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.”
For my wife, Indranie Deyal, who gave me the 1945 Nostalgia News Report.
By Tony Deyal
I was born on August 10, 1945, in a small town called “Carapichaima” in Trinidad and Tobago, where we lived with our extended family. The head and leader, our Mother, had a small place for herself. Then our Aunt, with her three children, occupied one small part; our uncle had his wife and son in the second; and my Father and mother with me had the last. My mother, Margaret, came from a different area of the country, and to celebrate the “baby” boy (me), my father Dipchan held a big “lime” with the families and many, many friends. As usual, rum was the centre and conference. Fortunately, I fell asleep. But when I woke up, I found out that all the ladies held me, played with me, and told the others, “What a lovely boy. I wish I had one like him. Yes! He is so nice!” That didn’t last long because this “baby” very quickly became a “boy” who was not easy, especially with his older cousin in the next room. We played most of the time, but sometimes we fought with each other, either joining together to go after the other boys in the area, or we went after each other, especially when food was not shared equally in the house.
What I loved more than anything else was the mix of people in our area. Regardless of race and class, they got along like friends, and most times even family. The reason was very simple. We were all there because of the sugar-cane estate. Most of the men and women, even the children, regardless of race and colour, worked from morning to night, Monday to Sunday. The women had it much harder. They, and the men, went from very early in the morning to start cutting cane. The men, however, had a drink or two before they headed to work. But not the women. They had to be there from the start. Then after they finished the tasks, the men went to the shop for more rum while the women had to rush to go back home, cook and get their children ready to go to school. Our family not only had to eat together but also had to plant our own rice as well as potatoes, spinach and any fruit we could grow in our land. I remember when I was five, I had to help and protect the “paddy”, which is really a flooded field where rice grows. My job was to have a big stick and shout at the birds coming to “thief.” If they won, I lost, and everybody in the house dropped some “hard talk” on me for days until my cousin made the same mistake.
Later, my father and a few other people in the area had shops under the house. Like the others, my father had the rum section, and my mother sold food and home essentials. However, my father drank more than he sold in the rum shop. Fortunately, my mother was in charge of the non-alcoholic side where she very quickly linked up with the women customers who gossip about everything, everybody, and every day. I was chased off by my father with the “limers” drinking rum, and by mum who didn’t want me to hear about the “bachanal” (as she called it). Fortunately for the other boys and me, we rushed outside to play cricket and football as well as looking for anything to eat, even sugar cane.
As I started at school, and then later as a teacher, I got a gift from my wife documenting news headlines from 1945, the time when I was born. She gave me “Pages of Time” which was a “Nostalgia News Report.” Next Monday, I will turn 81, and I decided to look back at what it was then. The first page was “World News,” and I can tell you it was scarier than now. “Atomic Bomb Destruction Ends War with Japan” topped the page, followed by “Germany Surrenders to Allied Forces May 7.” Then there was “Americans Cross Rhine at Remagen”. The rest was no better. There was “Mussolini Executed. Hitler Victim of Suicide.” I found out that Mussolini was the Italian strongman who led Italy as a fascist dictatorship and an ally of the infamous Austrian-born demagogue Hitler, who triggered World War Two by ordering Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Then we heard that “American Flag Raised Over Iwo Jima” meant it was nearly over. That report referred to the iconic “Joe Rosenthal photograph” for the Associated Press of six United States Marines raising the flag atop Mount Suribachi in Japan during the final stages of the Pacific War. It won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Photography. Another memorable headline was “The US Extends 400 Million Dollars In Aid To Greece and Turkey.” That meant the US shifted from isolation to a policy of containing Soviet influence and stopping the global spread of communism.
However, what was worse was that the average American income was about USD 2,400. This was against the average national income in Trinidad and Tobago and most of the Caribbean. They had roughly $240 annually in colonial currency. However, actual earnings varied widely by job, race, and sector. Field labourers, like my father, on sugar and cocoa estates earned very low weekly wages, often only a few dollars a week. Those lucky to be employed on the American military bases, or in town, got higher amounts, ranging from $30 to $100 each month. A loaf of bread was less than American “10” cents. It compared to one cent for my all-time favourite Trini “hops bread.” Milk averaged about $1.20 per gallon, rising from 44 cents due to wartime production costs. We bought fresh milk when we could for about 12 cents a pint.
Fortunately, there were other “Pages of Time” from 1945 to make up for the major problems that we were increasingly under pressure. Looking closely in the “Pages.” I found “The Most Famous Calypso of 1945!” This was Lord Invader’s “Rum and Coca-Cola,” which gained massive international fame when the Andrews Sisters remade it and took it to number one on the American charts, sparking a major copyright legal battle. Originally composed and recorded reflecting the social impact of American servicemen stationed in Trinidad, its crossover success defined the global footprint of Calypso in 1945. The rise of Lord Kitchener was rapidly expanding his prominence in Trinidad’s local tents during this post-war period, setting the stage for his golden era. Then the iconic Lord Melody made his official calypso tent debut in 1945 before joining the prominent Victory Tent. Then, although official street Carnivals were suspended from 1942 through 1945 due to World War II, calypso tents remained active spaces for vital local storytelling and commentary.
What I finally found that I really loved. It was when my wife and I read the special 1945 songs. It started with, “AUTUMN SERENADE,” and then, “IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING.” Then there was one from my days in the United States, “NEW YORK, NEW YORK!” However, nothing is ever close to the one my wife and I love morning, evening and especially night, “YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.”
*Tony Deyal read that the 1945 life expectancy was 62.9 years, but at 81 he is hoping for many more years of hops, milk and, most of all, his beloved wife, Indranie.
Gangs in Haiti continue to terrorise communities with the “wanton, intentional infliction of incredible pain” on people who often are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That’s according to the Designated Human Rights Expert for Haiti, William O’Neill, who spoke to UN News ahead of the release of a new report which reveals that at least 542 people were killed and another 355 were injured in just two neighbourhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince, during a 3.5-month period up to June 20.
At least 26 gangs control up to 90 percent of Port-au-Prince and some of the surrounding areas.
More than 176 women and girls, aged 10 to 71, were also victims of rape and gang rape at the hands of suspected gang members “often as a form of punishment against people living in areas controlled by rival gangs,” the report said.
More than 18,000 people were also forced to flee their homes.
A number of individual cases have been highlighted by UN human rights monitors in the report, published by the UN’s political office in Haiti, known by its French acronym, BINUH.
Murders continue
Two 17-year-old boys were shot dead by a gang leader after being accused of passing information to a rival gang.
A 71-year-old man was shot dead by the leader of a gang after approaching him to ask for food.
A woman was stopped by gang members who harassed her with questions about why she was there. According to witnesses, she was paralysed with fear and unable to answer. She was accused of being an informant for a rival gang and was executed on the spot.
17 boys aged 15 to 17 were executed together by gang members who suspected them of working for a rival gang. Some were taken to and shot at a trash site.
Shortly after the World Cup football match between Haiti and Scotland on June 13, a crowd of 300 people including a musical group walked to a neighbourhood where they were attacked by a gang, some of whom were positioned on rooftops. At least 61 people were killed and another 20 were injured. The victims included at least seven children, the youngest of whom was barely seven years old.
Rape horror
Five masked men struck a mother of three at her home with the butts of their guns before gang-raping her in front of her children.
A woman was raped by a group of armed men after they had set fire to her home, killing her husband and her young daughter, who was barely two years old. She was raped in front of her 10-year-old son.
Other survivors reported being intercepted in the street while returning home and then taken to wooded areas, where they were raped.
Higher charges to fund NT$600 billion in airport expansion projects over 20 years
TAIPEI, (Taiwan News) — The ministry of transportation and communications announced Tuesday that airport service fees for outbound passengers will increase in two phases, with the first adjustment taking effect September 1, 2026.
The fee will rise from the current NT$500 (USD15.50) to NT$750 on September 1. The fee will increase again to NT$1,000 starting September 1, 2028, per a press release.
The ministry said the increases are needed to fund major airport infrastructure projects, including Terminal 3 and a third runway at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, a new terminal at Kaohsiung International Airport, expansion projects at Taichung International Airport, and upgrades at airports on outlying islands.
The projects are expected to require about NT$600 billion in investment over the next 20 years. The ministry said the additional revenue will support airport construction, improve flight safety and service quality, and promote tourism.
The ministry said the airport service fee has remained unchanged since it was raised to NT$500 in 2015. During that period, construction and operating costs have continued to rise, leaving current revenue insufficient to meet airport development.
Compared with neighboring airports, Taiwan’s fees remain lower. The ministry cited fees of NT$1,597 at Singapore Changi Airport, NT$1,434 at Hong Kong International Airport, NT$1,239 at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and NT$1,187 at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Departure fees at other major Southeast Asian airports are also higher than those in Taiwan, per the press release.
Under the current system, airport service fee revenue from outbound passengers is divided equally between airport construction and tourism development. After the first-phase increase, the allocation ratio will change to 60 percent for airports and 40 percent for tourism. In the second phase, the ratio will shift to 65 percent for airports and 35 percent for tourism.
The ministry said transit passengers also use airport facilities, so such fees will also be adjusted to NT$1,000 in two phases alongside the outbound passenger fee increases. Taiwan’s airports currently connect to 104 international destinations, with 3,018 weekly flights.
Taoyuan International Airport handled approximately 25.8 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up 10 percent from the same period last year. Annual passenger traffic is expected to exceed 50 million, setting a new record and highlighting the need for further airport expansion and service upgrades, the ministry said.
MIAMI / TRINIDAD – The bilateral relations between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago on security cooperation has been further strengthened following the activation of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
JTF-WHEM, as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing participation in the 18-nation Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), reflects a shared commitment to defend sovereignty, strengthen regional security, and confront narco-terrorist networks.
The purpose-built joint task force will synchronise US military operations alongside trusted Caribbean and Latin American allies, like Trinidad and Tobago, to counter transnational criminal networks, enhance regional maritime interdiction, and respond rapidly to humanitarian crises.
US Embassy Port of Spain Chargé d’Affaires Philip Kern said, “Trinidad and Tobago remains a vital regional partner in confronting complex security challenges that threaten our shared stability. Through the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition and SOUTHCOM’s new Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, we are deepening our cooperation to disrupt criminal networks, safeguard critical maritime routes, and ensure a safer, more prosperous Caribbean.”
As part of this long-standing defense partnership, members of the US military will continue to participate in joint training, capacity-building exercises, maritime interdiction coordination, and disaster response preparedness with Trinidad and Tobago.
TORTOLA, BVI – The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has welcomed a draft United Nations (UN) resolution backing constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom (UK) to advance the self-determination of the Territory.
At its recent substantive session at UN headquarters in New York, the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) unanimously adopted a draft resolution on the Question of the British Virgin Islands.
Among other things, the draft resolution,“Stresses the need for continued close monitoring by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, of the situation in the Territory, including with regard to the constitutional review process and constitutional negotiations, in close consultation with the administering power and the territory government.”
The document also acknowledges the territorial government’s request for “UN assistance in facilitating an education programme for self-determination of the people of the British Virgin Islands,” and highlights the importance of the “participation of elected and appointed representatives of the British Virgin Islands in the work of the Committee.”
Additionally, it commends the territory government for completion of the governance reform programme started in 2022. The draft UN resolution now advances to the UN Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) for a vote and then final adoption by the UN General Assembly.
Speaking on the initial C-24 approval, BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley said:
“The Special Committee has completed its work for the current UN cycle that included initial approval of the draft UN resolution on the BVI, which we welcome. We look forward to the remaining UN approvals being given in due course by the international community at the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly, which will once again reaffirm the Territory’s right to self-determination.”
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.
