标签： Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Nearly 20 years ago, Alshika Latham left her home in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for Taiwan, drawn by a prestigious higher education scholarship. What started as a temporary academic opportunity would gradually unfold into a lifelong new chapter, blending education, teaching, and a thriving baking business that has captured the hearts of customers across the island and beyond.

Latham’s passion for food emerged long before she ever set foot in Taiwan. Growing up between the SVG communities of New Grounds and North Union, she was raised in a family deeply connected to home cooking. Her mother, Yvette Spencer, a retired principal and former food and nutrition educator, nurtured Latham’s interest from early childhood. By the time she was seven years old, Latham could already prepare breakfast and simple family meals, learning by working alongside her elders in the kitchen.

When Latham first arrived in Taiwan in 2007, she dedicated her first year to mastering Mandarin at National Taiwan Normal University, before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in travel and tourism from Ming Chuan University, and later a Master of Business Administration in service management from Yuan Ze University. It was during her studies that baking began to take on a new meaning for her: like many expats, she craved the sweet desserts she grew up with back home, so she began baking Caribbean-style treats for herself and fellow Caribbean students.

As word of her baking spread, more people asked to place orders. Curious to see if her recipes would resonate outside the Caribbean community, Latham shared a homemade cheesecake with her Taiwanese classmates during her master’s studies. Their enthusiastic response gave her the first push to consider turning her hobby into a formal business. Still, she hesitated for months, only spurred into action after the sudden passing of a close friend who had repeatedly encouraged her to pursue her dream. That loss became her catalyst: she created a Facebook page for her brand, Shika’s Treats, in September 2016, and made the official decision to launch on her birthday that October, telling herself, “Just do it.”

Weeks later, Latham received her invitation to her first local Christmas market. Faced with the challenge of baking 300 cupcakes with only a tiny household oven that could fit just 12 cupcakes per batch, she pulled off endless hours of baking, arriving at the venue hours after opening. But even before she could spread a tablecloth over her stall, customers had already lined up to buy. By the end of her first hour at the market, she had sold nearly 250 cupcakes. That overwhelming early success was the turning point she needed, giving her the confidence to grow Shika’s Treats into a permanent business.

Nearly a decade later, Shika’s Treats has evolved far beyond its original cupcake roots. Latham now serves a diverse, multicultural customer base, with a menu that ranges from custom celebration cakes and banana bread to traditional Caribbean specialties like black cake. Refusing to limit her craft, she regularly takes on requests for dishes and desserts from other cultures, turning every order into an opportunity to learn new techniques, research new flavour profiles, and connect with more communities. Beyond baked goods, she also accepts small catering orders and regular meal requests for long-term clients, choosing to grow the business slowly to preserve the high quality and personal, customer-focused service that has become her brand’s signature.

Along her journey, Latham has received widespread support from local communities, crediting Taiwan’s South African expat community with much of her early momentum, after many members became loyal repeat customers following her early market appearances. For Latham, the most rewarding part of running her business has never been just the sales—it is the deep connections she has built with customers along the way. Though she describes herself as an introvert, she says interacting with and serving people at events brings her immense joy. She also remains open to customer feedback, framing criticism as an opportunity to refine her craft rather than a setback.

Sourcing traditional Caribbean ingredients in Taiwan presented early challenges, as many common items were not readily available locally. In recent years, however, the growth of online shopping and speciality international food suppliers has made this process far easier. Latham’s improved Mandarin proficiency has also been a key asset, helping her build trusting relationships with local suppliers and source all the materials she needs to create her treats.

Latham’s journey building a life in Taiwan has not been without its difficulties. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she originally planned to return to SVG, but new opportunities, including the master’s program, convinced her to stay to pursue more goals. Adapting to cultural differences took time, and during her master’s studies, while living in an isolated area, she struggled with long-term depression and feelings of being an outsider. Rather than letting these challenges define her, however, they helped her grow into a more open, understanding person. She learned to embrace cultural differences, shifting her perspective to recognize that different customs did not equal wrong customs—just different ways of life.

Today, Latham remains in Taiwan, drawn by the peaceful, convenient lifestyle and the meaningful relationships she has built over nearly 20 years. She now balances her thriving baking business with a career in education, and advises international students considering studying abroad to approach their experience with an open mind: if you are not willing to learn about local people and cultures, she says, you will only see every difference as a negative.

Looking back on her journey, Latham reflects on her path with deep gratitude. What began as a single scholarship opportunity has grown into a full life shaped by education, lasting friendships, a rewarding teaching career, and a business that continues to evolve with each new request. Guided by her core values of humility, compassion, and faith, she says that what brings her the most contentment is the chance to serve others and bring joy to her customers: “If I can serve others or make them happy, that makes me content.”

This story was produced by Kemarlie Durrant, a third-year mass communication and journalism student at Ming Chuan University, as part of an internship collaboration with the Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Taiwan, a requirement for completion of Durrant’s bachelor’s degree.

In a remarkable achievement that has captured the attention of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a blind primary school student Faith Grant has posted exceptional results on this year’s Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), securing her a spot at the country’s most prestigious all-female secondary institution — and drawing widespread acclaim for her mother Yolanda Grant’s relentless dedication to her daughter’s success.

Out of 1,760 students across SVG who sat the 2024 CPEA examination, Grant ranked 43rd overall and 19th among all female test-takers, a feat that stands out even among top-performing students. A product of the special education program at Fair Hall Government School, Faith was born with visual impairment, and her journey to academic success has been shaped by intentional support, persistent advocacy, and extraordinary personal grit.

Local disability advocacy organization Voice of the Disabled (VOD), which works to remove barriers and improve quality of life for disabled people across SVG, has publicly congratulated Faith, her family, and the educators who supported her through her primary education journey. In an official press statement released this week, the group highlighted Yolanda Grant’s unwavering commitment as a key driver of Faith’s success.

“God has blessed Faith, kept her and provided guidance along the way. With a mother who has been passionate and persistent, Faith successfully completed her primary education and ultimately showed the country that all people are capable of achieving greatness, despite differences,” the statement read.

The partnership between the Grant family and VOD stretches back nearly a decade, when Sister Samuel, program coordinator for an annual disability recognition event hosted by Calder Adventist Church, introduced Yolanda Grant to VOD founder and president Cheryl Adams. That first meeting grew into a close friendship and collaborative partnership, with Yolanda quickly becoming an integral part of the organization’s work. Recognizing early on that targeted support and community connection would be critical to Faith’s success, Yolanda invested time in educating herself about disability inclusive education and sought out specialized resources to meet her daughter’s needs.

Soon after joining VOD as a member, Yolanda was appointed public relations officer and parent group coordinator, expanding her impact beyond her own family to support the broader disabled community in SVG. Over her years with the organization, she has co-developed and led training sessions for educators and parents of disabled children, and partnered with Adams to engage in cross-sector collaboration with SVG’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment.

“Not only did Ms. Grant commit to enhancing the life of her own child, but she dedicated her time to serving the community and contributing to a meaningful cause for differently abled Vincentians,” VOD noted in its statement.

Adams and Yolanda Grant worked closely for years to secure appropriate educational placement and accommodations for Faith, a process that required sustained advocacy with government agencies. For a long period, Yolanda covered all costs for Faith’s specialized support and services out of her own pocket, placing a significant financial strain on the family. After VOD brought the family’s needs to the Ministry of National Mobilisation, which held oversight for disability issues at the time, the government stepped in to ease the burden, coordinating financial assistance through SVG’s Youth Empowerment Service (YES) program.

Despite the many systemic and personal obstacles the Grant family navigated, Faith emerged as a consistently high-performing, determined student, VOD said, describing the 12-year-old as “a determined, talented, intelligent and resilient young person with a strong desire to learn.” That resilience is reflected in her historic CPEA results, which have paved the way for her to attend the elite Girls’ High School (GHS) in the coming academic year.

Faith’s achievement has prompted VOD to call for broader systemic change to advance disability inclusion across SVG’s education system. The organization emphasized that “every child deserves a fair opportunity to reach their highest potential,” arguing that learning institutions at all levels must adapt to meet the diverse needs of their student populations. Key steps to build more inclusive education environments, the group said, include developing adaptive learning materials, investing in assistive technology, integrating Braille and other alternative communication methods, expanding family support services, providing specialized training for education staff, and upgrading physical accessibility across school campuses.

VOD acknowledged that SVG still has significant progress to make as a society to fully include disabled people in all areas of public life, but called on parents and guardians of disabled children across the country to draw inspiration from Yolanda and Faith Grant’s story. “We hope that you feel inspired by Ms. Grant’s unwavering pursuit of a quality life for her child. She understands the value of education, the power of advocacy and the importance of being present. This is only the beginning,” the statement said.

As Faith prepares to transition to secondary school, VOD noted that she will continue to need community support, particularly to cover the cost of high-priced assistive devices and specialized learning tools. The organization encouraged any community members who are able to contribute to reach out to the Grant family, and urged locals to support disability advocacy causes in their own communities to lift up other children like Faith.

For its part, VOD reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting the disabled community in SVG. The organization pledged to continue its core work: advocating for systemic policy change, fostering independent living for disabled people through education and skills training, providing peer and resource support for parents, partnering with churches and other local institutions, expanding outreach to underserved disabled communities, collaborating with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and raising public awareness about the ongoing barriers facing disabled Vincentians.

A 29-year-old mechanic from Belmont has been handed a major financial penalty after admitting to illegal cocaine possession in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in a case that underscores law enforcement’s ongoing push to dismantle local drug networks.

Mathew Alexus was ordered by the Serious Offences Court to pay a EC$1,700 fine within 30 days, after pleading guilty to the charge of possessing 29 grams of cocaine with intent to supply. The offense was committed in Arnos Vale during a Sunday operation that led to his arrest. If Alexus fails to meet the fine requirement, the court has ruled he will serve an automatic six-month prison sentence. Authorities have also ordered the immediate destruction of the seized narcotics.

Following the court ruling Tuesday, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to rooting out illegal drug activity across the islands. In an official press statement issued the same day, law enforcement leaders emphasized that illicit drug trade remains a persistent threat to public order, driving widespread criminal activity that harms vulnerable families and destabilizes communities across the nation.

To strengthen ongoing anti-drug efforts, police are calling for expanded public partnership in the fight against narcotics trafficking, possession and distribution. Community members are urged to share any information related to suspicious drug activity via established channels, including the closest local police station. “Together, we can build safer and healthier communities for all,” the statement concluded.

In a landmark sentencing handed down Friday in Kingstown, a 56-year-old St. Vincent and the Grenadines man has been ordered to serve more than 30 years behind bars for the brutal serial rape of two children aged 9 and 10, in a case that has underscored the judiciary’s commitment to protecting vulnerable minors from violent sexual abuse.

Francis Jackson, a local handyman, committed the three heinous attacks between March and September 2019, when he was 49 years old. Court documents detail that Jackson first raped both young victims — identified only as Virtual Complainant 1 (VC1, aged 9) and Virtual Complainant 2 (VC2, aged 10) — in a repeated pattern of abuse that saw him assault each child while the other was forced to watch, after which he coerced both girls into staying silent about the attacks. He went on to rape VC2 a second time on September 8, 2019, and was apprehended by a relative of VC1 just moments after he assaulted VC1 again the following day. When the relative arrived at the scene, they found VC1 hiding in a location Jackson had ordered her to stay, with her underwear rolled down and visible under her tights. After the child disclosed the abuse, the relative discovered Jackson still wearing a condom on his penis, and a physical altercation broke out before bystanders raised the alarm.

Responding officers confirmed the evidence at the scene: the child’s disheveled clothing and Jackson’s condom matched the victim’s account. During initial questioning, Jackson offered no explanation for the condom, and he continued to deny all allegations throughout the investigation and trial. He was ultimately found guilty on all three counts of rape. A subsequent social inquiry report painted a mixed portrait of the offender: Jackson, who only completed primary school, has a pre-existing speech impediment, mobility issues stemming from a past bicycle accident, and chronic hypertension. Local community members described him as a quiet, helpful, friendly handyman, and four community representatives urged the court to grant him leniency. Prison officials also noted that he had complied with institutional rules during his pre-trial detention.

However, the long-term harm inflicted on the two young victims has been irreversible, psychological assessments confirm. VC1, who was assaulted multiple times, told social workers she has never been able to recover a sense of peace years after the attacks. She experiences regular emotional breakdowns, struggles with eating and sleeping, and struggles to interact with others normally. She no longer trusts men, feels like she does not fit in anywhere, and has had her relationship with her family permanently altered, as her parents have adopted much stricter rules around her social life and friendships. VC1 also said she will never forget the fear, disgust, and confusion she felt during the first assault, harm that extended far beyond physical injury. For VC2, the abuse has left permanent psychological scars as well: she carries constant memories of the attack, suffers from debilitating flashbacks that cause full-body discomfort, blames herself for the assault, and has struggled to cope with ongoing physical pain from the abuse. One victim’s mother told the court she blames herself for what happened to her daughter, with the entire family living in anger and despair over the crimes.

Delivering the sentence, High Court Justice Rickie Burnett emphasized that the maximum penalty for rape in the jurisdiction is life imprisonment, reflecting parliament’s mandate that courts treat child sexual abuse as an extremely serious offense. Outlining the core principles of sentencing — retribution, deterrence, prevention, and rehabilitation — Burnett said the court’s primary duty was to punish Jackson and prevent future offenses by other potential offenders. Quoting the Bible, the judge stated: “Children are a heritage from the Lord. They must be protected and the court has a duty to protect them from men like Francis Jackson.”

Justice Burnett outlined multiple aggravating factors that justified a harsh sentence: Jackson abused a position of trust, coerced the children to stay silent, had an age gap of 39 and 40 years over the two victims respectively, carried out the assaults in front of each other, and had a previous conviction for a sexual offense. While the absence of explicit physical violence beyond the rape itself was counted as a mitigating factor, the judge ruled that aggravating circumstances far outweighed any leniency, adding two years to the initial starting sentences for the first two counts. Jackson’s good behavior in detention, positive community testimonials, and poor health were also counted as mitigating factors for the final sentencing.

After accounting for pre-sentencing remand time of 1 year, 8 months and 11 days, and adjusting sentences per the totality principle to avoid an excessive total term, Justice Burnett ordered a 19 years 9 months 20 days sentence for the rape of VC1, a 12 years 3 months 20 days sentence for the first rape of VC2 (to run concurrently with the first sentence), and an 11 years 3 months 20 days consecutive sentence for the second rape of VC1. The combined total sentence is 30 years 9 months and 20 days, effectively a life term for the offender given his age.

Renee Simmons represented the Crown in the case, while Patina Knights was appointed by the Crown to cross-examine the child witnesses under the Witness Special Measures Act, which puts in place special protections for minor victims of sexual violence. Knights also served as amicus curiae during the sentencing hearing.

A 53-year-old carpenter from Redemption Sharpes, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been convicted of assaulting his partner of 10 years, resulting in actual bodily harm, and handed a suspended prison sentence and financial penalty by the local courts. Norman Seymour, the perpetrator, entered a guilty verdict for the attack that unfolded against his 37-year-old partner Alritha Matcolm, a customer service representative who shares the same Redemption Sharpes neighborhood. The violent incident capped off a decade of toxic, conflict-ridden relationship marked by frequent abuse, with the majority of arguments sparked by Seymour’s prolonged mistreatment of Matcolm’s three teenage sons, who are currently 18, 16 and 13 years old.

According to court documents and law enforcement records, the oldest of Matcolm’s sons moved out of the family home in 2025 to escape Seymour’s targeted aggression toward him. Two years later, on March 20, 2026, the young man returned to the residence, setting the stage for a bitter confrontation between Seymour and Matcolm just 48 hours later. At approximately 9:55 a.m. on March 22, the couple’s argument over Matcolm’s son escalated dramatically, with Seymour grabbing and holding onto Matcolm’s neck as she screamed out for emergency help.

In a desperate bid to protect his mother, Matcolm’s 16-year-old son intervened in the attack, wielding a cutlass that wounded Seymour. The injury required Seymour to receive inpatient care at the Male Surgical Ward of Kingstown’s Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where he remained under observation until his discharge on April 1. Following the assault, the incident was formally reported to Police Constable 927 Patrick, an officer assigned to Kingstown’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CID). One week after the attack, Patrick placed Seymour under arrest and officially charged him with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Senior Magistrate Tamika McKenzie oversaw the case and handed down the final sentencing: an 11-month prison term that has been suspended for a period of one year, alongside a fine of EC$300. Seymour has been ordered to pay the full fine by the July 13 deadline; failure to meet this requirement will result in an automatic four-month prison sentence. Local attorney Ronald Marks represented Seymour throughout the court proceedings. Court records also confirm that a separate counter case, with Seymour listed as the virtual complainant, is still pending before the district court and has not yet gone to trial.