Carib Scope

标签： Dominica

多米尼克

  • IICA pledges support for agricultural transformation in Honduras following high-level talks

    IICA pledges support for agricultural transformation in Honduras following high-level talks

    On an official visit to Honduras’ capital Tegucigalpa, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Director General Muhammad Ibrahim has reconfirmed the intergovernmental organization’s unwavering commitment to advancing the Central American nation’s agricultural development, following high-level discussions with top Honduran government leaders.

    Invited to the country by Honduran President Nasry “Tito” Asfura, Ibrahim’s visit comes at a pivotal moment for Honduras, which has identified its agricultural sector as a core engine for broad-based economic growth and improved social prosperity, especially for rural populations. The talks centered on two core priorities: strengthening the country’s farming industry and building more robust, inclusive national food systems.

    During their meeting at the Presidential Palace, Ibrahim laid out IICA’s full readiness to deliver targeted technical assistance to drive the modernization of Honduras’ agricultural sector. The two sides explored multiple pathways for IICA support, including technical knowledge sharing, skills training programs for local producers, policy advisory services, and cross-border resource mobilization to reshape the country’s food systems for greater sustainability and equity.

    IICA Director General also updated President Asfura on the institute’s ongoing global and regional work to integrate cutting-edge science, innovative practices, and digital technology into agricultural production, with the goal of building more climate-resilient food systems. He emphasized that these initiatives align directly with the Honduran government’s national strategic goals: eradicating food insecurity, improving public nutrition outcomes, and strengthening the country’s overall food sovereignty.

    Cross-border agricultural threats emerged as another key topic on the meeting’s agenda. The leaders highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to combat transboundary pests and diseases that threaten key Honduran export and staple crops, including New World Screwworm in cattle herds, Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) that impacts banana plantations, avian influenza, and African Swine Fever. Both sides agreed that deepened collaboration in biosecurity monitoring and response is critical to protecting Honduras’ agricultural output and rural livelihoods.

    Climate-related environmental challenges, particularly the prolonged dry conditions driven by the El Niño weather pattern and their severe impact on domestic food production, also took up significant space in the discussions. Ibrahim noted that IICA already maintains an active partnership with the Honduran government to address these impacts, including the rollout of targeted incentive programs known locally as “bonos”, which support smallholder and commercial producers to adopt climate-smart technologies, expand sustainable coffee production, and improve livestock farming practices. According to the IICA statement, President Asfura expressed strong enthusiasm for the institute to continue expanding this successful program.

    The talks also covered concrete, actionable steps to mitigate drought impacts, such as upgrading national irrigation infrastructure, expanding smallholder access to high-quality adapted seeds and affordable fertilizers, and improving seasonal planting cycle planning to align with shifting rainfall patterns. President Asfura also shared his strong support for a proposal to construct a national seed processing facility, which would guarantee a stable, reliable supply of high-quality seeds for Honduran producers, and backed Ibrahim’s ongoing work to strengthen the country’s entire agrifood value chain. President Asfura’s Chief of Staff, Juan Carlos García, was in attendance for the high-level discussions.

    Following his meeting with President Asfura, Ibrahim held separate working talks with Moisés Abraham Molina, Honduras’ Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG). Their discussion focused on expanding existing technical cooperation frameworks and scaling up resource mobilization efforts to directly benefit local smallholder and family farmers. The two leaders also reviewed potential new agricultural development initiatives that integrate sustainable management of Honduras’ abundant forest resources, and finalized coordinated preparedness plans for the drought expected to impact the country in the coming months.

  • OP-ED: International Day of Women in Industry – Celebrating how Caribbean women are shaping the future of industry

    OP-ED: International Day of Women in Industry – Celebrating how Caribbean women are shaping the future of industry

    On April 21, 2026, the global community will mark a historic milestone: the first-ever official observance of the International Day of Women in Industry (IDWI). This new international commemoration was established to honor the profound, often overlooked contributions women make to industrial progress around the world, while spotlighting how their unique leadership, creative innovation, and unwavering resilience are reshaping modern economies, advancing technological breakthroughs, and accelerating the urgent global transition to green and digital systems.

    The path to IDWI began at the 2025 Global Industry Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the 21st Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) adopted a landmark resolution proclaiming the new international day. For the Caribbean region in particular, the inaugural observance carries outsized significance. Across every Caribbean nation, women are already leading transformative change across a wide spectrum of industrial sectors: from traditional manufacturing and agro-processing to fast-growing renewable energy, digital services, creative industries, and cutting-edge emerging technologies. Despite these far-reaching impacts, women’s contributions to regional industrial growth have long remained underrepresented and undercelebrated. This first IDWI serves as both a tribute to their existing achievements and a platform to amplify the diverse, solution-driven work that women already lead across the region.

    To kick off the first global observance, UNIDO’s Vienna headquarters will center women’s role at the heart of modern industrial transformation, with a focus on three defining global shifts: artificial intelligence integration, the green and digital transition, and the evolving future of work. High-profile gathering will bring together senior policymakers, private sector CEOs, and global development partners to showcase actionable policies, cross-sector partnerships, and innovative approaches that speed up progress toward gender-inclusive industrial development. The event will also shine a light on a critical, underaddressed barrier: gaps in gender-disaggregated data that hide the full scope of women’s industrial contributions. Attendees will explore how targeted data collection and AI-powered analytical insights can create more effective, equitable industrial policy.

    These conversations hold particular weight for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as those that make up the Caribbean community. Caribbean economies face a unique set of structural vulnerabilities, from the growing impacts of climate change to limited domestic economies of scale, all of which demand new innovation, enhanced competitiveness, and greater resilience to survive and thrive. Already, women across the region are pioneering context-specific solutions to these challenges, confirming a broader global truth: when women are empowered to lead, industries become more inclusive, more dynamic, and better prepared for future disruptions. That said, persistent systemic barriers continue to hold women back. Women in the region still face unequal access to business financing, lower participation rates in STEM education and careers, stark underrepresentation in senior industrial leadership roles, and deep-rooted social norms that devalue women’s participation in industrial work.

    IDWI was designed to bring these interconnected challenges to the forefront of global, regional, and national agendas. It encourages governments and civil society organizations across the world to host public events, policy dialogues, industry exhibitions, and public awareness campaigns that highlight these gaps and advance actionable solutions. The UNIDO-Barbados Global SIDS Hub for Sustainable Development is at the forefront of supporting these efforts across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Through years of work with national governments, local institutions, and private sector stakeholders, UNIDO has proven that when women and girls gain equal access to skills training, critical resources, and economic opportunity, they do not only succeed as individuals – they lift entire industries to new heights. This is why boosting visibility for women’s industrial work is such a critical priority.

    Through global advocacy campaigns, UNIDO will amplify the stories of women transforming industries in every corner of the world. For the Caribbean region, the organization will specifically highlight women working in manufacturing, digital innovation, climate resilience engineering, and industrial entrepreneurship whose work is building a more robust, sustainable regional industrial future.

    Celebration of women’s existing contributions is a critical first step, but the co-authors of this commentary – Stein R. Hansen, Director of the UNIDO-Barbados Global SIDS Hub for Sustainable Development and UNIDO Representative to Barbados and CARICOM, and Simon Springett, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean – emphasize that celebration alone is not enough. The inaugural IDWI must serve as a catalyst for concrete, binding commitments from global and national stakeholders: increased targeted investment in women-owned industrial enterprises; expanded, accessible career pathways for girls and women in STEM fields; improved gender-disaggregated data to guide more equitable industrial policy; and supportive workplace and financing ecosystems that enable women to advance to senior leadership roles across every segment of industrial value chains.

    These steps are not just gender equity issues – they are critical to building competitive, sustainable, and inclusive economies across the Caribbean. April 21, 2026, is both a time to honor the women already shaping modern industry and a reminder that the future of industry, both regionally and globally, depends on delivering full and equal participation for women. The Caribbean already has the talent, vision, and drive to build a more equitable industrial future. What is needed now is targeted, sustained commitment from global and national leaders to turn vision into action. IDWI is a clear call to action for all stakeholders – and the time to answer that call is now.

  • CARICOM marks 10th Girls in ICT Day with focus on empowering young women in tech

    CARICOM marks 10th Girls in ICT Day with focus on empowering young women in tech

    As the 10th annual International Girls in ICT Day approaches on April 23, 2026, the CARICOM Girls in ICT Partnership is finalizing preparations for a full slate of cross-regional activities designed to expand opportunity for young women in the digital space.

    Founded to address persistent gender imbalances in the tech sector, International Girls in ICT Day is observed globally every year, with a core mission of encouraging more girls and young women to pursue academic pathways and professional careers in information and communication technology – an industry that has become the backbone of modern work, global communication, and international commerce.

    This year’s regional celebration, coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat, centers on the unifying theme: “Empower, Educate, Elevate: Building a Future-Ready CARICOM with Girls in ICT.” The official opening ceremony is scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time, with featured addresses from key stakeholders including CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett, youth representative Shakiah Lewis, and International Telecommunication Union representative Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava.

    Event organizers project robust participation from across the 15-nation bloc, bringing together a diverse cross-section of attendees: secondary and post-secondary students, K-12 and college educators, leading tech industry professionals, regional and international development partners, and community organizers. The gathering is intentionally structured to create open forums for authentic dialogue, exchange of lived experiences, and co-creation of actionable strategies to narrow and ultimately close the gender gap in technology and digital-focused careers.

    All day on April 23, a full schedule of virtual programming will be streamed live to global audiences via CARICOM’s official digital channels and the Restore A Sense of I Can (RSC) platform, making the event accessible to participants who cannot attend in person. The lineup of sessions includes a “Youth Spotlight: Next Gen Leaders Speak” panel featuring young women already working in Caribbean tech, a moderated discussion on “Achieving Gender Parity in the Age of AI,” hands-on interactive coding workshops for beginners, and open roundtables that unpack the ongoing systemic and cultural barriers girls and women face when entering and advancing in the ICT sector.

    As the Caribbean Community advances its ambitious regional digital transformation agenda, event organizers emphasized that inclusive initiatives like Girls in ICT Day are critical to ensuring that marginalized groups are not excluded from the benefits of the digital transition. By equipping young women with the confidence and technical skills to thrive in tech roles, the region as a whole strengthens its competitive position in an increasingly digital global economy.

    The CARICOM Girls in ICT Partnership is a multi-stakeholder coalition that brings together representatives from national government ministries, CARICOM’s core institutional bodies and their affiliated partners, international development agencies, youth-led organizations, women’s advocacy groups, and established ICT-focused nonprofits and programs.

    Any individual interested in joining this year’s celebration can register for the event by scanning the QR code included on the official event promotional flyer.

  • BVI and ECLAC leaders urge faster action on Sustainable Development Goals at regional forum

    BVI and ECLAC leaders urge faster action on Sustainable Development Goals at regional forum

    Against the backdrop of the recently concluded 9th Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development in Santiago, Chile, senior representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) held a critical bilateral discussion focused on accelerating sustainable development across the region. The meeting brought together Benito Wheatley, BVI Special Envoy and Vice Chair of ECLAC’s 40th Session, and ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, as part of ECLAC’s ongoing cross-regional engagement work.

    According to an official press statement released by the BVI government, both leaders converged on a shared urgent message: global progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region is severely off track, with just 19% of targets currently implemented. With only four years remaining until the 2030 deadline for full SDG adoption, the pair emphasized that immediate, coordinated action is required to close the existing gap.

    Wheatley opened the discussion by commending ECLAC and Salazar-Xirinachs for the body’s consistent, targeted focus on addressing persistent regional development gaps and rolling out inclusive productive development strategies. He noted that when these frameworks are adopted and adapted by national governments across Latin America and the Caribbean, they can unlock transformative, tangible economic and social progress that benefits marginalized and vulnerable communities across the region.

    The BVI envoy also went on to stress the growing importance of expanding technical cooperation across the Latin America and Caribbean region, particularly in three high-priority areas: climate and disaster resilience, cross-border investment, and accessible technology transfer. He highlighted that most regional economies are operating with extremely constrained fiscal space, driven primarily by heavy national debt loads and repeated emergency spending required to respond to unforeseen external shocks. In this context, targeted investment has become one of the most critical tools for sustaining long-term, inclusive growth across the subregion, he added.

    Responding to Wheatley’s remarks, Salazar-Xirinachs reaffirmed ECLAC’s longstanding commitment to supporting sustainable development efforts in the BVI and all Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He pushed back against the narrative that middle-income classification – a category that includes most Caribbean nations – eliminates the need for continued international support. For SIDS, which face outsized vulnerability to climate disasters and global economic volatility, sustained international assistance remains non-negotiable for advancing the SDGs, he noted.

    Salazar-Xirinachs also recognized the BVI’s active leadership role during the recent Forum meeting. In his capacity as Vice Chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, Wheatley led a dedicated Caribbean-focused panel exploring the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS through expanded South-South cooperation.

    Closing the discussion, Wheatley reaffirmed the BVI’s unwavering commitment to both regional collaboration and the global sustainable development agenda. “Through our various leadership roles within UN ECLAC, the British Virgin Islands will continue to advocate for the Caribbean to ensure the subregion’s priorities, including climate resilience, are taken into account in the inter-governmental deliberations of the wider region on the 2030 Agenda, and that there is closer collaboration between the Caribbean and Latin America on the implementation of the SDGs in the remaining period,” he stated.

    The 9th Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development was hosted in the Chilean capital from April 13 to 16, 2026, bringing together hundreds of government officials, UN representatives, and civil society stakeholders to align on sustainable development action.

  • CRICKET WEST INDIES: Kevin Wickham- Honouring his father through his performances on the field

    CRICKET WEST INDIES: Kevin Wickham- Honouring his father through his performances on the field

    For 23-year-old Barbados Pride batsman Kevin Wickham, every stride across the cricket pitch is more than just a routine movement—it is a living tribute to the man who shaped his love for the game, his late father Herbert. Two years after Herbert’s passing, every perfectly timed stroke through the offside and every desperate dive at the boundary is stitched with quiet memory, as Wickham has channeled his grief into purpose, stepping onto the field not just as an athlete, but as a son carrying forward his father’s legacy.

    Just over a week ago, Wickham cemented his place in West Indies regional cricket history by becoming only the third Barbadian to score centuries in both innings of a first-class regional match since 2000, joining elite company with current West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (who achieved the feat against Guyana in 2015) and former all-rounder Ryan Hinds (who did so against the Leeward Islands in 2006). Facing Jamaica Scorpions’ bowling attack, the stylish right-hander delivered a dominant first-innings knock of 153, decorated with six fours and 12 towering sixes, before following up with an unbroken sparkling 108 in the second innings—marking a career-defining performance that followed a prolonged period of personal and professional struggle.

    In a post-match reflection, Wickham opened up about the hardest stretch of his young career, which came immediately after his father’s death. He was in Jamaica when he received news of Herbert’s declining health, and rushed home to be with his family. After returning to the pitch following the funeral, he struggled enormously with his form, as the loss hit him far harder mentally than it ever could physically. “The guys showed me a lot of support because it was more mental than physical, and having their support kept me above ground and helped me maintain high standards and be where I am supposed to be,” he explained.

    Herbert, Wickham recalled, was his earliest and most loyal supporter, following a quiet, old-school routine: he never attended matches in person, but never missed one, tuning in to radio broadcasts to track every run his son scored. “Every time I came home, he could tell me how much I scored, what I should and shouldn’t have done,” Wickham said. “To this day I miss him because I miss having those conversations, and when I’m not doing too well, I try to think back to his advice.” That steady guidance is what carried him through his recent record-breaking knock.

    Both centuries came when his team was in a precarious position, and Wickham stuck to the same mindset his father taught him: protect the wicket, build the innings, and put the team in a strong position. “The first innings century was very special to me because that is now my highest first class score, so that is a very good achievement because I came at the stage where the team was in a bit of trouble, so my aim was to stay at the crease for as long as possible and get a good total for the team,” he said. “The second one I found myself in a similar position where the team was in a bit of trouble, but the mindset was the same: get the team in a good position.”

    Wickham first emerged as one of the Caribbean’s most promising young talents after a standout century against Zimbabwe at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, but the transition from youth cricket to senior first-class cricket has not been without its challenges. “This phase has been different, a lot tougher in terms of expectations after coming out of Under-19 cricket because I had a few low scores, but coach always told me just to stick to my plans and when the runs are coming stay in decent touch as long as possible because in cricket a player will have more failures than success,” he noted.

    Looking ahead, Wickham has set a clear personal target of scoring three centuries in the ongoing bilateral series, with two already under his belt. To date, he has notched five first-class centuries in just 22 matches, holding a batting average above 40—impressive numbers that mark him as one of the region’s most exciting emerging prospects. For Wickham, though, every run is more than just a statistic: it is a chance to honor the man who started it all, who he knows is still walking alongside him, cheering every knock from beyond the boundary.

  • Singer Patrice Roberts ordered to pay up in dispute with former Canadian management

    Singer Patrice Roberts ordered to pay up in dispute with former Canadian management

    After more than 10 years of legal back-and-forth, Trinidad’s High Court has delivered a final ruling to end a public dispute between internationally recognized soca artist Patrice Roberts and her one-time management firm, Canadian-based Soca Bookings Incorporated. The landmark April 7 decision has pulled back the curtain on the significant legal and financial risks that informal, unwritten business arrangements pose for professionals working across the global entertainment industry.

    The conflict traces its origins to a verbal partnership struck back in February 2015. Under the terms of that loose agreement, Soca Bookings took on core responsibilities for Roberts’ burgeoning career: handling international performance bookings, building her public brand, coordinating studio recording sessions, and leading global promotional outreach. While both parties never disputed that a working arrangement existed, court documents reveal that critical contractual details were never formalized or put in writing. Most notably, there was no clear consensus on when management fees would become due or what percentage of revenue the firm was entitled to collect.

    Presiding over the case, Justice Robin Mohammed ultimately ruled that Soca Bookings was entitled to $35,472 U.S. dollars in compensation for the work the company carried out on Roberts’ behalf between 2015 and 2017, as well as for cash advances the firm extended to support the artist’s career growth. Though the court acknowledged gaps in the company’s formal contractual claim, Justice Mohammed determined that the requested sum was a fair reflection of the tangible services the firm delivered to advance Roberts’ career. The judge sided with Roberts on the debate over management fee structure, noting in his ruling that the parties had agreed fees would only be payable once the partnership turned a profit—a threshold the claimant never proved had been met. Still, he emphasized that Roberts could not legally retain all the benefits of the firm’s work without compensating the company fairly, noting she had been the sole financial beneficiary of the arrangement and owed payment on equitable grounds.

    In a reciprocal ruling, the court ordered Soca Bookings to return $10,367.88 U.S. dollars to Roberts, representing unremitted earnings collected from digital streaming and sales of the artist’s music during the management period. The court permitted both outstanding amounts to be offset against one another, and dismissed an additional $11,600 U.S. claim from the firm related to music video production, after the company failed to produce concrete evidence that the expense had actually been incurred.

    After netting out the offsetting amounts, the court finalized that Roberts is required to pay Soca Bookings a reduced net sum of $25,104.12 U.S. dollars, in addition to covering $26,983.7 Trinidadian dollars in legal costs incurred during the case.

    In closing remarks on the ruling, Justice Mohammed highlighted the broader industry lesson of the decade-long dispute, stressing that unwritten verbal agreements carry inherent avoidable risks, and that formal, clearly defined contracts would have prevented this protracted, costly legal battle entirely. Roberts, a fixture of Caribbean music, has performed at some of the region’s most high-profile festivals, including multiple appearances at Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival, with her most recent set taking place in 2023.

  • COMMENTARY: World Heritage Day

    COMMENTARY: World Heritage Day

    When the term \”heritage\” is mentioned, many people picture isolated ancient monuments or postcard-perfect tourist destinations. But the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) offers a far broader, more meaningful framing: heritage encompasses all cultural, historical, and social legacies passed between generations, from grand historic landmarks and museum collections to intangible living traditions and modern cultural expressions. More than just a connection to the past, heritage enriches daily life and lays the foundation for inclusive, innovative, and resilient communities around the world. Preservation, however, is just as critical as inheritance: safeguarding these irreplaceable legacies for coming generations remains an urgent shared responsibility.

  • COMMENTARY: Nation-builder – The life & times of Dominica’s former Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence

    COMMENTARY: Nation-builder – The life & times of Dominica’s former Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence

    A new biographical profile of former Dominican Chief Cultural Officer Raymond Lawrence, produced from an in-depth interview held in late March 2026, is being released as part of a critical cultural preservation initiative led by Gabriel J. Christian, a Dominican attorney, author and publisher. This project forms the core mission of Pont Casse Press, the independent publishing house founded in 1992 by Christian and his late collaborator Dr. Irving W. André, a former Canadian Superior Court Judge. Through oral histories, video biographies, and written documentation, the initiative works to capture and preserve the legacies of prominent Dominican figures whose contributions laid the foundation for the modern nation, ensuring these stories remain accessible for future generations as part of the island’s living historical record.

    Born in Roseau, Dominica, in January 1954, Lawrence grew up in a household that prioritized education, entrepreneurial spirit, and artistic achievement. His parents Hugh Lawrence and Doris Durand Lawrence ran a successful local soft drink factory and retail shop at a time when small-scale Dominican entrepreneurship was a core expression of national economic self-determination. The Lawrence home was also steeped in musical tradition: his older sister Jean Lawrence emerged as one of Dominica’s most influential cultural leaders, shaping the island’s choral music scene through her direction of the Siffleur Montagne Chorale, which raised national standards for musical performance and built widespread cultural pride across the country.

    Lawrence’s early academic journey took him through Convent Preparatory School for primary education, followed by the elite Dominica Grammar School, where he honed his academic focus and early sense of civic duty. He completed his sixth-form studies at St. Mary’s Academy between 1970 and 1972, and complemented his classroom learning with service in the Cadet Corps, an experience that instilled lifelong habits of leadership, discipline, and national responsibility. His musical training began early under the tutelage of Lemuel McPherson Christian OBE, the legendary composer who wrote Dominica’s national anthem, grounding Lawrence in the artistic traditions that would define his lifelong career.

    He later expanded his academic training in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Steubenville in Ohio and a master’s degree from the University of North Texas. These international experiences deepened his expertise in communications, performing arts, and cultural administration, equipping him with the skills to lead national cultural policy and development work back home.

    Lawrence’s professional career began in broadcasting, where he worked from 1972 to 1982 at both Radio Dominica and Radio Antilles. The role gave him a national platform to connect with Dominican communities and helped him recognize media’s unique power to strengthen collective national identity. Parallel to his media work, he launched his cultural organizing career in 1971 by co-founding the Waitu Kubuli Dance Troupe alongside fellow cultural practitioners Gwyneth Joseph and Arlington James. Under his early leadership, the group transformed traditional Dominican folk dance into a rigorous, respected national performance art, and brought Dominican culture to regional audiences through tours across Antigua and other Caribbean neighbors.

    Lawrence’s work grew from the foundation laid by an earlier generation of Dominican cultural nation-builders. He joined the ranks of icons like Dr. Alwin Bully, the late playwright, artist, educator and former Chief Cultural Officer who institutionalized theater arts and strengthened Dominica’s national festival traditions; Pearle Christian, the beloved grassroots cultural leader who worked to keep national culture rooted in community life; and Mable Cissy Cauderion, a pioneer who preserved Creole musical traditions that form the backbone of Dominican cultural identity.

    Over his decades of public service, Lawrence would go on to serve with distinction as Dominica’s Chief Cultural Officer, holding the post for 24 years across two tenures: from 1990 to 2014, and again from 2017 to 2021. In this role, he rejected the framing of culture as a narrow category of isolated performance, instead defining it as the complete way of life of the Dominican people. Working alongside fellow cultural administrators Rosalind Paul and Matthew Olivace, he centered his leadership on a clear mission: preserve Dominica’s unique ancestral traditions while nurturing new artistic excellence and innovation.

    One of Lawrence’s most historically significant contributions was his leadership of the revitalization of the Dominica Cultural Centre at the Old Mill, a site with deep, layered historical meaning. The center is built within the surviving stone walls of a 19th-century sugar mill plantation, a relic of the slavery era where enslaved Africans were forced to labor to generate wealth for European colonial powers. Lawrence recognized the critical importance of reclaiming this fraught space as a site of cultural affirmation, rather than leaving it shrouded in historical silence.

    Under his direction, major restoration and preservation work transformed the site. Lawrence organized the transfer and conservation of a historic steam locomotive from the former Bath Estate plantation, implemented specialized conservation techniques to protect the site’s aging historic structures, led the conversion of unused buildings into functional cultural spaces including dance studios, and secured partnership funding for improvements from organizations including UNESCO and the U.S. Embassy. Through this years-long effort, he turned a site born of colonial exploitation into a thriving hub for artistic expression and public historical education.

    Throughout his career, Lawrence consistently argued that culture must serve to strengthen national character. He voiced public concern about eroding social values, and pushed for cultural policy that reinforces dignity, discipline, and mutual respect among younger generations. For Lawrence, culture was never separate from nation-building: it shapes how a people understand their own identity and their collective responsibility to one another.

    Lawrence’s life and career represent far more than a tenure in public administration. It is the story of a cultural patriot who recognized that a nation’s strength depends not only on physical infrastructure and economic growth, but on shared identity, collective memory, and national pride. As a broadcaster, educator, organizer, preservationist, and administrator, he spent decades working to ensure that Dominica’s rich cultural inheritance would remain a living, active force in national life, rather than a forgotten relic of the past.

    In documenting Lawrence’s story, Pont Casse Press advances its core mission to honor the figures who built modern Dominican civilization. Lawrence’s life stands as a testament to the truth that the most enduring nation-builders are those who preserve the spirit of their people. After more than 50 years of relentless service, he has secured his place among the most respected cultural guardians in Dominica’s history. A full biographical video of Lawrence’s story is available for public viewing.

  • CRICKET WEST INDIES: West Indies Championship round 2 preview

    CRICKET WEST INDIES: West Indies Championship round 2 preview

    As the West Indies Championship heads into its second round of matches, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force holds a razor-thin 0.6-point advantage over second-placed Jamaica Scorpions after a thrilling opening round of the regional cricket competition. Chasing their first title in two decades, Red Force delivered a dominant statement in their opening fixture, crushing Leeward Islands Hurricanes by an innings and 271 runs at Coolidge Cricket Ground to pocket 22.6 total points, six of which came from bonus points. Just behind Red Force on the leaderboard, Jamaica Scorpions sit at 22 points after a dramatic final-day run chase against Barbados Pride, while defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles round out the top three with 21.4 points.

    Red Force has opted to keep its full squad unchanged for its upcoming second-round clash, but captain Joshua Da Silva is pushing his side to lift their intensity and sharpen their edge heading into the match at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Da Silva noted areas for improvement following the opening win, pointing out dropped catches that need to be addressed in the field. While he expressed satisfaction with the early performance of the team’s opening batters, who have bounced back from inconsistent opening partnership struggles last year, Da Silva called on the pair to extend their good form into the next fixture.

    For the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, who suffered the lopsided opening round defeat, the squad has made two adjustments: Kofi James and Carlon Bowen-Tuckett will step in to replace Nathan Edward and Daniel Doram respectively. Head coach Steve Liburd says his side’s sole focus right now is bouncing back to secure a win and keep their playoff hopes alive. “It is a three-match series, and we are looking to bounce back and win the game. On reflection we had very good conversations with the players in our different groups about finding different ways we can come back into the series,” Liburd explained.

    In Kingston, Jamaica Scorpions are riding high after securing their first victory over Barbados Pride in 10 years, and the side is keen to carry that winning momentum into their home fixture at Sabina Park. Barbados Pride, meanwhile, has shored up its batting order ahead of the rematch, with West Indies Test captain Roston Chase — who has notched 11 centuries at this level of competition — returning to the squad to replace Shian Brathwaite. Barbados head coach Vasbert Drakes acknowledged Jamaica’s standout performance in the last round, where the Scorpions read pitch conditions perfectly to pull off a successful fourth-innings chase, but he says his side has learned from the defeat and is hungry for redemption. “It is a totally different wicket at Sabina Park and totally different environment, and I think everyone will be on a level playing field,” Drakes noted.

    The third second-round fixture sees defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles face Windward Islands Volcanoes at the historic Antigua Recreation Ground, a venue hosting its first regional cricket match since 2009. The Harpy Eagles, who are chasing a fourth consecutive championship title, have welcomed fast bowler Shamar Joseph back into their squad as they target back-to-back wins to open the tournament. Captain Tevin Imlach says the side’s strong late performance in their opening fixture has given them momentum heading into the match, even though the Antigua Recreation Ground pitch is expected to be flatter than their previous venue. Imlach emphasized the need for batters to step up and for the fielding unit to cut down on missed chances after several dropped catches in the opening game.

    Windward Islands Volcanoes have made one squad change for the clash, with Johann Jeremiah replacing Teddy Bishop. Head coach Kenroy Peters acknowledged that Guyana enters the fixture as the favored side, having dominated the regional competition in recent years, but he pointed out that his side had strong patches in their opening defeat that they can build on. “We all know Guyana might be the better the team in this format but despite losing, we still had periods where we did well, but we failed to capitalize and maintain pressure for longer periods,” Peters said. “This time around we are looking to correct areas where we are dominating to stay on top, and if things are not going our way, we need to be patient and have better execution while sticking to our plans.”

    All three second-round matches are scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m. local time at their respective venues.

  • Commonwealth Sport to kick off regional engagement with board meeting in Barbados,

    Commonwealth Sport to kick off regional engagement with board meeting in Barbados,

    In a move that redefines how a global sports organization engages with its member communities, the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board is set to travel to Barbados next week as the latest stop on its itinerant meeting program. This initiative, designed to move away from the tradition of hosting all key governance gatherings at a single fixed headquarters, aims to deepen connections between the organization’s leadership and stakeholders across the diverse 56-nation Commonwealth bloc.

    According to an official press release from Commonwealth Sport, the upcoming Barbados visit is a core component of the organization’s ‘Board on the Road’ strategy. The agenda balances formal strategic governance sessions with targeted outreach: board members will hold working discussions with Barbadian government officials, participate in immersive cultural experiences, and cap the visit with a public showcase of Road Tennis, the Caribbean island’s homegrown grassroots sport that has grown in popularity across the region.

    Once the formal sessions in Barbados conclude, Commonwealth Sport President Dr. Donald Rukare will lead a smaller delegation on a follow-up visit to Antigua and Barbuda. During that leg of the trip, the delegation will meet with senior national government leaders and representatives from local Commonwealth Games Associations. The visit is specifically tailored to lay preliminary groundwork for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to take place in the region this coming November.

    Dr. Rukare emphasized that the traveling meeting model is central to Commonwealth Sport’s identity as a truly global, member-centric organization. ‘Taking our Board meetings on the road is an essential part of who we are as a truly global sports organization,’ he explained. ‘It allows us to connect directly with our members, understand local contexts and challenges, and build the relationships that are vital to delivering meaningful impact through sport.’

    He added that the Caribbean stop carries particular strategic and cultural weight. ‘By meeting in Barbados, we are not only advancing our strategic work, but also strengthening our partnership with the Caribbean region. Celebrating cultural and indigenous sports, such as Road Tennis, is a vital part of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, recognizing the unique sporting traditions that bring communities together and define our shared identity.’

    Sandra Osborne, Vice-President of Commonwealth Sport and a representative of the host nation, echoed that enthusiasm, noting that Barbados views hosting the executive board as a significant privilege. ‘It is a great honour for Barbados to host the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board and to welcome colleagues from across the Commonwealth to our island,’ Osborne said. ‘This visit is an opportunity to showcase not only our strong sporting culture, but also the richness of our heritage, which reflects the creativity, resilience and community spirit that defines our nation. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone, sharing a bit of what makes Barbados special, and giving them a real sense of how important sport is to everyday life here.’