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  • The Carenage comes alive for 3rd annual We Pan Fest

    The Carenage comes alive for 3rd annual We Pan Fest

    On Sunday, June 28, 2026, the waterfront district of The Carenage in Grenada transformed into a vibrant hub of rhythm, joy, and communal connection, as the third annual We Pan Fest kicked off at the Pedestrian Plaza. The one-day cultural gathering united hundreds of attendees spanning generations—from local families and emerging steelpan musicians to established performing artistes, small business vendors, and out-of-town patrons—all gathered to honor one of Grenada’s most cherished cultural traditions.

    Organized by Senator Claudette Joseph in partnership with the local Carenage community, the festival carries a dual mission: to preserve and elevate Grenada’s iconic steelpan heritage, while creating tangible economic and social opportunities for local creators and small entrepreneurs. For Senator Joseph, the event is far more than a concert—it is a vehicle for community-building rooted in shared cultural identity.

    “We Pan Fest continues to reflect my mission of community development through culture, togetherness and opportunity,” Joseph shared in her remarks during the festival. “It is a joy to see The Carenage filled with families, musicians, vendors and residents celebrating something that belongs to all of us. This is how we build pride in our communities and create spaces where people feel connected.”

    This year’s iteration marked notable growth for the still-young festival, expanding its steel orchestra lineup from four groups in 2025 to six ensembles in 2026, giving attendees a broader, more dynamic showcase of Grenada’s thriving steelpan movement. The lineup welcomed first-time participant Corinthians Steel Orchestra, alongside returning favorites including River Road Pan Wizards, Republic Bank Angel Harps, IMA Rainbow City All Stars, Nexa New Dimension, and the reigning Panorama Champions Co-op Bank Commancheros.

    Beyond steelpan performances, the full evening of entertainment featured a diverse lineup of homegrown Grenadian vocal and performance artistes, including Blaka Dan, General PP, Temptress, L.E.D. Bad Artiste, Zeal, Khaos, Alma Boy, Hitz, and Yung Pert, with acts curated to appeal to attendees of all age groups.

    The festival also incorporated heartfelt commemorative moments that honored the legacy and community of steelpan in Grenada. Aligning with the seasonal timing of the event, Senator Joseph led a tribute to recognize the lifelong contributions of fathers who have dedicated their time and talent to advancing the steelpan art form. Attendees also paused for a moment of silence to honor pan players who had passed away in the 12 months leading up to the festival, acknowledging their enduring impact on Grenada’s cultural landscape.

    The event earned high-level support from Grenada’s national leadership, with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell making a special appearance to greet the crowd and deliver a short address affirming his backing for the festival and the broader Grenadian steelpan community. Mitchell also posed for photos with the newly formed Corinthians Steel Orchestra during his visit.

    As the final notes of the evening rang out across The Carenage, organizers expressed their sincere gratitude to every group and individual that contributed to the festival’s success, including performers, vendors, corporate sponsors, volunteer staff, the production team, the Royal Grenada Police Force, and every patron who attended. Already, planning work is underway for the 2027 edition of We Pan Fest, which is scheduled to take place on Father’s Day, as the event solidifies its place as one of Grenada’s premier annual celebrations of culture, community, and national pride.

  • Nexen Family Health vacancy: Receptionist

    Nexen Family Health vacancy: Receptionist

    A new patient-focused general practice is gearing up for its official opening in Perdmontemps, St David, and has launched a search for its very first team member to fill the receptionist role. Nexen Family Health, which is scheduled to welcome its first patients in August 2026, is looking for a candidate who brings a friendly demeanor, strong professional ethics and solid organizational skills to join its growing team in a modern, newly built healthcare facility.

    As the first point of contact for every patient walking through the practice’s doors, the incoming receptionist will hold a core role in shaping patient experiences at Nexen Family Health. Their key duties will cover a broad range of front-of-house and administrative tasks: delivering consistently exceptional customer service to foster a warm, welcoming environment for all visitors; greeting and registering patients with courtesy and professionalism; managing and coordinating patient movement throughout the practice to keep daily operations running smoothly; responding to incoming enquiries via phone calls, emails and WhatsApp; maintaining up-to-date, accurate patient documentation and completing routine administrative work; processing patient payments and issuing official receipts; and keeping the reception area clean, tidy and welcoming at all times.

    To be considered for the role, candidates are expected to meet several core requirements. Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills are a must, as the role involves constant interaction with patients, clinical staff and third-party partners. Candidates must also present a professional appearance and demeanor, have proficient working knowledge of common digital tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, email platforms and WhatsApp, demonstrate the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously while staying calm during busy periods, and prove to be a reliable team member with consistent punctuality. While previous experience working in customer service or the healthcare sector is considered a valuable advantage, it is not a mandatory requirement for applicants. Nexen Family Health has confirmed that it will provide full, tailored training to the successful candidate to help them adapt to the role.

    The successful applicant will work a set weekly schedule that includes 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday through Friday, and 8:30 am to 2:30 pm every Saturday, with full days off on Sundays, giving consistent work-life balance for the role.

    Individuals interested in applying for the position are asked to submit their curriculum vitae along with either a brief cover letter or a short personal introduction to the Hiring Manager. Applications can be sent via email to [email protected] or through WhatsApp to 473-456-3936. The closing date for all applications is 10 July 2026, and late submissions will not be considered.

    This recruitment posting is featured on NOW Grenada, which notes that it does not take responsibility for the opinions, statements or any third-party content shared by contributors. Users can access a reporting link to flag any abusive content related to the posting.

  • Tropical Weather Outlook: Monday, 29 June 2026 (8 am)

    Tropical Weather Outlook: Monday, 29 June 2026 (8 am)

    Officials from the Meteorological Services, MBIA under the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA) have issued an updated tropical weather outlook covering the Tropical North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, highlighting two active disturbances being tracked as of this update.

    The first system, marked as a low-pressure disturbance located off the southeastern coast of the United States, sits embedded along a stationary frontal boundary. The system currently maintains a disorganized structure of scattered showers and active thunderstorms. According to forecasters, environmental conditions in the region are only marginally conducive to limited tropical cyclone development over the next 48 hours as the system is projected to drift southward initially before shifting westward. Later this week, conditions are expected to degrade further, making cyclone formation even less likely. Meteorologists assign just a 10% chance of development over both the 48-hour and seven-day forecast windows.

    A second system, a tropical wave located in the central Atlantic, currently has its axis positioned along the 58th meridian west, stretching to the south of 14 degrees north latitude. The system is tracking westward at a speed of 10 to 15 knots, with scattered moderate convection concentrated along the wave axis and north of 6 degrees north latitude. Forecasters project the wave will pass over the island nation of Grenada between Monday night and Tuesday, bringing periods of cloudy conditions, light to moderate rain showers, and a chance of isolated thunderstorms to the area.

    In addition to the two monitored systems, forecasters confirmed that no additional tropical cyclone activity is expected across the entire monitoring area over the next 48 hours. This official update is scheduled to be next refreshed at 2 pm local time. The outlook was published by NOW Grenada, which notes it is not responsible for content or opinions shared by contributing agencies, and provides a channel for users to report problematic content.

  • Cross-border Inheritance and compliance considerations

    Cross-border Inheritance and compliance considerations

    For centuries, Caribbean migration has reshaped global communities, with millions of Caribbean-born people building new lives across North America, Europe, and beyond while retaining deep cultural and property ties to their home islands. What once operated as an informal, trust-based arrangement for cross-border family assets, however, has grown increasingly complex in the modern era of regulatory compliance, according to Kevon K K Charles, a Grenada-based attorney with dual admission to practice in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.

    Charles, who specializes in estate law, notes that many of the most complicated estate cases he handles start with a deceptively simple line: All of the estate’s beneficiaries live outside of the country where the assets are held. This pattern is nothing new: generations of Caribbean families have seen children leave the islands for opportunities abroad, settling in New York, Toronto, London, Trinidad, and other destinations, while family property and assets remain in the home jurisdiction, such as Grenada. But when a family member passes away, what was once uncomplicated shared family property becomes an inheritance matter spanning multiple legal systems, regulatory regimes, and financial institutions.

    “One of the Caribbean’s greatest exports has always been its people,” Charles explains. Today, it is extremely common for an estate to hold property in one Caribbean jurisdiction, have beneficiaries residing in a second country, and manage assets through financial institutions based in a third. Unlike decades past, modern estate administration does not stop at a country’s border; legal teams must navigate conflicting local laws, differing banking requirements, and layered global compliance standards all within a single inheritance case.

    Locating dispersed beneficiaries is rarely the hardest part of the process, Charles stresses. The biggest challenge comes from meeting the strict verification requirements set by financial institutions and legal bodies that control access to the deceased’s assets. Banks routinely demand certified government-issued identification, proof of permanent address, detailed tax information, and additional anti-fraud verification before releasing any funds to foreign-based beneficiaries. Attorneys working on the case often must obtain apostilled authenticated documents or formal grants of representation recognized in multiple countries. Even transferring real estate requires compliance with property laws in all involved jurisdictions, turning what should be a private family matter into a formal international transaction.

    Charles says one of the most frequent questions he receives from families is equally straightforward: If my brother lives in Canada, why can’t we just transfer his share of the inheritance directly to him? Legally, the transfer may be permitted, but practically, large cross-border transfers trigger automatic additional scrutiny from global financial institutions, especially when the recipient has no prior relationship with the sending bank or the purpose of the transfer is not immediately clear. This does not mean the transfer is blocked entirely, Charles clarifies, but it does mean families must follow a lengthy, multi-step process to complete the transaction.

    A major shift from past generations is the new centrality of formal documentation. While mid-20th century Caribbean estate matters relied heavily on interpersonal trust within families, modern inheritance requires extensive paperwork to move forward. Death certificates, formal grants of representation, government-issued identification, proof of address, source of funds verifications, and tax declarations – documents that were once considered secondary are now core to processing an estate efficiently.

    From his daily practice handling multi-jurisdictional estates, Charles has observed that inheritance law still formally defines who is entitled to receive a deceased’s assets. But modern global compliance frameworks ultimately dictate when and how those beneficiaries will actually gain access to their lawful inheritance. As he notes, the pattern of Caribbean migration created this new landscape: the grandparents of current families left the Caribbean seeking opportunity abroad, built wealth in their new host countries, and retained property and roots back in their home islands. Today, the estates they leave behind span oceans, not just islands, with beneficiaries scattered across multiple countries and assets split between jurisdictions to match.

    This analysis forms part of a ongoing series examining the shifting relationship between wealth, property ownership, and regulatory compliance across the Caribbean. NOW Grenada notes it is not responsible for the opinions or content shared by contributing writers, and invites readers to report any abusive content through official platform channels.

  • Smarter security starts with visibility and control

    Smarter security starts with visibility and control

    For far too long, commercial property owners have treated on-site security as a reactive measure — a problem that only gets attention after a break-in, theft, act of vandalism, missing inventory or unauthorized access incident already causes damage. But a shifting security technology landscape is making proactive, intelligent protection far more accessible than ever before, extending cutting-edge capabilities beyond the reach of only large multinational corporations with deep pockets. Today, small and medium-sized business owners and residential property users alike can access affordable, reliable, user-friendly smart security solutions that were unthinkable just 10 years ago.

    One of the most transformative innovations in modern security is the integration of artificial intelligence into video camera systems. Traditional security setups relied on passive recording: if an incident occurred, security teams or business owners would be forced to sift through hours of raw footage to piece together what happened. AI-powered cameras flip this model on its head, enabling a fully proactive approach to threat detection.

    Contemporary AI-enabled systems can automatically identify people, vehicles, and anomalous activity that falls outside expected patterns. They push instant alerts directly to a user’s mobile device, delivering real-time visibility into any on-site event from anywhere in the world. Most modern systems are also trained to distinguish between human intruders and animals, drastically cutting down on the number of false alarms that waste time and desensitize users to genuine threats.

    A growing number of modern security cameras also come equipped with built-in speakers and microphones, supporting two-way audio communication between remote users and on-site visitors. For example, if a business owner receives an after-hours alert of an unauthorized person on their property, they can pull up a live feed on their phone and speak directly to the individual through the camera. In most scenarios, simply making a remote presence known is enough to deter criminal or mischievous activity before it escalates into damage or loss.

    Remote monitoring capabilities have also opened up new flexibility for business owners managing multiple locations or who spend significant time off-site. Whether a manager is at home, traveling for work, or overseeing a chain of storefronts spread across a region, they can access live feeds and receive critical alerts from virtually any internet-connected location.

    Storage is another key consideration when evaluating modern security camera systems, with two primary options: local and cloud storage, each with distinct benefits. Local storage saves all footage to on-site hardware, most commonly a Network Video Recorder (NVR). This setup typically offers large storage capacities at a lower long-term cost, since it does not require recurring monthly subscription fees for cloud hosting. Cloud storage, by contrast, saves encrypted footage to secure remote online servers. The core advantage of this model is that footage remains intact and accessible even if on-site hardware is damaged or stolen during a break-in. Cloud storage also simplifies remote access to footage and makes sharing recordings with law enforcement or insurance providers far easier.

    While smart cameras are a foundational component of any comprehensive security strategy, they only address part of a property’s protection needs. That is where modern access control systems enter the picture. Put simply: cameras record what happened after an event occurs, while access control prevents unauthorized access from happening in the first place.

    Traditional physical key systems carry a long list of inherent limitations. Keys can be easily lost, copied, or shared with unauthorized individuals without management knowledge. When an employee leaves the company, rekeying or replacing all facility locks is a costly, time-consuming inconvenience. Modern access control systems replace physical keys with secure digital credentials, which can come in many forms: keycards, mobile phone-based credentials, PIN codes, fingerprint scans, or facial recognition. This digital model allows business owners to granularly control who can access specific areas of a facility, and during what times access is permitted.

    For example, a warehouse employee can be restricted to only access the facility during their scheduled working hours, while a general manager can be granted 24/7 access across the entire property. If an employee leaves the organization, their access credentials can be revoked immediately with no need to change locks or reissue keys to the entire team. Many modern access control systems also automatically generate entry logs, creating a clear audit trail that shows which individual entered a restricted space and at what time. This builds greater accountability among staff and helps business owners refine operational security protocols over time.

    Like smart cameras, access control systems are also leveraging AI to become more proactive. Newer AI-powered access solutions can automatically flag unusual entry patterns, detect repeated attempts to access restricted areas, and alert management if an individual attempts to enter outside of their pre-approved schedule.

    The greatest security benefit, however, comes from integrating AI-powered cameras and access control systems into a single connected ecosystem. For instance: if a door is opened after hours, the access control system automatically logs who opened it, while the connected security camera instantly triggers recording to capture live footage of the event. Instead of sorting through hours of recordings to identify the individual and what occurred, management gets a complete, contextual report in seconds.

    For businesses, this integrated combination of technologies delivers measurable benefits: enhanced overall security, reduced inventory and property loss, clearer staff accountability, and invaluable peace of mind for owners and managers. The advantages are just as compelling for residential users: smart integrated systems protect household members, track visitor activity, send alerts for package deliveries, and provide reassurance when homeowners are away on vacation or travel.

    Before investing in a new camera or access control solution, industry experts recommend walking through a few simple assessment questions to narrow down the right fit for your needs: which specific areas of my property require monitoring and protection? Do I need remote access to live feeds and instant alerts? Should I store footage locally, in the cloud, or use a hybrid model that combines both? What access restrictions do I need for different people across different areas of my property? Can my chosen camera and access control systems integrate with one another?

    For business owners in Grenada looking to explore modern security options, Amalgamated Security Services Ltd. (ASSL) offers tailored support to match security solutions to unique business needs and budget constraints. The ASSL team provides complimentary on-site assessments to evaluate a property’s current security posture, demonstrate the latest AI-powered camera and access control technologies, and deliver customized recommendations with no obligation. To schedule a free site assessment and technology demonstration, contact ASSL at 435-ASSL (2775) or [email protected] to protect your people, property, and business with modern, accessible security.

    *Disclaimer: NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by third-party contributors. To report abusive content, follow the official reporting channel on the NOW Grenada platform.

  • This Day in History: 29 June 1830

    This Day in History: 29 June 1830

    On June 29, 1830, a landmark moment in Grenada’s religious and architectural history unfolded when the foundation stone of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church was laid. This structure was one of four major religious buildings initiated that same year across the island, joining Anglican churches in the parishes of St. Andrew and St. David, plus the Presbyterian Kirk in the capital of St. George’s. The British Crown covered construction costs for all three Anglican churches through a dedicated grant, provided to support the expansion of established Protestant churches across its Caribbean colonial holdings.

    Long before the current church’s construction, this stretch of coastal land on Grenada’s northern coast held layers of layered human history. In 1650, following a violent French military campaign against the Indigenous Kalinago people at Leapers’ Hill, French colonists built Fort d’Esnambuc, a coastal battery and palisade fortification, on this very hilltop. Around 1718, French settlers built the Notre Dame du Bon Secours Catholic Church in the same general area, where the ruins of a later police station now stand. When British forces took control of Grenada, Protestant officials appropriated the Catholic house of worship to repurpose it for Anglican services. However, this early structure was completely destroyed during the widespread Fedon’s Rebellion that raged across the island between 1795 and 1796.

    Historical analysis of 1763 cartographic records from Pinel’s map of Grenada has led local heritage researchers to a striking conclusion: this hilltop is far more likely the actual historical site of Leapers’ Hill than the more widely celebrated site marked behind the modern Catholic church located on the opposite adjacent hill. The 1763 map confirms the location of the original coastal battery overlooking the St. Patrick’s River, matching the geographical footprint of the church’s current site.

    Construction of the current chapel moved forward from its 1830 founding, and just over 12 months later, on July 21, 1831, Bishop Coleridge of Barbados and the Windward Islands formally consecrated the new building. As the first and oldest Anglican church ever built in St. Patrick Parish, it stands as a striking example of Caribbean Georgian architecture, tucked into the slopes of a scenic hill that offers sweeping panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Its signature design features include a tall central tower capped with pointed quadripartite vaults, reinforced by stacked superimposed buttresses. The main facade hosts three entry doors, with semi-oval fanlight windows positioned above the two smaller side doors. A sprawling historic cemetery surrounds the main sanctuary, where weathered headstones date back more than 150 years, chronicling generations of local residents.

    Parish record-keeping for the church stretches back to 1807, decades before the current building was completed. Early records were grouped under combined parish administrations: first with St. Andrew, St. Patrick and St. David from 1807 to 1825, then with just St. Patrick and St. David after 1825, before the parish gained its own independent administrative record-keeping. In the wake of catastrophic Hurricane Ivan that struck Grenada in 2004, the church underwent a careful, historically faithful restoration that preserved its original architectural character. Today, a dozen commemorative memorial plaques line the church’s interior walls, honoring prominent local figures including John Anthony McSween, George Augustus Gentle and George Paterson.

    Historical archive photos from around 1992 show the church’s cemetery overgrown with Antigonon leptopus, the invasive climbing vine commonly known as bee vine or Mexican creeper, a common sight across Grenada’s uncultivated green spaces.

  • RGPF confirms safety and traffic arrangements for Gouyave Fisherman’s Birthday celebrations

    RGPF confirms safety and traffic arrangements for Gouyave Fisherman’s Birthday celebrations

    Preparations for the annual Gouyave Fisherman’s Birthday celebrations, scheduled to take place on June 29 in Grenada’s St John parish, have moved into their final phase after a collaborative planning meeting between top law enforcement officials and local community leaders. Senior command members of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) gathered recently with St John’s Parliamentary Representative and leadership from the Gouyave Improvement Committee to align on logistics, public safety protocols and event management that will keep both attendees and local residents safe throughout the festivities.

    The cross-stakeholder discussion created a structured space to address key community and enforcement concerns, ranging from crowd control and traffic flow to noise regulations and emergency access. After productive negotiations that balanced the desire for a festive celebration with the need for public order, all parties reached consensus on a set of binding operational rules for the event.

    Under the agreed framework, no permanent or temporary physical structures will be built across the parish’s main thoroughfare to avoid blocking through traffic. Street vendors will be allowed to set up operations along the road shoulders, and are permitted to play music for attendees as long as volume levels are kept at a reasonable level that does not disturb surrounding residential areas. The group also agreed to a staggered start for event music: no musical performances will begin before the opening traditional church service concludes, and approved music can continue playing until 2 a.m. each day of the event.

    To minimize disruption to regular local travel, pre-existing bypass routes will remain active throughout the celebrations to keep regular vehicular traffic moving around the event core. Event organizers have also received formal approval to construct the main performance stage on St Dominic’s Street, located directly behind the local gas station.

    In a formal public notice released from the Office of the Commissioner of Police, the RGPF emphasized one non-negotiable requirement for all event stakeholders: organizers, vendors and attendees must maintain full, unobstructed access for emergency vehicles and large commercial trucks on both Central Depradine Street and Upper Depradine Street for the entire duration of the celebrations. This rule, police noted, is critical to guarantee that first responders can reach emergency scenes within the event area quickly if an incident occurs.

    Closing out the announcement, the RGPF extended its gratitude to the Parliamentary Representative for St John, the volunteer members of the Gouyave Improvement Committee, and local residents for their proactive cooperation and shared commitment to building an event that is safe, well-organized, and enjoyable for everyone who participates, whether as an attendee or a local community member going about daily life.

  • Grenada contributes to the global conversation on Contemporary Art and Culture

    Grenada contributes to the global conversation on Contemporary Art and Culture

    Last week, a landmark moment for Caribbean cultural outreach unfolded at New York City’s iconic Museum of Modern Art, where Dr. Susan Mains, Commissioner of the Grenada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, took the stage to share the small island nation’s groundbreaking success on one of the global art world’s most prestigious stages. The event marked the official launch of *Atlante Dell’arte Contemporanea*, a definitive, comprehensive compendium curating the most significant works and voices in Italian and international contemporary art, that includes coverage of the Grenada Pavilion’s contributions to the global art ecosystem.

    In her address at the launch, Dr. Mains reflected on how intentional cross-sector strategic partnerships have transformed the Grenada Pavilion from a simple national exhibition space into a dynamic hub for inclusive international cultural dialogue. For years, Grenada’s participation in the Venice Biennale has served as a critical conduit to center Caribbean creativity, academic insight, and artistic innovation before an international audience of curators, collectors, scholars, and art enthusiasts.

    At the core of the pavilion’s rising international profile is the curatorial leadership of Daniel Radini Tedeschi, who has balanced global artistic context with deep respect for the specific historical and cultural experiences of the Caribbean. Under his direction, the pavilion has not only elevated its standing in the global art community but also created tangible, long-lasting opportunities for Grenadian and regional Caribbean artists to participate in global contemporary art discourse, extending their reach far beyond the limited run of the Biennale exhibition itself.

    Dr. Mains emphasized that the success of the Grenada Pavilion would not have been possible without its core collaborative partnership with START, a multifaceted cultural organization far more impactful than a traditional publishing house. START’s team of seasoned cultural professionals brings cross-cutting expertise spanning scholarly publishing, exhibition curation, strategic communications, and international cultural programming, work that ensures the Grenada Pavilion’s contributions are not just displayed temporarily, but permanently documented, studied, and preserved for future generations.

    A key unsung contributor to the pavilion’s success highlighted by Dr. Mains is Stefania Pieralice, whose exceptional organizational skill, relentless dedication to cross-cultural exchange, and meticulous attention to detail have turned ambitious creative visions into actionable, successful outcomes. Her work coordinating complex cross-border initiatives, nurturing durable relationships with leading cultural institutions, and overseeing the countless operational details required for high-profile exhibitions and publications has been instrumental in building the Grenada Pavilion’s reputation for professionalism and impact.

    The broader START team’s collaborative mission aligns directly with the core vision of the Grenada Pavilion: their commitment to editorial and creative excellence has produced authoritative catalogues and scholarly publications that serve as permanent public records of Grenada’s participation in the Venice Biennale, making the work of the nation’s artists accessible to researchers, curators, collectors, and young creatives for decades to come.

    The benefits of these long-term collaborative partnerships extend across every dimension of the pavilion’s work, including amplified international visibility for participating artists, peer-vetted scholarly documentation that preserves the pavilion’s legacy, expanded professional networks connecting Caribbean creators to leading global cultural institutions, robust critical and curatorial frameworks that deepen the impact of artistic presentation, sophisticated project management that advances cultural diplomacy goals, and lasting cultural impact that endures long after the Biennale concludes each edition.

    As Grenada enters its next phase of participation in the Venice Biennale, with multiple successful editions under its belt and a growing global footprint, these collaborative partnerships remain central to the project’s mission. The pavilion’s steady growth demonstrates that small island developing nations can make outsized, meaningful contributions to global contemporary culture when they center strategic collaboration, intellectual rigor, and unwavering commitment to artistic excellence.

    The ongoing partnership between the Grenada Pavilion, its curatorial leadership, and the START team represents a shared investment in inclusive cultural exchange, rigorous scholarship, and boundary-pushing artistic innovation. Together, the collaborators continue to build a platform that not only elevates Grenadian and Caribbean artists at the Venice Biennale, but also adds unique, vital perspectives to the global conversation around contemporary art and culture.

  • UWI Seismic Research Centre urges preparedness after major Venezuela Earthquakes

    UWI Seismic Research Centre urges preparedness after major Venezuela Earthquakes

    Recent back-to-back major earthquakes near Venezuela, paired with a separate seismic event between Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada, have sparked widespread public concern across the Caribbean. Leading regional seismic monitoring body, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) — tasked with tracking earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis across the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean — has released a detailed technical analysis to address growing public questions about the seismic activity.

    According to UWI-SRC Director Dr. Erouscilla P. Joseph, the large energy released by Venezuela’s magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 earthquakes has altered stress across the entire Caribbean Plate, which has coincided with a small uptick in regional seismic events recorded by the centre. While all seismic activity in the area falls within the broad Caribbean-South American plate boundary, Dr. Joseph emphasized that the Venezuela quakes and the separate Grenada-Trinidad and Tobago event stem from distinct tectonic processes. As of current assessments, there is no evidence linking all three events to a single shared fault system. Though large quakes can shift stress in surrounding regions, she noted, establishing a direct causal link between separate seismic events remains extremely challenging.

    Dr. Joseph contextualized the size of the Venezuela earthquakes: a magnitude 7.5 event qualifies as a major quake with regional significance, but tremors of this scale occur somewhere across the globe nearly every year. While the 2025 Venezuela event ranks among the larger quakes recorded worldwide this year, it does not fall among the most powerful seismic events of the past decade. What makes this sequence unusual, she explained, is its location near heavily populated areas and the extremely close timing of the two major quakes: the magnitude 7.2 tremor was followed just 39 seconds later by the 7.5 event. This pattern is rare, she noted, but not unprecedented — it points to a complex rupture process involving multiple fault segments that released massive amounts of stress over just one minute. Preliminary mapping confirms the quakes occurred within the active Caribbean-South American plate boundary, home to major fault systems including the El Pilar–San Sebastián fault and its associated offshore structures. Detailed investigations are still ongoing to pinpoint the exact fault segment responsible for the rupture.

    In addressing public anxiety about increased major earthquake risk for Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Joseph confirmed that aftershocks are expected near the original Venezuela quake zone, and some of these aftershocks may be felt in parts of Trinidad and Tobago. However, she stressed that there is currently no data to support an elevated risk of a major local quake directly triggered by the Venezuela events. “The public should not be alarmed, but they should be prepared,” Dr. Joseph said, noting that all Caribbean nations sit in a geologically active seismic zone, and major events like this serve as a critical reminder of the need for ongoing readiness.

    Shortly after the earthquakes, a regional tsunami warning was issued, but it was quickly canceled after specialists analyzed data from coastal monitoring stations and deep-ocean tsunami detection systems. Assessments found no evidence of a significant tsunami forming, with forecasted wave heights remaining far below dangerous thresholds.

    Currently, UWI-SRC researchers are conducting a full post-event analysis, examining the quake’s source characteristics, rupture sequence, aftershock distribution, ground shaking patterns, and potential seafloor displacement. Data from regional seismic stations, GPS networks and sea-level sensors is being integrated to refine future regional seismic hazard assessments.

    Dr. Joseph also outlined what a similar magnitude earthquake near Trinidad and Tobago would mean: the level of damage would depend on multiple factors, including the quake’s depth, distance from population centers, local soil conditions, and the resilience of local infrastructure. Older buildings constructed without modern seismic engineering standards face far higher risk of damage than newer, code-compliant structures, and a strong local quake could disrupt critical services including power, water and transportation networks. For this reason, Dr. Joseph emphasized, continuous investment in updated building codes and public preparedness remains a priority for the region.

    Responding to viral social media videos showing people running outdoors during the Venezuela quake’s intense shaking, Dr. Joseph noted that flight instinct is natural during a terrifying event, but moving while the ground is shaking greatly increases the risk of injury from falling debris, broken glass or collapsing building parts. The internationally recommended safety protocol, she reminded the public, is to Drop, Cover and Hold On until shaking stops. Once the ground stabilizes, people can calmly evacuate to open, safe areas away from damaged structures if necessary.

    UWI-SRC is urging all members of the public across the Eastern Caribbean to use this event as an opportunity to update their emergency preparedness: this includes learning and practicing earthquake safety protocols, identifying safe spots in homes and workplaces, securing heavy furniture and appliances that could topple, assembling emergency supply kits, and reviewing family evacuation and communication plans.

    “It is natural to feel concerned when a major earthquake affects a neighboring country with which we share such close ties,” Dr. Joseph said. “The SRC remains fully committed to monitoring seismic activity across the region and delivering timely, accurate information to help individuals, communities and governments make informed decisions.”

    She added, “This earthquake is a reminder that while we cannot prevent earthquakes, we can drastically reduce their impacts through preparedness. The goal is not to live in fear, but to be ready.”

    UWI-SRC maintains continuous 24/7 monitoring of seismic activity across the Eastern Caribbean, and publishes real-time updates via its official website and social media channels including Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The centre encourages all residents to follow these official channels for accurate information and to update their preparedness plans in light of the recent event.

  • CAF establishes Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund

    CAF establishes Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund

    In the wake of the destructive earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has unveiled a targeted new initiative to drive the country’s rebuilding: the Venezuela Recovery and Reconstruction Fund. This dedicated mechanism is structured to collect, mobilize, and direct combined contributions from public, private, and international stakeholders toward the most pressing recovery needs identified by Venezuelan authorities, building on the $300,000 in emergency humanitarian aid CAF already committed to immediate relief efforts.

    Unlike scattered, uncoordinated aid efforts that often slow disaster response, the new fund centralizes all incoming donations under a unified framework of transparent administration and clear accountability. Donations are open to a wide range of partners, including national governments, multilateral organizations, private corporations, philanthropic foundations, individual givers, and other collaborative groups. All allocated resources will be aligned exclusively with recovery and reconstruction priorities formally set by the Government of Venezuela, with the core goal of delivering a unified, efficient response that eliminates fragmented efforts and speeds up the delivery of critical support to earthquake-impacted communities.

    To kickstart the initiative, CAF has made an initial seed commitment of $1 million to launch the fund and finance the first round of prioritized projects. In a move designed to maximize impact for affected communities, CAF will not levy any administrative or implementation fees for managing the fund, ensuring 100 percent of all contributed funds go directly toward emergency response and long-term reconstruction work.

    “Natural disasters demand a collective response rooted in humanity and solidarity, and Venezuela needs our support now more than ever,” said Sergio Díaz-Granados, Executive President of CAF. “As Venezuela is a founding member of CAF and hosts our organization’s headquarters, launching this reconstruction fund is a natural expression of our commitment. This is an agile, fully transparent mechanism, and we invite governments and private sector actors across the globe to join us. By combining our resources, we can build a truly effective response. Our promise extends beyond the immediate emergency: we will stand with the Venezuelan people through every step of the long recovery and reconstruction journey ahead.”

    The fund is intentionally designed to adapt to the three distinct phases of disaster response, evolving with changing needs on the ground. In its first phase, the mechanism will support immediate life-saving assistance, including the distribution of humanitarian supplies, provision of essential goods, and logistical backing for Venezuelan institutions leading the emergency response. The second phase will focus on rehabilitating critical public services, including healthcare systems, water and sanitation infrastructure, energy networks, education facilities, and digital connectivity. In the final long-term phase, the fund will back broader recovery and resilience-building efforts, including early permanent reconstruction, the restoration of local livelihoods, and infrastructure upgrades to reduce community vulnerability to future natural disasters. All interventions will be rolled out incrementally, based on detailed damage assessments and updated priorities confirmed by the Venezuelan government.

    To uphold full transparency, all fund resources are held as a ring-fenced pool completely separate from CAF’s own operating capital. The mechanism built in end-to-end traceability for every individual intervention, requires regular public financial reporting, and mandates independent third-party audits to ensure accountability. Donations may be made in either U.S. dollars or euros, and resource deployment is structured for maximum flexibility: funds can be executed through pre-vetted eligible implementing partners, or directly managed by CAF when that approach delivers greater efficiency.

    CAF’s longstanding institutional ties to Venezuela—dating back to the country’s role as a founding member and permanent host of the bank’s headquarters—reinforce the organization’s commitment to standing with the Venezuelan people and their governing institutions through every stage of this emergency response, recovery, and reconstruction process. The bank is leveraging its existing technical expertise and financial network to mobilize solidarity from across the Latin American and Caribbean region and the wider global community. For more information on how to contribute or participate in the initiative, interested parties can access details via the official link for the Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela.