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  • Division of Culture to host National Steelpan Arrangers Workshop

    Division of Culture to host National Steelpan Arrangers Workshop

    Grenada’s cultural landscape is set to receive a major boost with the upcoming National Steelpan Arrangers Workshop, scheduled for April 11–12, 2026 at the GBSS Auditorium. Organized by the Division of Culture under the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture, the two-day training forms the cornerstone of the government’s flagship COMS-PAN (Community Steelpan Programme), a long-term strategic plan designed to reinforce the country’s iconic steelpan sector.

    The core goal of COMS-PAN is to build and empower community steelpan groups across every parish of Grenada, expand equitable access to professional steelpan training, and give local communities a powerful platform for cultural expression through music. This workshop is also intentionally timed to align with advance preparations for Spicemas 2026, particularly Grenada’s celebrated National Panorama Competition, one of the country’s most anticipated annual cultural events.

    Leading the workshop will be Duvone Stewart, a highly decorated and innovative steelpan arranger hailing from neighboring Trinidad and Tobago. A respected figure across the Caribbean, Stewart has built a reputation for his decades-long work advancing steelpan education and youth development throughout the region, alongside his acclaimed collaborations with top Trinidadian steel orchestras including the renowned Phase II Pan Groove.

    Over the course of the two-day program, Stewart will deliver structured, hands-on training covering core skills including steelpan arrangement, original composition, and full orchestration. The initiative’s primary mission is to cultivate a continuous, sustainable pipeline of skilled arrangers across Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. It will also serve to elevate the existing skills of both active working arrangers and emerging new talent, ultimately strengthening musical leadership across all community and national steelbands.

    Cordel Byam, Steelpan Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture, framed the workshop as a foundational investment in the future of Grenada’s steelpan tradition. “By developing our arrangers, we are strengthening the very foundation of our bands and ensuring that each community ensemble has the musical leadership needed to grow and excel,” Byam explained.

    Beyond immediate skill-building, the initiative is projected to raise the overall quality and competitive standard of performances at the National Panorama Competition. It also aims to encourage greater participation from new, emerging bands and early-career arrangers, and lays the groundwork for the long-term expansion of Panorama competition categories to include more small and large ensemble groups.

    Chief Cultural Officer Kelvin Jacob highlighted the broader societal impact of the targeted investment in the steelpan sector. “The sustainability of Grenada’s steelpan sector depends on deliberate investment in human capital,” Jacob noted. “Through initiatives like this, we are not only preparing for Panorama 2026 but also building a long-term framework where every community can find its rhythm and contribute meaningfully to national cultural development.”

    The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, and the Division of Culture has issued an open invitation to steelpan practitioners, music educators, and aspiring arrangers across the country to take part in the transformative training event. As Grenada continues to invest in its rich cultural heritage, the workshop marks a key step toward the country’s goal of establishing itself as a leading hub for cultural excellence across the Caribbean.

  • Statement of facts CCCCI construction

    Statement of facts CCCCI construction

    A major construction materials supplier and contractor in Grenada has issued a formal public statement pushing back against recent claims made by the country’s Prime Minister regarding its contractual performance and operational competence. Consolidated Contractors Company Caribbean Inc (CCCCI), a locally based firm that holds a monopoly on key construction materials for Grenada’s infrastructure projects, has released a full breakdown of facts to correct what it frames as misinformation about its work.

    As the exclusive provider of asphalt across the island nation, and the sole supplier of road construction aggregate sourced from its own Mount Hartman Quarry, CCCCI emphasized that it has consistently met all contractual requirements for delivery timelines, volume of materials, and pricing for every client—including the Government of Grenada, third-party subcontractors, and independent contractors.

    Turning to one high-profile unfinished project, the Moliniere Road upgrade, CCCCI clarified the circumstances behind the incomplete road work. The company was contracted by lead contractor Rayneau to lay two layers of asphalt on the approaches to the new concrete segment of the road, over a base that Rayneau was responsible for preparing. Under the terms of the agreement, advance payment was required for each asphalt layer before work would commence. CCCCI confirmed it never installed the second layer because the required advance payment was never received. The firm also noted that the substandard condition of the current road surface stems from two factors beyond its control: the missing second asphalt layer due to non-payment, and an improperly prepared base layer delivered by main contractor Rayneau.

    CCCCl went on to detail significant unresolved payment arrears owed to it by the Government of Grenada across multiple active and completed infrastructure projects. On the ongoing Cliff Road Project, the company has completed 90 percent of the required work, but has only received roughly 25 percent of the total contracted sum—equaling just $4 million of the project’s full $16.5 million price tag. Despite this major breach of payment terms, CCCCI says it has continued work on the project in good faith, prioritizing the best interests of the Grenadian public over enforcing contractual payment requirements.

    For the True Blue Road Project, which CCCCI fully completed in compliance with all contract terms in 2024, the government still owes approximately 30 percent of the total agreed payment, equal to around $1.5 million. Additional unpaid balances for hot mix asphalt supplied by CCCCI to government projects in 2025 add another estimated $3.5 million to the government’s outstanding debt to the firm.

    The statement also addressed a separate prior agreement between CCCCI and the government. As part of a deal to secure three new contracts—two for River Road and one for the Cliff Road Project—the government requested a discount on the Cliff Road project, which CCCCI approved under the expectation that the two River Road contracts would be awarded to the company as agreed. CCCCI followed through on its end of the deal, reducing the Cliff Road project price by roughly $3 million, but the government has not yet awarded the promised River Road contracts to the firm.

    This formal statement from CCCCI marks a rare public break between a major private contractor and the Grenadian government, bringing long-running unresolved contract and payment disputes into the public eye following critical comments from the Prime Minister about CCCCI’s performance. Contact information for CCCCI is listed at the end of the statement for further inquiry: Queen’s Park, St George, Grenada, West Indies, email: [email protected], telephone: +1 (473) 444-3522/403-3522.

  • Jumby Bay Island vacancy: Assistant Director of Engineering, Island Services

    Jumby Bay Island vacancy: Assistant Director of Engineering, Island Services

    Jumby Bay Island Company, Ltd., the developer and operator of an exclusive private residential island community and luxury resort in Antigua and Barbuda, has announced an opening for a senior leadership position: Assistant Director of Engineering for Island Services (Infrastructure & Operations). Built on a foundation of thoughtful long-term stewardship and detail-focused daily management, the company prioritizes preserving the island’s high-end living standards and elite guest experience, with a service-driven culture centered on meeting the needs of homeowners, visitors, and internal team members alike.

    The newly opened role operates as a senior strategic position, tasking the successful candidate with supporting the Director of Engineering in overseeing all island-wide infrastructure, mechanical systems, and marine operations. The company is seeking a demonstrated leader capable of building high-performing teams, driving measurable improvements in productivity and operational efficiency, and upholding rigorous financial management standards. As the principal deputy to the Director, the Assistant Director will own the development and execution of preventive maintenance strategies for the island’s residential properties, collaborate cross-functionally with other department leads, and step in to lead the department during the Director’s absences to maintain uninterrupted operations.

    Key responsibilities for the position include serving as the core liaison between executive engineering leadership and frontline operational teams to ensure strategic directives are carried out seamlessly. The role also requires developing and implementing departmental budgets, capital expenditure plans, and maintenance frameworks aligned with the company’s long-term cost efficiency and operational goals. Additional core duties include leading team-building initiatives focused on employee development, succession planning, and performance management that balance operational targets with team productivity and morale; overseeing the mechanical engineering, maintenance, and marine teams to ensure on-time delivery, quality control, and full adherence to global health and safety standards; managing all property maintenance services for contracted residences, including direct liaison with homeowners, daily supervision, and both preventive and reactive maintenance work; delivering in-house maintenance for company-owned assets and standing by for 24/7 emergency response; and leading hurricane preparedness and response planning for all island residential properties and service departments.

    Candidates applying for the role must meet a set of strict competency and experience requirements. Essential competencies include a proven track record of measurable improvements in team performance, such as higher preventive maintenance compliance, reduced equipment downtime, and lower overall maintenance costs; a history of successfully developing internal technical leaders and building actionable succession plans; strong commercial acumen including experience with budgeting, cost reduction initiatives, procurement optimization, and labor efficiency; hands-on leadership experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and consistent delivery against key performance indicators including preventive maintenance completion rates, mean time to repair, and backlog reduction; sound practical technical judgment for assessing risk and evaluating contractor work on remote island infrastructure; a consistent record of delivering maintenance projects on scope, on schedule, and on budget; and effective stakeholder and crisis management skills paired with a clean record of health and safety compliance.

    Mandatory experience requirements include prior work experience in remote private island operations or similarly isolated settings, with previous assignments in the Caribbean required for all candidates. Applicants must have a minimum of 8 years of progressive engineering leadership experience overseeing teams of 20 or more employees, either directly or indirectly. They also need at least 5 years of hands-on experience working with electrical systems and water/wastewater treatment plant operations, 5 years of experience managing construction projects and capital programs, and 5 years of facilities management experience in high-end residential or luxury resort environments leading medium-sized teams. Preferred qualifications include proficiency with maintenance and remote operations systems such as CMMS, condition monitoring tools, and PLC/SCADA systems, strong technical software skills including advanced Excel and Word proficiency, experience collaborating with procurement, finance teams and external vendors on contract management and project delivery, a technical diploma or degree in an engineering-related field (or equivalent professional experience), relevant industry certifications, and existing familiarity with Antigua & Barbuda’s local laws and regulatory frameworks.

    The opportunity offers the rare chance to build a meaningful impact in a one-of-a-kind remote island environment for professionals committed to excellence and collaborative teamwork. Applications for the position must be submitted by April 30, 2026. Interested candidates must send application materials via email to [email protected] with “Assistant Director of Engineering, IS” included in the subject line of the message. The company notes that only shortlisted candidates meeting the role requirements will receive acknowledgment and further consideration. This posting carries a standard disclaimer that NOW Grenada is not liable for any opinions, statements or content shared by third-party contributors, and invites users to report any abusive content via official channels.

  • Chamber survey highlights business concerns over rising costs

    Chamber survey highlights business concerns over rising costs

    Against a backdrop of ongoing global economic volatility, the Grenada Chamber of Industry & Commerce (GCIC) has recently released findings from a member survey designed to measure how shifting international conditions are rippling through the Caribbean nation’s local business ecosystem. The survey specifically focused on three key pressure points: international shipping expenses, prices for imported goods, and the general operating climate for domestic enterprises.

    The results paint a clear picture of mounting strain across Grenada’s business community. A large share of responding firms reported that they are already facing sharp increases in the cost of imported inputs and finished goods, which has compressed profit margins across multiple sectors. Beyond immediate financial pressure, businesses have also voiced deepening anxiety about further price hikes in the months ahead. Top concerns raised by participants include spiraling fuel and energy costs, broad-based inflation, persistent global supply chain disruptions, and an expected pullback in consumer discretionary spending as household budgets tighten.

    Following the survey’s identification of shipping costs as a primary pain point, GCIC leadership initiated direct discussions with shipping companies that service Grenada. Those conversations confirmed that carriers already implemented an approximate 8.5% rate increase in March, and a second additional hike is scheduled for April. Chamber analysts note, however, that some of the overall cost increases reported by local businesses may stem from other intermediate points along the supply chain, not just carrier rate hikes. These additional contributing factors include price increases from overseas suppliers, elevated fuel and logistics fees, higher insurance premiums, and other international operational charges.

    GCIC has emphasized that the survey accurately captures the on-the-ground perceptions and lived experiences of local businesses, as well as the projected shipping rate increases that have been confirmed for the coming month. Crucially, the Chamber stresses that the concerns raised by the business community are not abstract: they directly tie to the rising overall cost of doing business in Grenada, which in turn drives upward pressure on the country’s cost of living for ordinary households.

    Moving forward, GCIC says it will maintain close monitoring of the evolving situation, maintaining ongoing dialogue with member businesses, shipping agents, and other key industry stakeholders. The organization also plans to engage the Government of Grenada to discuss potential policy interventions that could mitigate cost pressures for both businesses and consumers. GCIC reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to collaborating across the public and private sectors to address emerging economic challenges in a timely, constructive manner that protects the interests of local enterprises and households alike.

  • UK–Caribbean Partnership on Clean Energy

    UK–Caribbean Partnership on Clean Energy

    For most people, the Caribbean is synonymous with idyllic postcard vistas: golden sun stretching over turquoise coastlines, mist-wreathed lush mountains, and steady trade winds that cut through tropical heat. What fewer recognize is that these very natural features — sun, wind, tidal water, and geothermal heat — add up to an underutilized global renewable energy powerhouse, waiting to be activated.

    The United Kingdom, through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has emerged as a key strategic partner to Caribbean nations, working to unlock this latent potential and convert abundant natural assets into reliable, affordable clean energy that can drive inclusive, resilient, long-term sustainable growth across the region.

    The resource potential is staggering. Multiple Caribbean islands have the natural capacity to generate 100% of their domestic energy needs from renewables, with surplus production to export clean power to neighboring countries. Some regional economies could even go a step further, converting excess renewable electricity into transportable low-carbon fuels including green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol for global markets.

    Despite this extraordinary natural advantage, the region remains overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels. Data shows that roughly 87% of the energy mix across the Caribbean Community (Caricom) still comes from carbon-intensive fossil sources, a legacy that has driven cripplingly high energy costs for households. On average, Caribbean families pay between two and three times more for electricity than households in most other regions, and this dependence on imported fossil fuels has created systemic economic vulnerability, ballooned public debt burdens, and left the region chronically energy insecure.

    The UK has positioned itself as a long-term partner in Caricom’s clean energy transition, having committed $39 billion in funding to regional energy initiatives since 2015. To date, UK support has spanned a wide range of critical projects: advancing geothermal resource development, rolling out large-scale solar photovoltaic installations, funding energy efficiency retrofits for public buildings, delivering technical training programs to build local capacity across the Eastern Caribbean, and laying critical early groundwork for a regional offshore wind energy market.

    One standout success story of this partnership is the geothermal development project in Dominica, where UK de-risking funding covered the high upfront costs of exploratory drilling, giving private sector investors the confidence to commit to the project. After years of coordinated collaboration between the Dominican government, UK development teams, and multiple partner organizations, the country is set to commission the first utility-scale geothermal plant in the English-speaking Caribbean in April 2026. The plant is expected to deliver transformative change for Dominica’s economy and energy security, and UK teams are now working to replicate this success with ongoing geothermal projects in Grenada and St. Lucia.

    Additional UK-backed projects have already delivered tangible benefits across the region. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, support for energy-efficient street lighting and a new solar photovoltaic plant at the country’s international airport has saved the government millions of dollars in energy costs and cut hundreds of tonnes of annual carbon dioxide emissions. Early work to map offshore wind potential across the Caribbean, while still in its early stages, is already showing significant promise for large-scale future development.

    Even with these wins, the road to full energy transition remains uneven. Back in 2013, Caricom set an ambitious regional target of reaching 47% renewable electricity generation by 2027. As of 2023, the region has only hit roughly 13% renewable penetration, meaning the pace of transition will need to accelerate dramatically to meet the 2027 goal.

    Progress has also been highly uneven across member states: a small number of leading countries have made meaningful strides in scaling solar, wind, and geothermal capacity, while many others have lagged far behind. As a region of mostly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the Caribbean faces structural barriers that have slowed deployment: small, constrained national grid sizes, prohibitive upfront capital costs, limited local technical capacity, and fragmented national markets that make it impossible to capture economies of scale. Many countries also lack the modernized grid infrastructure and updated regulatory frameworks required to integrate variable solar and wind generation into existing energy systems.

    Despite these challenges, the region is now at a defining moment of opportunity, with clear, actionable solutions ready to be deployed. Regional pooled procurement and aggregated project pipelines can drive down per-unit costs and attract large-scale global institutional investors. Modernizing outdated grid infrastructure and updating regulatory frameworks can clear the way for greater private sector participation. Blended finance and concessional lending can help governments overcome the steep upfront costs that have blocked large projects to date. And investing in local engineering and technical training can ensure that transition projects deliver long-term, sustainable benefits for local communities.

    All the natural resources the Caribbean needs to become a global clean energy leader are already within its borders, and experts say there is no time to delay. With decisive national action, coordinated regional leadership, and strategic international partnerships, the region can turn its natural abundance into universal energy security, lower household electricity bills, and a more climate-resilient future for all Caribbean people.

    The UK has reaffirmed its commitment to standing with the Caribbean through this transition. Via the Global Clean Power Alliance, the UK and regional partners have agreed to a concrete 2026–2028 Caribbean action plan, which will provide on-demand access to UK private sector capital and technical expertise to address key barriers and attract the billions in investment needed to scale up clean energy deployment across the region.

    The resources are here. The moment for action is now.

  • PDA removes unauthorised structures in Tanteen and Port Highway

    PDA removes unauthorised structures in Tanteen and Port Highway

    Grenada’s Planning and Development Authority (PDA) has successfully completed an enforcement operation to dismantle three unapproved roadside vending structures in the Tanteen area on the morning of April 2, 2026. The action forms part of the authority’s stepped-up, phased strategy to curb the growing spread of unauthorised informal vending constructions along public roadways. The operation got underway just after 9 a.m., and every step of the process aligned fully with the regulatory framework laid out in the 2016 Planning and Development Authority Act.

    Two of the removed structures were small wooden vending stalls positioned near the Tanteen Roundabout, adjacent to the T A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) campus. The third unauthorised construction, which had only been erected recently along Tanteen’s Port Highway, was located less than one foot away from the entrance to the Tanteen Playing Field. According to the PDA, this placement created clear hazards: it blocked public access to the recreational facility and raised significant safety concerns for both pedestrians and vehicle traffic moving through the area.

    Prior to launching the removal exercise, the PDA confirmed that all mandatory legal and compliance protocols had been completed in full, as required by existing regulations. In a public statement released following the operation, the authority is renewing its call for all residents and vendors to secure official planning permission before constructing any structure, especially those built on public land or within road reserve zones. The PDA emphasized that unapproved developments carry multiple risks, ranging from impaired public access to increased safety hazards, and ultimately disrupt the government’s work to advance orderly, sustainable development across the island.

    The PDA also extended formal recognition and thanks to its cross-agency stakeholder partners that supported the operation, including the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), the Anti-Squatting Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority. The authority noted that ongoing inter-agency collaboration has been critical to the success of its ongoing efforts to enforce planning regulations. The statement concluded by reaffirming the PDA’s long-term commitment to upholding the core principles of safe, sustainable, and properly regulated development across all of Grenada.

    As per standard publishing protocols for local outlet NOW Grenada, the publication notes it is not liable for any opinions, statements or third-party content included in contributor submissions, and provides a channel for users to report any instances of abuse related to posted content.

  • CARIFTA Bronze: Grenada’s U20 quartet inches closer to the sub-40 mark

    CARIFTA Bronze: Grenada’s U20 quartet inches closer to the sub-40 mark

    The 2025 CARIFTA Games delivered a historic moment for Grenada’s track and field program, as the nation’s Under-20 men’s 4×100m relay squad secured a hard-fought bronze medal and shattered a long-standing national record in the event. The four-person team, made up of sprinters Ian George, Darrel Daniel, Kneon Mark Stanislaus, and Ethan Sam — a three-time individual CARIFTA sprint medalist — crossed the finish line in a blistering 40.18 seconds to claim a spot on the regional podium. Dominant regional track powers Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica claimed the top two positions, with Trinidad and Tobago taking gold in 39.64 seconds and Jamaica securing silver with a 39.85-second run.

    This bronze medal result marks only the fourth time in the entire history of the CARIFTA Games that a Grenadian Under-20 men’s 4×100m relay quartet has earned a place on the podium. The 2025 team joins an exclusive group of Grenadian squads that have pulled off this rare achievement, dating back more than 50 years. The previous podium finishes came most recently in 2024, when Shaquane Toussaint, Emilio Bishop, Taigon Peterkin, and Samuel Green also took home bronze; in 1973, when an unconfirmed Grenadian team also claimed third place; and all the way back in 1972, when the team of Roy Layne, Russell Lambert, Raymond Layne, and Ken Francios earned bronze.

    Beyond the prestige of a regional medal, the 2025 squad’s performance carries historic statistical significance for Grenadian track and field. The 40.18-second finish time is on track to be officially ratified as the new National Under-20 record for the 4×100m relay. This mark is now the fastest time ever recorded by any Grenadian Under-20 4×100m relay team in history, bringing the nation’s rising sprint program closer than it has ever been to breaking the coveted 40-second barrier in the age category. For a small nation working to build its standing in regional track and field, the result marks a major milestone for current and future generations of Grenadian sprinters.

  • Annalisa Brown returns to CARIFTA podium with 1,500 m Bronze

    Annalisa Brown returns to CARIFTA podium with 1,500 m Bronze

    The 53rd edition of the CARIFTA Games, the premier regional track and field competition for Caribbean athletes, got off to a memorable start for host nation Grenada on opening day, as local middle-distance talent Annalisa Brown from Boca Secondary School claimed a podium finish that cemented her status as one of the country’s rising young stars.

    Brown delivered a career-best performance in the women’s under-20 1,500-meter final, crossing the finish line in 4:46 to secure the bronze medal. This marked the second regional CARIFTA medal of the young athlete’s career, and the second medal won by host nation Grenada across all events on the competition’s opening day.

    The bronze medal finish also marked Brown’s triumphant return to the CARIFTA podium, two years after her successful regional debut at the 2024 championships, where she earned another bronze in the 800-meter event. Her consistent progression across multiple distances underscores the steady improvement and targeted training that have positioned her as one of the most promising middle- and long-distance runners in the region.

    Leading into the 2026 CARIFTA Games, Brown turned heads with a dominant showing at the 2026 InterCol Games, where she swept an unprecedented five individual event titles. Her stunning performance in the domestic competition included gold medals in the 200m (24.51), 400m (56.24, a new meet record), 800m (2:29.20), 1,500m (5:21.48) and 3,000m (11:51.14), proving her versatility and endurance across a wide range of distances.

    Brown’s campaign at the 2026 CARIFTA Games is far from over. She is scheduled to compete in the 800-meter event on the championship’s second day, a race where she already has a proven track record of regional success and currently holds the domestic title. With her opening-day momentum and personal best confidence boost, she enters the 800m as one of the top contenders in what is expected to be a highly competitive field.

    As the host country for this year’s CARIFTA Games, Grenada has already celebrated two podium finishes in the early stages of the competition, with Brown’s bronze playing a key part in the nation’s strong start on home soil.

  • Golden arm: Deshawn Smart rockets to CARIFTA glory

    Golden arm: Deshawn Smart rockets to CARIFTA glory

    On April 4, Grenada earned its inaugural gold medal at the 2026 CARIFTA Games, thanks to a standout performance from rising javelin star Deshawn Smart, who dominated the Under-17 Boys’ Javelin Throw competition to claim the top spot on the podium. Smart delivered a career-defining winning throw of 65.09 meters, setting a new personal best and earning Grenada its only medal by the close of the Games’ first day of competition.

    While Smart’s gold-medal-winning distance fell 3.76 meters short of the existing CARIFTA Games record of 68.85 meters set by Antigua and Barbuda’s Maliek Francis in 2024, the result cements the young athlete’s position as one of the most promising young track and field talents across the Caribbean region.

    Smart’s breakthrough victory at the 2026 CARIFTA Games is far from an overnight success; it is the end result of years of consistent, incremental improvement that spans his competitive career across primary and secondary school competitions. His trajectory of growth leaves no question of his rising potential:

    In 2023, Smart claimed his first major regional youth title at the GUT National Primary School Championships, taking home the Under-13 gold with a throw of 30.24 meters while representing St Patrick’s Branch. Just one year later, at InterCol 2024, he placed sixth with an improved best throw of 36.62 meters, a gain of more than six meters in just 12 months. By 2025, Smart’s rapid progression continued, as he set a new Sub-Junior national record with a throw of 58.54 meters at that year’s InterCol competition, jumping more than 21 meters from his 2023 personal best.

    In the lead-up to the 2026 CARIFTA Games, Smart carried his winning momentum into domestic competitions. At InterCol 2026, he claimed the Junior national title with a throw of 64.56 meters, a performance that helped his school, St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS), secure a historic sweep of both the boys’ and girls’ overall division titles. Just weeks before CARIFTA, Smart won the national Under-17 title at the 2026 ARIZA National Championships with a throw of 65.07 meters, coming within centimeters of his eventual CARIFTA-winning mark.

    As of the close of Day 1 competition, Smart’s 65.09-meter throw remains the top performance from the entire Grenadian delegation at the 2026 CARIFTA Games, marking a high note to start the country’s campaign at one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious youth athletic competitions.

  • Jurel Clement sets Decathlon 100m record

    Jurel Clement sets Decathlon 100m record

    The 2026 CARIFTA Games kicked off on April 4 at Grenada’s iconic Kirani James Athletic Stadium, delivering an immediate highlight as home-grown talent Jurel Clement etched his name into the competition’s record books with a new Under-20 Boys decathlon 100m personal and championship record.

    Clement, a Carriacou native who now represents Grenada on the regional stage, has been on a steady upward trajectory in combined events. He entered the 2026 CARIFTA Games fresh off a dominant gold medal win in the decathlon at Jamaica’s ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, and did not disappoint in the opening discipline of the multi-event competition. Competing under wind-legal conditions, the 20-year-old clocked a blistering 10.93 seconds in the 100m, shaving 0.06 seconds off his own previous record. That prior mark of 10.99 seconds was set into a 1.1 m/s headwind at the 2025 CARIFTA Games hosted at Trinidad and Tobago’s Hasley Crawford Stadium, marking clear progress for the young athlete over the past year.

    Clement’s athletic journey has been shaped by a strategic move to advance his career: a former student at Hillsborough Secondary School in his home island of Carriacou, he relocated to Jamaica in 2023 to join the elite athletic program at Kingston College, where he has balanced academic work with elite combined events training.

    After the conclusion of the first five decathlon disciplines on opening day, two Grenadian athletes trained at Kingston College sit well within medal contention, setting up an exciting final day of competition. Leading the pair is Shyiem Phillip, who sits third overall heading into day two with a first-day total of 3,801 points, while Clement currently holds fifth place with 3,625 accumulated points. Like Clement, Phillip made the move from a Grenadian secondary school – Westerhall Secondary – to Kingston College ahead of the 2024-2025 athletic season, following a strong performance at the 2024 InterCol season where he earned bronze in the high jump, placed fourth in the 110m hurdles, and fifth in the long jump.

    Phillip already has prior CARIFTA Games experience under his belt: in 2025, he claimed a silver medal in the Under-17 octathlon with a total score of 4,766 points, and is slated to remain a key competitor for Kingston College through the 2027 athletic season. Analysts expect him to continue growing as a combined events athlete throughout his tenure at the Jamaican athletics powerhouse.

    For context, the decathlon is a grueling 10-discipline combined event spread across two consecutive days, with five events held each day. Unlike traditional single-sport competitions, points are awarded based on performance benchmarks in each event, rather than just finishing order, meaning consistent strong results across all disciplines are required to claim the top spot on the podium.

    The Under-20 decathlon will conclude its second and final day of competition on April 5, with the remaining five disciplines set to determine the final medal standings. With Phillip and Clement both well placed to challenge for podium spots after day one, the final day of competition is shaping up to be a tightly contested battle, as the young Grenadian duo look to deliver strong results across the remaining technical and endurance events to secure medals for their home country.