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  • 9th Grenada Contemporary: Islands in Dialogue

    9th Grenada Contemporary: Islands in Dialogue

    Located in Calliste, Grenada, independent art hub Art House 473 has continued to anchor institutional-level Caribbean art programming following the conclusion of its 9th annual Grenada Contemporary exhibition series, themed ‘Islands in Dialogue’. Founded under the umbrella of the Susan Mains Gallery in 2014, Art House 473 has grown from a small exhibition space to a core platform connecting local and international contemporary artists. By the 2025 edition of the Grenada Contemporary, more than 106 creators from across the globe have showcased their work here, and the space maintains its longstanding commitment to allowing artists to explore creative concepts outside the constraints of Grenada’s small local art market.

    For the 2026 iteration of the event, organizers pivoted from the traditional open-call exhibition format to a five-day immersive professional development program led by two visiting artists from Trinidad: painter Edward Bowen and filmmaker Yao Ramesar. Bowen, who previously represented Grenada at the Grenada National Pavilion during the Venice Biennale, led a four-day foundational painting workshop that introduced emerging local creators to core studio practices. Throughout the sessions, Bowen wove together his decades of professional experience in the global art space with critical discussions on the unique identity and role of Caribbean art on the international stage. Joined by Art House 473 resident director Asher Mains, conversations dug into pressing questions for regional artists: how to build audiences, navigate market dynamics, root work in local context, and maintain relevance amid shifting global artistic trends.

    The program culminated on its final evening with a public screening of *Fortune for All*, award-winning filmmaker Ramesar’s acclaimed work, followed by a lively question-and-answer discussion. Like Bowen, Ramesar centered his talk on centering a Caribbean perspective in creative production, highlighting a simple yet impactful example: how regional filmmakers can leverage Grenada’s abundant natural local light for on-location shoots, rather than relying on the artificial, standardized lighting setups common to large international studio productions. This core idea of telling authentic local stories through locally rooted creative practices tied together all five days of programming.

    The ‘Islands in Dialogue’ theme itself was designed to highlight the interconnectedness of Caribbean artistic communities, creating a space for knowledge-sharing between Grenadian and Trinidadian creators that expands the ongoing regional conversation. Beyond facilitating exchange, Grenada has positioned itself as a key promoter of artistic talent from other Caribbean islands on global platforms, with almost every artist that has represented Grenada at the Venice Biennale having previously participated in the Grenada Contemporary program.

    One notable example is Barbadian artist Russell Watson, whose work is currently on display at the Venice Biennale as part of Grenada’s national pavilion, titled ‘The Poetics of Correspondence’. The pavilion’s title draws inspiration from the late curator Koyo Kouoh’s work *In Minor Keys*, and emphasizes the intangible but deeply impactful connections that bind regional artistic practices together when creators engage in open dialogue. Italian curator and art critic Valentina Minniti notes that Watson’s practice has long centered the intersection of the human body, Caribbean ecologies, and metaphorical transformation, creating works that sit between subtle sensory experience and clear representational imagery—a ‘in-betweenness’ that resists literal categorization, and captures the nuanced identity of Caribbean art.

    As a central hub for this regional conversation, Art House 473 also maintains an extensive archive of catalogs and exhibition materials from Grenada’s nine appearances at the Venice Biennale, alongside documentation from other international exhibitions. The space also hosts regular community programming including life drawing classes, small-scale workshops, and rotating exhibitions that nurture the growth of Grenada’s local art ecosystem. Uniquely, Art House 473 operates entirely independent of government or external institutional funding; all its programming is supported through art sales by Susan Mains and Asher Mains. The 2026 edition of the 9th Grenada Contemporary received additional support from Blue Horizons Garden Resort and the Susan Mains Gallery.

  • 100% waiver on CET and VAT for promotional and informational materials

    100% waiver on CET and VAT for promotional and informational materials

    Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Grenada, the national government has approved a major policy adjustment to level the playing field for political actors: a complete 100% waiver on both the Common External Tariff (CET) and Value Added Tax (VAT) for imported eligible campaign materials. The announcement, formally released by the country’s Parliamentary Elections Office (PEO), confirms that the tax break applies to all registered political parties and independent candidates seeking office in the upcoming polls.

    The scope of qualifying promotional and informational materials covered by the waiver is broad, encompassing standard campaign assets including brochures, flyers, pamphlets, posters, banners, newsletters, billboards, and other officially approved election-related communication materials. Political stakeholders do not need to pay the standard import taxes on these items as they prepare their outreach to voters ahead of the election.

    According to the PEO’s statement, this government initiative was designed with three core democratic goals in mind. First, it seeks to create a standardized, concession-based system that applies equally to all eligible candidates, eliminating unequal financial burdens that could disadvantage smaller or underfunded political groups. Second, the policy aims to strengthen overall democratic participation by lowering the operational costs of running for office, making campaigns more accessible to a wider range of candidates. Third, the tax waiver is intended to reinforce transparency and guarantee equitable treatment for every registered political party and independent candidate participating in the election.

    The Parliamentary Elections Office has publicly expressed its support for the new policy, and has called on all eligible political actors to take full advantage of the cost-saving opportunity as they prepare for the upcoming vote. This announcement comes as part of the election office’s ongoing preparations to administer a free, fair, and accessible electoral process for all Grenadian voters.

    This report from NOW Grenada includes a standard disclaimer: the outlet is not liable for the opinions or content shared by contributing sources, and invites users to report any abusive content through official channels.

  • September and October: Breast and Prostate Cancer Awareness months

    September and October: Breast and Prostate Cancer Awareness months

    For the ninth consecutive year, the St Andrew’s Development Organisation (SADO) is gearing up to host its annual breast and prostate cancer awareness campaign, spanning the months of September and October. What began as a small community outreach initiative in 2015 has evolved into far more than a simple awareness drive: it has grown into a trusted beacon of hope and a tight-knit support community for anyone whose life has been touched by these two common cancers.

    SADO’s work already extends to supporting the St Andrew Breast Cancer Group, which connects survivors across the St Andrew and St Patrick parishes. Building on that successful model, the organisation has announced plans to launch a parallel support group for men living with prostate cancer, filling a critical gap in local community care.

    Royan Charles, President of SADO, emphasized that the campaign goes far beyond symbolic gestures. “Cancer awareness is not only about wearing a ribbon; it is about taking action, encouraging loved ones to get checked, and ensuring that no one in our community feels alone,” Charles explained. “By dedicating September and October to prostate and breast cancer awareness, we hope to inspire meaningful conversations and practical steps toward healthier lives.”

    This year’s campaign carries the theme *Together We Stand as One Community, United in Hope*, and is held in loving memory of Crystal Calliste, a community advocate lost to cancer who is being honored as one of the movement’s fallen heroes. A full slate of engaging, community-focused events has been planned to bring residents together. The action kicks off on September 30 with a virtual Zoom discussion, *Let’s Talk Prostate Cancer*, featuring prostate cancer survivor Simon Samuel at 7 pm. On October 8, a Heroes Church Service will be held to honor those impacted by the disease, followed by a Heroes Quilting and Vigil on October 15, and a Heroes Tea Party on October 26. The month of activities will conclude on October 31 with two major events: the SADO Health Fair at Progress Park starting at 10 am, and the SADO and Partners Breast and Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk, which begins at 3 pm, running from Soubise to Progress Park.

    SADO is extending an open invitation to all community members, local schools, faith groups, businesses, healthcare providers, and volunteers to join the campaign effort. The goal is to amplify key messages around the critical importance of early detection and wrap a compassionate support network around everyone affected by breast and prostate cancer in the region.

  • OECS Foreign Affairs Ministers meet in New York at UNGA81

    OECS Foreign Affairs Ministers meet in New York at UNGA81

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, foreign affairs leaders from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) gathered on September 20 for the 10th Meeting of the Council of Ministers: Foreign Affairs (COM:FA), hosted by Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Mission to the UN. The high-level gathering centered on one core mission: building stronger collective diplomatic power, deepening cross-regional coordination, and equipping the bloc to respond strategically to a fast-changing global order.

    In his opening remarks to the assembled ministers and senior diplomatic representatives, OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules underscored that regional unity has long been the bloc’s greatest asset amid mounting global uncertainty. “Our region’s strength has always been our capacity to act together, and this meeting reaffirms that our diplomatic architecture must keep pace with a world that is changing quickly around us,” Jules said, stressing that sustained coordination between member states is critical to keeping regional diplomatic institutions responsive to evolving global challenges.

    The meeting marked a formal leadership transition for the council, with the chairmanship passing from Honourable D Fitzgerald Bramble, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, to Honourable E P Chet Greene, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The handover comes at a defining moment for OECS members, which face growing pressures as small states navigating shifting geopolitical alliances, rising demands for coordinated action on trade, climate action, finance, connectivity, and global diplomacy.

    Outgoing chair Bramble emphasized the unprecedented strain on long-held international norms in his farewell remarks, noting that “the established certainties of the international system are increasingly being tested, reinforcing the need for a more cohesive and strategically aligned OECS.”

    In his first address as incoming chair, Greene highlighted the unique vulnerabilities that small island developing states face in the current global landscape, and called for renewed sub-regional unity, strategic alignment, and collective action to advance shared interests. He pointed to critical infrastructure gaps holding back regional integration, noting: “We need stronger air links among our islands, regular sea transport for people and cargo, and new connections to nearby markets in Central and South America. Governments can create the policy framework, but carriers, ports, exporters, importers, financial institutions and investors must help design, finance and manage viable services.”

    Greene laid out a clear set of core policy priorities to reframe OECS foreign policy as a deliberate tool to drive economic growth and development across member states. The five key priorities include safeguarding the OECS Economic Union, securing fair, equitable treatment for the bloc’s Citizenship by Investment and financial services sectors, expanding access to affordable climate finance for climate adaptation and mitigation, strengthening resilient air and maritime connectivity across the sub-region, and upholding multilateralism and international law as foundational pillars of global order.

    Ministers also unanimously backed Greene’s proposal to strengthen the diplomatic implementation capacity of the OECS Commission, a change designed to boost the bloc’s collective diplomatic influence on the global stage through tighter coordination and more effective execution of shared policy goals.

    Over the course of the meeting, ministers held wide-ranging strategic discussions on pressing issues impacting the OECS, including diversifying the bloc’s external partnerships, advancing trade and maritime connectivity, addressing regional developments with humanitarian and diplomatic ramifications, and further strengthening the bloc’s shared diplomatic and institutional frameworks. Leaders also reviewed progress on ongoing regional integration programs and reaffirmed their commitment to regular, close consultation in the coming months.

    To further refine the bloc’s collective strategic response to global shifts, ministers agreed to convene a dedicated Foreign Ministers’ Retreat before the end of 2024. The closed-door retreat will create space for deep, focused discussion of OECS’s strategic positioning and core priorities in an increasingly fragmented global order.

    The 10th COM:FA drew broad high-level participation from across OECS member states, with attendees including St Lucia Foreign Minister Honourable Alva Baptiste, Grenada Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Roxie McLeish-Hutchinson, St Kitts and Nevis Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Mutryce Williams, Antigua and Barbuda Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Walton Webson, and OECS Chief of Staff and Strategic Diplomacy Dr Kisha Grant, among other senior officials.

    In closing, the meeting reaffirmed the OECS’s unwavering commitment to a unified, forward-looking foreign policy agenda, and to strengthening the region’s collective capacity to advance and protect the interests of all member states in an increasingly complex international landscape.

  • REOI: Business Development & Mentorship Consultant (Part-Time)

    REOI: Business Development & Mentorship Consultant (Part-Time)

    The Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF) has issued a public call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified independent consultants to fill a part-time position focused on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under a major marine conservation-linked livelihood initiative.

    The selected consultant will support the Gender-Responsive Livelihood Support Initiative, which operates within the Woburn–Clarke’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area. This initiative centers on expanding sustainable, conservation-compatible livelihood opportunities for three key marginalized groups in Grenada: women, young people, and local fishing communities. The core of the role is to deliver end-to-end business development, skills training, and ongoing mentorship across every stage of SME development for participating ventures.

    The overarching objective of this consultancy is to provide integrated, targeted support that guides participating SMEs from initial application screening and business plan development through to formal business registration, preparedness to access seed grant funding, and post-funding growth mentorship. This holistic approach is designed to build long-term, resilient businesses that align with the marine protected area’s conservation goals, creating a mutually beneficial balance between local economic development and environmental protection.

    The scope of work for the consultant outlines five key responsibility areas. First, the consultant will lead the assessment of SME applications and conduct professional appraisals of submitted business plans to select viable ventures for the initiative. Second, they will design and facilitate a practical, hands-on training program tailored to the needs of small local businesses. Third, they will coordinate specialized training modules focused on marine conservation practices and at-sea safety for ventures operating in the coastal and marine sector. Fourth, the consultant will guide participating SMEs through the process of business formalization and official government registration. Finally, they will deliver structured ongoing mentorship to funded micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and prepare regular progress reports for GSDTF.

    The consultancy assignment is scheduled to run over 7 months, from November 2026 through to June 2027, with a total time commitment of up to 160 working days. The deadline for interested consultants to submit their expressions of interest is 2 October 2026. The GSDTF asks that all direct enquiries about the terms of reference for the role are submitted to the GSDTF Project Officer no later than 28 September 2026.

    GSDTF has outlined clear criteria for the ideal candidate. The successful applicant will be an experienced business development professional with a minimum of three years of hands-on experience in SME development, business plan drafting and appraisal, entrepreneurship training, and post-grant or post-investment mentorship. Strong skills in stakeholder coordination, training facilitation, and professional report writing are required, along with working knowledge of Grenada’s business registration process managed by the Companies and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO). Prior experience working with women-led and youth-led enterprises is also a mandatory requirement. Additional assets that will strengthen an application include prior experience working in the fisheries sector, with marine protected areas, or on community-led conservation projects.

    All applications must be submitted electronically to GSDTF with the subject line “Business Development and Mentorship Consultancy”, addressed to Jenifer James, Chief Executive Officer of GSDTF. Applications should be sent to [email protected], with a copy marked to [email protected]. Full details of the role’s terms of reference are available via the dedicated page “Gender-Responsive MSME Business Mentor – Grenada MPA” or on the GSDTF official website at www.gsdtf.org/opportunities.

  • Project Polaris investment vision presented to global partners at UNGA 81

    Project Polaris investment vision presented to global partners at UNGA 81

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, the government of Grenada has taken a major step to advance its national development vision, officially pitching its transformative Project Polaris to a global audience of potential investors, development collaborators and key industry stakeholders. The initiative, centered on constructing a new state-of-the-art general hospital and an integrated Medical City, is framed not just as an upgrade to local healthcare infrastructure, but as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, skills development and regional healthcare leadership across the Eastern Caribbean.

    The pitch was delivered during an exclusive executive breakfast, held on the sidelines of UNGA 81, that brought together cross-sector stakeholders from global investment firms, international development agencies, leading healthcare operators and partner institutions. Project sponsor Ambassador Andrea St Bernard led the presentation, titled *Project Polaris: A Vision for Investment and Growth*, which mapped out partnership openings across multiple high-growth sectors: clinical healthcare, medical research, health technology, wellness tourism and complementary support services.

    St Bernard emphasized that Project Polaris extends far beyond the construction of new medical facilities. When fully realized, the initiative is projected to stimulate widespread foreign and domestic investment, foster innovation in the regional healthcare sector, generate thousands of new local jobs, strengthen Grenada’s domestic human capital base, and expand the country’s capacity to deliver advanced care to patients across the entire Eastern Caribbean region.

    Joining the presentation, Ambassador Richard Nixon, chairman of the Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC), outlined the broader value proposition of investing in Grenada as the country advances its whole-of-nation transformation agenda. Together, the two presentations laid out the government’s core strategy: aligning high-priority national development projects with responsible private sector investment to build mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver shared value for both investors and Grenadian citizens.

    Honourable Dennis Cornwall, Grenada’s Minister for Finance, noted that the progress already made on financing for Project Polaris and the country’s rising global profile both reflect growing international confidence in Grenada’s long-term development trajectory. “Grenada has raised its profile as a competitive investment destination, and the $185 million already secured for Project Polaris is a strong demonstration of investor confidence in our country,” Cornwall said. “We remain focused on attracting investments that create jobs, strengthen our economy and deliver tangible benefits for Grenadians.”

    A core pillar of Project Polaris that sets it apart from traditional infrastructure projects is its integrated focus on human capital development, aligned with the government’s overarching Vision 75 national development agenda. Officials stress that investments in cutting-edge medical facilities must be matched by investments in the skilled workforce required to operate them, a principle already being put into action. Earlier this year, the government awarded 36 medical scholarships and 11 nursing scholarships to Grenadian students studying at St George’s University, laying the groundwork for the local workforce that will power the expanded healthcare system.

    Development of the Project Polaris Medical City will proceed in sequential phases, with a large role reserved for public-private partnerships to bring in technical expertise and capital. The government is actively inviting expressions of interest from a broad range of potential participants, including institutional investors, multinational healthcare operators, real estate developers, health technology and sustainable energy providers, academic and research institutions, philanthropic organizations, and members of the Grenadian diaspora based overseas.

    The Project Polaris leadership team has made clear that all investment partnerships must prioritize tangible benefits for local Grenadians, including expanded access to high-quality affordable care, local job creation, contracting opportunities for domestic small and medium enterprises, vocational skills training, and long-term knowledge transfer between international partners and local professionals.

    Fully aligned with Grenada’s National Sustainable Development Plan 2020–2035, the initiative redefines healthcare as a key driver of economic growth rather than just a public service. Expanding access to specialist care within Grenada will reduce the heavy financial and logistical burden on patients who currently must travel overseas for advanced treatment, while embedded teaching and research programs will strengthen the country’s ability to train and retain top-skilled healthcare professionals, reducing brain drain in the sector.

    In closing, the government of Grenada reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with responsible local, regional and international partners to build a regional center of healthcare excellence that serves Grenadian citizens and lifts healthcare standards across the entire Eastern Caribbean. Prospective partners have been invited to conduct due diligence on the available investment opportunities and explore frameworks for long-term collaborative development.

    This report is based on an official statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister of Grenada.

  • Hassan Hadeed is IGA International Retailer of the Year for the Caribbean

    Hassan Hadeed is IGA International Retailer of the Year for the Caribbean

    A homegrown Grenadian retail brand has cemented its status as a global standout in independent grocery, after Real Value Supermarket IGA’s top leader earned one of the industry’s most prestigious international distinctions. Managing Director Hassan Hadeed was officially named IGA International Retailer of the Year for the Caribbean, an honor presented during the Independent Grocers Alliance’s landmark Centennial Global Rally and Awards of Excellence held in Atlanta, Georgia.

    The 2026 award ceremony marked a dual celebration for the 100-year-old global IGA network, which gathered industry leaders and top-performing retailers from across the world to recognize excellence in independent grocery. For Hadeed and the entire Real Value team, this latest accolade is far more than a personal honor: it marks a major milestone for both the company and the Caribbean island nation it calls home.

    What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it is not the first time Real Value Supermarket IGA has earned global acclaim from the IGA network. The company claimed its first international IGA award back in 2009, during a ceremony held in Sydney, Australia. Seventeen years later, this second win underscores the brand’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards across every area of its operations, from customer service and retail innovation to community engagement.

    This international achievement also aligns with another major milestone for the Grenadian retailer: 26 years of continuous service to local communities. Since launching, Real Value Supermarket IGA has experienced steady, intentional growth, consistently reinvesting in its workforce, upgrading customer experience, integrating new retail technology, expanding convenient shopping options, and supporting the local neighborhoods it serves.

    In his acceptance speech, Hadeed emphasized that the award is a collective win, not an individual achievement. Accepting the honor with humility and gratitude, he dedicated the recognition to the entire Real Value team, the company’s loyal customers, and the people of Grenada as a whole. Hadeed went on to credit the shared effort of every stakeholder that has contributed to the company’s success over the decades, from frontline employees and senior leadership to local suppliers, business partners, and generations of Grenadian shoppers who have supported the brand since its launch.

    Leadership at Real Value Supermarket IGA echoed that sentiment, extending congratulations to both Hadeed and the entire team for the hard work that earned this international distinction. For the Grenadian retailer, the honor sums up its identity perfectly: it is a brand rooted in Grenada, now recognized across the globe for its excellence.

  • Livelihood Support Initiative for SMEs and Skills Training

    Livelihood Support Initiative for SMEs and Skills Training

    A groundbreaking initiative that links coastal marine conservation with local community economic empowerment has launched in Grenada, opening applications for eligible residents to access small business grants, skills training, and targeted livelihood support.

    The program, called the Livelihood Support Initiative for SMEs & Skills Training, is a core component of the broader Our Bay Our Future Project—officially the Enhanced Management and Monitoring of the Woburn–Clarke’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area initiative. The overarching conservation and development project draws funding from two major backers: the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund and Global Affairs Canada’s CORE Gender Smart Facility, and is being executed locally by the Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF).

    GSDTF has announced that it is now accepting Expressions of Interest exclusively from residents of four key geographic areas: Woburn, Woodlands, Clarke’s Court Bay, and their immediate neighboring communities. The central mission of the livelihood initiative aligns economic opportunity with long-term environmental protection: it aims to build sustainable, nature-compatible livelihoods for local people that do not threaten the fragile marine ecosystem of the protected bay, while creating new income streams, strengthening existing small enterprises, boosting workforce skills, and advancing the permanent conservation of Grenada’s coastal and marine natural resources.

    To qualify for the program, applicants must be at least 16 years of age, and the initiative prioritizes a broad range of potential participants. This includes current small business owners looking to expand, aspiring entrepreneurs planning new ventures, commercial fisherfolk, local sea moss farmers, young people, women, and any other community members seeking to develop new professional skills aligned with the MPA’s conservation goals.

    Selected participants will gain access to a robust suite of support services and financial incentives. Eligible small businesses can apply for seed grants of up to $5,000 USD to launch or scale their operations. All approved skills training participants will have access to fully funded evening courses, with additional transportation stipends provided to remove barriers to attendance for working residents. For local fisherfolk, the program also offers dedicated support for marine safety, covering up to $2,000 USD in safety gear purchases. Additional wrap-around support includes assistance with business registration and licensing, including help completing CAIPO registration and meeting all other local regulatory requirements.

    The deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest via the online application portal is 2 October 2026, giving interested residents more than two years to complete and submit their applications. Eligible residents can access the application form at the following link: forms.gle/TRa9WDTaKTXJvq6MA.

    For additional questions or more detailed information about the initiative, applicants can contact the GSDTF team directly. The organization’s office is located at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium on River Road in St. George’s, Grenada. Inquiries can also be sent via email to [email protected], or by phone at 1 (473) 410 0867 or WhatsApp at 407 0867. More information about the fund and its other community and conservation projects is available on GSDTF’s official website (www.gsdtf.org) and social media channels, including Facebook (Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund Inc.), Instagram (@gsdtf473), and LinkedIn (Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF)).

    This announcement was shared by NOW Grenada, which notes that it does not take responsibility for contributor opinions, statements, or shared content. Readers can report any alleged abuse of platform policies via the channel specified on NOW Grenada’s website.

  • Jelani Moses takes on Guinness violin endurance record

    Jelani Moses takes on Guinness violin endurance record

    A young Grenadian multi-instrumentalist is gearing up to make history this October, as he sets out to claim one of the Guinness World Records’ most physically demanding musical titles: the longest continuous violin playing marathon.

    Twenty-three-year-old Jelani Moses, a native of La Mode in St Patrick, will kick off his grueling attempt at 8 a.m. on October 24 at Plains Playing Field, with a goal to play straight through until October 26 — which also marks his 24th birthday. The current official record stands at 40 hours, 5 minutes, and 6 seconds, set by Indian musician Ravi Chandulal Kotadiya back in May 2024, a mark Moses is determined to surpass.

    Moses confirmed that his application to attempt the record has already received full approval from Guinness World Records (GWR), and he has been provided with the official rulebook governing the challenge. Under GWR regulations, participants are permitted just 5 minutes of rest for every completed hour of playing, and these rest minutes can be accumulated over the course of the attempt. To maximize his playing time, Moses plans to log 24 consecutive hours of performance before taking a total 90-minute accumulated break, which he will split between bathroom stops and mandatory health check-ins.

    Every second of the attempt will be rigorously documented to meet GWR’s strict verification standards. The event will feature continuous multi-camera video recording with backup storage, a prominently displayed public clock, independent third-party observers, official timing sheets, and written activity logs. No on-site GWR adjudicator will be present during the attempt; instead, the local organizing team will submit the full compiled evidence package to GWR headquarters for official review once the attempt concludes.

    Months of intentional preparation have preceded the big event, with Moses building up his endurance through progressively longer practice sessions. He gradually increased his playing time from 12 hours, to 16 hours, and eventually capped his training at 24-hour practice blocks. To boost his physical and mental stamina, he has also supplemented his musical practice with regular swimming, bodyweight training including push-ups and planks, and daily meditation to build focus.

    Moses’ connection to music began when he started formal training at age 8 at the St Andrew’s Learning Centre in Prairie. By 16, he was already teaching music at the same institution, before going on to advance his musical studies in London and Trinidad. Now a self-employed musician fluent in more than 10 instruments, Moses has stepped back from all social media for the past eight months to dedicate all his energy to preparing for the record attempt. Beyond his personal challenge, he remains committed to music education advocacy: he currently volunteers as a music teacher at three special education schools across Grenada (Victoria, Grenville, and South St George), and is in the process of launching the Jelani Moses Music Foundation, which will provide free instruments and training to Grenadian students after his record attempt is complete.

    The attempt is being paired with a public community event titled UNBROKEN Saturday Night, which will run from 8 p.m. on October 24 to 3 a.m. on October 25 for patrons aged 18 and older. The event will feature a lineup of popular local soca artistes ranging from Muddy to Dash, who will perform alongside Moses as he maintains his violin playing streak. Organizer and master of ceremonies Keith “PQ” Mark noted that the event will bring the high-energy vibe of Grenada’s iconic Monday Night Mas to Plains Playing Field, with Moses providing accompaniment for each guest performer. After the Saturday night event wraps up, the violin marathon will continue through Sunday, which will be dedicated almost entirely to solo performances from Moses.

    Pulling off the multi-day attempt requires a team of roughly 30 supporting staff, including rotating MCs, videographers, and medical personnel. Organizers are still recruiting additional independent observers to meet GWR requirements, with a particular call for public servants and retired police officers to fill the roles.

    For Moses, the attempt is about far more than just claiming a world record. It is rooted in a lifelong commitment to discipline, and a mission to inspire other young Grenadians to chase their biggest dreams, regardless of their small-island background. He credits his mother, Pamela Moses, with instilling his core mindset: the family mantra that “there’s no such thing as quitting” in the Moses name. Pamela Moses emphasized that the months of preparation included full medical clearance for her son, and a medical team will be on-site to monitor his vital signs throughout the entire attempt.

    If he succeeds, Moses will carve his name into the official Guinness World Records book. But his larger goal, he says, is to prove to young people across Grenada that even from a small island nation, they can compete and excel on the global stage.

  • Justice in the balance

    Justice in the balance

    After years of incremental progress cutting through the massive criminal case backlog that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grenada’s justice system has hit an unexpected hurdle: the scheduled start of the September Assizes has been delayed indefinitely due to ongoing, unresolved air conditioning failures at the temporary St George’s High Court, located in the CLICO building.

    The September session was originally set to open Tuesday with 85 criminal cases on the docket. All four High Court courtrooms are affected by the disruption – the two assigned to criminal matters and the two that handle civil litigation. With infrastructure repairs still incomplete, officials have not announced a new resumption date, and all 85 pending criminal cases will remain on hold until the cooling system is fully repaired and a revised hearing schedule can be published.

    This interruption arrives at a pivotal moment for Grenada’s criminal justice system. New data from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirms that the total volume of cases coming before each Assizes session has been steadily dropping from the record highs seen at the height of pandemic-related backlogs, a trend that marked clear progress for the system.

    Acting DPP Howard Pinnock noted that the drop in overall caseload has been consistent since the pandemic-era backlog peaked. Shifts in the composition of the September docket further illustrate this trend: the proportion of sexual offence cases on the docket has fallen significantly over the past two years, from 42% of all matters in the 2025 January and April Assizes, to 32% in this year’s January session, 35% in April, and just 23% of the 85 pending September cases. Officials emphasize this shift reflects a change in the makeup of the trial docket, not a definite drop in the overall number of reported sexual offences.

    For the current September session, homicides make up the single largest category of cases at 28%, followed by sexual offences at 23%, harm offences at 22%, and property offences at 16%. DPP data also shows that the justice system has already completed 83 matters in 2025, and an additional 53 cases during this year’s January and April sittings, marking consistent headway against the backlog before this latest delay.

    Veteran criminal defence attorney Arley Gill has raised sharp questions about the delayed repairs, warning that the postponement puts the hard-won progress in backlog reduction at risk. Gill noted that the 6-week summer court break that ended in July provided officials more than enough time to address the already-reported cooling system issues before the September session was scheduled to begin. “Before the court was closed in July, there were issues with the facility housing the civil courts… so that ought to have been addressed,” Gill argued.

    While the postponement halts all planned Assizes proceedings, not all High Court operations have been suspended. Matters overseen by the Master of the High Court are continuing remotely, and parties can still file urgent applications – including requests for bail and injunctive relief – with the court. Still, 85 criminal defendants, victims, and legal teams are left waiting for a new trial date, with no clear timeline for when infrastructure repairs will be finished.

    For a justice system that has centered its post-pandemic work on clearing backlogs and improving access to trials, the latest disruption raises a larger, long-term question: beyond the sheer number of pending cases, does Grenada’s court system have the reliable physical infrastructure needed to sustain progress and keep justice moving forward when cases are ready to be heard?