Carib Scope

标签： Dominica

多米尼克

  • Sixteen Dominican footballers highlighted for overseas development opportunities

    Sixteen Dominican footballers highlighted for overseas development opportunities

    A two-week working visit from the leader of an international football development organization has marked a major milestone for Dominica’s emerging ambitions to become a leading Caribbean hub for sports tourism and grassroots athlete advancement. Christopher Saul, founder and director of International Futbol Experiences (IFE), wrapped up a productive trip focused on unlocking new opportunities for local Dominican players while launching a game-changing new sports tourism offering for the global athletic community.

    Per a public statement from local coordinating group Creole Heartbeat, the core objectives of Saul’s visit centered on three key priorities: creating accessible scholarship pathways, opening doors to professional opportunities, and building structured player development pipelines for footballers across Dominica. During the visit, the team officially introduced IFE’s signature “Train & Play in Nature” programme, an innovative concept that leverages Dominica’s unspoiled natural landscape to draw international athletes for immersive preseason training, competitive matches, active recovery, and off-season preparation.

    The ambitious cross-sector initiative is the product of a collaborative partnership between a diverse coalition of local and international stakeholders, including Creole Heartbeat, tourism marketing platform VisitNatureDA.com, the 767 Sports Club, the Dominica Olympic Committee, Atlantique View Retreat Resort, Bombers Football Club, and Black Cab Taxi Services. To demonstrate the programme’s value, Saul was joined by two active IFE-affiliated players who completed a full two-week training block on the island, giving firsthand proof of Dominica’s suitability as a high-performance training destination.

    Speaking during his visit, Saul emphasized what makes Dominica stand out from other global training locations: “Dominica offers something that very few places in the world can provide. Its natural environment, climate, terrain and peaceful atmosphere create the perfect setting for athletes to prepare physically and mentally for the demands of their competitive season. We see tremendous potential for Dominica to become a premier destination for athlete development.”

    Throughout his 14-day stay, Saul led a full schedule of engagement with the local football community, running hands-on coaching clinics, conducting individual player evaluations, and hosting educational information sessions for both young athletes and their parents. These sessions focused heavily on the non-technical requirements for securing international opportunities, including personal commitment, competitive discipline, and the academic standards needed to qualify for U.S. collegiate athletic programs.

    IFE already maintains an established long-term partnership with Dominica’s Bombers Football Club, and Saul deepened this collaboration during the visit by leading specialized development sessions designed to build a clear, structured pathway that connects grassroots local football to U.S. college scholarships and global professional contracts. To ensure broad access for players across the island, additional coaching workshops were also organized with two more local clubs: Fond Cole FC and Harlem United FC.

    By the end of the visit, Saul had identified 16 promising Dominican players, including a number of female athletes, that he assessed have the raw talent to compete successfully at the U.S. collegiate level, with long-term potential to secure professional contracts in top European leagues with continued targeted development.

    In addition to working directly with local clubs and players, Saul prioritized building institutional partnerships to sustain long-term growth. He held formal meetings with leadership from the Dominica Football Association (DFA) to map out future collaboration on expanding scholarship pathways, organizing international player showcase events, arranging professional trial opportunities abroad, and creating more overseas pathways for local talent. Separate discussions were also held with representatives from the Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) to explore joint initiatives for athlete development and high-performance programming, aligned with the shared goal of positioning Dominica as a top global sports tourism destination.

    Saul’s visit marks just the first step in a broader, multi-faceted vision that integrates football development, educational advancement, tourism growth, and expanded economic opportunity for local communities. Beyond the benefits for local players, the “Train & Play in Nature” programme is designed to attract collegiate teams, professional clubs, youth academies, and individual athletes from across North America, Europe, and the Caribbean to host preseason camps, book specialized training experiences, and run recovery programs on the island.

    Local organizers project that beyond opening international doors for Dominican athletes, the initiative will deliver broad economic benefits by driving new revenue for local hotels, transportation providers, restaurants, tour operators, and public and private sports facilities, directly strengthening Dominica’s fast-growing sports tourism sector.

    Organizers emphasized in the statement that the effort extends far beyond the pitch: “This is about much more than football. It is about creating educational opportunities for our young people, strengthening our national programme, expanding sports tourism and positioning Dominica as one of the Caribbean’s leading destinations for athlete development.”

    All partnering organizations have confirmed their commitment to continuing collaborative discussions in the coming months to expand the programme and unlock additional development and career opportunities for Dominican footballers.

  • Sagicor webinar explores modern fatherhood, family relationships and financial planning

    Sagicor webinar explores modern fatherhood, family relationships and financial planning

    To mark this year’s Father’s Day, regional financial services group Sagicor organized a timely virtual webinar focused on one of the most discussed yet under-explored topics in Caribbean family life: the shifting landscape of modern fatherhood. Titled “The Dad Blueprint: Building Strong, Present and Purpose-Driven Fathers”, the online convening brought together a diverse cross-regional panel of social advocates, media professionals, influencers and financial experts to unpack the challenges, rewards, and core responsibilities of contemporary fatherhood, drawing from both personal experience and professional insight. The event was moderated by Sherlon Leon, Head of Sales at Sagicor Life (Eastern Caribbean) Inc.’s St. Lucia branch, per an official press release from the company.

    A central thread running through all panel discussions was the rapidly evolving role of fathers in 21st-century family structures. Fabian Sargeant, a Barbados-based social worker and founder/president of the Men Empowerment Network Support (MENS), observed that while a growing number of men today are stepping into active nurturing and caregiving roles long dominated by mothers, outdated societal attitudes have failed to keep up with this cultural shift. “Many of us want to be actively present in our children’s lives, and we are taking on responsibilities that were once seen as exclusively maternal,” Sargeant explained. “But society still struggles to recognize and validate these new approaches to fatherhood, even as more men reimagine what it means to be a dad.”

    Panelists also delved into the profound, long-lasting impact of paternal involvement on children’s long-term development and emotional well-being. Garth Williams, a communications strategist and broadcaster from Jamaica, emphasized that child-centered co-parenting is non-negotiable even when couples separate, pointing to stark data on the outcomes for children growing up without engaged father figures. “Globally, the majority of repeat criminal offenders and individuals struggling with chronic addiction come from homes marked by either absent fathers or abusive paternal presence,” Williams noted. He stressed that whether parents live together or co-parent apart, a stable, loving family foundation is the most critical predictor of whether a child will grow into a well-adjusted, socially responsible adult.

    The conversation also included deeply personal reflections from Trinidad and Tobago social media influencer Anil James, who shared his experience growing up fatherless after his father died by suicide when James was only two years old. James explained that the absence of his own father shaped his intentional approach to raising his son, filling the gaps he experienced in his own childhood. “I grew up watching other boys bond with their dads and wishing I had that chance,” James said. “Fatherhood wasn’t taught to me, but I learned what I needed from that experience of longing. Today, I make sure to give my son everything I ever wanted as a child.”

    Beyond social and emotional dimensions of fatherhood, the webinar also turned to the practical topic of long-term financial planning for children’s futures. Dunovan De Graff, Business Development Manager at Sagicor Investments Trinidad and Tobago Limited, urged parents of all income brackets to start investing for their children as early as possible, pushing back against a common misconception that investing is only for high earners. “Many low- and middle-income parents put off investing because they think they don’t have enough money to get started, or they’re overwhelmed by daily living expenses,” De Graff explained. “But waiting to start is one of the costliest mistakes you can make. Nothing beats the power of early compounding, no matter how small your initial contribution is.”

    Andre Barrow, Assistant Vice President of Innovation and Business Solutions at Sagicor General Insurance Inc., echoed this message, encouraging parents to prioritize consistent, gradual progress over overnight success. He noted that social media’s distorted depiction of instant success often discourages parents from making small, steady investments in their children’s futures. “Social media makes it look like you can go from zero to hero overnight,” Barrow said. “But real progress, whether financial or personal, happens incrementally. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, so any small improvement you can make today is worth making.”

    Sagicor officials noted that the webinar was a core part of the company’s 2026 Father’s Day outreach, designed to highlight the critical importance of active paternal engagement in building strong, resilient families across the Caribbean. Through the day’s open, honest discussions, panelists collectively concluded that modern fatherhood demands intentional presence, clear purpose, adaptive resilience, and an ongoing commitment to personal growth.

  • CAF commits US$10 billion to boost regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean

    CAF commits US$10 billion to boost regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean

    Against a backdrop of rising global geopolitical instability, shifting trade patterns, and economic volatility, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has announced a landmark $10 billion investment initiative set to run through 2031, aimed at accelerating deepened regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

    The commitment was formally revealed by CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados at the conclusion of the International Forum on Regional Integration, hosted by CAF in the Colombian coastal city of Cartagena in May. The high-level gathering assembled a diverse cross-section of stakeholders: senior government officials, leaders from multilateral development bodies, private sector executives, academic experts, and regional development partners to collectively chart actionable strategies for advancing cross-border cooperation across the LAC region.

    Caribbean stakeholders took a prominent role in the forum’s discussions, with senior representatives in attendance including Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Ian Durant, Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank; Martín Portillo, Chief Engagement Manager for Central America and the Dominican Republic at the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF); and Natalie McGuire, Curator at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society.

    Per CAF’s official announcement, the $10 billion allocation will be directed to eight high-priority sectors critical to integration: cross-border physical and digital infrastructure, intra-regional trade expansion, food security, renewable energy transition, sustainable tourism, technological innovation, logistics network modernization, and cross-border mobility. The overarching goals of the investment are to close persistent development gaps between regional economies, upgrade connectivity across the region, and strengthen LAC’s global competitiveness at a time of unprecedented global economic uncertainty.

    Díaz-Granados framed deepened regional integration as a non-negotiable strategic imperative for LAC nations to build long-term resilience, drive shared growth, and improve their global positioning. In his remarks at the forum, he noted that growing geopolitical frictions, fragmented global trade systems, volatile financial markets, and widespread macroeconomic uncertainty have sharply increased the urgency for coordinated regional action. He emphasized that closer integration will empower LAC countries to secure stronger positions in global value chains, speed up the transition to low-carbon energy systems, strengthen domestic and regional food security, and adapt to rapidly shifting global production trends.

    “Integration is the answer to protecting our strategic ecosystems, creating jobs, addressing informality, and defending the democratic values that underpin our coexistence, freedom, and future,” Díaz-Granados stated.

    A key deliverable from the Cartagena forum was the signing of the *Declaration on the Convergence of the Processes and Mechanisms of Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean* by 15 major regional institutions. Signatories included the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), among others. The declaration calls for a more coordinated, strategic approach to integration by aligning the priorities, resources, and expertise of existing regional bodies, eliminating redundant efforts, and unlocking new opportunities for cross-organization collaboration.

    CAF’s new investment pledge builds on the institution’s 30-year track record of backing regional integration efforts. To date, the development bank has approved 118 credit operations totaling $16.73 billion for integration-focused projects across the region. Over the past five years alone, CAF has scaled its support to target priority areas including cross-border physical connectivity, productive sector development, digital transformation, regional energy integration, and environmental conservation.

    In closing, Díaz-Granados stressed that the region must move beyond strategic planning and accelerate the delivery of tangible integration projects. “Regional integration has already achieved important progress, but it must now enter a more ambitious phase of implementation. Fewer barriers, more infrastructure. Fewer diagnoses, more projects,” he said.

  • Ministry of Tourism and DDA to host inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4

    Ministry of Tourism and DDA to host inaugural Wellness Fair on July 4

    The Caribbean island of Dominica is preparing to launch its first ever public Wellness Fair, a landmark event jointly organized by the country’s Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) to celebrate the island’s growing reputation as a global nature-centric wellness destination.

    Scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2026, the full-day event will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the UWI Global Campus, and carries the fitting theme “Be Well in Nature”. As the flagship activity of the 2026 Tourism Awareness Program — which itself operates under the broader banner “Wellness by Nature” — the fair will unite a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, from independent wellness practitioners and local wellness businesses to certified service providers and community wellness organizations.

    At its core, the initiative is designed to integrate holistic wellness practices into daily life for attendees, highlighting the interconnected roles of preventive healthcare, regular physical movement, balanced nutrition, intentional stress management, and deep connection to the natural world in supporting long-term well-being. Beyond positioning Dominica as a leading wellness travel hub, the fair also carries a domestic mission: to empower local residents to adopt and sustain healthier daily habits, while showcasing the full breadth of homegrown wellness talent and offerings available across the island.

    Attendees can expect a packed schedule of complimentary activities and experiences tailored to all levels of wellness interest. The lineup includes free basic health screenings, one-on-one wellness consultations with local experts, live fitness demonstrations, high-energy cardio jam sessions, open-level yoga classes, and interactive educational exhibits highlighting the local wellness sector. Unlike many industry events, the fair creates dedicated space for direct conversation between attendees and practitioners, giving visitors the chance to ask questions, explore local products and services, and connect with ongoing wellness resources available year-round in Dominica.

    A key highlight of the event is a series of educational informational sessions led by local specialist speakers. Topics cover the full spectrum of holistic health, including evidence-based nutrition guidance, practical stress reduction techniques, mindfulness practice, chronic disease prevention, physical fitness planning, personal development, and emotional wellness. Organizers designed these sessions to deliver actionable, practical knowledge that attendees can immediately implement in their own daily routines, rather than focusing solely on abstract discussion.

    To add an extra layer of excitement for attendees, the event will also host multiple prize giveaways through public draws. Grand prizes include round-trip airfare donated by two regional carriers, FRS Express des Îles and Sunrise Airways. Additional high-value giveaways include tickets to the 2026 World Creole Music Festival, one of Dominica’s most anticipated annual cultural celebrations, giving winners the chance to experience the island’s iconic cultural scene alongside their wellness-focused visit.

    Marva Williams, CEO and Director of Tourism at the Discover Dominica Authority, emphasized that the fair reflects the shared commitment of the DDA and Ministry of Tourism to embed wellness into both the island’s tourism identity and local community life. “Wellness is one of the defining experiences that sets Dominica apart. Through Wellness Fair 2026, we are creating an opportunity for residents and visitors to connect with local wellness professionals, learn practical ways to improve their well-being and experience the many ways wellness is naturally woven into life on the Nature Island,” Williams said. “We encourage everyone to join us on July 4 at the UWI Global Campus and take advantage of the free services, information sessions and activities available throughout the day.”

    Admission to the 2026 Wellness Fair is completely free and open to all members of the public, with both local residents and traveling visitors welcome to attend all activities. Organizers have noted that spaces in the specialized informational sessions are limited, so interested guests are encouraged to reserve their spots in advance via the official registration link: https://forms.gle/RcWAuJ1aJB6T5HvV8.

  • Some Flow customers continue reporting service issues despite restoration announcement

    Some Flow customers continue reporting service issues despite restoration announcement

    A cross-island telecommunications outage that cut off internet and connectivity service for thousands of customers in Dominica beginning late Sunday has been formally declared resolved by regional provider Flow, though scattered reports of persistent disruptions continued to surface from affected users through Monday afternoon. In an official public update posted to the company’s Facebook page, Flow confirmed that all core telecommunications and broadband services across Dominica had been fully restored, bringing an official close to the widespread connectivity interruptions that stretched into a second day for many local users. This outage was not isolated to Dominica alone: early in the disruption, Flow confirmed the root cause was a suspected critical infrastructure fault that simultaneously impacted service in neighboring Saint Lucia as well. When the fault was first detected, the company rapidly deployed specialized technical teams to locate and repair the issue, a task leadership described as an unusually complex troubleshooting challenge. While the company’s official announcement framed the incident as fully resolved, dozens of customers took to the same social media thread to report their services still remained non-functional hours after the restoration statement went live. One frustrated customer, who noted their service had been unstable since February and had already suffered an unconnected outage starting the prior Thursday, called out Flow’s long track record in the region to criticize the prolonged disruption. “Still no internet. Latest outage since Thursday. And service has been poor since February. You cannot be serious. In 2026 you have people without a basic utility for DAYS? Your company has been in the Caribbean since the 1870s – you don’t think you can do better?” the user wrote. Other users shared similar complaints: one reported being completely unable to complete outgoing or incoming calls, while another said their service had never been restored at any point after Sunday’s initial outage, expressing deep disappointment with the company’s response. Flow’s community management team directly addressed individual customer complaints in the comments section, issuing formal apologies for the ongoing inconvenience and committing to work one-on-one with every affected user to investigate unaddressed issues and resolve lingering outages. As of early Monday afternoon, the mixed picture of formal full restoration from the provider and ongoing connectivity problems for subsets of customers across parts of Dominica highlighted gaps in the repair process following the cross-border infrastructure fault.

  • UWI to host regional forum examining Cuba’s ongoing crisis

    UWI to host regional forum examining Cuba’s ongoing crisis

    As regional and global concerns mount over Cuba’s deepening socio-economic struggles, the University of the West Indies (UWI) is stepping into a leading role to unpack the crisis and mobilize collective support for the Caribbean nation. The institution has announced two key initiatives: a high-profile Vice-Chancellor’s Forum dedicated to analyzing Cuba’s current challenges, and a university-wide humanitarian campaign to gather essential supplies for Cuban communities.

    Scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2026, the hybrid forum titled “Perspectives on the Current Cuban Crisis: Issues, Impact, and Imperatives” will kick off at 11:00 AM Eastern Caribbean/Atlantic Standard Time (10:00 AM Jamaica local time). The in-person portion of the event will be held at the Eon Nigel Harris Council Room within UWI’s Regional Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, with a free global live stream hosted on UWItv to enable participation from audiences across the Caribbean and beyond.

    Cuba currently faces a cascade of interconnected socio-economic headwinds: widespread shortages of basic necessities, chronic energy infrastructure disruptions, and sustained macroeconomic pressures that have rippled across the entire Caribbean region. These challenges unfold against a complex backdrop of strained international relations, ongoing domestic policy reforms, long-standing global trade restrictions, shifting tourism trends, and growing migration pressures that make Cuba’s trajectory a critical concern for the entire Caribbean community.

    As the Caribbean’s preeminent regional research and public engagement institution, UWI has positioned itself to foster evidence-based understanding of the crisis, rather than letting it go undiscussed. In addition to the upcoming policy forum, the university has launched the “One-UWI Humanitarian Effort,” a four-week initiative running throughout June that mobilizes staff, students, alumni, and institutional partners across all UWI campuses to raise funds for purchasing urgently needed essential supplies for Cuba.

    The forum is a collaborative effort organized by the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, in partnership with the Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, the Latin American-Caribbean Centre, and the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies. It will assemble a cross-functional panel of leading regional and international experts, spanning academia, diplomacy, and public policy, to examine every dimension of the crisis: its root causes, the scale of its impact, the Cuban government’s existing response frameworks, potential new policy pathways, implications for CARICOM and global diplomatic relations, and actionable opportunities for regional cooperation and targeted support.

    The event will open with formal remarks from Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and Her Excellency Tania López Larroque, with the expert panel featuring Jessica Byron-Reid, Bert Hoffmann, Andy Knight, Miriam Nicado, and Indira Rampersad. Co-moderation duties will be split between Canute S. Thompson and Don D. Marshall, while Gillian Bristol, Strategic Coordinator of the UWI Multilingual Culture Programme, will serve as chair of the live gathering.

    UWI’s Vice-Chancellor’s Forum series has built a 10+ year track record as a trusted platform for rigorous public debate on the most pressing regional and international issues. Under the leadership of Sir Hilary Beckles, the series has consistently connected leading scholars, policymakers, and practicing experts to confront the social, economic, political, and developmental challenges shaping the Caribbean and the wider world.

    UWI has urged all interested members of the public to access the live discussion via the UWItv official website or regional Flow television channels. The event is designed to deliver timely, data-driven analysis, encourage constructive cross-stakeholder engagement, and advance collaborative solutions to one of the most urgent issues facing the Caribbean region today.

  • UWI Five Islands Campus launches Blue Finance and Ocean Innovation event ahead of CHOGM

    UWI Five Islands Campus launches Blue Finance and Ocean Innovation event ahead of CHOGM

    During the 11th Our Ocean Conference held on June 16, a major new initiative to advance sustainable ocean development took center stage. The Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE) based at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus formally announced the launch of its Blue Finance and Ocean Innovation Side Event, which will run parallel to the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for November 2026.

    The launch announcement was delivered as part of a partner progress update during the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Roundtable, a joint initiative hosted by the government of Kenya and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Dr. Branson Belle, COBE’s Executive Director, opened his address by introducing attendees to the core research and outreach missions of both the UWI Five Islands Campus and the specialized center, before walking stakeholders through the full planned agenda for the November side event.

    Per official event plans, the gathering will kick off with a multi-stakeholder exhibition highlighting cutting-edge ocean conservation projects led by organizations across local, regional and international levels. After the exhibition, participants will gather for an informal, solutions-focused “beachside chat” moderated by Charles Goddard of Economist Impact, which will bring together C-suite executives and senior leaders from the blue finance and ocean innovation sectors to share insights and opportunities. The full program also includes keynote presentations from participating heads of government, before the event concludes with a networking reception.

    Ocean restoration and sustainable ocean governance have long been top policy priorities for the Commonwealth, a bloc that brings together nations with extraordinary stakes in global ocean health. Collectively, Commonwealth member states manage roughly one-third of the world’s total ocean area under national jurisdiction, host 45 percent of the planet’s coral reef systems, and count 25 Small Island Developing States among their ranks — nations that are disproportionately reliant on healthy ocean ecosystems for economic and social stability.

    In 2024, the bloc reinforced this commitment when member nations unanimously adopted the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, a landmark agreement that binds signatories to take urgent, coordinated action to protect and restore global marine environments. The upcoming side event builds directly on this commitment, organizers said, by creating a dedicated space to connect policymakers, researchers, and financial leaders.

    Against this backdrop, the Blue Finance and Ocean Innovation Side Event aims to reframe global conversations about the ocean, emphasizing its irreplaceable role in supporting inclusive economic growth and livelihoods across all Commonwealth nations. Beyond discussion, the gathering is designed to catalyze new, increased investment in ocean conservation projects and scale up innovative, sustainable blue economy initiatives that balance human use with long-term marine protection. COBE is organizing the event in formal collaboration with two key institutional partners: the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

  • OPEN LETTER: A message to Dominicans, before it is too late

    OPEN LETTER: A message to Dominicans, before it is too late

    Against the backdrop of a heated by-election for the Marigot constituency seat, an unsigned open letter has sparked national reflection on the declining state of democratic norms and growing social fracture across Dominica. As the island nation navigates a critical crossroads in its political evolution, the author draws urgent attention to a rising tide of intolerance, bitter partisan rivalry and internal strife that has seeped into every layer of Dominican life — from politics and civil society to religious institutions, leaving communities deeply divided along party lines.

    The letter frames this moment as more than a fight for electoral victory or political leadership: it is a generational test of the values that underpin a healthy, functional democracy. “Every nation, every community, and every generation faces moments when its core values are put to the test,” the author writes. “Sometimes these tests arrive through crisis or conflict, sometimes through the quiet accumulation of small, unremarkable choices that slowly reshape a people’s national character.”

    Beyond the mechanics of regular voting, the author argues that democracy is a sustained practice and shared discipline that requires all members of society to uphold the principle that no individual, party or political movement stands above the law, above truth, or above the inherent dignity of every citizen. For this system to thrive, it depends on robust, independent institutions that can withstand partisan pressure and hold themselves accountable: independent judiciaries that rule without political interference, journalists empowered to ask tough questions of power, public servants who prioritize national duty over partisan loyalty, and citizens who recognize that freedom means more than cheering for one’s own side when it wins.

    A core measure of a society’s health, the text notes, is how it treats people who hold different views. It is simple to claim unity when everyone already agrees; the real test comes when we face rivals, critics and opponents who challenge our most deeply held beliefs. The author emphasizes that political opposition does not make someone an enemy: opponents remain fellow citizens who share the same communities, same public spaces, same hopes and same collective future. When we lose sight of that basic truth, politics devolves into a zero-sum war where victory overshadows the common good.

    This framework does not demand moral equivalence between all ideas, nor does it call for silence in the face of corruption, discrimination, abuse of power or violence. Instead, it requires citizens and leaders alike to respond in ways that strengthen democratic institutions rather than tear them down. Long-held political norms, traditions of peaceful power transition, respect for independent bodies, and the willingness to negotiate with people we disagree with are not empty ceremonial gestures — they are the structural framework that holds public trust together. When these norms erode, damage builds gradually: one insult, one distortion of truth, one abuse of power, one refusal to accept a fair electoral result at a time, until one day the public wakes to find that trust in the system has vanished entirely.

    The letter redefines the meaning of public leadership: holding office is not a form of ownership, but a temporary stewardship. Leaders are caretakers of institutions that existed long before they took power, and will continue long after they leave. The conduct, language and restraint of public officials therefore matter deeply: how leaders talk about opponents, judges, journalists, marginalized groups and ordinary citizens sets the standard for acceptable public behavior. When leaders mock, divide, threaten and demean others, they do not only harm individual people — they erode the shared moral standards that keep public life functional, a standard that all citizens ought to uphold.

    Serious policymaking is also a core pillar of responsible governance, the author argues. Decisions that shape national security, public health, education, economic development, climate action and justice cannot be reduced to catchy slogans or tools for personal rivalries. Every policy debate has real, tangible consequences for real families, workers and communities across the country. Responsible governance demands more than winning political arguments: it requires evidence-based decision-making, patience, honesty, and accountability for both successes and failures. Public service is not a performance for social media or rallies — it is a solemn duty.

    On the question of national unity, the author rejects the common idea that unity requires eliminating all disagreement. Instead, unity is a deliberate choice to remain committed to shared rules, mutual dignity and collective responsibility even when disagreements run deep. It rests on the unifying truth that all Dominicans share a common future, whether they like it or not. The author acknowledges that there will always be actors who profit from political division, who gain attention by humiliating opponents, spreading fear and stoking resentment on every issue, but a healthy society cannot survive on perpetual outrage or governance through contempt.

    The harder, more honorable path forward is the one the letter endorses: listening to others without abandoning core convictions, debating differences without throwing away mutual respect, compromising on policy without betraying core principles, and opposing wrongdoing without surrendering one’s own commitment to decency. This collective responsibility does not fall only on elected leaders and public officials, the author stresses — it belongs to every Dominican. Every citizen shapes the tone of national public life: every conversation, every vote, every choice to refuse to spread hate, every act of speaking truth matters.

    The letter closes with a call to reject both cynicism and despair. Cynicism — the belief that all leaders are the same, that nothing can change, that truth does not matter, that institutional reform is impossible and that participation is pointless — may feel comfortable, but it is ultimately an act of surrender. Despair, meanwhile, forgets that every major advance in rights, reform, justice and freedom was won by people who kept working even when progress seemed impossible.

    The author urges all Dominicans to show up for democracy: engage when possible, vote where it matters, speak out against injustice, organize for change, defend vulnerable communities, hold power to account, protect truth, and demand better from both the people you support and the people you oppose. “A society is not held together by perfect agreement,” the author writes. “It is held together by people who understand that disagreement must have boundaries, that power must have limits, that freedom must come with responsibility, and that human dignity must never depend on which side wins.”

    This work of rebuilding democratic trust and unity is not easy, the author acknowledges. It is often slow, frustrating and imperfect. But it is the work that keeps communities free, institutions honest, and hope alive. If Dominicans can do this work together — across their differences, across their disappointments, across their fears — they can build a public life that is worthy of all the people it is meant to serve.

  • OP-ED: Healthy eating, active living – We need action now

    OP-ED: Healthy eating, active living – We need action now

    The Caribbean paradox has long confounded public health experts across the globe: how can a region blessed with an extraordinary abundance of nutrient-dense native foods also bear one of the world’s heaviest burdens of preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs)? Local markets throughout the archipelago overflow with fresh, vibrant produce, yet rates of diabetes, hypertension, obesity and other life-altering chronic conditions continue to cut lives short across the region. As communities mark Caribbean Nutrition Day 2026, public health advocates are sounding the alarm, framing this year’s theme — “Healthy Eating, Active Living: Promoting Caribbean Foods as Medicine” — as a urgent call to action for regional governments to implement targeted policy changes that expand access to nutritious food, boost public health education and build the infrastructure communities need to thrive.

    A core barrier to improved public health across the Caribbean is the region’s extreme dependence on imported food. Currently, 90% of food consumed across most Caribbean nations comes from overseas suppliers, primarily the United States, China and European markets, leaving the region acutely vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and food price volatility. Only one country in the region has cracked the code on full food self-sufficiency: Guyana, widely known as the Caribbean’s breadbasket, is the only nation globally that produces enough food across all seven essential food groups to feed its entire population. Leading the CARICOM “25 by 2025” initiative, which sets a target of cutting the regional food import bill by 25% before the end of the year, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali has already overseen a 24% expansion in regional food production, marking significant progress toward the shared goal.

    Other Caribbean nations are stepping up their own efforts to reduce import dependence. The Cayman Islands, for example, imports more than 90% of its total food supply, with 80% of those goods passing through U.S. ports. Rising instability in global supply chains in recent years has spurred a widespread movement to scale up domestic agricultural production across the islands. The Caymanian government’s National Egg Self Sufficiency Target (NEST) programme, which works to build a fully domestic egg production industry, has already reached a 53% self-sufficiency rate as of 2025, on track to meet its 2025 target. Complementing this industrial effort is the popular Backyard Garden initiative, which distributes pre-built grow boxes, seeds and expert planting guidance to participating residents, encouraging household-level food production that builds long-term resilience. Both initiatives fall under the islands’ comprehensive Food & Nutrition Security Policy, which aims to strengthen regional food security and sustainability by 2036. Beyond boosting production, advocates emphasize that making healthy local food affordable is critical to shifting consumption patterns, as low-income communities are often forced to opt for cheaper, ultra-processed imported alternatives that drive chronic disease.

    A common harmful misconception that public health leaders are working to dismantle is the myth that traditional Caribbean cuisine is inherently unhealthy. In reality, native Caribbean staples — from callaloo, breadfruit and cassava to plantains, okra, saltfish and legumes — are packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. The real drivers of poor health, experts note, are oversized portion sizes and the widespread infiltration of ultra-processed foods and high-sodium products into regional diets over the past decades. To shift these harmful habits, advocates are pushing for early, culturally relevant education campaigns in schools and local communities. Two recent initiatives leading this effort are the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)’s *Kids Can Cook Too* recipe book, targeted at children, and Guyana’s *Colourful Cooking for Healthy Living*, designed for adult audiences. Both resources aim to empower Caribbean people to prioritize nutritious eating while honoring and preserving centuries-old culinary cultural traditions.

    Alongside dietary change, public health leaders are highlighting the critical role of increased physical activity in reversing rising NCD rates. In an era of widespread digital screen dependency and sedentary work and leisure habits, populations across the region are moving less than ever before. In response, multiple Caribbean governments have launched targeted initiatives to encourage regular movement. This year, the Cayman Islands introduced the 12-week National Movement Challenge, which supports residents to gradually incorporate more physical activity into their daily routines. To build lifelong healthy habits, the focus must start in childhood: in 2023, Barbados launched the Creative Play Initiative, which brings life-sized versions of traditional children’s outdoor games to schoolyards to encourage active play among students.

    This Caribbean Nutrition Month, public health advocate Nayo Swan — a Guyanese public health expert based in the Cayman Islands and member of Healthy Caribbean Youth — is urging regional governments to continue investing in multifactorial, community-centered approaches to preventing preventable NCDs. Caribbean cuisine is far more than a cultural tradition: it is a powerful, underutilized tool for improving public health and wellness. Strengthening local food systems, making nutritious food accessible for all current residents, and building sustainable production models for future generations is the key to unlocking the region’s full health potential.

  • COMMENTARY: OECS at 45 – A Caribbean success worth celebrating

    COMMENTARY: OECS at 45 – A Caribbean success worth celebrating

    As the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) marks its 45th founding anniversary this year, it offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the real-world progress delivered by one of the Caribbean’s most ambitious regional integration projects. What started as a compact agreement between a handful of tiny Caribbean territories has grown into a powerful example of what small nations can achieve when they prioritize collective action over individual effort.

    Founded officially on June 18, 1981, under the Treaty of Basseterre, the OECS was built on a deceptively simple core principle: that shared resources, coordinated policy, and unified action would produce far greater outcomes for residents than each territory could secure working alone. Four and a half decades later, that founding premise has been thoroughly proven correct.

    Today, the OECS has expanded beyond its original membership to include 11 territories: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Together, this diverse grouping has built one of the most successful and functional models of regional integration in the entire developing world, outpacing many far larger regional blocs in delivering practical, on-the-ground results for ordinary citizens.

    Among the OECS’s most transformative landmark achievements is the 2011 launch of the OECS Economic Union. This framework has unlocked unprecedented freedom for residents of member states: people can now move, live, work, and launch businesses across participating territories with far fewer barriers than existed before. In many key measures of functional integration, the OECS has made more progress than much larger regional bodies with far bigger budgets and broader mandates.

    Another long-standing success story is the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, overseen by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Through decades of cascading crises — including devastating Atlantic hurricanes, the 2008 global financial collapse, and the widespread economic and social disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic — the Eastern Caribbean dollar has maintained exceptional stability, protecting the purchasing power and economic security of millions of residents across the bloc.

    Beyond economic and monetary integration, the OECS has also emerged as a leader in coordinated action on a range of cross-border priorities, from public health collaboration and bulk pharmaceutical procurement to systemic education reform and building collective climate resilience. Its coordinated response to shared global challenges has served as a powerful demonstration of the impact small states can deliver when they pool limited resources and specialized expertise.

    The more recent addition of Martinique and Guadeloupe to the grouping has brought a valuable new dimension to regional cooperation, helping bridge long-standing linguistic and cultural divides that have split the Caribbean for centuries. This expanded, more inclusive vision of shared Caribbean identity may ultimately stand as one of the most significant long-term developments in the organization’s 45-year history.

    That said, the OECS is not without unmet challenges and areas for improvement. Public awareness of the organization and its work remains stubbornly low across the bloc: millions of residents benefit from OECS programs and initiatives every day, but few recognize the organization as the driving force behind those gains. Progress on integrating the private sector across member territories has also lagged far behind the advances made in intergovernmental cooperation, and the organization has yet to build robust, sustained engagement with younger generations to secure the future of the regional integration project.

    These challenges will only grow in urgency as the OECS confronts a new wave of pressing 21st-century priorities, from regulating artificial intelligence and advancing digital transformation to shoring up fragile food systems, scaling up renewable energy infrastructure, and accelerating climate adaptation across vulnerable small island territories.

    Even with these unaddressed hurdles, the overall 45-year track record of the OECS remains overwhelmingly positive. The organization has proven that regional integration delivers the greatest value when it prioritizes practical, tangible results over empty, lofty declarations. It has built durable, functional institutions, delivered critical cross-border public services, and expanded economic and personal opportunities for millions of citizens across its member territories.

    At 45 years old, the OECS stands as one of the Caribbean’s most successful examples of cooperation in action. Its decades of experience offer a vital lesson for regional integration efforts across the globe: integration only succeeds when it moves beyond rhetorical rhetoric and delivers concrete, visible benefits to ordinary people. That lesson may ultimately prove to be the OECS’s most enduring contribution to the Caribbean’s ongoing story.