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标签： Dominica

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  • COMMENTARY: Connected by touch, breaking barriers, building bridges

    COMMENTARY: Connected by touch, breaking barriers, building bridges

    On June 27, the global community observes the first official International Day of Deafblindness, a landmark initiative established by the United Nations General Assembly to address the systemic invisibility and exclusion faced by an estimated 160 million people living with deafblindness worldwide.

    The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution proclaiming the annual observance by consensus in June 2025, selecting June 27 to honor the birthday of Helen Keller, the pioneering deafblind American author, educator and activist whose lifelong advocacy continues to inspire marginalized communities across the globe. Marking the first global recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability separate from isolated vision or hearing impairment, the 2026 inaugural theme is “Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges”, which centers the critical role of tactile communication in fostering connection and autonomy for deafblind people.

    Unlike separate hearing or vision loss, deafblindness is defined as a combined dual sensory impairment whose severity prevents either impaired sense from compensating for the other. This unique combination creates distinct barriers that are rarely addressed by generic disability support programs. According to data from the World Federation of the DeafBlind, the global deafblind population spans a wide spectrum of impairment, from moderate dual sensory loss to profound deafblindness, and accounts for between 0.2% and 2% of the world’s total population. As a largely hidden and misunderstood demographic, deafblind people face disproportionately high rates of poverty, unemployment, and lower educational attainment compared to the general disabled population and non-disabled people alike. Long excluded from national statistics, disability policies and public development programs, the community continues to face gaps in access to life-sustaining services from primary education to routine healthcare.

    The establishment of the International Day of Deafblindness aligns with broader global efforts to advance disability inclusion, anchored by the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) 2.0 for 2026-2030. The updated strategy sets clear policy benchmarks and accountability frameworks to measure and accelerate progress toward inclusive development across all UN work, spanning peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. Regional organizations are already advancing targeted action to support the deafblind community: the Caribbean Council for the Blind (CCB), a regional umbrella body based in Antigua serving CARICOM member states, partners with global institutions such as the Perkins School for the Blind to expand access to adaptive learning resources and specialized education for children with multiple sensory impairments across Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, and the Eastern Caribbean. For its part, Jamaica’s 2022 Disability Act provides legal protections against disability discrimination, enshrines equal rights across all public and private sectors, and brings the nation into alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

    The International Day of Deafblindness directly advances three core United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). In the area of education, the observance advocates for universal access to inclusive learning environments, tactile communication tools, and specialized mobility training that meet the unique needs of deafblind learners. For health, the initiative highlights the heightened risk of mental health conditions such as depression among deafblind people, driven by systemic isolation and communication barriers, and calls for expanded inclusive access to healthcare and targeted support services. On the inequality front, the day pushes for formal recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability, expanded access to accessible voting and assistive technologies, and professional training for specialized deafblind interpreter-guides, all to remove barriers to political participation and economic autonomy.

    On this inaugural observance, author and disability advocate Wayne Campbell calls on governments and global civil society to turn the abstract principle of disability inclusion into tangible reality. Campbell argues that targeted, intentional policy action is required to address the unique needs of the deafblind community, including tailored legislation, expanded access to specialized communication and support services, widespread public education to reduce stigma and misunderstanding, and concrete protections for the fundamental rights of all deafblind people. Echoing Helen Keller’s famous words—”Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”—Campbell urges collective action to dismantle systemic barriers and build a truly inclusive global society that grants equal opportunity to all, regardless of disability.

    Editor’s note: This article reflects the personal views of the author, Wayne Campbell, an educator and social commentator focused on the intersection of development policy, culture and gender equity.

  • COMMENTARY: A review of Jerome A. Robinson’s memoir – ‘A Time of Rapid Change in Dominica’

    COMMENTARY: A review of Jerome A. Robinson’s memoir – ‘A Time of Rapid Change in Dominica’

    In early 2026, I acquired a newly released memoir that shines a long-overdue spotlight on one of Dominica’s most important unsung nation builders. Titled *A Time of Rapid Change in Dominica* and published by Micotrin Press in 2025, the work brings to life the legacy of Jerome A. Robinson, the first Dominica-born Crown Surveyor and Commissioner of Lands. The memoir was brought to publication through the dedicated work of his family, most notably his daughter Dr. Jean-Marie Lawrence, a Professor of Technology Systems at East Carolina University.

    Before the generation of architects who built modern Dominica fades from collective memory, documenting and sharing their stories is a critical act of national preservation. Jerome A. Robinson stands indisputably among these foundational figures, and his memoir is far more than a chronicle of one man’s life—it is an irreplaceable addition to Dominica’s official historical record. Deep gratitude is owed to his daughters Lena Bellevue and Dr. Jean-Marie Lawrence for safeguarding his experiences, achievements and observations for coming generations.

    ## The Robinson Family: A Century-Long Legacy of Public Service
    For anyone raised in Dominica, the Robinson name is synonymous with distinguished contribution across nearly every sector of national life. The family built its reputation on excellence across education, skilled trades, construction, business and public administration.

    Joffre Robinson was a widely respected educator. Cephas Robinson was a pioneering builder who oversaw construction of iconic Dominican landmarks including local churches, banana boxing plants, sections of Melville Hall Airport, and the original Vick’s Supermarket, now known as Lindo Mart. Belgrave Robinson served with distinction as Chief Education Officer. Edgar Robinson earned acclaim as a skilled welder, while Ken Robinson emerged as one of Dominica’s most innovative entrepreneurs: he operated a local supermarket, launched the island’s first tire-retreading business, founded a music recording studio, and ran a successful bakery and mini-mart alongside his wife Eileen.

    During my years at Dominica Grammar School, our woodworking instructor at the Technical Wing was Ernest Alfred “Robo” Robinson, a disciplined, patient and meticulous educator who traveled to Los Angeles, California, to complete advanced training in vocational woodworking education. In my third year of study, I had the privilege of learning English literature from Robinson’s niece, Ianthe Robinson. As a cadet with the Dominica Grammar School Cadet Corps, I also worked closely with the late Edmund Robinson, our Company Sergeant Major who like many Robinsons was affectionately nicknamed “Robo.” A sharp, disciplined leader, he later became my colleague when we both taught at the school.

    The Robinson family embodies Dominica’s rich, mixed cultural heritage, with ancestry tying together Scottish-Irish, African and Kalinago roots. During the colonial era, thousands of Scottish-Irish migrants arrived in the British West Indies as indentured servants, and many went on to rise to leadership roles as estate managers, clerks, surveyors and colonial administrators.

    ## Jerome Robinson’s Early Journey: From Childhood to Academic Excellence
    Jerome Robinson was born August 22, 1934, the youngest child of Ellis and Florisca Robinson (née Joseph). He was the grandson of Alexander “Ellick” Robinson, who also served in colonial administration. Scholarly work on Kalinago history by Peter Hulme even makes reference to “Mr. Robinson, who is the government man coming among the Caribs,” underscoring the Robinson family’s multi-generational ties to public service in Dominica.

    Robinson’s memoir opens with vivid recollections of his childhood during the turbulent years of World War II, when German U-boats sank more than 400 ships across the Caribbean. These events are explored in greater depth in Dominican author Clement “Baba” Richards’ work *Seawolves in Warm Waters*, but Robinson offers personal, on-the-ground accounts of encounters with wartime refugees, Marigot police patrols targeting smugglers, and beloved childhood travels across the island alongside his father Ellis. Encouraged by his mother to prioritize education, Jerome first attended school in Laudat, where his brother Joffre served as village schoolmaster. He excelled academically and earned admission to the prestigious Dominica Grammar School.

    A striking historical detail connects Robinson directly to the school’s origins: the institution’s first campus was once the private residence of his paternal grandfather, Alexander Robinson. That historic structure still stands today at Piper’s Step, on what was then Queen Mary Street—now renamed Independence Street—in the capital Roseau. While studying at the Grammar School, Robinson’s sharp academic skills caught the attention of legendary headmaster Victor A. A. Archer, who recommended he pursue a career in surveying, setting the course for his lifelong legacy.

    ## Breaking Barriers: Mapping Dominica Through Harsh Conditions
    For young Dominicans today, it is important to contextualize Robinson’s achievements: it was only after World War II that native Dominican professionals gradually began to take on senior leadership roles in the colonial public service. Before that shift, almost all senior department heads were British expatriates or other European transplants. When the author was growing up, the post of Crown Surveyor was held by Karol Winski, a Polish surveyor who preceded Robinson. Robinson spoke warmly of Winski’s mentorship, crediting his guidance with giving him the skills to eventually rise to the top role in the Survey Department.

    In July 1954, at just 20 years old and after 18 months working as a pupil surveyor in the field, Robinson earned a scholarship to study surveying in Trinidad. He completed the three-year program in 1957, passed the rigorous examinations of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and was awarded the prestigious Michael Dixon Prize for his outstanding academic performance.

    Returning home, Robinson took on the grueling work of surveying one of the Caribbean’s most mountainous island terrains. His memoir details grueling expeditions: climbing the slopes of Morne Diablotin while carrying fragile, heavy surveying equipment, fording rain-swollen rivers while protecting his precision theodolite, and spending weeks at a time working in remote, uninhabited forests. He explains that the Royal Engineers had placed metal survey markers on Dominica’s highest peaks in 1945, and his team was tasked with re-locating and verifying these markers to prepare for the publication of a new national map in 1961.

    Robinson also recounts the extraordinary challenges of conducting aerial survey photography in Dominica, where constant cloud cover over the island’s steep mountains and deep valleys repeatedly derailed efforts to capture accurate map data. Long before satellite technology revolutionized surveying work, Robinson and his team set up base camps deep in the interior, living in tents for days on end while enduring meager rations, constant rainfall and extremely primitive living conditions. Still, they pushed through to complete their work.

    These firsthand accounts reveal not just the technical difficulties of mid-20th century surveying, but also the extraordinary dedication, discipline and resilience of the pioneers who literally mapped out the modern Dominican nation against overwhelming odds.

    ## A Landmark Achievement: The First Native-Born Crown Surveyor
    In 1962, Robinson took the initiative to pursue postgraduate studies, traveling to Glasgow to attend the Royal College of Science and Technology. After successfully completing his program, he returned to Dominica and was officially appointed Crown Surveyor and Commissioner of Lands—making history as the first native-born Dominican to hold this senior position.

    Robinson’s breakthrough was far more than a personal career milestone: it stood as a powerful symbol of the gradual rise of local leadership within the colonial civil service, proving that Dominicans had the skill, discipline and professionalism to govern their own country ahead of full independence.

    ## A Personal Connection: Robinson’s Impact On My Own Education
    I had the rare privilege of taking introductory surveying classes taught by Jim Robinson during the 1977–1978 academic year, shortly before Dominica gained full independence. At the time, I was a Sixth Form student in Form 6B at Dominica Sixth Form College, preparing for the Cambridge University Advanced Level examinations scheduled for mid-1979. When our Geography teacher Alfred Leevy was reassigned to other duties, our cohort lost access to A-Level Geography instruction, and the exam was ultimately canceled for our group. Even so, Jim Robinson volunteered his time to teach the surveying component of our geography curriculum, coming in fully prepared to every class, showing endless patience, and committed to making sure every student understood both the theoretical science and practical application of surveying work. I have remained grateful for his contribution to my education ever since.

    Beyond my time as his student, I have a deeper family tie to the Robinsons: I am married to his niece, Joan Robinson, daughter of builder Cephas Robinson and his wife Ernestina. Joan is an active member of the Marigot History Working Group alongside Dr. Peter Alfred, Deborah Blackman, Sandra Green and Alvin Abrahm, where she works to document and preserve the family history of communities in Marigot.

    ## A Memoir That Belongs In Every Dominican Home And School
    One of the greatest strengths of *A Time of Rapid Change in Dominica* is that it explores a critical, under-taught chapter of Dominican history: the story of how the island was surveyed, measured, mapped and organized for modern administration. The 177-page volume is richly illustrated, adding vivid authenticity to the narrative, with photos ranging from Robinson’s survey team setting up a makeshift camp in the island’s interior to portraits of Robinson during his studies in the United Kingdom. If the work has one small shortcoming, it is that it devotes relatively limited space to Robinson’s immediate family, all of whom have gone on to achieve great things in their own right.

    This memoir deserves a permanent place on the shelf of every Dominican school library. It teaches young Dominicans that the nation they inherited was built through the sacrifices of dedicated public servants, who worked with limited resources but unlimited determination. Their work was rooted in integrity, professional excellence and an unshakable sense of duty to the public good.

    Dr. Jean-Marie Lawrence has provided an invaluable service to the Dominican people by preserving her father’s legacy. Her work should serve as a call to action for other Dominican families to document the lives of their parents and grandparents before those irreplaceable memories are lost forever.

    Jerome Robinson also built a rich family life that sustained his commitment to public service. He and his wife Annette Robinson (née Butler) raised seven daughters—Jean-Marie, Esther, Denise, Carol, Lena, Anthea, and Elizabeth—whose own achievements reflect the same values of education, discipline and service that defined their father’s extraordinary career.

    As a nation, we must celebrate this generation of Dominicans, who accomplished so much with so little. Their stories remind us that nation-building is rarely glamorous. It is forged through decades of quiet sacrifice, consistent professional excellence and faithful service to the public good.

    For these reasons, I strongly encourage Dominican educational authorities to add this memoir to school and public library collections across the island, and I urge every Dominican family to support similar efforts to preserve our shared national memory.

    History is not made only by politicians and world-famous leaders. It is also made by surveyors, teachers, engineers, nurses, builders, civil servants and countless ordinary citizens, whose daily work quietly laid the foundations that modern Dominica stands on today. Jerome A. Robinson was exactly one of these foundational nation builders. Thanks to this thoughtful, well-researched memoir, future generations will know his story.

  • Jamaica’s prime minister reaffirms CARICOM’s value during visit to regional secretariat

    Jamaica’s prime minister reaffirms CARICOM’s value during visit to regional secretariat

    During an official working visit to Guyana that included a stop at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat Headquarters in Georgetown, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has publicly underscored CARICOM’s irreplaceable role in driving Jamaica’s national development, framing the 15-nation regional bloc as a foundational platform for collective action and diplomatic coordination on shared regional challenges.

    In comments delivered to Secretariat staff and released in an official CARICOM statement, Holness emphasized that CARICOM retains its centrality to Jamaica’s growth trajectory even as the global order shifts toward greater geopolitical and economic uncertainty. “We see CARICOM as absolutely important to our own national development,” the prime minister stated, noting that the integration body serves as both a critical tool for multilateral diplomacy and a core pillar of Jamaica’s foreign policy strategy.

    Holness acknowledged that member states do not always align on every individual foreign policy position, but pointed out that the regional integration movement allows even diverse nations to advance shared, mutually beneficial foreign policy goals that no single small island state could achieve alone.

    Beyond diplomatic cooperation, the prime minister used his visit to highlight untapped potential for deeper economic integration across the Caribbean. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the four-day 2026 International Building Expo in Georgetown on June 25, Holness argued that the region holds vast, underexploited opportunities for cross-border economic collaboration. “The opportunities for economic collaboration are very wide and very deep,” he said. To unlock this potential, he added, collective action beyond one-on-one bilateral agreements is required: Caribbean nations must work together to standardize cross-border rules and regulations, creating a unified framework that allows all members to capitalize on shared economic opportunities.

    Holness stressed that nearly all of the most pressing challenges facing Caribbean nations, from climate vulnerability to global economic volatility, demand coordinated regional responses rather than isolated national action. “There are common challenges that we need to pursue as a Region, and the best institution to do that is CARICOM,” he said.

    The prime minister also paid tribute to the critical work carried out by the CARICOM Secretariat, noting that its team of technical experts and administrative staff play an indispensable role in helping regional political leaders navigate fast-shifting global and regional developments. “Your job as regional administrators and technocrats is to help us, the political leaders, understand the dynamics and the changes that are happening globally and regionally,” Holness said. “We rely on you to make sense of the changing and complex global situation, and our regional situation as well.”

    He further highlighted the Secretariat’s core responsibility to oversee implementation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the legal framework governing CARICOM integration, and ensure the bloc’s legal and operational systems function effectively. “At the heart of it is that if the legal framework and the Treaty are not perfected, then bilateral and multilateral relationships can become very difficult,” he explained.

    Holness added that the true measure of CARICOM’s success is not institutional progress alone, but tangible improvements to the daily lives of ordinary citizens across member states. This includes delivering on the bloc’s core commitments such as the free movement of labor and capital, expanding cross-border education and training opportunities, and rolling out other integration initiatives that directly benefit working people and communities.

    Closing his remarks, the prime minister expressed full confidence in CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett and the entire Secretariat staff, noting that the team is making dedicated efforts to equip member states with the strategic guidance needed to respond to global shifts, seize emerging economic opportunities, and advance the core objectives laid out in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

  • CAF launches recovery fund to support Venezuela after devastating earthquakes

    CAF launches recovery fund to support Venezuela after devastating earthquakes

    In the wake of two devastating powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, the death toll from the disaster has climbed to 920, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed on June 26. As rescue and emergency relief operations get underway, regional development institution CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – has stepped forward with a major new commitment to support the country’s long-term recovery, launching a dedicated Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund to coordinate global solidarity and financial support.

    The new fund marks an expansion of CAF’s early response to the crisis. The bank had already approved an initial $300,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance to support on-the-ground emergency operations in the hours after the earthquakes hit. For the broader recovery effort, the institution has pledged an additional $1 million in seed funding to kickstart the new mechanism, and will waive all administrative and implementation fees to ensure 100% of all incoming contributions go directly to relief and reconstruction work.

    Unlike scattered, uncoordinated aid efforts that often slow disaster response, the new fund is designed to bring together donations from a wide range of stakeholders under a single transparent framework. The mechanism will accept contributions from governments, multilateral organizations, private businesses, philanthropic foundations, individual donors and other global partners, aligning all resources with recovery and reconstruction priorities that have been identified and ranked by the Venezuelan government. This coordinated structure is intended to eliminate duplication of efforts, streamline aid delivery, and ensure funding reaches vulnerable affected communities far faster than fragmented assistance.

    CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados emphasized the institution’s deep-rooted obligation to support Venezuela, which is a founding member of CAF and hosts the bank’s headquarters. “Acts of nature are met with acts of humanity and solidarity, and Venezuela needs us today more than ever,” Díaz-Granados said in a statement. “We are launching this Fund for reconstruction: an agile and transparent mechanism that we invite governments and the private sector to join, so that their contributions, together with ours, become part of an effective response. Our commitment is to accompany the Venezuelan people not only during the emergency, but throughout the entire path of recovery and reconstruction that lies ahead.”

    The flexible fund is structured to adapt to the evolving needs of Venezuela’s recovery process across three distinct phases. In its immediate opening phase, all resources will be directed to addressing urgent humanitarian needs: delivering emergency relief supplies, supporting affected populations, and backing the national institutions leading on-the-ground disaster response. As the emergency response transitions to early recovery, funding will shift to restoring critical public infrastructure and services, including healthcare facilities, water and sanitation networks, electrical grids, education systems and communications infrastructure. In the long term, the fund will support community rebuilding projects, restore local livelihoods for displaced and affected residents, and invest in infrastructure upgrades that strengthen Venezuela’s resilience to future natural disasters.

    To guarantee full transparency and accountability for all contributors, CAF has structured the fund to keep all donated resources completely separate from the bank’s own operating capital. The mechanism will include project-specific impact tracking, regular public financial reporting, and independent third-party audits to ensure all funds are used as intended. Donors may contribute in either U.S. dollars or euros, and funding can be implemented through pre-vetted eligible partner organizations or managed directly by CAF, depending on what delivery model is most effective for each individual project.

    As volunteers across the region, including in nearby Colombian capital Bogota, sort and pack donated food, clothing and essential goods to ship to affected Venezuelan communities, CAF says its longstanding institutional relationship with Venezuela underpins its full commitment to seeing the country through the entire recovery process. The bank will leverage its technical expertise and existing regional networks to mobilize additional solidarity from across Latin America, the Caribbean and the broader international community. Full details on the fund, including instructions for governments, organizations and individuals interested in contributing, are available on the official Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund website.

  • Canada and CARICOM renew partnership, focus on security, Haiti and climate resilience

    Canada and CARICOM renew partnership, focus on security, Haiti and climate resilience

    On the sidelines of the 2026 Organization of American States General Assembly held in Panama City, Panama, foreign ministerial representatives from Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convened a high-stakes bilateral meeting, emerging with a unified recommitment to deepening long-standing cooperation across shared priority areas.

    Co-chaired by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Barbados Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Christopher Sinckler – who chaired the session on behalf of CARICOM’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) – the talks built on the foundations of the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership formally established just three years prior in 2023. Ministers opened the discussion by acknowledging a shifting global landscape marked by rising geopolitical volatility, a reality that has elevated the urgency of tighter cross-regional collaboration to address shared challenges. By the close of the session, both sides reaffirmed their mutual dedication to advancing four core pillars: regional security, inclusive economic prosperity, climate adaptation and resilience, and upholding democratic governance norms across the hemisphere.

    Following a comprehensive review of progress delivered under the existing strategic framework, ministers formally approved a renewed three-pillar Action Plan to guide cooperation moving forward. The plan centers on three key priorities: building competitive, shock-resistant regional economies; accelerating collective climate action; and shoring up regional security and stability. Attendees agreed that the final version of the plan will incorporate clear implementation timelines, quantifiable performance targets, and commitments to sustainable resourcing to ensure tangible outcomes, rather than symbolic agreements.

    Security emerged as one of the most heavily debated topics on the meeting agenda, with ministers addressing a cascade of transnational threats ranging from transnational organized crime and pervasive gang violence to irregular migration and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security crisis in neighboring Haiti. Attendees uniformly agreed that expanded regional coordination is critical to boosting domestic institutional capacity, strengthening maritime border security, and cracking down on cross-border illicit trafficking networks that exploit weak governance across the region. They further noted that modern security threats are deeply interconnected, requiring coordinated action across maritime defense, cyber resilience, cross-border intelligence sharing, and the systematic dismantling of transnational criminal syndicates. Canada received widespread praise from CARICOM delegates for its sustained support of regional security efforts, including ongoing capacity-building programs, targeted interventions, and frontline operational partnerships.

    The ongoing crisis in Haiti dominated much of the security discussion, with ministers voicing deep alarm over the country’s persistent political gridlock, widespread violence, and catastrophic humanitarian conditions, as well as the spillover effects that have destabilized the broader region – including a sharp rise in drug and weapons trafficking across Caribbean borders. Ministers stressed that sustained international backing for Haiti’s multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) remains non-negotiable, framing the deployment as a critical tool to help Haitian authorities restore basic security across the country. The delegation also pledged full collective support for renewing the GSF’s mission mandate at the United Nations Security Council when the vote comes up in early autumn.

    Participants acknowledged incremental progress made by already deployed GSF personnel, including the establishment of command structures, ongoing frontline training, and targeted capacity-building efforts for local security actors. Ministers reiterated their long-held position that the Haitian people must be the sole arbiters of their country’s political future, and reaffirmed CARICOM’s full backing for Haiti’s interim transitional authorities as they work to organize inclusive, credible general elections at the earliest possible date. They also emphasized the urgent need to combat systemic corruption and widespread impunity in Haiti, calling for the immediate activation of the country’s two newly established specialized anti-corruption judicial units. To keep global attention focused on Haiti’s ongoing crisis, ministers agreed to convene expanded multi-stakeholder consultations during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly to map out both immediate relief interventions and long-term collective strategies to address the country’s deep-rooted challenges.

    Beyond security, economic development and climate resilience were framed as mutually dependent priorities for the bloc. Ministers highlighted that reliable, affordable access to energy is a fundamental prerequisite for broad-based economic expansion, industrial growth, and private sector innovation across the Caribbean. They also pointed to untapped opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen resilient regional supply chains, and advance sustainable development through deeper commercial integration between Canada and CARICOM member states. The discussion specifically spotlighted the enduring value of the CARIBCAN program, the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff initiative that grants duty-free access to the Canadian market for most goods originating from 18 Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories.

    Against the backdrop of persistent global economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions, ministers noted that small island Caribbean nations face disproportionate exposure to external shocks, ranging from global supply chain disruptions to intensifying climate-related extreme weather events. The joint statement called for continued collaborative action to build national and regional resilience, while also advocating for sweeping reforms to the global international financial system and expanded access to concessional financing for vulnerable middle-income Small Island Developing States, which often face barriers to affordable funding despite their high exposure to climate and economic shocks. The meeting further underscored the urgency of scaling up disaster preparedness infrastructure, expanding access to clean and renewable energy, preserving critical correspondent banking relationships for regional financial institutions, and increasing access to climate finance and concessional funding tailored to the specific vulnerabilities and shock absorption capacity of small island states.

    Looking ahead, ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership as a foundational framework for advancing shared interests. They directed senior bureaucratic officials to finalize the renewed Action Plan by identifying high-impact priority initiatives, developing a detailed implementation workplan, and strengthening accountability and reporting mechanisms to track progress. A dedicated Senior Officials’ Dialogue has already been scheduled for this coming autumn to advance implementation of the plan and update ministers on achieved milestones. The 2026 foreign ministerial gathering brought together senior leadership from across the CARICOM bloc, including representatives from The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the CARICOM secretariat.

  • COMMENTARY: Advancing inclusive leadership and global cooperation – Women in diplomacy

    COMMENTARY: Advancing inclusive leadership and global cooperation – Women in diplomacy

    For centuries, the formal corridors of diplomacy and global decision-making were almost entirely closed to women. But over the past century, this long-standing exclusionary narrative has undergone a profound shift, as women have steadily broken through glass barriers to claim space across foreign services, multilateral bodies, peace negotiations and global conflict resolution processes. Today, their growing presence is not just a win for gender equity—it has transformed how the world approaches challenges ranging from peacebuilding to human rights, strengthening collective efforts to advance global security, sustainable development, and universal fundamental rights.

    One of the earliest and most transformative examples of women’s outsized impact on global governance came during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Women were core contributors to the document, which for the first time in global history formally enshrined equal civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all people, regardless of gender.

    Yet despite this historic progress, gender parity in diplomatic leadership remains an unmet goal. According to United Nations data, while the global share of female ambassadors and permanent representatives has climbed gradually to roughly 22.5%, women remain severely underrepresented at senior decision-making levels. Regional averages vary: Latin America and the Caribbean outpaces the global mean at 25%, with several countries boasting far higher rates of female diplomatic representation. Even at the UN itself, systemic underrepresentation persists—over nearly eight decades of the organization’s existence, it has never been led by a woman Secretary-General.

    Every June 24, the International Day of Women in Diplomacy stands as both a celebration of how far women have come and a urgent call to action to close the remaining representation gaps. The 2026 campaign for the day, themed “Advancing Inclusive Leadership and Global Cooperation,” centers the critical role of women’s perspectives in multilateral negotiation, peacebuilding and sustainable development work.

    The day also anchors its calls for change in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities—two core frameworks that prioritize inclusive leadership. SDG Target 5.5 explicitly requires full and effective women’s participation and equal access to leadership across all levels of political, economic and public decision-making. SDG Target 10.2 calls for the social, economic and political inclusion of all people, while Target 10.3 demands equal opportunity and the elimination of systemic discriminatory practices.

    Across diplomatic missions, international institutions and negotiating tables, women leaders already deliver unique, invaluable outcomes: they strengthen dialogue, build cross-stakeholder consensus, advance more durable conflict resolution, and deepen global cooperation. Their leadership bridges national priorities and transnational challenges, paving the way for solutions that advance shared prosperity, universal human rights and global security.

    The International Day of Women in Diplomacy calls on governments, multilateral bodies, academic institutions, civil society organizations and diplomatic communities worldwide to step up efforts to promote greater gender inclusion, dismantle long-standing structural barriers, and guarantee women equal opportunity to shape the global decisions that impact communities, nations and the entire planet.

    As UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has emphasized, all stakeholders must work to guarantee women a seat at the negotiating table, that their voices are heard, and that their contributions are fully valued. This commentary was written by Wayne Campbell, an educator and social commentator focused on how development policy intersects with culture and gender equity.

  • DFA Festival showcases youth football as Dominica celebrates Olympic Day

    DFA Festival showcases youth football as Dominica celebrates Olympic Day

    The Caribbean island of Dominica is set to host a packed weekend of community-focused sports action this week, headlined by two major public events designed to nurture emerging talent and celebrate the inclusive spirit of global athletics. On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Dominica Football Association (DFA) will launch its much-anticipated DFA Academy Football Festival, kicking off at 8 a.m. at the association’s purpose-built Technical Centre in Stockfarm, Roseau. Curated by the DFA’s Technical Department, the event is made possible through collaborative partnerships with two regional and international organizations: Restore Caribbean Lives, a community-focused nonprofit, and First Baptist Church Indian Trail based in North Carolina. Local enterprise J. Astaphan & Co. Ltd. has stepped in as the official sponsor of the festival, supporting its mission to grow youth football across the island.

    Designed exclusively for young aspiring footballers between the ages of 6 and 15, the festival welcomes participants from all officially accredited football academies across Dominica. Unlike high-stakes competitive tournaments, the day balances structured play with recreational opportunity, giving young athletes a platform to display their growing skills to coaching staff, build on-field confidence, and connect with peers who share their passion for the sport. Beyond the fun and friendly competition, the festival also serves as a key scouting opportunity: standout players will be shortlisted for potential selection to the elite DFA National Academy, opening pathways to advanced training and future competitive play at the national level. Every participant will also go home with a commemorative gift to honor their commitment to the sport.

    One day later, on Sunday, June 28, 2025, the Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) will carry on the sporting momentum with its annual public Olympic Day celebration, running from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Bath Estate Playing Field. The annual event marks the 131st anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee, aligning this year with the global Olympic Day theme “Move, learn, discover – Together for a better world” and the unifying slogan “Let’s Move.”

    The celebration kicks off with a community Run/Walk through the streets of Roseau, with organizers having adjusted the route specifically to welcome wheelchair users and cyclists, ensuring the event is fully accessible to people of all abilities and mobility levels. After the opening walk, the afternoon will feature a packed schedule of activities for attendees of all ages, including demonstrations of a wide range of Olympic and recreational sports, group aerobics sessions, family-friendly activities like face painting and bouncing castles, and live local entertainment. All guests will have access to complimentary refreshments, a commemorative event t-shirt, and free on-site health checks, reinforcing the event’s focus on holistic wellness and community inclusion. The DOC has publicly emphasized that the celebration is open to every member of the public, regardless of age or athletic background, and has encouraged widespread turnout to celebrate the unifying power of sport.

    Taken together, the two events frame a weekend of grassroots sporting engagement across Dominica, highlighting the island’s commitment to nurturing young talent, promoting active lifestyles, and making sport accessible to entire communities.

  • New CARICOM initiative to build youth leadership capacity across the Caribbean

    New CARICOM initiative to build youth leadership capacity across the Caribbean

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has kicked off a groundbreaking regional capacity-building initiative designed to elevate youth development work across the bloc, with an estimated 180 youth-focused professionals set to gain critical skills over the next 24 months.

    Officially launched in June 2026 under the full title “Strengthening the Youth Development Landscape: A Capacity Building Programme for Strategic and Sustainable Action,” the programme targets youth directors, frontline youth officers, and community youth leaders from all CARICOM member states, according to an official press release from the CARICOM Secretariat.

    Delivered entirely through online platforms to ensure broad accessibility across the geographically scattered Caribbean region, the training curriculum focuses on equipping participants with hands-on, practical expertise to build, run, and maintain high-impact youth-focused initiatives. Core training modules cover a wide range of in-demand skills, including end-to-end project design, compelling grant proposal development, systematic project monitoring and evaluation, adaptive leadership development, mental health first aid for young populations, and strategic use of social media to boost youth engagement.

    The CARICOM Secretariat notes that the new programme was developed in direct response to two key trends shaping the region’s youth sector: rapidly shifting challenges facing Caribbean young people, and rising demand from member states for stronger institutional and professional capacity to address those challenges.

    Michele Small Bartley, the CARICOM Secretariat’s Youth Development Programme Manager, underscored the critical value of investing in the professionals who directly design and deliver youth services across the region. “As youth development issues continue to emerge and become more complex, there is a growing need to equip key youth stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools required to design, implement, monitor, and sustain effective programmes and interventions that respond to the needs of our young people,” Bartley explained in the press statement.

    Beyond upskilling individual practitioners, the initiative is also strategically aligned to advance broader regional youth development goals: it supports the rollout of the updated CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (CYDAP) and the regional Youth Development Index, while working to strengthen the institutional frameworks of youth-serving organizations across all member states.

    Looking ahead, the CARICOM Secretariat outlines a clear long-term vision for the programme: to build a connected, well-resourced network of youth practitioners who have the skills and resources to lead innovative, sustainable youth programmes, and advance a resilient, forward-thinking youth development agenda that meets the evolving needs of Caribbean communities for years to come.

  • Strong UWI presence in inaugural Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship

    Strong UWI presence in inaugural Global Digital Infrastructure Fellowship

    A major milestone for Caribbean digital development has emerged, as nearly three dozen individuals affiliated with the University of the West Indies (UWI) have been selected for the first-ever Resilient Global Digital Infrastructure (GDI) Fellowship. The achievement cements UWI’s growing reputation as a leading hub for digital innovation across the Caribbean region. Per an official press statement from the university, half of all Caribbean participants selected for the inaugural cohort have formal ties to UWI, a standout result drawn from a pool of hundreds of competitive regional applicants.

    Breaking down the successful selections, 16 are currently part of the UWI community: 10 undergraduate students, three postgraduate students, and three faculty and staff members. An additional four UWI graduates also earned coveted spots in this globally recognized professional development program.

    The Resilient GDI Fellowship is a collaborative initiative led by the SubOptic Foundation, in partnership with industry specialists and academic researchers from the University of California, Berkeley’s Global Digital Infrastructure program. Designed to bridge cross-sector knowledge gaps, the program brings together participants from a wide spectrum of academic and professional fields – including engineering, law, public policy, economics, media, and the social sciences. Over the course of the program, fellows will collaborate to explore frameworks for designing, governing, and reinforcing robust global digital infrastructure that meets long-term future needs.

    A core mission of the initiative is to build specialized local expertise in strategically critical regions like the Caribbean, where consistent, resilient digital connectivity has become an increasingly indispensable asset for social and economic progress. Sandrea Maynard, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at UWI, emphasized the transformative role of digital infrastructure for the Caribbean.

    “Digital infrastructure is foundational to the future of our region. It underpins teaching and learning, research, innovation, governance, resilience, and economic development,” Maynard said. “UWI’s strong representation in this fellowship reflects both the quality of our people and the importance of investing in the systems and skills that will shape the Caribbean’s digital future.”

    Maynard added that the large contingent of UWI participants in the fellowship underscores the institution’s commitment to ensuring Caribbean voices, knowledge, and perspectives shape global conversations around digital infrastructure planning, digital sovereignty, and equitable sustainable development.

    After engaging with prospective fellows across the Caribbean, Iago Bojczuk, a Research Associate at UC Berkeley, praised the high calibre of regional applicants selected for the cohort. “The enthusiasm and knowledge that the Fellows have brought to the programme so far speak to the immense potential that exists across the Caribbean region,” Bojczuk said. “Their diverse backgrounds and commitment to meaningful connectivity demonstrate what is possible when emerging leaders are empowered to shape the future of global digital infrastructure. Their engagement highlights that resilience must be grounded in equity and sustainability—central pillars of our Global Digital Infrastructure Certificate.”

    Moving forward, the SubOptic Foundation and UC Berkeley GDI program team will guide participating fellows through a structured curriculum that combines targeted skills training, cross-regional collaborative projects, and hands-on applied research. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to strengthen the development of resilient, inclusive, future-ready digital infrastructure systems across the Caribbean and other strategically important regions. UWI closed its announcement by extending formal congratulations to all selected fellows and reaffirming its ongoing commitment to partnering with global institutions to advance Caribbean regional leadership in digital infrastructure, innovation, and technology development.

  • Cultural Division to unveil 2026 Miss Wob Dwiyet contestants on July 1

    Cultural Division to unveil 2026 Miss Wob Dwiyet contestants on July 1

    One of Dominica’s most cherished cultural celebrations is gearing up for its 2026 iteration, with the official countdown to the Miss Wob Dwiyet pageant set to kick off with the public introduction of this year’s competing candidates.

    A recent official press statement from the Cultural Division under Dominica’s Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development confirmed that the 2026 delegate reveal will be hosted as a custom-produced online premiere, launching at 6:00 PM local time on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

    The event, arranged through a partnership between the Cultural Division and the National Cultural Council, will deliver a pre-recorded showcase introducing all five contestants alongside the first public release of their official portraits. Fans across the globe and local audiences will be able to stream the premiere free of charge via the Cultural Division’s official Facebook page, as well as through broadcast and digital platforms of selected local media partners.

    This public unveiling serves as the formal starting line for the 2026 Miss Wob Dwiyet competition, marking the first chance for Dominica’s public to connect with the young women vying for one of the island nation’s most respected and prominent cultural titles.

    Per the Cultural Division, the online reveal format is structured to center the core values that have defined the pageant for decades: the effortless elegance, unshakable confidence, and deep cultural pride that each candidate brings to the competition. It also sets the stage for each delegate’s months-long journey of preparation and community engagement leading up to the final coronation event.

    The months-long competition will conclude on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, when the current titleholder, Miss Wob Dwiyet 2025 ZebadiJah Maxwell, will step down from her role and place the crown on her successor.

    As a long-standing pillar of Dominica’s cultural calendar, the pageant gives contestants a platform to highlight the natural beauty, ancestral heritage, and living traditions that make the island nation unique. For organizers, the competition remains a critical vehicle for preserving and amplifying Dominica’s distinct cultural identity for new generations.

    In closing, the Cultural Division has issued an open invitation to all Dominicans at home and abroad to tune into the online reveal, join in welcoming the 2026 cohort of contestants, and take part in opening a new chapter of celebrating the island’s deep-rooted traditions and the lasting legacy of the iconic Miss Wob Dwiyet Pageant.