The St. Vincent and the Grenadines senior women’s national netball squad, affectionately nicknamed the Vincy Jewels, put on a masterclass clinical performance last Friday to secure a lopsided 91–13 triumph over the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in their ongoing regional competitive campaign. The home side asserted total control across every 15-minute quarter of the fixture, racking up lopsided partial scores of 25–4, 49–6, 70–10 and 91–13 by the final whistle, marking their third win from four total matches played so far in the tournament. The Vincy Jewels’ shooting lineup delivered near-perfect accuracy throughout the clash: starting goal shoot Mary-Ann Frederick converted an outstanding 71 of her 74 total attempts, while supporting attacking players Shellisa Davis (goal attack), Joseann Antoine, and Kristiana Christopher chipped in with 6/7, 7/9 and 6/7 goal conversion rates respectively. On the opposing side, the BVI’s top scorers included Sakena Cooner with 6 goals from 7 shots, Ruth Robin with 5 from 10, and Caroline Gordon and Clital Russell who each notched 1 goal from 2 attempts. Many spectators in attendance voiced the shared opinion that the Vincy Jewels could easily have pushed to hit the 100-goal milestone if the coaching staff had prioritized run-up scoring in the final quarter. Head coach Natasha Baptiste-Samuel pushed back on that popular narrative in post-match comments, emphasizing that the team’s core priorities extended far beyond a arbitrary points benchmark. “It’s not about achieving 100 goals. It’s about ensuring that we worked on our quick transitions,” Baptiste-Samuel explained. “And if the 100 had come, we would have been happy. But it was never about just going out for 100, but to be strategic in terms of how we transition on court. How we apply that solid defence. So that we can continue successfully for the rest of the tournament.” She went on to note that the vast majority of her roster stuck closely to the pre-planned game strategy mapped out in pre-match preparations, stating she was highly pleased with how the athletes executed the assigned tasks. Baptiste-Samuel further outlined that the team will tailor distinct tactical frameworks for every remaining opponent in the competition, noting that the approach deployed against BVI will be entirely different from the scheme they will roll out against stronger contenders such as Barbados. The veteran coach also stressed that no squad can be written off in the open, tightly contested tournament, warning against any complacency as the competition moves into later stages. “It seems to be a tournament that’s open to everybody. So I don’t think that there’s room to be relaxed. We just have to go out, play to our game plan, and then leave the rest to see what happens.”
标签： Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
圣文森特和格林纳丁斯
-
Deputy PM’s company, trade unions awarded AIA cleaning contracts
During a parliamentary sitting held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last Thursday, Airports Minister Terrance Ollivierre publicly disclosed that the government has finalized a competitive tender process for janitorial services at Argyle International Airport (AIA), splitting the previously airport-wide single cleaning contract into three separate awarded agreements. The new contracts mark the end of a nearly 9-year tenure for Patriot Co. Ltd., the firm that has held exclusive cleaning duties at AIA since the facility first launched operations back in 2017. The announcement came in response to a formal parliamentary query tabled by Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves, who was not in attendance for the session, which had requested full details of all awarded AIA cleaning contracts, their respective scopes, durations, and total monetary values. Ollivierre outlined that the tender window ran between May and July 2026, drawing submissions from a total of six local firms. Three bidders were disqualified during the evaluation process: two were eliminated for failing to demonstrate sufficient equipment and on-staff personnel to fulfill the contract requirements, while a third was rejected due to a documented track record of substandard cleaning performance at the airport, with widespread public complaints previously logged over unsanitary conditions in restrooms and other high-traffic airport areas. The remaining three qualified bids were assigned to distinct operational zones across the airport campus. The largest contract, valued at EC$50,000 covering cleaning of the main passenger terminal, AIA taxi booth, and public airport car park, was awarded to Vinci Clean Floor Maintenance Services, a long-standing firm owned by sitting Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock. The second contract, worth EC$15,000 for janitorial duties at the cargo terminal and on-site garage facilities, was granted to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union. The third EC$18,000 contract, covering the Civil Aviation Department administrative compound and the critical airfield lighting station, was awarded to U Clean Cleaning Services, an entity managed by the national Public Service Union. Prior to this new tender round, the single full-airport janitorial contract held by Patriot Co. Ltd. was valued at EC$79,253.56. Public records show Patriot Co. Ltd.’s leadership includes Noel Jackson, a former candidate for the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) and longstanding party activist, who previously served as president of the National Labour Congress (NDC). During Jackson’s tenure, the NDC partnered with the Windward Islands Farmers Association to launch the non-profit Solidarity in Action Inc. Back in 2010, the ULP administration at the time terminated an existing lease for a state-owned public car park in central Kingstown near the Financial Complex, which had initially been developed by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and re-awarded the lease to Solidarity in Action Inc.
-
Mighty Sparrow’s legacy will endure beyond his death – Friday (+video)
During a parliamentary sitting on Thursday, Prime Minister Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines delivered a heartfelt, personal tribute to the recently deceased legendary Trinidadian calypsonian Slinger Francisco — globally known by his stage name Mighty Sparrow — who passed away in the United States on September 27, 2026, at the age of 91. The iconic performer, widely hailed as the undisputed King of Calypso, was laid to rest in Trinidad on October 16, a ceremony Friday was unable to attend due to official travel commitments at the annual joint meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund held in Thailand. To mark his respect formally within the nation’s legislative chamber, Friday wove personal anecdotes, snippets of Sparrow’s most beloved hit lyrics, and broad cultural context into his remarks, framing the late artist as a defining figure who shaped regional identity for generations. Friday opened by noting that for his entire lifetime, Mighty Sparrow has stood as an irreplaceable fixture of Caribbean cultural life, with his new annual releases eagerly anticipated by the prime minister from his earliest childhood years. He emphasized the unparalleled versatility of Sparrow’s craft, noting the artist could seamlessly shift between tender ballads, sharp-witted social commentary calypsos, and playful narrative tracks with effortless skill, a flexibility few other performers in the genre could match. Friday went on to highlight Sparrow’s unmatched vocal clarity, razor-sharp comedic wit, and masterful command of diction that made his calypso deliveries instantly recognizable to audiences across the Caribbean and beyond. While Sparrow did not invent the calypso genre, Friday stressed, he was the trailblazing figure who carried it from local Trinidadian communities to global audiences, all while openly honoring the pioneering calypsonians who laid the groundwork for his own success. This legacy did not stop at popularizing a regional art form: Friday argued Mighty Sparrow’s cross-continental success fostered a collective sense of pride across the Caribbean, proving the region could create original, world-acclaimed cultural work rather than only consuming art produced elsewhere. The prime minister referenced a string of Sparrow’s most iconic tracks to illustrate this range, from the timeless classic *Jean and Diana* — which he noted remains one of the artist’s most widely beloved works even decades after its release — to playful narrative tracks like *Melda* and *Rosemary*, which told charming, relatable stories of romantic twists that still resonate with listeners today. Most notably, Friday singled out Sparrow’s long-running motivational track *Education*, which delivers the enduring message to young Caribbean people to nurture their God-given talents, stay in school, and pursue learning diligently. The prime minister stressed that this message must not remain only a slogan: regional governments and communities must also create tangible opportunities for young people to act on that advice, to honor the full spirit of Sparrow’s legacy. Closing his tribute, Friday noted that Mighty Sparrow lived a full, purpose-driven 91 years, and while his life chapter has drawn to a close, his cultural contributions will endure for generations to come, as the region continues to celebrate his one-of-a-kind impact on calypso and Caribbean collective identity.
-
Scouts SVG participate in Good Deeds Day regional conference
A delegation from Scouts of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Scouts SVG) traveled to Nevis earlier this October to bring their proven, community-rooted framework for nurturing a robust culture of volunteerism to a cross-Caribbean regional gathering, alongside peers representing a diverse range of island territories across the region. The three-member Vincentian contingent included Chief Commissioner Sheron Morgan-Peters, Cub Scout Commissioner Shersita Mc Kie, and Enda Weekes, a seasoned Scout leader who also serves as a youth officer with St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Youth, all in attendance at the 4th annual Good Deeds Day Regional Caribbean Conference held from October 13 to 15. The wide geographic representation of attendees spanning multiple Caribbean island nations created a fertile collaborative space for cross-community knowledge sharing, joint partnership exploration, and collective brainstorming on how hyper-local volunteer initiatives can be adapted to spark positive action in other small island contexts. Morgan-Peters and Mc Kie led targeted discussions with fellow conference participants, walking through Scouts SVG’s full portfolio of on-the-ground programs and their measurable impacts: from expanding widespread public buy-in for volunteer action, to deepening grassroots community cohesion, to motivating scouts of all age groups to prioritize regular, meaningful community service as a core part of their personal development. A core highlight of the three-day event was a dedicated panel session centered on the unique opportunities and challenges of building sustainable volunteer ecosystems in small island developing states. Drawing on her dual professional background in government youth development policy and hands-on scout leadership training, Weekes served as a featured panellist, bridging the gap between formal youth development frameworks and tangible, community-led voluntary action that delivers real, on-the-ground results. All of the insights Scouts SVG brought to the regional table were rooted in the association’s own recent, successful Good Deeds Day programming implemented across St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These local projects included a visit to Joyview Care Home, where scouts spent quality time interacting with elderly residents, performing original written poetry, and recording their life stories to preserve intergenerational knowledge; a collaborative campaign with the National Society for the Blind to distribute critical food supplies and personal care packages to visually impaired community members; and a specially designed skills-building and motivational gathering for Cub Scouts titled “SMILE: Life is Colourful,” which focused on building emotional resilience and empathetic leadership in young participants. Each of these locally executed initiatives served as a concrete, replicable case study demonstrating how coordinated collaboration between young people, adult volunteers, and cross-sector community partners can directly address unmet local needs, while simultaneously fostering long-term traits of empathy, self-confidence, and a lifelong commitment to service among participants. For the entire Vincentian delegation, the three-day regional peer exchange proved to be an exceptionally well-timed, deeply fulfilling experience that laid the groundwork for future cross-island volunteer partnerships across the Caribbean.
-
Independence message by the acting Commissioner of Police
Delivered on behalf of the entire Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, a special public address from Police Commissioner Trevor Bailey has been released to mark the 47th anniversary of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ political independence, extending warm congratulations to all Vincentian citizens residing both domestically and across the global diaspora.
Bailey frames the independence milestone not merely as a moment for celebration, but as a critical opportunity for nationwide reflection on the national legacy inherited from prior generations, the shared obligations of current citizens, and the kind of nation that will be passed on to future cohorts. He acknowledges that communities across the archipelago are increasingly voicing legitimate, well-founded concerns spanning public security, economic stability, national identity, and collective developmental direction, all of which deserve thoughtful, inclusive engagement and decisive, accountable leadership.
The commissioner urges the public to recall the extraordinary adversity that accompanied the nation’s founding on October 27, 1979, when the country formally severed its constitutional ties to the United Kingdom to take full control of its political destiny. Just six months before independence, the La Soufrière volcanic eruption displaced thousands of residents, destroyed livelihoods, and plunged entire communities into long, arduous recovery efforts. The nation’s founding leaders embarked on the project of independent statehood with no guarantees of prosperity and no roadmap for the decades ahead, sustained only by the unshakable conviction that Vincentians themselves were best positioned to shape the nation’s future through their own labor, judgment, and shared aspirations. Bailey emphasizes that statehood brought full authority to manage national affairs, but never eliminated hardship, and the ongoing work of building the nation remains unfinished 47 years later.
He argues that the same resilient, community-focused spirit that carried the nation through its turbulent founding era remains a vital, active force in modern Vincentian life, embodied in the consistent, quiet dedication of ordinary citizens who step up to support their communities through every period of uncertainty. That proven national resilience, he notes, forms the unshakable foundation of public security, the core of local community bonds, and the most reliable promise of a strong future for the country.
Against a current global landscape marked by widespread geopolitical conflict, mounting economic headwinds, rapid technological shifts, rising transnational criminal activity, and escalating climate threats that disproportionately impact small island developing states, Bailey stresses that while St. Vincent and the Grenadines values close collaboration with regional neighbors and international partners, the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding and advancing the national interest rests entirely with Vincentian citizens themselves.
As the head of a police institution with a 190-year history dating back to 1834, Bailey outlines sweeping ongoing operational and administrative reforms within the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force: the agency is scaling up intelligence-led policing frameworks, strengthening investigative capacity for serious crimes, enhancing frontline supervision, and embedding stricter standards for professional accountability and public transparency. The goal, he states, is to build a law enforcement body that is firm and unwavering in upholding the law, strictly disciplined in the use of its powers, and fully worthy of the public’s trust. He also addresses widespread public anxiety over violent crime and illegal firearms, noting that a sustained, lawful, and effective response to these threats cannot rely on police action alone, but requires active, collaborative partnerships with communities: when residents share credible information about criminal activity, reject violent behavior, and back lawful public safety efforts, they directly reinforce the effectiveness of local policing.
The commissioner issues a special direct message to the nation’s youth, encouraging them to prioritize their education, build practical, marketable skills, practice mutual respect, and reject unlawful behavior, noting that the police force will continue to invest in youth development through dedicated police youth clubs, school engagement programs, and community outreach initiatives to nurture the next generation of responsible, capable citizens. He also pays formal tribute to serving police officers across the mainland and the Grenadine islands, as well as staff in specialized units, recognizing the long, often uncelebrated hours of difficult work, high-stakes emergency responses, and personal sacrifice that underpin their service, alongside extending gratitude to officers’ families, retired personnel, and fallen colleagues who have passed on.
Aligning with this year’s official national independence theme, “Hand in Hand, Uplifting Our Nation,” Bailey reaffirms that the full promise of independent statehood is not a completed achievement, but an ongoing, collective responsibility. He closes by re-stating the police force’s formal commitment to upholding public peace, protecting lives and property, defending lawful civil freedoms, and continuously improving public-facing services, before extending a final wish for a peaceful, prosperous, united future for all Vincentians, alongside a formal happy independence greeting to every citizen at home and abroad. -
$170m for projects not spent for years; PM ‘not satisfied’
Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – With less than three months remaining until two major infrastructure projects funded by the Saudi Fund for Development hit their mandatory expiration date, Prime Minister Godwin Friday has declared an end to unhurried, routine implementation, warning that slow progress will no longer be tolerated after years of stagnation on the initiatives.
The two at-risk projects, valued at a combined EC$43 million, are among three large-scale development initiatives financed by a total Saudi Fund portfolio of EC$177.7 million, the bulk of which – EC$170.6 million – remains completely unspent. What makes the delays more striking is that the two time-sensitive projects were first signed more than three years ago, in May 2023, with work yet to break ground when Friday’s New Democratic Party administration took office 11 months ago, following the November 2025 general election.
Addressing the Senate during parliamentary proceedings on October 22, 2026, Friday confirmed he would take personal charge of monitoring project progress and enforcing financial accountability, responding directly to a question from opposition Senator Carlos James of the former ruling Unity Labour Party. James had requested a full, project-by-project breakdown of all spending, unspent balances, and progress on drawing down the Saudi Fund loan allocations.
Breaking down the full portfolio for lawmakers, Friday outlined that the first two agreements, both signed in May 2023 and scheduled to expire December 31, 2026, allocate EC$26.9 million for the construction of cultural and artistic hubs across three communities – Bellevue, Troumaca, and Petit Bodel, and EC$16.2 million for a new community health centre in South Rivers. The third agreement, a EC$134.6 million initiative focused on reconstructing and upgrading public buildings and facilities damaged by repeated natural disasters, was signed in April 2024 during the tenure of the previous Unity Labour Party government, with an expiration date of December 31, 2027. This broader project spans multiple critical sectors, including education, housing, national security, health, and sports.
“The Honourable Senator who asked the question should be familiar with it because it was signed during the time of their administration,” Friday noted in reference to James’ former governing party.
With deadlines fast approaching, Friday confirmed his administration is currently revising the scope and implementation plan for the planned cultural hubs project, a core allocation within the expiring agreements. “We have made alternate arrangements as to how we think the use of those funds and the nature of the project would be more effective while maintaining the same objectives,” he told lawmakers, though he declined to share specific details of the revised plans. He emphasized that urgent acceleration of all active work is non-negotiable, pointing out that when the new government took office, little to no on-the-ground work had been completed across the entire portfolio.
“When we came into office… all we had was thought on plans and papers. Nothing had been started,” the prime minister said.
Friday also clarified the unique disbursement structure of the Saudi Fund financing, explaining that the institution does not transfer loan funds directly to the national government’s consolidated account. Instead, all payments follow a direct disbursement model, where the Saudi Fund pays contractors, suppliers, and consultants directly for pre-approved, eligible work completed. As the local executing agency, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is required to submit formal withdrawal requests and full supporting payment documentation to the fund before any funds can be released, a process that only moves forward once work is underway.
“The work has to commence; it has to be ongoing” before those funds can be used, Friday explained.
To date, only EC$3,394,702.04 has been disbursed across the entire portfolio, leaving the EC$170.6 million unspent balance Friday confirmed. Broken down by project, the unspent balances stand at EC$26.6 million for the cultural hubs initiative, EC$16 million for the South Rivers health centre, and EC$128 million for the disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation project. The limited government-funded pre-implementation work that has been completed includes design and site preparation for the cultural hubs, the Calliaqua Polyclinic, and three additional community clinics in South Rivers, Redemption Sharpes, and Paget Farm, with the government covering EC$2,962,410.94 for these early activities, and an additional EC$482,291.10 covered directly by the Saudi Fund.
The prime minister made clear he is deeply dissatisfied with the glacial pace of implementation, particularly given the fast-approaching deadlines and the massive amount of unused development capital tied up in the portfolio. “These are funds that are available that need to be utilised for the objectives set out,” he said, adding that the projects are designed to expand public access to critical services, create local jobs, and drive long-term national development. “If we don’t execute them, there is no point in us having the resources at our disposal.”
Friday confirmed he has already instructed ministry officials to establish clear, time-bound milestones, assign explicit responsibility for each task, and submit regular progress updates to his office, a accountability framework he has already implemented for projects funded by the World Bank as well. “I personally will take a direct interest in ensuring that there is reporting on a regular basis, that there are targets set, that people are assigned to ensure that those are done and then to account for it on a regular basis,” he said.
In follow-up questioning, James asked whether the revised plans for the cultural hubs meant the original facilities would not be built, and whether the government had already begun the process of requesting deadline extensions for the two projects set to expire at the end of 2026. Friday confirmed that the government has already initiated extension requests, acknowledging that “we have less than three months. So yes.”
-
Vincies urged to use Taiwan lessons to build SVG ‘sacrificially’
On October 21, 2026, a cocktail reception was held in Taipei to mark the upcoming 47th independence anniversary of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), marking the first official independence event hosted by the SVG Embassy in Taiwan since Kenton X. Chance assumed his post as ambassador in March. The gathering brought together high-level dignitaries from both sides, including SVG’s Health, Wellness, Environmental Health, and Energy Minister Daniel Cummings, his wife Sharon Morris Cummings, and Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Chance reflected on SVG’s journey to statehood, noting that the Caribbean nation claimed its independence on October 27, 1979, just six months after the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano. Against a backdrop of limited natural resources and the inherent challenges of governing a small island developing state, SVG has built 47 years of stable democratic governance rooted in respect for the rule of law and democratic ballot processes. “The anniversary of our independence is an opportunity for Vincentians everywhere to reflect on how far we have come since 1979 and to recalibrate as we look to the future,” Chance stated.
Chance quoted Prime Minister Godwin Friday’s remarks from this year’s Flag Raising Ceremony in the capital Kingstown, noting that independence represents a hopeful new chapter for SVG, particularly under its new government, which seeks to build on past progress rather than discard it to deliver better outcomes for all citizens. Despite facing significant headwinds, including the increasing impacts of climate change and a global financial system that often marginalizes small island developing states, Chance emphasized that SVG has recorded notable advances across human development. Citing World Bank data, he highlighted that collective effort from both domestic citizens and the diaspora has lifted SVG to middle-income status, with 2025 GDP per capita reaching $12,561.80, life expectancy at birth hitting 71 by 2024, and universal access to primary and secondary education and healthcare now guaranteed nationwide.
The ambassador extended recognition to all of SVG’s international development partners, singling out Taiwan for specific gratitude as a “faithful partner over the past 45 years.” He drew a parallel between Taiwan’s current prosperity and the hard work of earlier generations, urging all Vincentian residents in Taiwan to draw inspiration from the host country’s development trajectory. “I urge every Vincentian in Taiwan to take inspiration from our host and build sacrificially so the next generation can experience in St. Vincent and the Grenadines a level of development similar to what we enjoy now in Taiwan,” Chance said.
Framing SVG’s future outlook around the national anthem and constitutional values, Chance reminded attendees that “faith without works is dead,” echoing the national anthem’s line that “What e’er the future brings, our faith will see us through” to emphasize the need for deliberate, collective effort to build a brighter future.
Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi extended official greetings for SVG’s upcoming independence anniversary, noting that the two countries marked 45 years of formal diplomatic relations in August. Chen described the bilateral relationship as “a close friendship built on mutual trust, shared values, and meaningful cooperation,” and reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties. Looking ahead, Chen outlined that Taiwan plans to expand partnership through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, with targeted cooperation focused on blue economy, new economy, tourism, and agriculture. These collaborative efforts are designed to create new opportunities for local businesses, drive inclusive economic growth, and deliver long-term mutual benefits for the peoples of both nations. Chen also thanked the SVG government for its consistent, steadfast support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, specifically highlighting SVG’s ongoing advocacy for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly and United Nations General Assembly.
-
SVG to sign cruise port deal on Monday
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is poised to lock in a transformative long-term partnership with Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world’s largest cruise port operator, with a formal concession agreement scheduled for signing this Monday, the country’s Tourism Minister Kishore Shallow has confirmed.
The upcoming agreement builds on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the SVG government and GPH back in July. Under the terms of the planned partnership, GPH will secure a 30-year concession to operate the country’s cruise infrastructure, and commit to a phased investment package totaling up to EC$250 million. The core investment will go toward modernizing the aging Kingstown Cruise Terminal and expanding cruise tourism capacity across SVG’s multiple island destinations.
Addressing the country’s Parliament on Thursday, Shallow framed the upcoming signing as a defining turning point for SVG’s cruise tourism sector, one that goes far beyond just infrastructure upgrades. Unlike previous development projects, this partnership has been structured specifically to redirect more of the economic benefits generated by cruise tourism directly to local Vincentian workers and businesses, including independent taxi drivers, local tour operators, street vendors, family-owned restaurants, and small-scale retail businesses across the country.
The push for infrastructure upgrades comes as SVG faces mounting constraints that have held back the sector’s growth. Shallow explained that as cruise lines transition to larger and more profitable vessels, SVG’s current outdated terminal is unable to accommodate many of these new ships. The country currently has no capacity to berth extra-large (XL-class) cruise ships, and even mid-sized larger vessels operated by major lines including Carnival and Britannia have required special workaround arrangements.
As a temporary solution for an upcoming Carnival vessel visit that cannot fit at the existing terminal, the government will host the ship at the alternative Modern Port in Kingstown. To welcome the passengers and mark the unique visit, officials have organized a public fun fair and a cultural street party dubbed “Carnival for Carnival” jump-up.
Shallow noted that investment in expanded capacity is critical to keep pace with already growing demand for cruise stops in SVG. Official projections show the country is on track to see dramatic passenger growth in coming seasons: the 2024–25 cruise season is expecting 231 ship calls and 247,000 passengers, followed by 246 calls and 239,000 passengers in 2025–26. By the 2026–27 season, arrivals are set to jump to 355 ship calls and 344,000 passengers – a 43% increase in passenger volume, equal to roughly 105,000 additional visitors compared to the prior season.
Beyond the infrastructure partnership, Shallow outlined four key priorities for the Ministry of Tourism moving forward: the ongoing Love SVG national tourism initiative, product development, a full national tourism brand refresh, and a planned “cruise shipboard transition” to update on-board visitor offerings. The rebranding will include a new national tourism logo, set to debut at the upcoming Independence Parade, while product development work will focus on expanding authentic, culturally immersive experiences that highlight SVG’s local heritage for visitors.
Shallow pointed to existing GPH-managed ports in the Bahamas and San Juan, Puerto Rico as proof of the company’s ability to transform cruise destinations through targeted investment. While SVG faces financial constraints and stiff competition from other popular Caribbean cruise destinations, the minister expressed confidence the partnership will deliver comparable positive results for the country.
The final agreement is the result of months of extensive cross-functional work covering legal, technical, commercial, and policy review, with input collected from a wide range of local industry stakeholders. Shallow thanked the Attorney General and her legal team for their work on finalizing the agreement, noting that Prime Minister Godwin Friday will share additional details about the partnership with the public in the near future.
-
PM announces gasoline price cut, while diesel rises
Consumers filling up their gasoline tanks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will soon see significant relief at the pump, Prime Minister Godwin Friday announced during a Thursday address to Parliament. Starting next Monday, regular motorists will benefit from a EC$1.02 reduction per gallon of gasoline, the latest adjustment to fuel pricing tied to ongoing government efforts to buffer households and businesses from unstable global energy costs.
Breaking down the new pricing structure, Friday confirmed that the wholesale price of gasoline will drop from EC$17.55 per gallon to EC$16.53, with retail pump prices falling in lockstep from EC$18.31 to EC$17.29 per gallon. Calling the double-digit per-gallon cut “good news” for local consumers, the prime minister explained that the latest price changes are calculated based on a three-month moving average of global fuel costs. This pricing model showed a favorable downward shift for gasoline, but modest upticks for other fuel products: conventional diesel will see a four-cent per gallon increase, while low-sulfur diesel will rise by 33 cents per gallon.
Full retail and wholesale adjustments for the higher-price fuels mirror these shifts: conventional diesel’s wholesale price will climb from EC$16.87 to EC$16.91, pushing retail prices from EC$17.53 to EC$17.57 per gallon. For low-sulfur diesel, wholesale prices will move from EC$16.74 to EC$17.07, with retail pump prices increasing from EC$17.40 to EC$17.73 per gallon. Acknowledging the upward shift for diesel users, Friday noted that the small increase “reflect the current market conditions” driven by ongoing geopolitical unrest.
Crucially, the government will maintain its existing policy of a 50% excise tax cut across all three fuel products, a core part of its broader cost-of-living mitigation strategy. Friday emphasized that the tax relief and targeted price adjustments are the administration’s effort to cushion the blow of volatile, elevated global oil prices, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing armed conflict in the Gulf region.
The prime minister also addressed growing pressure on household electricity costs, revealing that the fuel surcharge applied to VINLEC customer bills for October will rise by seven cents to 86.71 cents per kilowatt-hour. He added that the government’s ongoing monthly electricity subsidy, currently standing at EC$798,591, is already keeping costs lower than they would otherwise be — without the subsidy, the surcharge would hit 92 cents per kilowatt-hour. Since the government rolled out its first set of cost-of-living support measures in May, cumulative electricity subsidies have reached a total of EC$3.9 million, Friday told Parliament.
Alongside announcing new price adjustments and existing support measures, Friday urged Vincentians to pair the government’s relief efforts with personal action to reduce energy use. He called on residents to consider walking for short-distance trips to cut fuel consumption, and to be more conscious of unnecessary household electricity use.
Beyond near-term conservation efforts, the prime minister framed the repeated fuel price swings as a urgent reminder of the need for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to cut its dependence on imported fossil fuels. “We, as a country, we have to take the decision that we are going to move aggressively away from fossil fuels, from oil and gas, towards renewable energy,” Friday said. He stressed that a successful clean energy transition requires actionable commitment rather than just rhetoric, and confirmed that the government will release its detailed roadmap for the shift in upcoming official statements.
-
Vincy Jewels rebound against Canada after Trinbago trouncing
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS — On the third day of the ongoing Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ national netball team, the Vincy Jewels, bounced back from a lopsided previous-day defeat to claim a solid 51-41 victory over Canada, powered by a standout performance from star goal shooter and co-captain Mary-Ann Frederick.
The team entered Wednesday’s match hungry for redemption, still reeling from a 41-73 blowout loss to Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Gems a night earlier, where the opponents had dominated every quarter of play. That defeat had come just 24 hours after the Vincy Jewels opened their tournament with a tense 50-48 comeback win over the United States on opening day. That match against the U.S. had seen the Caribbean side claw back from a first-half deficit to level the score 36-36 by the end of the third quarter before holding on for a narrow win, with Frederick already notching 40 goals from 43 attempts in that outing.
Against Canada, the Vincy Jewels asserted their dominance early, grabbing a 16-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. Though Canada fought back to outscore the Caribbean side 13-10 in the second quarter, cutting St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ lead to 26-22 at halftime, the Vincy Jewels retained their focus and physical intensity through the second half. They extended their advantage to 38-32 by the end of the third quarter before closing out the match 51-41 to secure their second win of the tournament.
Frederick delivered a near-perfect shooting performance, sinking 44 goals from just 45 attempts to anchor her team’s offensive push. Goal-attack Joseann Antoine contributed three goals on three flawless attempts, while substitute goal-attack Shellisa Davis added four goals from 10 attempts. For Canada, goal-shoot Ladonna Lamonth notched 23 goals from 34 attempts, and goal-attack Jacqueline Kelly finished with 18 goals from 24 attempts.
Following the win, assistant coach Akeil Mathew credited the team’s ability to reset after their disappointing loss to Trinidad and Tobago. “The players were broken over the previous night’s defeat, but we knew we had what it takes to win today,” Mathew explained. “We went back to the drawing board, refined our game plan, and executed exactly what we set out to do.”
Mathew noted that Canada, a team widely known for its high-tempo, physically imposing style of play that constantly pressures opponents, served as an ideal test for his side coming off a loss. “This challenged our team both mentally and physically, and I think we rose to the challenge perfectly,” he said. “This group of ladies is just as fit as Canada, and we matched their speed and intensity the whole game. When we needed to slow down the pace to regain control, we did that too. Defensively, I think the ladies executed what the coaching staff has been teaching them excellently from start to finish.”
Frederick, who was honored as the player of the match for her performance, echoed her coach’s comments, saying the team’s hunger for redemption after Tuesday’s loss was the key driving force behind the win. “We went back to the drawing board after the Calypso Gems loss, stuck to our adjusted game plan on Wednesday, and did exactly what we needed to get the win,” she said. “We were all hungry for this victory. We came out, we fought, and we got the job done.”
Reflecting on Tuesday’s lopsided defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, Frederick acknowledged the team had failed to stick to their original game plan, but emphasized that the loss provided valuable lessons for the rest of the tournament. “We knew going into that match it would be a hard fight, but we didn’t execute the plan we had,” she said. “We’ve learned a lot from that loss, and now we’ll go back to training, adjust our approach again, and keep executing for the remaining matches of the qualifiers.”