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  • End CBI by June 2028 or risk Schengen access: EU writes to Caribbean States

    End CBI by June 2028 or risk Schengen access: EU writes to Caribbean States

    The European Union has formally requested that the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda wind down its popular Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program by June 1, 2028, setting off a diplomatic standoff over a critical source of income for the small island developing state. The request, delivered in a June 25, 2026 letter from EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, leverages a revised EU Visa Suspension Mechanism adopted last December. Under the updated rule, the existence of any CBI program—regardless of its regulatory rigor or management standards—qualifies as a standalone justification for revoking visa-free access to the Schengen area for Antigua and Barbuda passport holders.

    Antigua and Barbuda is one of five member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that operate CBI initiatives, which grant citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for large investments that fund national socio-economic development. The other OECS nations running similar programs are Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis, and Browne confirmed the EU’s demand is not targeted solely at Antigua and Barbuda, but at all countries in the subregion with active CBI schemes.

    To ease the transition, the EU has proposed a 24-month phased timeline and required interim safeguards to be implemented by September 2026. These requirements include a permanent ban on any individuals subject to EU sanctions from accessing the CBI program and strengthened background vetting for all applicants regardless of nationality. The EU will incorporate Antigua and Barbuda’s official response into its upcoming Visa Suspension Mechanism report scheduled for publication in December 2026.

    Prime Minister Browne noted that the formal request did not catch his administration off guard: five days before the letter arrived, on June 20, the government received advance warning of the incoming notification and has already launched regional consultations with fellow OECS members to coordinate a collective response. For Antigua and Barbuda, the CBI program serves as a foundational pillar of the country’s non-tax revenue, and Browne emphasized that the government cannot abandon the program without a guaranteed, viable alternative source of income to replace the lost funds.

    “The CBI programme is a critical pillar of Antigua and Barbuda’s non-tax revenue base, and it cannot simply be abandoned without viable, concrete, and credible replacement revenues being made available,” Browne stated, confirming that the program will remain operational for the time being. “We will not be pressured into a unilateral phase-out that would cause irreparable harm to the national economy and the welfare of our citizens.”

    The Antigua and Barbuda government has committed to continuing principled, constructive dialogue with the European Commission, aligned with the terms of the longstanding bilateral partnership under the Samoa Agreement. While the country acknowledges the EU’s stated commitment to supporting sustainable development through the Global Gateway Investment Agenda and other frameworks, Browne pointed out that none of these proposed assistance packages have been quantified, formalized into binding agreements, or explicitly positioned to replace CBI revenue.

    Over the decades of its operation, the CBI program has financed core public infrastructure and services across Antigua and Barbuda, including new hospitals, school facilities, transportation and utilities projects, and post-hurricane disaster recovery. As a small island developing state, Antigua and Barbuda faces extreme fiscal constraints, heightened vulnerability to climate change impacts, and high exposure to external economic shocks—making CBI revenue an essential lifeline for maintaining public services and national stability.

    “Any agreed path forward must include tangible EU assistance in generating equivalent replacement revenues to offset the economic impact of any transition,” the government reiterated. It also emphasized its sovereign right to set domestic economic development strategies that prioritize the well-being of its citizens, while remaining committed to upholding global security standards aligned with the needs of other nations.

    As a gesture of good faith amid ongoing negotiations, the Antigua and Barbuda government has already committed to continuing its existing ban on sanctioned individuals accessing the CBI program, expanding vetting protocols for all applicants, and adopting any additional security safeguards required to meet EU standards. Browne told the public his administration is pursuing every available diplomatic channel—bilaterally, through the OECS, and via other regional and international frameworks—to protect Antigua and Barbuda’s core national economic interests, and will release further public updates as negotiations with the EU progress.

  • 14 captured maroons executed: 9 July 1725

    14 captured maroons executed: 9 July 1725

    On the 9th of July 1725, a dark chapter unfolded in the colonial history of Grenada: 14 captured maroons — people who had escaped chattel slavery to build free communities in the island’s interior, one of whom was a woman — were put to death after being captured by French colonial forces. This violent conclusion capped off a year of growing tension between French plantation owners and the growing population of escaped enslaved people who had fled brutal working conditions on Grenada’s colonial estates.

    By 1725, large numbers of enslaved people were escaping Grenada’s plantations. Many joined scattered maroon bands that lived off the land in the island’s remote interior, while others built makeshift canoes and small boats to sail to Spanish-controlled territories like Margarita, where they were welcomed and granted freedom. As the maroon population grew, their activities shifted beyond small-scale nighttime theft of food for survival. Led by prominent chiefs including Petit-Jean, La Fortune, Samba, Jacob and Bernard, around 60 maroons began targeting larger livestock, stealing sheep, calves and full-grown cattle from colonial estates. Eventually, they launched direct attacks on isolated plantations across northern and eastern Grenada, striking at the heart of the colonial agricultural system that had enslaved them.

    Contemporary colonial records detail several violent encounters between maroons and white plantation inhabitants. In one incident, a maroon band attacked a woman named Luca who was home alone. After looting all of her belongings, they tore gold earrings from her ears; claims that she was sexually assaulted were never sufficiently verified in contemporary reports. In another well-documented case, at 9 o’clock in the morning, the young wife of a man named Cassé — who was traveling in France at the time — was attacked by a group of maroons armed with rifles, muskets and swords. Reports confirm the group burned her main house, kitchen and chicken coop, refusing to allow her to remove any of her personal property before the structures caught fire. Under the direct command of Petit-Jean, the maroons stole all of the estate’s cattle and poultry, then stood by to watch the buildings burn before beating drums and departing the property.

    A third incident, carried out in the early morning, involved a surprise attack on a household where several white men were staying. The men were beaten with rifle butts; one sustained a severe eye injury that colonial doctors predicted would result in permanent blindness. The man’s wife, who had recently given birth to an infant, was dragged across the ground by her hair and kicked by the maroons. The group threatened to smash her newborn child’s head against a wooden post, forcing the new mother to kiss their buttocks in exchange for sparing the child’s life before stealing her earrings as well.

    These coordinated attacks sparked widespread outcry among French colonial settlers, who pressured local authorities to take decisive military action to crush the maroon resistance. Settlers argued that the escaped slaves were in open revolt and demanded an immediate crackdown to protect colonial property and authority. In response, armed colonial militias launched large-scale “maroon hunting” expeditions across the island, killing 10 maroons during the operations and capturing 14 more. Among the captured were all of the maroon movement’s named leaders, plus a female maroon named Marion. The 14 captives were transported to Martinique for trial, and ultimately executed by colonial authorities on 9 July 1725. In a move that compensated slave owners for their lost “property,” the colonial state paid between 500 and 800 livres tournois to the owners of each executed enslaved person.

    In the aftermath of the crackdown, colonial Grenada’s planter class petitioned the French crown to create a permanent local court with the authority to try captured maroons, with the explicit goal of making harsh punishments a public example to deter any other enslaved people from escaping and resisting colonial rule. One year later, in 1726, the French government authorized the creation of the Royal Chambre in Grenada, a special court granted sole power to prosecute enslaved people for crimes committed against the colonial order.

  • Cuba achieves diplomatic victory at United Nations

    Cuba achieves diplomatic victory at United Nations

    In a bold rebuke of decades of unilateral U.S. policy, the United Nations General Assembly voted 136 in favor to greenlight a long-sought debate on the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, overcoming strenuous lobbying efforts by Washington to block the discussion. The overwhelming vote outcome reaffirms the deep global rejection of the U.S. policy, leaving Washington increasingly politically isolated on the global stage while validating Havana’s decades of denunciations of the punitive measures.

    Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez opened the debate with a scathing condemnation of the decades-long blockade, framing it as a multi-dimensional act of aggression that has escalated in recent years into a full-scale energy siege functionally equivalent to a traditional naval blockade. Rodríguez stressed that the coercive unilateral measures are intentionally designed to cripple Cuba’s economy, inflict widespread hardship on the island’s 11 million residents, and hide the true humanitarian cost of the sanctions from the international community.

    Beyond its direct harm to Cuban civilians, Rodríguez noted the blockade imposes sweeping extraterritorial sanctions that penalize third-party countries and businesses for maintaining normal trade ties with Havana, forcing many to cut off economic relations against their will. He emphasized that this long-running policy systematically violates core tenets of international law and foundational principles of the UN Charter, qualifying as an act of collective punishment and genocide against the Cuban people.

    Closing his opening remarks, Rodríguez extended gratitude to the vast majority of UN member states that defied U.S. pressure to support the debate, and reiterated that Cuba poses no security threat to any nation. Instead, he emphasized, it is the blockade that constitutes a direct threat to the lives and well-being of millions of Cubans, calling on the global community to unite in defense of national sovereignty and global social justice.

    The UN debate was marked by an outpouring of cross-regional support for Cuba from dozens of countries and major regional blocs. Russia’s representative told the assembly that fuel shipments to Cuba are no longer a routine commercial transaction, but an urgent humanitarian issue. Speaking on behalf of the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement, Uganda’s delegate called on the General Assembly to mobilize collective action to prevent any form of military aggression against Cuba.

    Mexico’s representative affirmed that the right to determine Cuba’s political and economic future belongs exclusively to the Cuban people, free from external interference or coercive impositions. Major regional and national groups including the African Group, China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Pakistan joined the chorus of condemnation, warning that the blockade is pushing Cuba toward a severe humanitarian crisis and noting that it has devastated critical public sectors including health care, education, and energy infrastructure.

    The debate laid bare the catastrophic daily human toll of the decades-long siege across Cuban society. Delegates detailed widespread, prolonged power outages that have disrupted daily life for millions of Cubans, brought public transportation systems to a standstill, and created severe challenges to preserving critical food supplies. Hospitals and community health centers across the island have been forced to rely on emergency backup generators amid crippling shortages of life-saving medications and essential medical supplies.

    The successful vote to hold the debate marks a major diplomatic victory for Cuba, which successfully rallied global support to open the issue for formal UN discussion despite intense opposition from Washington. The outcome of the vote confirms broad, cross-regional consensus in the international community that all peoples have the inherent right to live free from coercive unilateral sanctions imposed by foreign powers. As Rodríguez emphasized in his closing remarks, “Cuba is not a threat; the blockade is.”

  • Military training exercise, Grand Etang, St Andrew

    Military training exercise, Grand Etang, St Andrew

    In an official public announcement issued through the Office of the Commissioner of Police, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has confirmed a key schedule adjustment for an upcoming military training exercise set to take place in the parish of St Andrew.

    Originally planned to run from Monday, July 6 to Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the Grand Etang training site, the drill has been pushed back to a new window: Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12, 2026.

    As with any organized military training activity of this type, the exercise will incorporate non-lethal training munitions, specifically blank rounds, along with smoke screen pyrotechnics to simulate realistic operational conditions. The RGPF moved quickly to reassure local residents and visitors who may be in the area during the exercise period, emphasizing that all activity will be held under strictly controlled, pre-planned conditions and that there is no reason for public concern or alarm.

    Acknowledging that any change to a previously announced public event can disrupt personal plans, travel itineraries or local activities, the law enforcement agency issued a formal apology for any inconvenience the rescheduling may cause. It also expressed gratitude in advance for the understanding and cooperation of the Grenadian public as the training proceeds.

    This announcement follows standard public notification protocols for security training activities in the country, designed to keep communities informed and prevent unnecessary public disruption or anxiety. The original publication of this notice by NOW Grenada includes a standard disclaimer that the outlet is not liable for any content or opinions shared by official contributing sources, and provides a channel for users to report any abusive content related to the publication.

  • Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme extends application deadline

    Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme extends application deadline

    Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across three Eastern Caribbean nations have gained extra time to pursue transformative grant funding designed to boost collaborative growth in the region’s blue economy, after the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission extended the application deadline for a key funding initiative.

    The extension applies to the second call for proposals under Window 2 of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme, a core component of the World Bank-funded Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) project. Eligible value chain groups of MSMEs now have until Friday, 24 July 2026 to finalize and submit their applications, giving operations based in Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines additional time to refine proposals, coordinate partnerships and complete required documentation.

    Window 2 of the programme is structured specifically to support collaborative value chain groups made up of three or more MSMEs that work together to generate greater economic value than individual enterprises could achieve independently. Through coordinated operations, grouped businesses can unlock a range of benefits: improved operational efficiency, expanded access to regional and global markets, reduced overhead costs, stronger resilience to economic and climate shocks, and new pathways for scalable growth.

    Concrete examples of eligible collaborative groups span the full breadth of the blue economy: a small-scale fisher partnering with a local seafood processor and a coastal restaurant or boutique hotel to streamline supply chains; a seamoss farmer working with a processing facility and export business to develop high-value value-added products for international consumers; a marine dive operator teaming up with a land-based tour company and coastal accommodation provider to deliver integrated, seamless tourism experiences; and a marine waste collection enterprise collaborating with a recycling plant and a manufacturing firm to turn ocean plastic into new consumer goods. These cross-business partnerships not only boost individual firm competitiveness but also strengthen the entire regional blue economy ecosystem.

    In a targeted push for inclusive economic growth, the OECS Commission has placed special emphasis on encouraging applications from women-led value chain groups. Women hold foundational roles across key blue economy sectors including fisheries, marine tourism and coastal waste management, serving as business owners, innovators and community leaders. This grant opportunity creates a structured pathway for women-led enterprises to build strategic partnerships, access critical capital, and expand the reach and positive impact of their operations.

    The Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme has already delivered proven transformative results for MSMEs across the OECS region through earlier funding rounds. Past grant recipients have used the funding to invest in new productivity-enhancing equipment, scale up production capacity, streamline operational workflows, diversify their product and service offerings, strengthen climate resilience for coastal operations, and create new local job opportunities for community members.

    From sustainable marine tourism ventures and innovative circular economy waste management operations to growing fisheries and aquaculture businesses, past grantees have demonstrated that targeted investment in MSMEs yields far-reaching benefits: stronger, more competitive businesses, healthier and more vibrant coastal economies, and more resilient local communities. Their outcomes prove that targeted access to capital and partnership support unlocks extraordinary growth potential for Caribbean entrepreneurs.

    OECS officials are urging eligible groups to avoid last-minute submissions and use the extended deadline to strengthen their proposals, build more robust collaborative partnerships, and gather all required supporting materials to maximize their chances of success.

    The UBEC project, which hosts the matching grants programme, is implemented by the OECS Commission and funded by the World Bank through the PROBLUE multi-donor trust fund. Its core mandate is to advance sustainable economic development across the Eastern Caribbean by supporting MSME growth, fostering cross-business innovation and collaboration, and building long-term resilience in the blue economy sector.

    Interested eligible groups can submit applications online at https://bit.ly/4dh0ZX9, or reach out to [email protected] for additional information. Completed applications should be sent to [email protected]

  • Rotary Club of Grenada Board of Directors for 2026–2027 Rotary Year

    Rotary Club of Grenada Board of Directors for 2026–2027 Rotary Year

    The Rotary Club of Grenada, a 56-year-old volunteer service organization embedded in Caribbean community life, has marked a formal transition of leadership with the installation of its new Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 Rotary year. At a recent handover ceremony, Althea McPhail was sworn in as the club’s new president, stepping into the role after a standout year of progress led by outgoing president Julia Lawrence.

    Lawrence’s 2025–2026 tenure will be remembered as a period of significant growth, expanded community impact, and institutional strengthening for the Grenadian chapter. Guided by Rotary’s core “Service Above Self” ethos and anchored to four key pillars of excellence—membership expansion, support for The Rotary Foundation, enhanced public outreach, and impact-driven community service—the club delivered one of its most ambitious project portfolios in history. Over the 12-month term, the organization completed 21 standalone initiatives spanning public health, education, youth empowerment, and environmental stewardship, while also deepening connections among members and boosting overall participation in club activities.

    Among the most notable projects from the past year were ongoing community programs to reduce childhood obesity across Grenada, and a major revitalization project to upgrade the green space at Quarantine Recreational Park. To raise public awareness of Rotary’s local work, the club also expanded its media footprint through regular television and radio segments, boosted engagement across social media platforms, and hosted community-facing events including the popular Rhythm & Spice Brunch Experience. These efforts did not go unrecognized: at the district level, the Rotary Club of Grenada took home top honors for its childhood obesity prevention initiative, its annual Learning Challenge, its excellence in public image coordination, and overall club excellence, capping off a year of measurable achievement.

    In reflecting on the organization’s progress, Lawrence emphasized that the year’s successes were a collective effort. “These achievements were possible only through the dedication of our members, the support of our partners, and the trust of our community,” she noted, crediting both rotating club members and longstanding community and corporate partners for making the ambitious project slate possible. By the end of her term, Lawrence highlighted that the club had emerged as a stronger, more impactful and connected organization than it was 12 months prior.

    Now, McPhail takes the reins, building on the solid foundation laid by Lawrence and past leadership teams to advance new and ongoing service initiatives tailored to the evolving needs of Grenada’s local communities. For the 2026–2027 term, McPhail has aligned her priorities with the District Governor’s core focus areas: expanding childhood obesity prevention work, rolling out anti-bullying programs for young people, and advancing local environmental preservation projects. The club will also continue to sustain its longstanding legacy projects, while working to strengthen existing partnerships that allow it to expand its reach and deliver measurable, sustainable change for Grenadian communities.

    In her inaugural address at the handover ceremony, McPhail extended sincere gratitude to outgoing leaders, the departing board of directors, and specifically Lawrence for her transformative service over the past year. She also welcomed the new board members, thanked her family and friends for their ongoing support, and challenged all club members to embrace the new term with intentionality.

    Joining McPhail on the 2026–2027 board of directors are: John Williams, serving as vice president; Elida Batista-Herrera as president-elect; Julia Lawrence as immediate past president; Gabrielle Walcott-Bedeau as secretary; Larry Lawrence as treasurer; Anica Roch leading club administration; Marielle Alexander heading membership development; Royston Cumberbatch overseeing service projects; Alphonsus Daniel leading work for The Rotary Foundation; Vondi Cyrus managing public image; Christopher Gilbert coordinating youth services; Otis Wade serving as learning facilitator; and Roy O’neale as sergeant-at-arms.

    “Let us serve boldly, lead with compassion, and continue to strengthen the 56-year legacy of this club,” McPhail told attendees. “Together, we will Create Lasting Impact as People of Action.”

    As part of the global Rotary movement that unites community leaders and professionals around volunteer service, the Rotary Club of Grenada has supported local communities for more than five decades. Today, it enters its new Rotary year reaffirming its longstanding commitment to delivering meaningful service, deepening cross-sector collaboration, and upholding its tradition of creating lasting change across Grenada.

  • 2 Grenadians to lead Lions and Leos across English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean

    2 Grenadians to lead Lions and Leos across English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean

    On July 6, 2026, a landmark moment in volunteer service leadership unfolded across the Caribbean, as two native Grenadians officially stepped into the highest district-level leadership positions for Lions Clubs International District 60B — the regional body that oversees the organization’s operations in English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean communities.

    Lion Hyacinth Jeremiah, MJF, has been elected to serve as District Governor for the 2026–2027 Lionistic year, while young leader Leo Raheem Smith will hold the post of Leo District President for the same term. This dual appointment marks the first time in the District 60B’s century-spanning history that two Grenadians will simultaneously lead both the core Lions movement and its youth-focused Leo program at the district level, an achievement widely celebrated as a defining milestone for the small Caribbean nation of Grenada.

    Both incoming leaders bring decades of combined experience, deep institutional knowledge, and unwavering dedication to community service to their new roles. Over their years of involvement with the organization, both have held a wide range of leadership positions at the club and district levels, consistently demonstrating their commitment to expanding community impact, nurturing emerging leaders, and growing the organization’s regional membership.

    A longstanding member of the Lions Club of St George’s, Lion Hyacinth Jeremiah has compiled an exceptional record of service to his local club, having served multiple terms as club president, in addition to stints as club treasurer and vice president. At the district level, he has held a string of key senior leadership roles, including Zone Chairperson, Region Chairperson, Third Vice District Governor, and Second Vice District Governor. His ascent to District Governor places him among the most distinguished leaders in the district’s history; he is only the third Grenadian ever to hold this prestigious post, and his election comes nearly 40 years after the last Grenadian, Anthony Joseph, completed his term as District Governor.

    For his part, Leo Raheem Smith, a member of the Leo Club of St George’s, has built an equally impressive track record of service and leadership within the youth-focused Leo movement. He has served two terms as his local club’s president, contributed extensively to multiple district-wide committees, and held regional leadership roles including Region Chairperson, most recently serving as Leo District Vice President. Upon taking office, he became only the second Grenadian to hold the title of Leo District President.

    Together, the two leaders will steer the work of thousands of Lions and Leos across the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Their administration has outlined five core priorities: strengthening local club operations, expanding community service initiatives, nurturing the next generation of volunteer leaders, building cross-sector advocacy and partnerships, and advancing Mission 1.5 — Lions Clubs International’s global membership growth initiative designed to expand the global impact of Lions and Leos by increasing membership numbers and opening up new service opportunities for participants.

    “As servant leaders, we recognise that leadership is not about position, but about service. We are committed to empowering our members, strengthening our clubs, and ensuring that Lions and Leos continue to make a meaningful difference in communities across the Caribbean,” the pair shared in a joint statement following their inauguration.

    As they prepare to kick off this historic year of service, both leaders have pledged to build on the long, proud legacy of the Lions and Leo movements, while inspiring a new generation of community changemakers across the Caribbean region.

    ### Background on Lions Clubs International and the Leo Club Programme
    Founded in 1917, Lions Clubs International stands as the world’s largest service club organization, boasting a global network of more than 1.4 million members across over 50,000 local clubs, operating in more than 200 countries and geographic regions. Lions members organize targeted service projects to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, focusing on key issue areas including vision care, food insecurity, environmental protection, childhood cancer support, diabetes awareness and management, disaster preparedness and relief, and broad humanitarian outreach. The organization is unified by its iconic motto: “We Serve.”

    The Leo Club Programme is the official youth leadership and service initiative of Lions Clubs International, with the acronym “Leo” standing for Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity. Through local community service projects, leadership training programs, and peer fellowship, Leo clubs empower young people to grow into responsible, engaged leaders in their communities and across the globe. Today, the program counts more than 200,000 Leos in over 7,700 clubs across more than 150 countries and geographic regions.

  • Educational Testing and Examinations Unit: Certification of documents

    Educational Testing and Examinations Unit: Certification of documents

    Grenada’s Ministry of Education has released an official public notice outlining adjusted and upcoming schedules for two key educational document services, offering clarity for applicants waiting to process official paperwork. The department’s Educational Testing and Examinations Unit has confirmed that two special dedicated sessions for document certification will be held at the Ministry of Education headquarters on Thursday, July 9, 2026, and Friday, July 10, 2026. Alongside this certification service, these two days will also open for pre-notified applicants to collect their official Statements of Qualification, a critical document for education and employment purposes. Only individuals who have already received direct communication from the Educational Testing and Examinations Unit confirming their documents are ready for pickup will be able to access the collection service during these special dates. After the conclusion of these two special sessions, both document certification and Statement of Qualification collection services will shift to a regular weekly schedule. Moving forward, members of the public will only be able to access these services between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week. This notice comes as part of the ministry’s ongoing effort to help residents plan ahead for official educational document processing, reducing wait times and confusion around service availability. As a standard publishing note, NOW Grenada, the outlet that carried the original announcement, has clarified that it does not take responsibility for opinions, statements, or third-party contributed content published on its platform. The platform also invites users to report any content that violates its community guidelines via an online reporting portal.

  • GASA and Ministry of Sports celebrate 2026 School Swimming Championships

    GASA and Ministry of Sports celebrate 2026 School Swimming Championships

    The Grenada Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), in formal collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Sports, has wrapped up two days of thrilling competitive action at the Good hope Swimming Pool, bringing the 2026 annual school aquatics season to a successful close. The Inter-Primary Swimming Championship took place on July 1, 2026, followed a day later by the widely anticipated Inter-Collegiate Swimming Championship, marking the end of the academic year with a showcase of young athletic excellence across the island.

    This year’s tournaments drew widespread participation from student swimmers representing communities across Grenada. A total of 12 primary schools entered competitors in the opening Inter-Primary meet, while seven secondary and tertiary institutions battled for top honors in the collegiate division. Beyond the excitement of race-day competition, the two-day event highlighted the grit, technical skill, and unwavering sportsmanship that define the island’s emerging generation of swimmers.

    When the final scores were tallied, Alpha Junior School made history by claiming both the boys’ and girls’ overall championship titles in the Inter-Primary division, capping off an undefeated performance across all race categories. In the Inter-Collegiate meet, Presentation Brothers’ College took home the men’s overall crown, while St Joseph’s Convent based in St George’s secured the women’s championship title.

    For decades, these annual national school championships have served as a critical foundation for aquatic sports development in Grenada, acting as a scouting platform to identify promising young talent and give emerging competitors a clear pathway to advance into elite competitive swimming and eventually earn a spot on the country’s national swimming team.

    Nataly Regis, president of GASA, shared her enthusiastic outlook on the future of swimming in Grenada in a post-event statement. “It is truly incredible to see how far swimming has grown in our country year after year,” Regis said. “We are seeing more schools add swimming programs to their athletic offerings, and every meet brings out new young athletes with extraordinary untapped potential. What makes this moment even more exciting is that construction is currently underway on Grenada’s first-ever Olympic-standard competition swimming pool, which will usher in a completely new chapter for aquatics here.”

    Regis emphasized that the new purpose-built facility will unlock unprecedented opportunities for local athlete training, allow Grenada to host larger regional and international competitions, and boost the country’s profile as a competitive swimming contender on the global stage. “We are incredibly optimistic about what comes next, and we can’t wait to welcome more schools and more young swimmers to these annual championships in the years ahead,” she added.

    GASA also extended formal gratitude to every group and individual that contributed to the 2026 event’s success, including competing swimmers, coaching staff, school teachers, event officials, volunteer organizers, and family supporters. GASA noted that the consistent dedication and backing from these stakeholders has been instrumental in growing swimming participation across all levels of Grenadian society.

    The association further reaffirmed its appreciation for the Ministry of Sports’ long-standing partnership, which has been key to establishing the school swimming championships as a staple fixture on Grenada’s national youth sports calendar.

    With the 2026 season now successfully concluded, GASA has already turned its focus to 2027, with plans to expand participation across both divisions and advance its core mission of identifying, nurturing, and developing the next generation of elite Grenadian swimmers.

  • Grenada secures 7 medals at 2026 OECS Championships

    Grenada secures 7 medals at 2026 OECS Championships

    After a nine-year hiatus, the sub-regional ANOCES OECS Senior Track and Field Championships returned in 2026, hosted in Basseterre, St Kitts. Among the competing nations, the tri-island Caribbean state of Grenada fielded a compact but highly effective 8-athlete delegation that defied its small size to deliver a historic, medal-laden performance that cemented the nation’s standing as a competitive force in Eastern Caribbean track and field.

    What stood out most about Grenada’s campaign was not just the medal count, but the unprecedented wave of facility records broken across four different events. Multiple athletes delivered career-best performances that rewrote the host venue’s record books, marking one of the nation’s strongest outings at a senior regional athletics competition in recent memory.

    Fresh off claiming the NJCAA national title in the United States, rising star Suerena Alexander kicked off Grenada’s gold medal run with a win in the women’s javelin. Her winning throw of 48.51 meters shattered the existing facility record, coming within just 1.84 meters of Candesha Scott’s 2016 OECS Championships all-meet record of 50.35 meters. Alexander did not stop there: on the second day of competition, she added a bronze medal to her haul with a 13.28-meter throw in the women’s shot put.

    Post-collegiate standout Gamali Felix claimed Grenada’s second individual gold in the men’s 400-meter dash, stopping the clock at a blistering 45.94 seconds to take the title and notch another new facility record. This victory marked the first time Grenada has claimed gold in the men’s 400-meter event since the modern iteration of the OECS Championships was added to the sub-regional athletics calendar. Felix would go on to contribute a second gold later in the meet as part of the mixed 4x400m relay squad.

    In the women’s long jump, Brinel Thomas delivered a clutch performance to secure Grenada’s third individual gold, leaping 5.48 meters to claim the title and the event’s third facility record of the championships for Grenada.

    The final race of the meet brought Grenada its fourth gold, as the mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Cheffonia Houston, Matthew Paul, Keishawna Phillip, and Gamali Felix put on a masterclass of coordinated racing to dominate the field. Their finishing time of 3:27.60 set a fourth new facility record, missing the 2023 senior national record of 3:27.22 by a mere 0.38 seconds in a near-miss for the history books.

    Beyond the gold medal performances, Grenada athletes added three additional bronze medals to round out the final standings. In the men’s javelin, Jayvonni Neckles threw 56.61 meters to finish third, behind gold medalist Malique Francis of Antigua & Barbuda, who set a new national junior record with a 66.11-meter throw. On the final day of competition, Cheffonia Houston pulled off a rare triple of events: after placing sixth in the open women’s 400-meter with a time of 57.61 seconds, she claimed bronze in the women’s long jump with a 4.51-meter leap, before turning in a brilliant lead-off leg to anchor the mixed relay squad to gold.

    Grenada’s sprinters also turned in solid performances in the individual short sprints: Keishawna Phillip clocked 12.11 seconds to finish sixth in the competitive women’s 100-meter dash, while teammate Shade John placed eighth with a 12.38-second run. The pair were slated to join Thomas and Houston to contest the women’s 4x100m relay, but meet organizers ultimately called off the event before it could be held.

    With every athlete entered in competition delivering points or podium finishes, Grenada completed the championships with a 100% conversion rate from its small roster. The successful outing builds critical momentum for the nation’s senior track and field athletes as they prepare for the major competitions that make up the peak of the 2026 summer athletic calendar.