set of community and national goals: promoting public health and wellness, supporting local small-scale agriculture, elevating traditional culinary arts, boosting sustainable tourism, expanding educational opportunities, raising environmental awareness, nurturing local entrepreneurship, driving inclusive community development, and strengthening national pride across the island.

    The relay route was intentionally curated to highlight Delices’ most beloved historic landmarks and pristine natural landscapes, allowing participants and spectators alike to reconnect with the area’s unique environmental and cultural roots. Beyond the running competition, the event featured a range of complementary activities that centered local traditions. A standout addition was the Traditional Bread-Baking Challenge, which gave veteran and emerging local bakers a platform to showcase their centuries-old craft. Participants baked using time-honored techniques, including cooking over wood fires, wrapping dough in locally harvested banana leaves, and incorporating homegrown regional produce.

    To engage the next generation of cultural stewards, the event also hosted an essay competition for secondary school students, asking young people to explore how initiatives like Tasty Treasures can preserve and share Dominica’s unique culinary heritage with global audiences. Shirkia Etienne took top honors in the junior division, while Amayah Colaire claimed first place in the senior category, with both divisions sponsored by local retailers Do It Centre and Jays Books Store.

    In an interview following the event, Graham emphasized the core mission that guided the project. “We wanted to create an experience that honours where we came from while inspiring the next generation to move forward,” she said. “The Heritage Relay is about bringing people together, promoting healthy lifestyles, celebrating our local talents and resources, and creating opportunities for our communities.”

    The event delivered tangible community benefits beyond celebration and competition. With financial and in-kind support from corporate and community sponsors, Tasty Treasures Heritage Relay Inc. distributed EC$1,500 in cash donations plus additional in-kind gifts to three local organizations: Delices’ House of Hope, Chances at Jimmit, and St. Martin Secondary School. Organizers also took the opportunity to recognize two long-time community leaders for their ongoing contributions to public good: Gloria Joseph, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Small Business, and Francisca Joseph, former Chief Adult Education Officer, were honored for their work advancing community development, public education, economic empowerment, local entrepreneurship, and heritage preservation across Dominica.

    In the competitive relay categories, the Archipelago Team claimed the overall championship title and a top prize of EC$6,000, sponsored by Archipelago Wine & Spirits. The team also took home the award for Creative Team, a category sponsored by the Ministry of Small Business. The Pioneer Club won the Discipline Team category, sponsored by local telecommunications provider FLOW, and Pioneer Club member Kervin Leatham earned recognition as the fastest individual runner in the race, with the award sponsored by local auto retailer Auto Trade.

    Looking ahead, organizers have already locked in plans for the second edition of the event, scheduled to take place on July 31, 2027. The organization is actively seeking new and returning corporate, government, and community partners to help expand the event’s reach, growing opportunities across sport, local agriculture, culinary arts, education, tourism, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, and community development for future editions.

  • Cuba welcomes BRICS call to end economic, trade and financial measures

    Cuba welcomes BRICS call to end economic, trade and financial measures

    Against a backdrop of shifting global power dynamics and growing pushback against punitive unilateral measures, the 18th BRICS Summit, which gathered the bloc’s 11 member states in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, 2026, has issued a landmark call for the elimination of coercive economic, trade and financial sanctions imposed on Cuba.

    The expanded BRICS grouping, now counting Brazil, India, China, Russia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia among its members, adopted a 140-point joint declaration that articulates clear concern over the steadily tightening unilateral blockade against the Caribbean island nation. According to an official statement released by the Cuban Embassy in Dominica, the declaration emphasizes the devastating ripple effects of these measures on Cuba’s domestic economy, critical energy infrastructure, and most importantly, the daily lives and well-being of the Cuban people.

    Beyond its stance on the Cuban blockade, the joint declaration also reaffirmed BRICS’ longstanding core commitments to a set of foundational principles: mutual respect between sovereign states, equal legal standing for all nations, collective solidarity, inclusive democracy, open dialogue, and consensus-driven decision-making for global governance.

    Cuba’s top diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, has publicly embraced and praised the bloc’s position, sharing his reaction to the declaration via a post on social media platform X. Rodríguez emphasized that the BRICS statement formally recognized the tangible harm caused by what he frames as the United States’ long-running hostile policy toward Cuba, spanning its damage to national economic stability, consistent disruption of energy access, and broad deterioration of humanitarian conditions across the country.

    During his formal address to the summit gathering, Rodríguez reiterated his unwavering condemnation of the decades-long economic, commercial and financial blockade, stressing that it has been ramped up to unprecedented intensity in recent years. He characterized the policy as a deliberate act of collective punishment targeting the entire Cuban population, noting that its indiscriminate reach has inflicted deep and widespread suffering on millions of ordinary Cuban families.

    Going further, Rodríguez described the ongoing measures as “a silent genocide that claims lives”, arguing that the overarching goal of the policy is to force political regime change in Cuba. He shared stark public health data to illustrate the humanitarian toll, stating that Cuba’s infant mortality rate has jumped from 4.0 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births, while the five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer has dropped from 85 percent to 65 percent.

    “Inflicting human harm, suffering, and anguish is the objective of this cruel policy, which was deliberately designed for that purpose,” the Cuban foreign minister told summit attendees.

    In addition to addressing the blockade, Rodríguez outlined his vision for BRICS’ role in global affairs, noting that the bloc holds unique potential to advance peace, security, equitable development, and systemic justice across the Global South. He framed this contribution as an essential building block for creating a new, fair, and democratic multilateral global order that centers the needs and interests of lower-income and developing nations.

  • Achievement Learning Center begins new school term with focus on individual student needs

    Achievement Learning Center begins new school term with focus on individual student needs

    After weeks of targeted pre-term preparation designed to meet the needs of both continuing and first-time enrollees, the Achievement Learning Center (ALC) has officially launched its new academic year.

    ALC principal Rhonda Celaire shared that organizational and instructional planning got underway as early as the end of August, with teaching staff focusing heavily on tailoring learning experiences to align with the unique educational goals each student brings to the center. “Every child enters with a different set of aspirations, so we structured our preparations around those individual needs to make the start of the term as seamless as possible,” Celaire explained, emphasizing that personalized planning is a core pillar of the center’s approach to a successful academic kickoff.

    Many education stakeholders had raised concerns that students would face significant challenges readjusting to structured classroom life following the lengthy summer break, but early data from the term has defied those expectations. “We prepared for widespread disruption to routine after months of unstructured summer time, but that simply did not materialize,” Celaire said. Returning students slipped back into their daily academic schedules with little difficulty, and new enrollees rapidly acclimated by following the established routines modeled by their more experienced peers.

    That is not to say the term began without minor adjustments, Celaire acknowledged. The center’s higher academic classrooms serve a multi-grade cohort of lower secondary and upper primary students, requiring targeted timetable modifications to guarantee every learner gets the one-on-one attention they need, while avoiding any perception of unequal treatment across grade groups.

    In addition to core classroom preparations, the center’s programs department has seen a notable surge in activity this term, as parents and guardians flood the office with inquiries about late registration and available after-school extracurricular activities. According to Celaire, the center’s programs officer has worked tirelessly to manage the high volume of requests that typically accompany the start of a new academic semester.

    Even with the added administrative strain of processing these requests and implementing last-minute timetable changes, Celaire confirmed that the center’s core academic programming is progressing on track. “We are juggling a few moving parts as any new term brings, but academically we are moving forward steadily,” the principal stated, adding that she remains confident in the entire institution’s ability to deliver high-quality, personalized support to every student throughout the year.

    The ALC is a specialized educational institution that offers a broad range of services, including specialized special education support, general academic tutoring, vocational skills training, professional development training, and adult education programming.

  • IICA: Agriculture has the technology, but adoption remains a challenge

    IICA: Agriculture has the technology, but adoption remains a challenge

    The 2026 iteration of Digital Agriculture Week (DAW), the fifth iteration of the annual global gathering focused on agricultural digital transformation, wrapped up its four-day convening last week at the headquarters of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The event brought together approximately 200 stakeholders from more than 25 nations, solidifying its reputation as a leading global platform for advancing technology integration in the farming and agriculture sector, per an official post-summit press release from IICA.

    Organized by IICA with backing from major regional and global institutions including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and partners spanning private industry, academia, and nonprofits, the 2026 summit featured a packed schedule of expert keynote talks, collaborative knowledge-sharing sessions, panel debates, and networking opportunities. In total, more than 30 organizations backed the event, while 14 agritech startups from 13 countries across the Americas showcased their cutting-edge solutions to common production challenges. Attendees ranged from startup founders and agricultural research leaders to incubator managers, investment fund representatives, multilateral agency officials, academic researchers, and public policymakers, reflecting the cross-sector nature of agricultural digital transformation.

    This year’s core discussions centered on the role of artificial intelligence and other emerging digital innovations in building agricultural systems that are both more productive and environmentally sustainable. Delegates explored targeted strategies to align technological tools with the unique needs of specific regional territories, and to better integrate technology rollout with public policy frameworks, accessible financing options, and institutional capacity building.

    While event speakers and attendees universally acknowledged that digital innovation has dramatically expanded the set of solutions available to tackle pressing agricultural challenges—from climate risk management to smallholder financing and rural extension services—they also highlighted a growing, underaddressed gap: the slow pace at which producers are actually adopting these existing tools.

    Federico Bert, IICA’s specialist in digitalization and artificial intelligence, emphasized that adoption has emerged as a critical bottleneck slowing progress across the sector. “While there must be more innovation going forward, a greater focus on adoption is also required,” Bert explained during the summit. “We need to concentrate on stimulating the interest of producers, developing their skills, tailoring solutions to the local context, and providing sustained technical support to people who incorporate new technological solutions.”

    Other leading agricultural research and policy leaders echoed this focus on balanced, inclusive digital transformation. Silvia Massruhá, president of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), noted that AI will not replace agricultural researchers, but will instead dramatically amplify their capacity to generate actionable, impactful knowledge. She emphasized that any integration of AI must retain core priorities of scientific rigor, ethical governance, and the public mission of agricultural research. Massruhá added that EMBRAPA, which now counts 8,000 staff across 43 research units 50 years after its founding, has seen five-fold growth in productivity thanks to continuous technological advancement, and remains focused on training personnel to deploy new tools effectively.

    Miguel Sierra, president of Uruguay’s National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), framed digital transformation and AI integration as core strategic priorities for his institution over the next five years, while noting that ongoing data validation, human expertise, and critical thinking will remain irreplaceable parts of agricultural innovation.

    Liliana Chavez, executive director of Costa Rica’s National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA), pointed to specific, high-impact use cases for AI in agriculture, including helping address growing challenges of pest outbreaks, crop disease, and widespread soil degradation. However, she also issued a warning about the risk of widening inequality in access to digital agricultural tools, particularly as youth outmigration leaves rural communities with fewer resources to adopt new technologies. Echoing a common theme across the summit, Chavez stressed that people must remain at the center of all agricultural digital transformation efforts.

  • Dominica sponsors Bouyon categories at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards

    Dominica sponsors Bouyon categories at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards

    The Caribbean music scene is set for a major showcase of Dominican cultural heritage this September, as the government of Dominica, through the Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), has stepped forward as the official sponsor of the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards’ Bouyon Award categories. This strategic partnership, announced via a DDA press release, is designed to celebrate the genre’s deep roots in Dominica while shining a global spotlight on the island nation known as the ‘Nature Island’ to regional and international audiences.

    This year’s Caribbean Music Awards will take place on Saturday, September 19, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Eight Dominican acts have earned nominations in two of the most hotly contested categories tied to the island’s signature genre: Asa Bantan, Dirty Dawg Pudaz, Mr. Ridge, Reo, Shelly & Signal Band, Trilla G, Shiloh, and Khallion are all in the running for Bouyon Artist of the Year and Bouyon Song of the Year.

    In remarks from the DDA release, Dominica’s Tourism Minister Hon. Denise Charles-Pemberton emphasized the unique cultural significance of the partnership. “Bouyon is distinctly Dominican, and its continued growth across the Caribbean and internationally creates important opportunities for our artistes, our creative sector and our country,” she said. “The Government of Dominica is committed to supporting platforms that elevate Dominican talent, expand the reach of our cultural products and strengthen the contribution of our creative industries to tourism and economic development. Our partnership with the Caribbean Music Awards is an investment in the continued growth and international visibility of a genre that was created right here in Dominica.”

    Prince Forde, co-founder of the Caribbean Music Awards, echoed this sentiment, noting that the collaboration will help amplify Dominica’s musical legacy and national story across the Caribbean and beyond. “We’re proud of the work Dominica is committed to around music, culture and community, and we share a similar vision for how these powerful forces can connect people, celebrate identity and create opportunities,” Forde explained. “We’re proud to amplify Dominica’s sound and its story, bringing them to audiences across the Caribbean and around the world.”

    Beyond sponsorship of the award categories, the partnership includes a range of pre-event promotional activities, headlined by the “Experience Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival” Giveaway. One lucky winner will receive an all-inclusive vacation package to Dominica that covers round-trip airfare, accommodation, ground transportation, and tickets to the iconic festival.

    The giveaway builds anticipation for the 26th World Creole Music Festival, which is scheduled to run October 23–25 at Windsor Park Sports Stadium. The annual event will feature a diverse lineup of Dominican, Caribbean, and international artists spanning genres from Bouyon, cadence-lypso, and konpa to soca, reggae, and dancehall. Following the festival, Dominica’s popular Mas Domnik, the Real Mas carnival, will take place February 8–9, 2027.

    The DDA notes that it is pairing its sponsorship with targeted destination marketing, media outreach, stakeholder engagement, and on-site promotional activations surrounding the awards. The overarching goal is to turn the growing international visibility of Bouyon music into greater awareness of Dominica as a top travel destination and increased interest from prospective visitors.

    Now in its latest iteration, the Caribbean Music Awards was founded to honor outstanding contributions from artistes and music professionals across the Caribbean region, celebrating the diversity and global impact of Caribbean musical heritage.