NEW YORK, USA – The Caribbean Tourism Organization Foundation (CTO Foundation), the scholarship arm of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), is highlighting the achievements and regional contribution of Belizean hospitality professional Ian Adrian Nal, a certified sommelier, award-winning beverage professional and entrepreneur.
Nal was the second recipient of the Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship, awarded through the CTO. The scholarship enabled him to study at The Hotel School at Cornell University, establishing a foundation for his distinguished career in hospitality, food and beverage, and tourism.
Following his studies, Nal worked at the CTO headquarters in New York City and later at Travel + Leisure magazine. His career included senior beverage leadership positions with Chef Richard Sandoval’s restaurant group, Michelin- starred Chef Terrance Brennan’s Artisanal, and the renowned Oak Room at The Plaza Hotel.
Nal has been a certified sommelier with the American Sommelier Association since 2001, earning the highest score on his final examination. He has created wine lists recognised with Wine Spectator Awards, earned recognition in national wine and cocktail competitions, and was featured in The New York Times Dining section. He also holds the Level 1 Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Recognised as the first person from the Caribbean Community to be certified as a sommelier since 2001, Nal is now using his expertise to give back to the region and expand access to professional wine education.
Most recently, Nal conducted two Wine Sommelier Training sessions in Belize, one in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye and another in Belize City, in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) through its Elevate Training Institute.
The sessions served restaurant and bar staY, bartenders and mixologists, managers and supervisors, and wine enthusiasts. Participants explored grape cultivation, winemaking, grape varieties and wine styles, wine tasting, local food pairing, and proper wine service and hospitality.
“My goal is simple: to make wine easy to understand, fun to explore, and powerful in creating memorable experiences,” Nal said.
Nal hopes to expand wine and beverage training throughout the Caribbean through partnerships with public and private sector organisations, strengthening hospitality professionals and supporting the region’s luxury lifestyle sector.
Lloyd Enriquez, director of Cruise and Capacity Development at the Belize Tourism Board, said wine education is an important part of strengthening Belize’s tourism workforce and product.
“Wine knowledge is an important component of elevating the overall guest experience and strengthening the skills of our tourism workforce. Having a Belizean professional of Ian Nal’s caliber lead this training is especially meaningful. It demonstrates that we have local talent with international expertise who can help build capacity here at home and serve as an example for others throughout the Caribbean.”
CTO Foundation chairwoman Jacqueline Johnson said Nal’s journey demonstrates the lasting value of investing in Caribbean talent.
“Ian Nal’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when we invest in the education and potential of Caribbean people. His journey from CTO Foundation scholarship recipient to an internationally recognised hospitality professional, and now a mentor and educator giving back to the region, embodies the spirit of the Foundation. We are proud to see his expertise being shared with the next generation of Caribbean tourism professionals.”
The management of Larimar Seafood and Steakhouse welcomed the San Pedro training as an invaluable professional development opportunity. “This wine training was an incredible experience for our team, and it was inspiring to hear our staY say they learned so much about wine and service that they had never known before. That knowledge will help them provide an even better experience for our guests.”
Proprietor Ruben Muñoz thanked Nal for returning to Belize and sharing his expertise, calling his commitment to giving back to Belize “truly commendable.” He also recognised the Belize Tourism Board for investing in hospitality professional development.
The CTO Foundation views Nal’s journey as an example of the impact investment in Caribbean tourism professionals can have. From receiving the Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship to building an internationally recognised career and returning to the region to share his knowledge, Nal demonstrates how educational opportunities can create a cycle of achievement, mentorship and regional development.
The CTO Foundation remains committed to supporting the education and professional development of Caribbean nationals and strengthening the people at the heart of the region’s tourism industry.
Haiti’s plight must not be forgotten because it is no longer a regular feature of international headlines. The suffering has not diminished. Between January and early June 2026, at least 2,310 people were killed, 1,106 were injured and 99 were kidnapped, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It also reported that 699 women and girls were victims of sexual violence, and that almost 1.47 million people had been displaced within Haiti by May.
These figures should disturb the conscience of every nation. They also point to a truth that governments must now confront. Force alone cannot restore order. The gangs’ money, weapons and trafficking routes must be cut off, and those who finance, supply and protect them must be pursued.
Armed gangs retain effective control over large parts of Port-au-Prince. They have also pushed into important roads, ports, coastal areas and commercial routes. Their operations extend beyond terrorising communities. They control movement, extort money, seize goods and impose their own authority where the Haitian State is absent or too weak to resist them.
In July, UNODC put the matter plainly before the United Nations Security Council. Haiti’s crisis, it said, should not be regarded as a security crisis alone. It is also a governance crisis sustained by organised crime.
A security crisis might be answered largely by superior force. A governance crisis driven by organised crime requires much more. It requires action against extortion, kidnapping, arms and narcotics trafficking, money laundering, corruption and the people who provide political protection. It also requires courts, prosecutors, prisons and police institutions capable of enforcing the law.
No one should misunderstand this argument. The United Nations-authorised Gang Suppression Force is necessary. The Haitian authorities requested it, and people living under gang rule cannot be left defenceless. Yet, by July, just over 1,000 personnel had been deployed. That is 4,500 less than the approved number. The Force requires the personnel, financing, equipment and logistical support necessary to carry out its mandate.
But the Force cannot do everything. It may recover a road, a port or a police station. It cannot, by itself, stop new weapons arriving, identify those laundering the proceeds of crime or prosecute the people who finance and protect the gangs. If those networks remain untouched, gang leaders will be replaced, weapons will be replenished and lost territory will be reclaimed.
This was the concern I raised as the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda at the OAS General Assembly in Panama in June. We called for coordinated hemispheric action to disrupt drug trafficking, illicit financial flows and the cross-border movement of weapons and criminals. We also urged governments to identify, sanction and prosecute those who finance or materially support the gangs, whether they operate inside Haiti or beyond its borders. UNODC’s subsequent assessment reinforced the urgency of that position.
Haiti’s record of financial enforcement is particularly troubling. UNODC reports that the country’s financial intelligence unit received 1,254 suspicious transaction reports between 2019 and 2024. Only 19 were sent to the judicial authorities. None resulted in a conviction. The United Nations sanctions list for Haiti contains only nine individuals and two entities, both of them gangs. Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have sanctioned a wider group of political and economic figures. Even so, the wider networks have not yet been systematically investigated and punished.
The OAS General Assembly has called for intelligence-sharing and customs cooperation to stop weapons and money reaching the gangs. It has also supported SECURE-Haiti and closer coordination with the United Nations and CARICOM.
CARICOM continues to support the Gang Suppression Force, provide humanitarian assistance and encourage political dialogue through its Eminent Persons Group. CARICOM IMPACS and the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap have also improved regional cooperation against firearms trafficking.
However, these efforts remain divided among security assistance, political dialogue, humanitarian relief and weapons control. There is still no clearly identified body bringing together the financial intelligence officers, customs authorities, coast guards, firearms investigators, anti-narcotics agencies and prosecutors needed to pursue the networks as a whole.
What is required now is a practical arrangement joining the Haitian authorities, the OAS, CARICOM and UNODC in a common effort against the transnational organised criminal networks sustaining the gangs. Its work should combine financial intelligence, customs information, firearms tracing, maritime surveillance, anti-narcotics activity and prosecutorial cooperation. It should map financial and commercial links, trace seized weapons and ammunition, scrutinise suspicious cargo and maritime movements, prepare evidence for sanctions, support joint investigations, and pursue the freezing and lawful recovery of criminal assets.
Source and transit countries have a particular duty. The weapons and ammunition that sustain Haiti’s gangs are overwhelmingly drawn from external supply chains. Haiti cannot police cargo controls at foreign ports, trace money through foreign financial centres or prevent diversion before weapons enter illicit supply chains. Outbound cargo screening, tighter oversight of shippers, systematic weapons tracing and investigation of diverted legal purchases cannot be left to Haiti alone.
Sanctions should not end with the men who hold the guns. Where reliable evidence establishes involvement, they should also reach the people who buy the weapons, arrange their shipment, conceal criminal proceeds or use political and commercial influence to protect the gangs.
Such action must be lawful and precise. Financial measures should be directed at identified persons, businesses and transactions, with proper safeguards and due process.
While external assistance is vital in this process, Haitian institutions must be bolstered. Haiti’s specialised judicial units for financial crimes must become fully operational. Investigators, prosecutors, judges, prison authorities and anti-corruption bodies need protection, resources and technical support. Financial intelligence must produce investigations; investigations must produce cases; and convictions should lead to the recovery of criminal assets.
The problem is no longer a lack of diagnosis. UNODC has provided it. The OAS and CARICOM have recognised important parts of it. What is still lacking is coordinated execution. Force can create the time and space in which Haiti might recover. But if the people who finance, arm, transport and protect the gangs remain untouched, the Haitian people will be made to endure the same cycle again.
The international community must therefore act decisively to disrupt the financial network that illegally sustains the gangs. Stopping the violence requires stopping the money that empowers it.
WASHINGTON / COLOMBIA – A Presidential Delegation, led by acting attorney-general Todd Blanche, represented the United States at the August 7 inauguration of president Abelardo de la Espriella. The delegation demonstrates US commitment to reinvigorating the US-Colombia relationship and deepening of our shared security and economic partnership. As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress, intends to announce $1 billion in assistance as part of a security package to support president de la Espriella’s administration in achieving our shared goals. Building on more than 200 years of friendship, the Trump administration looks forward to working closely with the new administration to ensure security and prosperity for the United States, Colombia, and our hemisphere.
The Trump administration welcomes Colombia joining the Shield of the Americas and stands ready to support the de la Espriella Administration’s efforts to defeat the vicious narcoterrorist and criminal organisations that threaten US, Colombian, and hemispheric security and economic prosperity. This includes its efforts to:
Strengthen Colombia’s security forces in our shared fight against Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO)s and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO)s, including through deploying unmatched US technology, scoping defense spending to be more efficient, building interoperability, and executing coordinated operations with US forces.
Disrupt FTO and TCO operations by freezing assets and prosecuting those who finance and sustain them.
Significantly expand coca eradication and cocaine interdiction operations.
Halt illegal immigration flows through closer coordination on border security.
Reclaim, hold, and build state presence in territory once controlled by armed groups, with efforts ranging from humanitarian demining to coordinated security, justice, and economic investments in high-threat regions.
Protect children from forced recruitment and exploitation by armed groups.
Unlocking economic opportunity
President de la Espriella’s pro-growth agenda and openness to US investment creates an opportunity to increase trade and deepen economic ties between our countries.
The United States will work with Colombia to:
Contribute to international relief funds and future humanitarian aid packages that help Colombian communities recover from potential El Niño-related flooding, drought, and other natural disasters.
Launch a Bilateral Prosperity Dialogue to serve as a platform for stabilising Colombia’s economy, strengthening its energy generation and distribution sectors, exploring critical mineral investments, and creating new opportunities for US investors.
Strengthen Colombian small and medium enterprises in agribusiness, manufacturing, and tech services by connecting them to US buyers and linking them to US-aligned supply chains.
Modernise Colombia’s digital, port, and energy infrastructure while positioning Colombia as a trusted nearshoring partner for supply chain diversification.
Advance bilateral nuclear energy cooperation and position Colombia for long-term partnership with US industry on peaceful civil nuclear applications.
ST JOHN’s, Antigua – Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has responded to a public statement issued on 12 August by the Caribbean heads of judiciary. The Prime Minister’s response speaks for itself. It is published in full below:
“I have taken careful note of the Joint Statement issued on 12 August 2026, by the Caribbean Heads of Judiciary. I respect the constitutional office held by each signatory, and I reaffirm, without qualification, the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary.
Judicial independence is essential to democratic government. However, it does not place judicial decisions or the administration of justice beyond reasoned public criticism. Nor does it require an elected Government to remain silent when sentencing outcomes raise serious and recurring questions about public safety, legislative policy and public confidence.
My remarks of 10 August were made in the context of grave concern, expressed by law enforcement and the people of Antigua and Barbuda in general, about firearm violence and statutory rape, in what they regard as unduly lenient sentences in some serious cases.
As prime minister, I have a solemn duty to safeguard the welfare of the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
My remarks did not direct the outcome of any case, seek to reopen a decided case or invite anyone to disregard an order of the court.
The heads of judiciary have treated my language as though it represented executive instructions against a judge.
It did not.
It was a last resort warning to bring attention to the judicial hierarchy, that if they fail to address the indiscretion and deliberate disregard of their members for the legislation on serious firearms crimes, which provides for up to 15 years custodial sentencing; then our government may be forced to used other remedies to protect the citizenry.
To remove all doubt, there has never been any request or action by my government to remove, or reassign or deport any member of the judiciary.
Questions concerning the tenure, assignment or conduct of a judicial officer are governed by the Constitution and the law, and those arrangements will be respected.
That clarification neither withdraws nor dilutes my criticism of sentencing outcomes and institutional performance; it makes clear that my criticism is not directed at the constitutional security or personal independence of any judge.
Further, I do not accept that forceful criticism of sentencing practice is, by itself, an attack on judicial independence.
My government has recently received a renewed and substantial parliamentary mandate, having included in the manifesto placed before the electorate, a pledge to tackle firmly gun crimes, violence against women and sexual offences against children.
That mandate does not place the executive above the law. However, it imposes a duty to protect the people, to uphold public order and to speak plainly when the public interest requires it.
Similarly, judicial independence carries a responsibility for openness, consistency, competence and continuous institutional improvement.
The joint statement says that an appeal is the only lawful and legitimate way to address an unduly lenient sentence.
That is not accurate.
An appeal is a proper means of challenging or correcting the sentence in an individual case.
However, it is not the only lawful means by which a democratic society may examine systemic failure in the dispensation of justice.
Antigua and Barbuda has provided a right of appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against sentence since the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2004, and that power has been successfully exercised.
Whether to appeal is a matter for the constitutionally independent director of public prosecutions.
It should be acknowledged that an appeal in one case, cannot by itself answer broader questions about sentencing patterns, the application of statutory penalties and sentencing guidelines, repeat offending, criminal justice, inordinate delays, rehabilitation or coordination among police, prosecutors, courts and correctional services.
Parliament may legislate, the executive may propose policy and provide resources, and the Judiciary may interpret and apply the law.
Reasoned public criticism and structured engagement among these institutions are also entirely consistent with the separation of powers.
This is not an intellectual or theoretical debate.
We are facing a serious problem. Crime and violence was deemed as a public health crisis by CARICOM heads. If not addressed urgently and concurrently by coordinated efforts, involving all branches of government, our region could descend into uncontrolled criminality, thereby undermining development.
Firearm violence threatens the right of our people to live in peace and without fear.
It harms victims and families, burdens law-enforcement agencies, weakens confidence in public institutions and places at risk the secure social and economic environment on which investment, employment and tourism depend.
Those consequences require urgency from every arm of the State.
Sentencing must take account of the governing statute, applicable guidelines and appellate decisions, guilty pleas, aggravating and mitigating factors, antecedents, time spent on remand and the totality principle.
The answer is to examine the evidence rigorously, not to dismiss the concern before it is examined.
For that reason, yesterday – 12 August 2026 – I wrote to the Honourable Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Her Ladyship Margaret Price Findlay, proposing the immediate establishment of an independent committee to review sentencing for firearm and other serious violent offences, repeat offending and the operation of the wider criminal justice system in Antigua and Barbuda.
The review would analyse a defined body of sentencing data, identify any material divergence between legislative policy and sentencing outcomes, examine the causes, and recommend practical reforms.
I have suggested that the Honourable Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, be invited to chair the committee, subject to his willingness. I have also consulted the Right Honourable Sir Dennis Byron and the Honourable Mr Justice Godfrey Smith SC, the CARICOM High-Level Representative on Law and Criminal Justice.
They are both prepared to assist the committee, including by making available the considerable body of work already undertaken by justice Smith and others.
This is a firm, constitutional and evidence-led response to a matter of urgent public importance.
If the heads of judiciary support constructive and collaborative engagement, I invite them to support this initiative and to help ensure that it proceeds without delay.
Judicial independence and institutional accountability are not opposing principles.
Our government seeks no control over the decision of any court.
It does seek a criminal justice system that is lawful, proportionate, transparent, consistent and effective in protecting the public.
Finally, I remind you that pervasive lenient sentences without extenuating circumstances, serve no useful purpose but to undermine public safety and confidence in the judiciary.
The people of Antigua and Barbuda are entitled to both an independent judiciary and a justice system that responds proactively and credibly to serious violent crime.
The last time Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) produced an audited statement was 2017/18 financial year, and completed in March 2023 by the Philip J. Pierre administration.
“Claims that the SSDF has not been audited since my government assumed office are simply untrue,” Prime Minister Pierre’s social media post on Monday, said. “The current Board inherited a backlog of outstanding financial statements dating to 2016.”
“Since taking office (2021), it [SSDF] has worked to bring those accounts up to date, with the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 audits completed in March 2023. Work continues on the remaining years, despite challenges obtaining supporting documentation from the earlier periods.”
“Accountability means confronting what we inherited, correcting it and ensuring better stewardship of public resources. The record is clear. Let the facts speak,” the Prime Minister’s Facebook post noted.
Allen Chastanet was Prime Minister and Minister for Finance from 2016 – 2021.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre came to office on July 26, 2021. He was reelected on December 1, 2025.
In a comment on social media, Rőn Jōseph writes:
“If supporting documents were not made available, there are other means of verifying, reconciling and ensuring the accounts represent a picture of the government’s accounts.”
Financial audits review financial statements to make sure the public accounts follow proper accounting rules and that it is true and accurate. The audits also verify how domestic and benefactor (public) money is spent and managed.
In a much-anticipated response at Monday’s press briefing, Prime Minister Pierre, said:
“The entire world has been told that my government failed to prepare the financial statements. Here you have a gentleman who was leader (Prime Minister) of the country writing a falsity when he [himself] was minister of finance for five years (2016 – 2021) never prepared financial statements.”
Prime Minister Pierre reiterated:
“I know what the SSDF means to the people of this country,” […] “a very important organisation, the amalgamation of the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) and the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).”
The core mandate of the SSDF is to ensure the delivery of basic services to disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Saint Lucia. And as disclosed: “Donors and benefactors received reports detailing how their contributions to the SSDF were used,” Prime Minister Pierre added. “Anyone who has contributed to SSDF has received a report on how the money was used.”
Saint Lucia Social Development Fund Act (Cap. 16.05), provides assistance to alleviate socio-economic problems; to establish a mechanism for delivering basic services and infrastructure to the poor and the needy; to finance small-scale projects in selected areas to improve living conditions; to promote community participation in development projects; and to provide for related matters. (Amended by Act 23 of 2019).
The Parastatal Monitoring Department (PMD) is tasked with overseeing and evaluating the financial performance of parastatal entities to ensure they operate in a manner that is effective, efficient and economically sound. As part of its mandate, the department receives, reviews and analyses annual reports submitted by these institutions.
[…]
The Department reviews audit findings and financial reports, providing guidance on financial management and policy. This includes detailed analysis of the financial statements of each parastatal entity to assess financial performance. The evaluation involves ratio analysis and comparison of current accounting practices against International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
Seven years later, SSDF audits remain in backlog and unresolved, contrary to the laws of Saint Lucia.
Here’s why!
The revised Laws of Saint Lucia 2023, section 20 Accounts and Audit, reads:
“The executive director … shall conform to the best commercial and accounting standards. The accounts of the Fund shall be audited annually by an auditor appointed in each year by the board with approval of the minister,” revised laws of Saint Lucia, 2023.
“Within four months after the end of each financial year, the board shall cause to be made and shall submit to the minister – a statement of its accounts audited in accordance with section 20(2): and a report dealing generally with the proceedings and policies of the Fund during that financial year.
“The minister shall cause a copy of such report together with the annual statement of accounts and the auditor’s report thereon to be tabled in the House of Assembly and the Senate.”
Independence and oversight of the SSDF audit
Allen Chastanet, leader of the opposition, in his July 28, 2026 letter to Prime Minister Pierre and director of finance, Imran Williams, and copied globally, Re: Independence and Oversight of the SSDF Audit, noted that “ I have been informed that an audit of the SSDF is currently underway,” and requested clarification […]. ”
Prime Minister Pierre’s response to Chastanet July 30, 2026, advised:
“Audits are the responsibility of management of organisations. By their very nature, auditors are independent and rely on professional standards. Boards are involved when management letters and sign-off on financial statements and reports are required.”
A remedial exercise?
Seven years later, audits of SSDF seem a remedial exercise for the history books in a politically charged theatre.
Documents, timelines, and a clear path to independent oversight need affirmation, as well as the status of the SSDF in fulfilment of its mandate to the people of Saint Lucia.
The findings and recommendations resulting from these audits may ostensibly be unhelpful – and past due for operational and correctness.
In the current situation, safeguards need to be vigorous where public funds are concerned. The government will have to restore confidence with diplomatic partners and other benefactors.
Simply put – there is work to be done, beyond the political.
NEW YORK, USA – Results may be months away, but efforts are advancing towards enhanced treatment and the world’s first vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday as deaths and cases rise in the largest ever outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Key points
3,748 cases, including 1,657 deaths and 708 recoveries, as of 1 August, according to WHO
While Ebola vaccines exist, trials for the first-ever Bundibugyo species-specific candidate vaccine began in the UK on 24 July, with a second starting in Canada this week
Clinical trials of medicine and treatment options are rolling out in Ituri province, the restive epicentre of the current outbreak
Compared to previous Ebola outbreaks, trials started more quickly this time as protocols had been written before the current one was declared in DRC in mid-May, said Vasee Moorthy, acting lead of WHO’s R&D Blueprint, a global platform for research and development collaboration to respond to epidemics and pandemics.
Despite ongoing efforts, there are still no proven safe and efficacious treatment, preventive or vaccination options for the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, Dr. Moorthy told reporters in Geneva.
However, it would likely still be several months before more definite conclusions could be drawn from the ongoing trials, he said.
Vaccine trials
A vaccine trial in the United Kingdom entered phase one on 24 July, with another to begin in Canada in coming days, Dr Moorthy said.
Both trials are being conducted on ferrets and monkeys, after which results would be analysed by WHO before deciding on whether to move to the subsequent phase.
New data has also emerged in animal studies on the licensed vaccine Ervebo, targeting a different Ebola strain, according to WHO.
The UN health agency’s technical advisory group convened last Friday and is expected to publish recommendations later this week.
New clinical trials
A clinical trial of a potential post-exposure prophylaxis – or preventative – medicine is underway in Ituri province.
Led by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research with an international consortium of research and outbreak-response partners, the trial has enrolled over 25 patients to evaluate whether an oral medicine given for ten days to confirmed high-risk contacts could prevent onset of disease.
Since the outbreak was declared, three testing sites have opened in Ituri province, and a fourth is set to open later this week where patients can enrol in trials and be monitored in safe conditions to see if the medicines are effective, Dr Moorthy said.
“We are trying to ramp up the enrolment,” he said. “Because they’re a clinical trial, we have to have safe, monitoring of the people that are enrolled in the trial. And that does take time to have more and more teams and more sites enrolling.”
Here is a look at some ongoing Ebola response initiatives:
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is supporting screening, infection prevention, risk communication and provision of essential hygiene items;
At the DRC-Uganda border, a mobile lab supported by WHO and the World Food Programme (WFP) delivers Ebola test results in around one hour, cutting delays and bringing lifesaving diagnostics closer to more than 94,000 people;
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) operates nurseries for youngsters of Ebola-affected families;
The MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in DRC protects civilians, conducts information campaigns for local communities and has increased presence around medical facilities to support WHO teams and partners (check out our interview with the current force commander here or right below);
UN aid coordination office OCHA is releasing up to $60 million to support response and preparedness efforts in DRC and neighbouring countries through the UN’s Global Emergency Fund, CERF.
NASSAU, The Bahamas, (PAHO) — The Bahamas has joined the Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas, a regional initiative led by PAHO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank. The Alliance supports countries in strengthening primary health care and transforming health systems through coordinated investment, innovation, and technical cooperation.
The country’s accession was formalised during a hybrid signing ceremony held in Nassau, with representatives of the government of The Bahamas, PAHO, the IDB, and the World Bank participating in person and virtually.
As part of its accession, The Bahamas established a Consultative Mechanism for Primary Health Care, a strategic platform led by the ministry of health and wellness that will bring together national authorities and the Alliance partners to coordinate investments, technical cooperation, and innovation around the country’s health priorities.
“The Bahamas is pleased to join the Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas and welcomes this important partnership. For us, partnership in the Alliance is not about adding another country to a regional network; it is about adding meaningful impact where it matters most – in the lives of our people,” said Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness of The Bahamas.
“Through this Alliance, we envisaged that technical expertise, investment and innovation would be better aligned with our national priorities; support for the implementation of The Bahamas National Health Strategy; and an accelerated transformation of the country’s health system through a primary health care approach.”
The mechanism will serve as a permanent forum for policy dialogue and technical collaboration, helping coordinate investments and technical cooperation with national priorities, coordinate ongoing and future initiatives, and advance implementation of The Bahamas National Health Strategy.
“The Bahamas is the first CARICOM member state to join the Alliance, marking a new chapter for the initiative and creating an important opportunity to extend its benefits across the Caribbean,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO. “Through the Primary Health Care Consultative Mechanism, the ministry of health and wellness, PAHO, the IDB and the World Bank will work together to identify shared priorities, align technical cooperation and investments, and translate our shared commitment into a practical roadmap for implementing the National Health Strategic Plan.”
The Alliance supports countries through coordinated technical cooperation, financing, and policy dialogue. Since its creation, it has facilitated the alignment of investment plans and the mobilisation of resources for more than USD 1 billion to strengthen primary health care across the region.
“The Bahamas is taking an important step toward strengthening its health system through stronger, more coordinated primary health care. This Alliance enables us to work alongside the government and our partners to expand access to quality services and build a more resilient, equitable, and people-centred health system,” said Steven Collins, chief of operations at the IDB Country Office in The Bahamas.
“We warmly welcome The Bahamas to the Alliance. The Bahamas’ decision to join reflects a clear conviction that stronger primary health care is the foundation of healthier people, more resilient systems, and a more prosperous region. Through the Alliance, we are helping Caribbean countries turn shared ambition into financed, measurable results to bring quality, affordable, and resilient care closer to every family,” said Michele Gragnolati, Health Practice Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank Group.
With the incorporation of The Bahamas, the Alliance now brings together 12 countries in the Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and The Bahamas.
PAHO will continue working closely with The Bahamas to strengthen primary health care through technical cooperation, policy dialogue, and capacity building, contributing to universal access to health and more resilient, people-centered health systems.
The Alliance for primary health care in the Americas
The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas was launched in December 2023 by PAHO, the IDB, and the World Bank to accelerate health system transformation across the Region through stronger primary health care.
By bringing together technical expertise, financing, and policy dialogue around national priorities, the initiative supports countries in building more equitable, resilient, and people-centered health systems.
NEW YORK, USA – Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the vulnerability of global trade to a single maritime chokepoint, with early data showing sharp falls in exports of energy, fertilisers and industrial products.
Exports of natural gas dropped by a staggering 95 percent.
The finding comes in analysis published by the International Trade Centre (ITC), a multilateral agency that has a joint mandate with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UN trade and development body UNCTAD.
Critical maritime corridor
The Strait, located south of Iran, is responsible for around one quarter of global seaborne oil trade and a significant share of liquefied natural gas flows and fertilisers, including a third of globally traded urea.
Since the military escalation in late February, reduced commercial passage, concerns over navigational safety and higher transport and insurance costs have affected trade flows far beyond the region.
Although recent lulls in the fighting have raised hopes that shipping could resume more fully, traffic remains far below normal levels.
Strategic products examined
The analysis focuses on 12 strategically important energy, fertilizer and industrial products for which Hormuz-dependent economies are important global suppliers.
This group comprises Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Trade data for April reveals that combined merchandise exports across all products from these economies declined by 21 percent in value.
The ITC noted, however, that export values are also affected by sharp movements in international commodity prices triggered by the disruption itself, therefore, changes in physical quantities provide complementary evidence on the extent of the disruption to actual trade flows.
Decline in exports
Across all 12 products, export volumes fell between April 2025 and April 2026. Combined export volumes declined by 54 percent, with liquified natural gas recording the steepest contraction, 95 percent.
Urea exports declined by 83 percent, followed by methanol (80 percent) and ammonia (75 percent. Polymers of propylene (or polypropylene) – used for plastic packaging in consumer goods – were the least affected, declining by 24 percent.
The largest absolute losses were in energy products such as crude petroleum oil exports, which fell by 28 million tonnes, followed by refined petroleum oils and liquefied natural gas , which declined by 7.3 million tonnes and 5.5 million tonnes respectively.
“Sizeable falls in fertilisers, chemicals, plastics and aluminium show that the disruption affected a broader range of industries and supply chains,” the authors noted.
Importers seek alternatives
Meanwhile, importing markets were not affected in the same way, depending on factors such as reliance on Hormuz suppliers, access to inventories and strategic reserves, domestic demand and ability to source from alternative suppliers.
Japan, for example, historically sourced 91 percent of its crude petroleum oil imports from Hormuz-dependent economies. In April, the country recorded a 64 percent decline in total imports. Other highly dependent markets such as the Republic of Korea and Malaysia faced the same situation.
In contrast, Thailand recorded a 62 percent increase as refiners moved to secure additional cargoes from alternative suppliers and maintain supplies during the disruption.
Alternative suppliers, in fact, increased shipments for 10 of the 12 selected products across all reporting markets, yet these gains fully offset lower imports from Hormuz-dependent economies only for ammonia and polymers of propylene.
The finding suggests that trade diversion had begun but had not fully replaced disrupted supplies by April, as some markets may have drawn on inventories or strategic reserves, increased domestic production where possible, or reduced consumption.
The ITC update also examined other aspects of the crisis, including trade measures adopted in response to the disruption, such as policies aimed at ensuring adequate access to supplies, particularly of crude and refined oil.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Members of the nursing profession have been lauded for their resilience and leadership in the face of the ongoing and emerging pressures and challenges.
The commendations were made during the opening of the 53rd meeting of the Regional Nursing Body (RNB) which began in Georgetown, Guyana on Monday, 3 August.
“We meet at a defining moment. Across the Caribbean, our health systems face pressures evolving faster than our capacity to absorb them: workforce shortages, migration, demographic change, the rising burden of chronic disease and the growing frequency of natural disasters. Yet against all of it stands one unwavering constant: the resilience and the leadership of the nurses and midwives of this region,” chair of the meeting, Annastacia Jordan, chief nursing officer of Barbados, said in her remarks.
Jordan expressed pleasure at the heightened level of visibility the profession is receiving, noting “the voices of nurses and midwives are now heard at the tables where major decisions are made and are recognised, not simply as providers of care, but as leaders, researchers and architects of health system transformation.”
Jordan recognised the support and solidarity “within our regional family” in times of natural disasters and emergencies, as well as the strong partnerships that have been forged to support the work of the RNB.
Director, human development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Helen Royer, also spoke of the value of nurses and midwives, who constitute the largest component of the health workforce globally. She hailed their essential role as caregivers, but also pointed to their roles as leaders, educators, researchers, innovators, and advocates.
“Their expertise is critical to health policy development, health service delivery, and achievement of better health outcomes for our people,” Royer said, while acknowledging the significant strides the RNB has made over the years but called for greater emphasis to be placed on implementation.
“Good policies, sound recommendations, and well-crafted strategic plans can only make a difference when they are translated into action. Our collective responsibility, therefore, is to ensure that the outcomes of this meeting are practical, measurable, and capable of advancing nursing and midwifery at both the regional and national levels,” Royer said.
Among the items the RNB will discuss over the next five days are strengthening the regulatory capacity of nursing and midwifery councils in CARICOM; the development of guidelines to define nurse-to-patient ratios, and midwife-to-patient ratios; and harmonising midwifery education, training and regulation in the Community.
Participants will also deliberate on partnerships, the future of nursing and nursing leadership in CARICOM; matters related to education standards in the nursing profession; disaster preparedness and response under the theme “Bridging Divides, Driving Reform: Caribbean Nursing and Midwifery at the Forefront of Change.”
Implementing AI in education is both very similar to earlier challenges of integrating edtech — and at the same time very different. It is similar in that costly infrastructure constraints limit access, and skills upgrades and training are required for effective uptake at scale. What is notably different about AI is the speed of its development and roll-out. FOMO (fear of missing out) is an unfortunate but real driver of many efforts to quickly deploy AI in education before knowing exactly how to do it, who benefits and who does not, what the enabling conditions for success look like, and what it all costs. Move fast, and you might well make mistakes. But not doing anything risks that countries and communities already on the wrong side of the digital divide fall further behind their peers.
A new working paper from the World Bank, Costing AI Use in Education in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, identifies approaches to budgeting and financing that ministries of education will need to consider as they support teachers and learners in their use of AI. Given resource constraints and infrastructure gaps, cost-effective strategies should prioritize approaches that minimize upfront investment, manage recurrent costs, and generate policy-relevant evidence.
Rather than starting with large-scale, systemwide deployment, countries can begin with targeted applications that address binding constraints to teaching and learning while building institutional capacity.
Start with teachers, not students. Interventions that support teachers through lesson planning, feedback, coaching, or administrative assistance are often more cost-effective than direct student-facing tools, particularly in early stages. They require fewer devices, are feasible even where student‑level access is limited, and improve instructional quality at a lower fiscal cost per student — while generating evidence about what additional investments may be needed to support wider AI use by students.
Weigh AI costs against the high cost of the status quo. Estimates of global learning poverty — the share of 10-year-olds unable to read and understand a short text — stand at 70 percent. Expanding traditional teacher‑based service delivery is fiscally demanding. In Sub‑Saharan Africa alone, reaching SDG4 would require additional annual spendingof US$6.4 billion for primary and US$38.7 billion for secondary teachers by 2030. AI-related costs should be assessed against this baseline, not in isolation.
Build on infrastructure already in place.Leveraging existing hardware, like shared school devices and current mobile networks, removes the need for massive capital investments. This shifts the focus from expensive hardware procurement to affordable, scalable software deployment, freeing up resources for teacher training and locally relevant digital content.
Rethink financing and procurement. Traditional models may need to be reimagined. Ministries of education can adapt existing funding streams like national Universal Service Funds(USFs) to subsidise cloud computing costs. Outcome-based contracting and flexible, pay-as-you-go usage models reduce the financial risks associated with fast-evolving AI tools and avoid locking systems into outdated technologies. Public-private partnerships can combine public oversight with private capital and expertise. Separating the underlying AI layer from the user-facing application layer also helps education ministries swap out AI models as newer, cheaper, or more powerful ones emerge.
Design for low connectivity and limited budgets. AI applications that function without connectivity and synchronize when bandwidth becomes available can be particularly valuable in rural or underserved areas. For example, tools that record and analyze classroom practice and deliver feedback to teachers offline. Lightweight small language models, which require less computing power and cost less to run, may offer more affordable, cost-effective approaches where infrastructure and budgets are most constrained.
Treat evidence generation as a core investment, not an afterthought. The evidence on cost‑effectiveness, scalability, and implementation of AI in education in low- and middle-income countries remains very limited. Governments and development partners can helpfully fund well-designed pilots, collect comparable data on total cost of ownership and outcomes, and create feedback loops that allow systems to adapt as technologies and prices evolve. Ministries would collectively benefit from sharing what they learn with peers. Without this, they risk making multi-million-dollar commitments to technologies that may not work, cannot scale, and could harm learners and the wider learning ecosystem.
Decisions to ‘scale up’ AI use in education should be informed by proven pedagogical approaches rather than speculative hype — at costs that are understood, affordable, and sustainable, balancing the potential for impact against what achieving that impact will cost. A follow-up post will explore how the emergence of AI changes the way ministries of education can plan for the costs of educational technology.
At the recent Caribbean Futures High-Level Anti-Violence Forum, held under the 16th cycle of the Caribbean Institute in Gender and Development (CIGAD), the three institutions convened youth leaders, policymakers, researchers and community practitioners from across the Caribbean to take up this challenge together.
“Violence prevention transforms the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours that normalise violence in homes, schools, communities, and relationships. It promotes positive masculinities, empowers girls and young women, and engages boys and men as allies in creating safer, more equitable societies for everyone,” said Dr Maria Ziegler, senior gender specialist, CDB.
The event featured an intergenerational dialogue rarely hosted through a single platform. Youth advocates sat alongside senior policymakers, criminologists and gender specialists to examine how gang violence, gender-based violence and climate-related displacement compound one another, and to co-design solutions grounded in Caribbean realities rather than imported frameworks.
“UN Women not only promotes the rights, empowerment, and safety of all women and girls, but we are working with partners to disrupt the gender norms that also harm men and boys. Our Foundations Violence Prevention Programme – is a participatory and youth centred curriculum – to transform the negative cultural and social norms, values, attitudes and beliefs which support the perpetuation of gender-based discrimination, gender inequality and Gender-Based Violence,” said Sharon Carter-Burke, communications and advocacy analyst, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean.
The Forum marked the finalisation of the in-person training phase for the 16th CIGAD cohort and highlighted the Programme’s impact in building a regional network of practitioners equipped to turn gender analysis into policy and community action. From a theatre presentation challenging harmful masculinities to a youth-focused roundtable with decision-makers, the event demonstrated how dialogue, evidence and shared ownership can drive more effective violence prevention across generations.
Outcomes of the Forum point towards co-creation of solutions which combines the knowledge and experiences of both young and old, state and society, men and women, boys and girls. The event concluded that everybody has a role to play and that gender justice and youth empowerment are inseparable strands of the same effort, rather than competing priorities.
As the 16th CIGAD cohort moves towards completion, the connections forged at the Forum, between youth organisations, state actors and regional institutions, are expected to outlast the event itself, seeding continued collaboration on violence prevention long after the participants disperse across their home countries.
CIGAD is supported by financing from CDB and UN Women to strengthen gender-responsive development across the region. The investment is aligned with CDB’s 10-year Strategic Plan, which includes a focus on ensuring gender equality is woven into decision-making across the public, private and civil society sectors throughout its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).
Sources tell Caribbean News Global (CNG) that current letters, public protest and advocacy, independent audit and oversight of the Social Development Funds (SSDF), including police investigations, are under active diplomatic monitoring.
In the interest of governance, accountability, transparency, and keeping the public appropriately informed, sources also revealed …. “ there was great expectation for Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre response when he addresses the press on Monday (August 10).”
The international exposure and unresolved matter featured in the alleged SSDF “Sex for Cheques” scandal are deterrents to ongoing funding, international standards and cooperation. This scandal is playing out at a time when foreign assistance is facing huge financial cuts and, in some cases termination of institutions.
It is paramount to highlight that any reduction in funding is reciprocal to projected budgetary financing.
By Caribbean News Global
TAIWAN / ST LUCIA – Allen Chastanet, Leader of the Opposition (LOO) and Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, attorney-at-law and former minister of government in Saint Lucia, are ostensibly on a campaign in the alleged misuse of Saint Lucia Social Development Funds (SSDF) “Sex for Cheques” scandal, copied letters to the Taiwan embassy in Saint Lucia and other benefactors of the SSDF.
H.E. Nicole Su, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Saint Lucia receives letter from Attorney-at-Law and Former Government Minister, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun
Chastanet’s letter dated July 28, 2026, to the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J Pierre, Re: Independence and oversight of the SSDF audit – copied to H.E. Nicole Su, ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Saint Lucia was dismissed as “Full of inaccuracies, laced with venom, bad faith.”
Sarah Flood-Beaubrun has since undertaken unilateral public protest and advocacy, delivering a letter to ambassador Su, dated August 5, 2026, Re: Allegations regarding misuse of funds, Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF).
There is also an ongoing matter of Richard Frederick, Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Urban Renewal, who was detained by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) on July 2, 2026, and subsequently released.
These matters are of social, economic and national security concern with potential global outcomes.
In 2017, Guy Joseph, who knowingly made false representations to Taiwan in the matter of Constituency Development Programme (CDP) contracts, said: “I had to compile a list based on the contracts that were in the ministry, pretend as if the projects had not been done and submit it to the Taiwanese for approval.”
Flood-Beaubrun’s letter to ambassador Su, said in part:
“We write to you on behalf of the citizens of Saint Lucia regarding the above-mentioned subject matter – allegations regarding misuse of funds –SSDF.”
“No doubt, Excellency, it would have come to your attention the grave matter of the alleged misuse of Saint Lucia Social Development Funds (SSDF) by Richard Frederick, Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Urban Renewal in the “Sex for Cheques” scandal, currently being investigated by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).”
“The Community Development Programme (CDP) which Taiwan continues to fund through the SSDF continues to meaningfully impact the life of each and every Saint Lucian. The Saint Lucian people regard Taiwan as a true friend.”
Taiwan’s foreign assistance programs uphold security, peace, democracy, human rights, humanitarianism, and sustainable development, and fulfils its global responsibilities and duties while actively giving back to the international community is engaged in a range of bilateral and multilateral infrastructure development projects covering healthcare, transportation, education, agriculture and fisheries, science and technology, and environmental protection. These programs raise average incomes, reduce poverty, and improve living standards, thereby enhancing public welfare.
Taiwan’s international cooperation and development budget and programs met the OECD definition of Official Development Assistance, striving for a World of Freedom and Democracy of Common Good.
Taiwan also strives to implement foreign policies that enhance Taiwan’s prosperity and to promote foreign relations that strengthen its international status.
The international exposure and unresolved matter featured in the alleged SSDF “Sex for Cheques” scandal are deterrents to ongoing funding, international standards and cooperation. This scandal is playing out at a time when foreign assistance is facing huge financial cuts and, in some cases, termination of institutions.
Taiwan foreign policy guidelines
Taiwan is promoting a policy of integrated diplomacy, building on the three pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity. The government is expanding cooperation and deepening partnerships to create mutual benefits and shared prosperity with diplomatic allies and like-minded countries.
May 7, 1984: Taiwan – St Lucia first official diplomatic ties established. August 29, 1997: Relations switched to the People’s Republic of China, ending ties with Taiwan. April 20, 2007: Diplomatic relations was restored between Saint Lucia and Taiwan. June 4, 2015: Saint Lucia opened its embassy in Taipei.
Taiwan continues to donate substantial funding to Saint Lucia’s national budget and economic development in the form of concessionary loans, grants, Taiwan ICDF scholarship, Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM), trade and cultural exhibitions.
Taiwan’s technical, financial and social engineering contributed significantly to St Lucia’s COVID-19 response. Annual funding of SSDF programs and the Constituency Development Programme (CDP) projects of the political establishment in their constituency.
Flood-Beaubrun’s letter to ambassador Su, continued:
“ … we are mindful that a scandal of such great proportions has the potential to undermine integrity and confidence in the SSDF. The citizens of Saint Lucia need to be certain that all funds placed within the SSDF for the benefit of the people of Saint Lucia, particularly vulnerable persons and communities, are utilised only for the purposes intended. No doubt the government and people of Taiwan would wish likewise, to be reassured.”
“… we trust that the government of Taiwan will take a keen interest in the on-going investigation so as to satisfy all concerned that the funds of the SSDF are indeed being managed according to international best practices, and that these funds are being used only for the noble humanitarian purposes for which they were intended.”
While the significance of the letter is explained, there is an unspecified and undescribed “we” that denotes plural, but transposes to singular in the undersigned.
Taiwan continues to provide useful assistance to Saint Lucia, as stated in previous budgets: 38 percent of concessionary loans – “$191.82 million to be financed from the Republic of China (Taiwan) (EXIM Bank) Grants: “Republic of China (Taiwan) (ROCT) – $52.623M.”
Last November, the government of Saint Lucia received a loan facility of USD 20 million (XCD $53.8 million) from the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (Eximbank) to expand access to affordable housing and strengthen essential community infrastructure.
June 2, 2026, the government of Saint Lucia received XCD 7 million donation from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to address various social and developmental needs in communities throughout the island.
“XCD 5 million will be used to support the Small Infrastructure Projects Initiative. The Small Infrastructure Projects Initiative, implemented by the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), will improve daily life and living standards in targeted communities by building and rehabilitating new and existing local infrastructure.”
Taiwan is a vibrant democracy with 23.5 million people thriving in a robust, modern and civil society. Taiwan’s strength relies very much on the trust that has been built with allies, friends and in business.
Taiwan is fundamental to the quantum of budgetary and development support to Saint Lucia – 238 sq miles, with a population of 172, 948 and GDP USD 2.77 million and per capita of USD 15,135 and growth rate 2-3 percent.
It is paramount to highlight that any reduction in funding is reciprocal to projected budgetary financing.
Sources tell CNG that current letters, public protest and advocacy, independent audit and oversight of the SSDF, including police investigations, are under active diplomatic monitoring.
The Republic of China on Taiwan, $47.3 million, vs United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund, UK SIP, $17.4 million. United Nations Environmental Programme, $6.8 million, European Development Fund, $1.2 million.
External borrowing (currency XCD)
Republic of China and Taiwan, Ex-Im Bank, 160.7 million,vs International Development Association, the IDA, 77.4 million. The Caribbean Development Bank, 63.43 million. The government of Saudi Arabia, 16.5 million. The African Export-Import Bank, 2.2 million. The Caribbean Development Fund, 2.4 million. The European Investment Bank, 6.1 million. And the QEIT Fund for Arab Economic Development, 4 million.
“The program employs over 3,000 Saint Lucians for 5 days, Monday 3 August to Friday 7 August 2026,” the SSDF said. “The Program is a pre-emptive and strategic intervention of clearing road verges, drains, culverts, and water channels in communities, all in an effort to improve motorist visibility, reduce mosquito breeding grounds, reduce the possibility of flooding, and improve community aesthetics. The program also serves as an economic stimulant at the community and national level.”
Insights
Taiwan’s commitment to Saint Lucia is a huge undertaking that safeguards a genuine democracy and upholds freedom, transparency, prosperity, and stability. Therefore, the mandate of the Parastatal Monitoring Department (PDM) requires the practicality to truly “reaffirm its commitment to good governance, transparency and accountability.”
The PMD was officially established on 11 June 2012 by Cabinet Conclusion 332(a)-350 of 2012. The core mandate of the PMD is to oversee the effective governance, operational performance and regulatory compliance of Saint Lucia’s parastatal entities. Over 90 parastatal organisations have been established in Saint Lucia.
“I am aware of the allegations against Richard Frederick, a member of my cabinet. These are serious claims, and I wish to assure the people of Saint Lucia that this government does not treat such matters lightly. As the allegations are currently the subject of an active police investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter. We must allow the police to carry out their work independently and without political and public interference.” ~ Prime Minister Philip J Pierre. “The people of Saint Lucia have a government that is fair, accountable, and unwavering in its commitment to the rule of law. That is the standard by which this administration has governed, and it is the standard by which we will continue to govern.”
“I am deliberate, and I think of what I do …. I am making no statement on Richard Frederick’s issue, because the police are continuing their investigation, and I am making absolutely no statement at this point in time. I am awaiting the police investigation. When the police have investigated and come to a conclusion, the Prime Minister will take a decision on the future of minister Richard Frederick in the cabinet of Saint Lucia. […] I come to judgement when I have all the facts.” ~ Prime Minister Philip J Pierre.
“Safeguarding the integrity of the country’s institutions remains a priority, and the people of Saint Lucia will hold the government accountable,” adding, “we have had a long record of cooperation where these donor agencies and the government, who gave us money to do specific things, expect us to do the things we said we will do with the money.”
In the current political dynamics of investigation and public accountability, the government of Saint Lucia is proceeding with a full audit of the SSDF to get a complete understanding of the alleged misuse of SSDF, “Sex for Cheques” scandal.
In the interest of governance, accountability, transparency, and keeping the public appropriately informed, sources tell CNG …. “ there is great expectation for Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre response when he addresses the press on Monday (August 10).”
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has underscored the need for the public bureaucracy to operate more efficiently and responsively, emphasising that the needs of the people must be met with urgency, timeliness and diligence.
Addressing residents, business operators and other stakeholders during visits to several hurricane-affected communities in Westmoreland on July 31, Holness used the working tour to highlight and address the systemic bottlenecks that have historically delayed the implementation of public initiatives.
“We have to look closely at how we operate, because six months is simply too long for a family to wait for a roof over their heads. The length of time it takes to move projects through our traditional pipeline does not match the immediate needs of our people. We must find a way to make the machinery of governance move faster to serve the public,” he stated.
Dr Holness argued that the lengthy timelines often required to implement government initiatives exact a significant toll on ordinary citizens who depend on the State for the timely delivery of essential services.
The prime minister cited the ongoing post-hurricane Melissa recovery effort as a case in point, noting that despite sustained government intervention, it has taken more than six months in some instances to produce and deploy customised container housing solutions for affected residents.
Holness said this and other challenges underscored the need for the establishment of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA). The statutory body was established to lead, coordinate and fast-track national reconstruction and resilience projects, particularly in the wake of major disasters such as Hurricane Melissa.
NaRRA was designed to overcome the bureaucratic delays, fragmented decision-making and inter-agency bottlenecks that can slow the implementation of large-scale recovery and development programmes.
Drawing an optimistic contrast with international examples, the Prime Minister highlighted the rapid pace of development in several emerging economies, noting that their success is often driven by administrative frameworks that prioritise timely execution.
“When you look at modern development globally, cities are practically being built in a year because their systems are built for momentum… real, tangible results are delivered to citizens with speed and alacrity. Jamaica has the talent and the capability to match that kind of global velocity… we just need to unlock it,” he maintained.
Mindful of the need to balance efficiency with accountability, Holness said his call for faster execution was not intended to weaken governance standards or undermine established safeguards within the public sector.
“I am absolutely not advocating for sidestepping our legal processes, nor am I suggesting any lack of transparency or accountability. What I am calling for is empathy in administration; we can be thorough while still moving with the urgency that our citizens deserve,” he underscored.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – As Jamaicans locally and overseas celebrate the nation’s season of Emancipation and 64 years of Independence, general manager of JN Money, Horace Hines, is lauding members of the Jamaican diaspora for their continued support of Jamaica’s future through their contributions to the economy and their involvement in rebuilding efforts following hurricane Melissa.
JN Money is the only Jamaican-owned remittance brand which operates globally in 18 countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Philippines, Nepal, Ghana and several Caribbean countries.
Hines said the Emancipation and Independence season is a powerful reminder that Jamaicans overseas are more than providers; they are active participants in the country’s national development.
“As we celebrate who we are, we should also use this moment to decide what we will build next,” the JN Money general manager urged Jamaicans overseas. “The diaspora has helped Jamaica through every season, channelling their love for family, friends and country into year-round investment that aids our progress and facilitates our recovery.”
Research by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute has pointed out that the impact of the Jamaican diaspora goes well beyond remittances to include investment, philanthropy and exports that collectively amount to some USD 4 billion annually. It also noted that there is an unrealised potential of a further USD 1.5 billion.
Highlighting the diaspora’s response through the JN Group’s ISupportJamaica Fund for hurricane Melissa, Hines noted that the efforts of Jamaicans overseas also continue to provide relief and hope for survivors. Pointing to another recent donation of £5,000 raised by UK-based footwear brand HYPHNT, he noted that to date more than J$14 million has been donated by the diaspora and used to support the recovery of early childhood institutions, children’s homes and places of safety in devastated areas, as well as homes for the elderly and at-risk groups.
“Therefore, even as we host our own Independence and Emancipation celebrations themed ‘True Yardie, True Connection’ across our JN Money network, we salute our Jamaican diaspora for their continued support. Every transaction through JN Money tells a story of connection, your love for your family locally and love for your county,” Hines said.
“Our message to all Jamaicans overseas this Emancipation and Independence season is simple,” Mr Hines continued. “Celebrate Jamaica and continue to support with purpose. Let this Independence and Emancipation season remind you how your national pride translates into our continued progress.”
![SSDF audit outstanding for [last] 7 years](https://caribbeannewsglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ssdf.jpg "SSDF audit outstanding for [last] 7 years")
NEW YORK, USA – Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the vulnerability of global trade to a single maritime chokepoint, with early data showing sharp falls in exports of energy, fertilisers and industrial products.
