Carib Scope

标签： Grenada

格林纳达

  • Grenada Price Watch 2026: More than just groceries

    Grenada Price Watch 2026: More than just groceries

    Amid ongoing political discourse surrounding the cost-of-living crisis, Grenada’s latest Government Gazette (Volume 144, No. 11) published on March 6, 2026, presents a multifaceted economic landscape for ordinary citizens. The official Consumer Price Index data for December 2025 indicates a marginal 0.05% decline in overall living costs compared to November 2025. However, this superficial improvement masks substantial inflationary pressures affecting essential household commodities.

    Critical examination of consumer expenditure patterns reveals alarming price surges in fundamental necessities. Most notably, elderly care services have experienced a dramatic 33.33% year-on-year increase, imposing severe financial strain on families supporting aging relatives. Water utilities have risen by 5.53%, while healthcare and education—two vital public service sectors—recorded respective increases of 2.44% and 1.74%. Basic food items including margarine (5.02%), eggs (1.56%), and pasta (1.14%) have likewise become significantly more expensive compared to December 2024 levels.

    Contrasting this trend of rising essentials, the Gazette documents remarkable entrepreneurial activity within the leisure industry. Despite increasing utility costs, St. George and St. Andrew parishes alone witnessed 41 new applications for Liquor Dealing Licenses from diverse professional backgrounds including educators and construction workers. This development underscores a peculiar economic resilience within the social spending sector, with beer prices increasing 3.75% annually—substantially exceeding the general inflation rate of 0.57%.

    Global market influences continue to impact Grenada’s economy, as evidenced by imported preserved fish prices rising 2.54% compared to just 0.66% for locally sourced fresh fish. Even domestic fresh vegetables experienced a concerning 1.93% price hike in December alone. Current government stabilization measures—including a EC$10 electricity subsidy for small consumers, EC$40 cooking gas price cap, and VAT exemptions on twenty essential items—are providing crucial mitigation against international price volatility.

    The emerging economic challenge lies in the offsetting effect where utility savings are negated by rising service costs. For Grenadian households, managing living expenses represents a complex balancing act between modest savings and persistent increases across essential services. The proliferation of liquor license applications suggests many citizens are pursuing secondary income sources to maintain existing social expenditure patterns amid financial pressures.

    Sustainable economic relief will likely require multipronged approaches: containing service sector inflation, bolstering local agricultural production against global market fluctuations, and potential consumer recalibration of discretionary spending priorities.

  • Consumer Affairs Office marks World Consumer Rights Day

    Consumer Affairs Office marks World Consumer Rights Day

    The Consumer Affairs Office is poised to commemorate two significant milestones simultaneously in March 2026: World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 and the second anniversary of its operational launch on the same date in 2024. The department has announced an extensive week-long program from March 9-15, 2026, designed to reinforce consumer protection awareness and market confidence through various educational and engagement initiatives.

    Aligned with the international theme ‘Safe products, Confident Consumers,’ the 2026 observance emphasizes the critical connection between product safety standards and consumer trust in global markets. The campaign reaffirms that access to secure and reliable goods and services constitutes both a fundamental consumer right and an essential component of equitable and prosperous economic systems.

    Director Merlyn Horsford-Williams articulated the department’s mission, stating: ‘Our second anniversary coincides with a global call to prioritize consumer safety and trust. Product safety transcends regulatory compliance—it represents a moral imperative to safeguard both lives and livelihoods. Through collaborative awareness initiatives and responsible business conduct, we can cultivate market environments where consumers feel genuinely protected.’

    The office reiterated the Consumer Protection Act’s provisions, which shield consumers from unfair trade practices, hazardous products, and deceptive information while delineating businesses’ ethical operational responsibilities. Businesses received specific guidance to ensure market-ready product safety compliance, provide transparent consumer information, and honor refund/exchange policies alongside fair treatment protocols.

    Consumers were advised to exercise vigilance through careful label examination, expiration date verification, proactive information seeking, and reporting questionable products or practices to authorities. The department maintains accessible communication channels including telephone, email, and official website resources for public inquiries and violation reports.

  • GDB hosts successful tax compliance workshop in Carriacou

    GDB hosts successful tax compliance workshop in Carriacou

    More than 40 business operators from Carriacou gained essential taxation knowledge through a comprehensive compliance workshop organized by the Grenada Development Bank (GDB) in partnership with the Inland Revenue Division (IRD). The event, held on March 3rd at Hillsborough’s Mermaid Conference Room, provided practical guidance on fundamental tax principles, accurate tax calculation methods, and proper filing preparation techniques.

    The workshop featured Khalene Emmons, Tax Inspector from the Inland Revenue Department, who conducted an interactive demonstration of Grenada’s innovative digital tax platform, GTAX. Participants received live walkthrough instruction on electronic registration, return filing, and payment processing through the government’s online portal.

    GDB General Manager Royston Cumberbatch emphasized the critical importance of maintaining precise financial records during his presentation. He detailed how systematic documentation of sales receipts, invoices, and expense logs enables business owners to accurately track financial activities, compute tax obligations correctly, and avoid penalties associated with filing errors or delays.

    Cumberbatch explained that enhancing financial literacy among entrepreneurs represents a core component of the bank’s developmental mandate. “Many small enterprises encounter taxation challenges primarily due to procedural uncertainty or inadequate record-keeping practices. These educational initiatives aim to demystify compliance requirements while providing business owners with both the confidence and practical tools needed to strengthen their operational management,” he stated.

    Attendees praised the workshop’s interactive format and expert guidance, with one participant noting: “The session provided exceptional clarity on previously confusing taxation aspects. I now possess a substantially improved understanding of tax computation and GTAX platform utilization.” Another business owner described the training as “perfectly timed and immensely beneficial,” adding that the step-by-step approach delivered actionable knowledge for maintaining organizational compliance.

    The workshop constituted part of GDB’s broader outreach initiative to Carriacou and Petite Martinique, designed to enhance engagement with sister island businesses and communities. The program included extended consultations with Petite Martinique entrepreneurs regarding financing opportunities, business support services, and financial management strategies.

  • Grenadian women making waves across the region with Sandals Resorts

    Grenadian women making waves across the region with Sandals Resorts

    The 2013 inauguration of Sandals Resort at Grenada’s Point Salines marked a transformative moment for the island’s hospitality sector, generating unprecedented employment opportunities and career pathways for local talent. This development proved particularly impactful for recent graduates of T A Marryshow Community College, whose professional journeys would eventually span multiple Caribbean nations within the Sandals portfolio.

    Onika Phillip, originally from Chantimelle, St Patrick, commenced her career as a restaurant server at Sandals Grenada after completing the Tourism and Hospitality Management programme. “That inaugural professional experience proved invaluable,” Phillip reflected. “It instilled discipline, communication proficiency, teamwork dynamics, and personal accountability while mastering restaurant operations and multitasking requirements.”

    Her career trajectory accelerated dramatically through Sandals’ innovative Task Force Programme, which deploys team members across regional resorts to reinforce operational standards and cultural integration. A six-month assignment at Sandals Royal Bahamian in 2019 served as Phillip’s pivotal breakthrough, culminating in her promotion to restaurant hostess—her initial leadership position.

    “Opportunities frequently present themselves once in a lifetime,” Phillip advised aspiring professionals. “I embraced the challenge, adapted to requirements, and submitted applications. That experience fundamentally expanded my capabilities and prepared me for managerial responsibilities.”

    By 2025, Phillip had ascended to Senior Restaurants Manager at Sandals Royal Curaçao, overseeing nine distinct dining establishments. Rodrigo Maza Gama, Director of Food and Beverage at the resort, characterized her as “naturally charismatic in inspiring and connecting with team members, consistently exceeding expectations through determined leadership.”

    Simultaneously, Ashley Gittens of Belmont, St George, launched her hospitality career as a Club Sandals agent despite limited industry knowledge. “During interviews, management recognized my potential and invested substantially in training development,” Gittens acknowledged.

    Her participation in two task force assignments—at Sandals Royal Bahamian and Beaches Turks and Caicos—prompted a strategic decision to pursue advanced education. In 2019, Gittens temporarily paused her corporate advancement to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management with specializations in destination branding and sustainability at HZ University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

    “The task force initiative solidified my educational aspirations,” Gittens explained. “Collaborating with regional excellence professionals inspired both academic and career development.” Despite multilingual fluency in German and Dutch creating international opportunities, she ultimately returned to Caribbean hospitality, rejoining Sandals as Club Sandals Manager at the newly operational Sandals Dunn’s River in Jamaica.

    Melissa Dauvergne, Hotel Manager at Sandals Dunn’s River, commended Gittens as “gracious, intelligent, and resilient—embodying the definition of a powerful woman refined through unwavering dedication to excellence.”

    Both executives emphasize proactive career management for emerging professionals. Phillip recommends actively “requesting opportunities, training, promotions, and understanding industry dynamics with intentional development planning.” Gittens concurs, advising perseverance: “Continue pursuing objectives diligently while maintaining openness to unforeseen opportunities.”

    The parallel journeys demonstrate how corporate investment in local talent development, combined with structured mobility programmes, can cultivate leadership excellence while strengthening regional hospitality integration.

  • Small footprints, high stakes

    Small footprints, high stakes

    A striking disparity in carbon dioxide emissions across Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations has been revealed by the latest data from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), compiled by the World Bank. The 2024 statistics demonstrate that thirteen of the fourteen member states maintain per capita emissions significantly below the global average of 4.69 tonnes.

    Trinidad and Tobago stands as the sole regional outlier, registering a substantial 19.58 tonnes of CO₂ per person—more than quadruple the worldwide average. This elevated figure is directly attributable to its petrochemical-dependent economy. Notably, however, the country has achieved a 28% reduction in its per capita emissions since 2015, coinciding with a downturn in its energy sector’s output.

    In stark contrast, several CARICOM members exhibit minimal carbon footprints. Haiti records the region’s lowest output at a mere 0.30 tonnes per capita, followed by Belize at 0.93 tonnes. The Eastern Caribbean nations of Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia all maintain emissions below 2 tonnes per person, representing less than half the global average.

    Guyana emerges as the region’s most significant upward trend, with a 67% surge in per capita emissions since 2015—climbing from 2.73 to 4.56 tonnes. This dramatic increase parallels the rapid development of its offshore oil industry.

    This data underscores a profound climate injustice: those Caribbean nations contributing the least to global carbon emissions simultaneously face the most severe threats from its consequences, including rising sea levels and intensifying weather events.

  • Traffic delay: Scott Street, St George’s

    Traffic delay: Scott Street, St George’s

    The Royal Grenada Police Force Traffic Department has issued an official public advisory regarding planned nighttime disruptions to vehicular movement along Scott Street in St. George’s. Beginning Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 9:00 PM through 2:00 AM the following morning, motorists should anticipate significant traffic delays in the affected area. These partial road closures will recur nightly until further official notice.

    This essential infrastructure project is being conducted by the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) to facilitate critical pipe-laying operations and subsequent road rehabilitation work. The nighttime schedule has been strategically implemented to minimize impact on daytime traffic patterns and local business activities.

    Police authorities have extended apologies for any inconvenience resulting from these necessary improvements and have commended the public for their continued understanding and cooperation during this period. The RGPF emphasizes that these temporary measures are vital for long-term water system enhancements and urban development.

    All notices and updates regarding the project’s duration will be communicated through official channels. Motorists are strongly advised to seek alternative routes during the specified hours and exercise heightened caution when navigating near construction zones.

  • Grenada to break ground on new hospital under Project Polaris

    Grenada to break ground on new hospital under Project Polaris

    Grenada is poised to enter a transformative era in healthcare delivery as government officials prepare to break ground on Project Polaris, the nation’s most ambitious medical infrastructure initiative to date. The ceremonial sod-turning event scheduled for March 27, 2026, will officially commence construction of a state-of-the-art 250-bed medical facility designed to withstand climate challenges while revolutionizing patient care.

    The future hospital represents the cornerstone of an expansive 84-acre Medical City complex in Calivigny, St. George. This cutting-edge facility will significantly enhance healthcare accessibility for residents across Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique while simultaneously advancing medical education, research capabilities, and specialized treatment services.

    Ambassador Andrea St Bernard, Project Sponsor, emphasized the historical significance of the undertaking, stating: ‘This ceremony transcends mere construction commencement. It heralds a paradigm shift in our national healthcare approach. Project Polaris embodies Grenada’s dedication to creating a resilient, contemporary health system that addresses current population needs while anticipating future generational requirements.’

    The government has extended an open invitation to all citizens to join the Prime Minister and Cabinet members at this landmark event. The project site will welcome attendees from 3:30 PM ahead of the 4:00 PM ceremony, marking a collective step toward healthcare transformation.

    As the administration’s flagship health initiative, Project Polaris aims to fundamentally strengthen national medical infrastructure and expand availability of modern healthcare services throughout the tri-island state, establishing Grenada as a regional leader in climate-resilient medical facilities.

  • The Cell (Grenada) Ltd vacancies: Store Supervisor and Customer Service Representative

    The Cell (Grenada) Ltd vacancies: Store Supervisor and Customer Service Representative

    The Cell (Grenada) Ltd. has announced two pivotal career opportunities within its retail operations, seeking qualified candidates for the positions of Store Supervisor and Customer Service Representative.

    The Store Supervisor role demands operational leadership capabilities, providing direct support to the Store Manager. This position is central to delivering exceptional customer experiences and achieving critical sales and performance benchmarks. Key responsibilities include driving daily execution on the sales floor, ensuring strict operational compliance, protecting company assets, and motivating team members to surpass their objectives. The supervisor will also assume the Manager-on-Duty function during the Store Manager’s absence, upholding brand standards, service excellence, and financial integrity at all times.

    Simultaneously, the company is recruiting Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) to operate within its dynamic retail technology environment. This role is designed for individuals with a competitive drive for sales, extensive product knowledge, and a genuine passion for surpassing customer expectations. CSRs act as brand ambassadors, tasked with enhancing customer loyalty, boosting revenue, and fortifying the company’s reputation through every interaction.

    The company promises a competitive compensation and benefits package, which will be tailored to the successful candidates’ specific qualifications and professional experience.

    Interested applicants are instructed to submit their Curriculum Vitae (CVs) to the dedicated email address, [email protected], no later than March 25, 2026. Alternatively, physical applications with resumes can be delivered to the People & Performance Manager at the company’s headquarters on Granby Street in Grenada.

    The announcement concludes with a disclaimer from NOW Grenada, clarifying that the media platform is not responsible for contributor opinions or content and provides a mechanism for reporting abuse.

  • Grenada calls global family home with launch of 2026 Diaspora Homecoming

    Grenada calls global family home with launch of 2026 Diaspora Homecoming

    In a historic move to strengthen national ties, Grenada has officially unveiled its 2026 Diaspora Homecoming initiative—a comprehensive two-week program designed to reconnect overseas Grenadians with their cultural roots while fostering national development through global engagement.

    The event, scheduled from June 21 to July 5, 2026, will transform the Spice Isle into a hub of cultural celebration and community connection. The Homecoming aims to attract Grenadians from North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and throughout the Caribbean, including multiple generations who have never visited their ancestral homeland.

    Formally announced at a press conference held at the National Cricket Stadium, the initiative is spearheaded by the Office of Diaspora Affairs. Ambassador Terrance Forrester, Head of Diaspora Affairs, characterized the event as “a powerful invitation to reconnect with the essence of home,” emphasizing that this represents a formal national invitation to both Grenadians abroad and international friends of the nation.

    The program features an innovative dual approach: cultural reconnection and sustainable development. A highlight includes the National Spice Replanting Day on June 27, 2026, which targets the planting of 100,000 spice trees to revitalize Grenada’s agricultural legacy. Senator The Hon. Roderick St Clair, General Manager of the Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Association, outlined plans to engage schools, community organizations, and farmers in this sustainability effort.

    Complementing the environmental initiative, the Homecoming will feature a dynamic calendar of cultural events, community activities, and engagement opportunities across Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique.

    The Grenada Tourism Authority’s Chairman, Randall Dolland, highlighted the strategic importance of diaspora engagement: “As a small island state, our greatest resource is our people, many of whom live and contribute from all over the world. Building a stronger Grenada requires a collective effort that includes the strength, expertise and support of our diaspora.”

    Organizers have launched a national logo design competition inviting creative contributions from Grenadians worldwide and established a dedicated website to serve as the central hub for program information and registration details.

  • Grenada reaffirms commitment to Commonwealth

    Grenada reaffirms commitment to Commonwealth

    Grenada’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Export Development, Roxie McLeish-Hutchinson, led a high-level delegation through a series of significant Commonwealth engagements in London from March 7-9, 2026. The diplomatic mission reinforced Grenada’s enduring commitment to Commonwealth principles and partnerships while advancing the nation’s foreign policy objectives on the global stage.

    The intensive three-day agenda commenced with the 72nd Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting, where Grenada joined seven other member nations in deliberating critical issues of governance, democracy, and adherence to the Commonwealth Charter. As an active CMAG member, Grenada contributes to the group’s mandate of addressing serious or persistent violations of democratic principles, rule of law, and human rights across the Commonwealth.

    On March 8, attention turned to the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), where discussions focused on enhancing cooperation, tackling global challenges, and strengthening the Commonwealth’s collective voice. Key agenda items included climate change mitigation, sustainable development initiatives, and building economic resilience—particularly vital concerns for vulnerable small island developing states like Grenada. Delegates emphasized the organization’s strategic relevance in countering contemporary threats to multilateralism and bridging global divides.

    The diplomatic activities culminated with Commonwealth Day observances on March 9, featuring solemn ceremonies and celebratory events. The day commenced with a flag-raising ceremony at the House of Commons, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Memorial Gates honoring Commonwealth service members from both World Wars. This year’s theme, ‘Women in War,’ paid special tribute to female contributions during conflicts, exemplified by figures like Noor Inayat Khan, a British Indian Special Operations Executive during WWII.

    Permanent Secretary McLeish-Hutchinson laid a wreath on behalf of Grenada’s government and people, honoring fallen service members including Caribbean air service personnel. The commemorations continued with the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, attended by over 2,000 participants including King Charles III, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, and various dignitaries. Grenada was represented by Chevening Scholar Johnathan Andrew as flagbearer during the parade of flags from all 56 member states.

    The London engagements concluded with a reception at St James’s Palace featuring cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards of Antigua and Barbuda, who serves as special envoy for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

    For Grenada, these high-level meetings provided crucial platforms to amplify the nation’s voice, build strategic partnerships, and advocate for global action on issues disproportionately affecting small island states. In an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, the Commonwealth remains an essential forum for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action—offering smaller nations meaningful participation in international decision-making processes.

    Permanent Secretary McLeish-Hutchinson emphasized Grenada’s steadfast support for Commonwealth initiatives, noting the organization’s value in providing capacity building, technical assistance, and policy collaboration that directly benefits small island developing states. Grenada’s active diplomatic engagement underscores its commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation while advancing national interests in sustainable and resilient development.