标签： Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Two years after Category 5 Hurricane Beryl left a trail of catastrophic destruction across the southern Grenadines, a transformative public-private partnership has been launched to accelerate housing reconstruction and build long-term climate resilience for the storm-battered island chain.

British investor Ian Wace is joining forces with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to deliver the multi-million-dollar initiative, which targets the worst-hit islands of Canouan, Union Island, Mayreau, and will extend community support to neighboring Bequia. The partnership marks a continuation of Wace’s involvement in recovery efforts, even after last November’s general election that removed the Unity Labour Party (ULP) — which Wace publicly endorsed — from power.

When Beryl made landfall in SVG on July 1, 2022, the storm damaged or destroyed an estimated 90% of all structures across the southern Grenadines, displacing hundreds of families and crippling local island economies. Wace first committed $25 million to recovery efforts under the previous ULP administration, with former Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves securing five times the original contribution Wace had planned to give. Speaking at the hurricane’s first anniversary commemoration, Wace joked about the negotiation, saying, “I stand here having received an anal lobotomy of extraction of money, and I am unbelievably proud for having done so. But most of all, I’m unbelievably proud because we did all of this together.”

Following the election, many observers questioned whether Wace would continue his recovery investment after the administration transition. But Housing Minister Andrew John, who heads the Ministry of Housing, Land Management, Urban Development, and Informal Settlement Upgrading, confirmed that the new New Democratic Party government has finalized a formal agreement with Wace for the new project. “There is an agreement negotiated between our government and himself to do that sort of work again,” John told NBC Radio, adding that Wace has “pledged millions of dollars to come on board” with the expanded program.

Rebuilding the remote southern Grenadines comes with unique steep costs: transporting construction materials from SVG’s mainland to the outer islands drives up overall expenses dramatically, and the national government already faces constrained fiscal space after years of repeated disaster response. John emphasized that the public sector cannot deliver timely reconstruction alone, making private sector partnership critical. “This partnership is intended to push things along much faster and much more quickly than we on our own are able to do,” he explained, noting that the investment will ease pressure on public finances and avoid overreliance on new government borrowing. John also added that officials are already in informal talks with a second potential private investor who has expressed interest in supporting Grenadines housing recovery.

As of the project launch, overall recovery in the southern Grenadines is only around 60% complete, with large swathes of Canouan, Union Island, and Mayreau still waiting for major repairs. Hundreds of displaced residents remain in temporary accommodation on mainland St. Vincent or in private rentals, holding back the revival of local tourism and service-based economies on the outer islands. “If we don’t get the people back, it’s going to be always slow on the economic take-off in Union Island,” John said, noting that key infrastructure like island wharves remains overstretched from storm damage. Already, government work has restocked construction material warehouses across the Grenadines, with more than 50 homes having completed window replacement, door installations set to begin shortly, allowing dozens of families to return to repaired properties in the coming weeks.

Unlike earlier ad-hoc recovery efforts, the new project is designed not just to rebuild homes, but to construct back better with long-term hurricane resilience at its core. A centerpiece of the resilience agenda is the construction of purpose-built, storm-resistant hurricane shelters across the affected islands, with Bequia set to host the first new facility, followed by sites on Union Island, Mayreau, and Canouan. All shelters will be engineered to withstand the strongest severe hurricanes expected in the Atlantic basin.

The initiative also integrates climate-friendly and cost-saving upgrades into all new and reconstructed homes. Ministry officials are currently in negotiations with a major solar energy provider to install rooftop solar systems, leveraging the Grenadines’ abundant year-round sunlight to cut household electricity costs and reduce dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels. The project also prioritizes water security, a persistent challenge for the outer islands that was amplified by severe regional drought earlier this year. All rebuilt homes will be fitted with rainwater harvesting tanks and guttering, while the government explores long-term desalination solutions to reduce the risk of annual water shortages.

The launch of the project comes as SVG enters another Atlantic hurricane season, with the devastation of Beryl still a vivid memory for Grenadine communities. John used the announcement to urge residents to set aside complacency and prepare seriously for the 2024 season, rejecting the local saying that “God is a Vincentian” as a substitute for proactive preparation. He advised residents to trim overhanging trees that threaten properties, reinforce galvanized roofings by checking loose nails and screws, follow all official advisories from the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), and complete preparations early when hurricane watches or warnings are issued. The government is also continuing its distribution of self-help building materials to support household-level preparation, with targeted support for elderly and vulnerable residents who require additional assistance.

John framed the new partnership with Wace as a core commitment of the current administration to support Grenadine communities. “We remain committed to helping you rebuild… This project will support the repair and reconstruction of homes, improve housing in our communities, and help more families return to safe, secure homes,” he said, noting that the overarching goal is for residents to “go back stronger and better, more prepared” for future extreme weather events.

A serial thief from Largo Height who targeted the same Kingstown retail outlet twice within a single month had his crimes brought to light after a routine inventory check uncovered a missing audio device, according to court documents from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Thirty-one-year-old Alex Alexander, who already had a lengthy criminal record centered on theft and burglary offenses, ultimately turned himself in indirectly to the store’s management after the initial theft was detected. The first incident dates back to June 6, when Alexander unlawfully entered the Kingstown branch of furniture and electronics retailer Courts SVG Ltd. and stole a black LG X Boom speaker valued at EC$358.63, which is company property.

Three days later, on June 9, store staff conducting a scheduled stock count at around 10:15 a.m. noticed the LG speaker was unaccounted for. Ossana Boyea, the branch’s manager, launched an internal probe and pulled closed-circuit television footage from the store’s security system to review. The footage clearly captured a male suspect matching Alexander’s description—wearing a red long-sleeve t-shirt, grey long jeans and a hat—leaving the store with the speaker without processing payment at the checkout.

Before police could make an arrest in the first case, Alexander showed up at Boyea’s office on July 1 at approximately 3:00 p.m. He confessed that he had stolen a second item from the same store just a day prior, on June 30, and told the manager he wanted to compensate the store for the stolen property. That second stolen item was a grey-and-black Radio Shack speaker worth EC$169, also owned by Courts SVG Ltd.

After Alexander’s confession, Boyea immediately contacted local law enforcement. Police Constable 1072 Primus responded to the call and launched an official investigation. After discussing the details of the confession with Boyea, investigators obtained a search warrant to search Alexander’s residential property, where they recovered the empty packaging box for the stolen Radio Shack speaker. Alexander did not deny the theft when confronted by officers, admitting that he had taken both devices from the retailer on separate visits.

Alexander appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamikka McKenzie at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, where he entered guilty pleas for both counts of theft. Handing down her ruling, McKenzie ordered Alexander to pay immediate compensation of EC$169 for the Radio Shack speaker, with a default sentence of three months in prison if the payment was not made. Alexander complied with the order and paid the full amount right away. For that count, McKenzie also handed down a nine-month prison sentence that was suspended for 21 months, meaning Alexander will not serve the jail time unless he reoffends within that period.

For the theft of the LG X Boom speaker, the magistrate sentenced Alexander to three months of imprisonment. She also ordered that he pay compensation of EC$358.63 by June 15, 2027, with a default sentence of seven months behind bars if the compensation is not paid by the deadline.

Court records also show that this is not Alexander’s first serious criminal offense. Back in March 2021, Alexander was sentenced to three years in prison for breaking into a fellow villager’s home and stealing property worth more than EC$10,790, adding to a rap sheet that is dominated by theft and burglary convictions.

Against a backdrop of ongoing legal battles over LGBTQIA+ rights in the eastern Caribbean, the leader of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) leading queer rights organization has issued a urgent public call for the newly sworn-in national government to roll back colonial-era laws that criminalize private, consensual same-sex relations between adults.

Jeshua Bardoo, founder, president and chief executive of Equal Rights, Access and Opportunities SVG Inc. (ERAO SVG), made the demand in an official press statement marking the fourth consecutive year of the nation’s Pride celebrations, wrapping up the successful 2026 Pride SVG series of community and educational events. As a practicing lawyer, Bardoo framed the policy request as a moral and legal imperative for the new administration led by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday.

“I continue to call upon the Government of SVG, and in particular, I urge our new Prime Minister and cabinet, to do the right thing and repeal the laws under the Criminal Code that criminalise private adult consensual same-sex relations,” Bardoo said. Beyond decriminalization, he also called for the passage of new, explicit anti-discrimination legislation that would protect LGBTQIA+ Vincentians across key sectors including employment, education, housing, healthcare, and public and private goods and services.

Pride SVG, now in its fourth year, serves as a space for queer people and their allies to build solidarity, push back against systemic violence and discrimination targeting the LGBTQIA+ community, and celebrate queer identity in SVG, Bardoo explained. “While we wait and fight for various forms of social and legal change, we will continue to celebrate, educate, and advocate for our rights,” he added.

The renewed push for legal reform comes amid a pending appeal in a high-profile 2024 case challenging SVG’s existing buggery and gross indecency laws. The challenge was brought by Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish, two gay Vincentian men who currently reside outside of the country. In February 2024, the High Court dismissed the case, ruling that Johnson and Macleish lacked legal standing to bring the claim due to their residency outside SVG. Justice Esco Henry, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal, also rejected the men’s argument that they were forced to flee SVG because of systemic discrimination based on their sexual orientation. The ruling upheld the government’s longstanding position that the anti-queer laws are “reasonably required for public health and morality,” a position advocates say is outdated and discriminatory.

Bardoo described the 2026 edition of Pride SVG as “amazing,” noting that he was encouraged by the turnout of first-time attendees across the slate of events hosted by ERAO SVG. Funded by a coalition of local, regional, and international donors and sponsors, the 2026 celebration featured five distinct events designed to serve the needs of the local queer community and educate the broader public: three in-person community gatherings, a televised educational panel, and an international webinar focused on Caribbean LGBTQIA+ rights.

The celebration kicked off on June 6 with the “Pride SVG 2026 Launch Party: Colours,” a masquerade-themed gathering that brought queer people and allies together for dancing, food, and celebration. The event included a series of fun competitive categories with cash prizes, including Best Dressed, Best Walk, Most Confident, and the top crown of Winner of the Royal Pride SVG Ball 2026. Per the organization’s press release, the night was defined by joy, connection, and mutual support for the community.

Two weeks later, on June 13, ERAO SVG hosted “Mental Health and Wellness Day: Mental Health, Tote Bag Painting and Pilates,” an event centered on the unique mental health needs of queer Vincentians. The gathering included three interactive segments: an educational session on evidence-based stress management techniques, a group Pilates class for physical activity, and a creative tote bag painting workshop that let attendees express their identity through art. The event filled a key gap in accessible wellness resources for the local LGBTQIA+ community, organizers said.

The final in-person event, held June 20, focused on legal and conceptual education: “Defining, Exploring and Discussing Key Concepts and the Law Surrounding Human Sexuality and Gender in SVG.” Attendees gained access to clear information about existing legal frameworks for gender and sexual minorities in SVG, and took part in open discussion about ongoing gaps in rights protection.

In addition to in-person programming, ERAO SVG reached a broad national audience on June 10 with a televised panel, “Conversation on Sex, Sexuality and Gender in SVG.” During the broadcast, organization members worked to correct widespread misinformation and harmful myths about LGBTQIA+ people that persist in Vincentian society, and introduced the public to core concepts of queer rights. The series concluded on June 25 with a public webinar that delved into the intersection of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights for LGBTQIA+ people across the Caribbean region.

Looking ahead, Bardoo extended an early invitation to all Vincentians — including cisgender, straight allies — to take part in the 2027 Pride SVG celebrations, highlighting the inclusive mission of the annual event. “I was happy to see new faces attending our various events,” Bardoo said, “and I’m already looking forward to bringing the community back together next year.”

A troubling case of a missing elderly hospital patient has concluded with the discovery of his body in a bushy roadside area of Ebinboro, Saint Vincent, drawing new scrutiny over the search effort launched after he disappeared from the island’s main public hospital.

Sixty-one-year-old Selwyn Joseph, a resident of Hamilton on the island of Bequia who was widely known by his nickname Millie, was found dead shortly after midday on Saturday, exactly 10 days after he went missing while receiving inpatient care at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Local youth making their way through the wooded corridor in the West Kingstown community stumbled across his remains, according to details obtained by iWitness News.

Sources close to the investigation have confirmed that foul play is not currently suspected in Joseph’s death. One individual who viewed the body told reporters that minimal decomposition suggests Joseph likely died only shortly before his remains were located, rather than in the immediate days after he disappeared from the hospital.

The sequence of events that led to Joseph’s disappearance began on the night of June 25, when the disoriented patient was redirected by a nursing staff member after he accidentally headed to the wrong hospital room within the emergency department, where Joseph had been assigned a bed. The nurse reportedly escorted Joseph back to his assigned space, but roughly 60 minutes later, local police received an anonymous tip that a man matching Joseph’s description, with an IV line still attached to his hand, was walking toward the Edinboro area.

When hospital staff checked his room, Joseph was nowhere to be found. A nurse and an ambulance crew were immediately dispatched to search the nearby Kingstown and Ottley Hall regions, but the first search operation turned up no sign of the missing patient. Formal notification was then made to police, who issued a public missing person bulletin to aid in the search.

The following day, June 26, the Ministry of Health made a public appeal for assistance via its official Facebook page, asking community members to keep watch for Joseph and help bring him back to safety. The post noted that Joseph was a disoriented emergency department patient who had left the facility, and that he may have become lost in a neighborhood close to the hospital. It added that hospital teams, family members, and police were already conducting active searches, and thanked the public in advance for any cooperation or information they could provide.

As of the confirmation of Joseph’s death, neither law enforcement nor public health officials have released an official statement on the case or responded to growing questions about the scope and intensity of the search effort conducted over the 10 days Joseph was missing.