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Young Indian ‘cockroaches’ reclaim democratic space

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Young Indian ‘cockroaches’ reclaim democratic space

By K.S. Dakshina Murthy

Widespread agitation by Indian students against exam corruption and mismanagement since 6 June 2026 has tested the limits of the country’s receding democratic space. Satirically calling themselves the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ after a Supreme Court judge disdainfully referred to them as ‘cockroaches’, tens of thousands of mainly college and school age youngsters and young professionals took to the streets. Some went on hunger strike for several weeks at the high-profile protest platform, Jantar Mantar, in Delhi.

Their main demand was the resignation of Human Resources Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who managed the Education portfolio. He eventually had to resign. The protesters held him accountable for the leak of exam papers, which resulted in the suicides of 27 students, deeply distressed by the way the exams were mismanaged. These protests were against the backdrop of the rapid substantial expansion of tertiary education in India, but opportunities for graduates in quality, well-paid jobs have failed to keep pace. (Approximately 370 million of India’s population are aged between 15-29. Of these, nearly 40 percent of 15-25-year-olds are unemployed; for 25- 29-year-olds the unemployment figure is approximately 20 percent; and, only a small percentage manage to secure stable paid jobs within a year of graduation.) The series of test paper leaks across various prestigious exams, including NEET (for entrance into medical colleges) and CUET (for admission into the various universities), challenged prime minister Narendra Modi’s government in a rare show of spontaneous outrage against the inability of education officials to hold entrance exams.

In democratic societies, nationwide agitation like that of the students is not unusual. What has made the current protests stand out as a test case is because the protests are occurring at a time when Indian state institutions are under pressure to conform to the wishes of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government; public dissent is frowned upon – with sometimes serious consequences, including incarceration.

At the same time, many of those who criticise the government have been pressured by enforcement agencies; critics have been jailed pending trial for extended periods, underlining the process is the punishment for dissent. Many have, in fact, been acquitted of all charges after languishing in jail for months, if not years. Top opposition leaders, such as the former chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, have been arrested and jailed before being freed after the courts found no misdemeanour against them. Another oft-quoted case is of Umar Khalid, a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who played an active role in opposing the government’s move to amend the Citizenship Act (CAA) that discriminated against giving citizenship to undocumented Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries. Khalid was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Delhi riots in September 2020, and has since languished in jail, waiting for trial.

For many in India, the way elections have been conducted since independence in 1947 have been a source of pride. Despite issues with governance,  corruption and increasingly constrained freedom of media, elections were always regarded as above board – free and fair. However, the latest round of elections to state Assemblies, including in Bihar, West Bengal, have raised profound doubts over the fairness of polling. Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls hurriedly undertaken in Bihar and then in West Bengal in 2025-6, over 4.5 million – particularly Muslim minorities  – were disenfranchised on various grounds. While it is obvious that the names of the dead, those who have changed their addresses, registered in multiple places or migrated from their homes need to be delisted, many others who have voted in the past and who have appropriate documentation, were removed the electoral list. The numbers were large enough to affect the outcome of the elections.

Since the start of SIR, in the last year alone, approximately 60 million names have been removed from the voters’ list across ten states. Such a mass disenfranchisement is unprecedented in the 79-year history of independent India. In past decades, the Election Commission (EC), originally designed as an autonomous institution, had largely been free from governmental interference. This appears to be no longer the case. There are scores of instances showing that the current EC has complied with the Modi government’s wishes. In July 2026, in an unusual move, the opposition parties approached the Supreme Court, alleging manipulation of elections and the partisan conduct of the Election Commission on the grounds that ‘democracy was in jeopardy’.

Given these extraordinary developments, one would have expected the media in India to call out the BJP government to halt the steady march towards autocracy. Barring exceptions in legacy print and digital media who seem to be maintaining editorial independence, the rest – in the electronic media – by and large appear to follow government diktat. Pejoratively termed the ‘godi’ media (‘lapdog media’), mainstream television channels unabashedly support the government. It is therefore no surprise that India’s ranking in the World Freedom Index has dropped sharply from 151/180 in 2025 to 157/180 in 2026. There are structural and financial reasons for this decline: historically the Indian media has been dependent on government and corporate advertising. Criticism of the government risks advertising revenue. The same is true for corporate sponsorship. Smaller, independent media outlets are reliant on reader/viewer subscription to avoid government or corporate control. Some succeed for a time, but these are far and few. As a consequence, in the post-2026 poll narrative, aided by a compliant media, the failings of the BJP have been ignored and instead a glowing picture of victory is headlined. Meanwhile, the massive delisting of eligible Indian citizens from the electoral process has been overlooked. The Supreme Court’s advice to the currently disenfranchised voters is to re-register to vote in the next elections.

This is the context of the Cockroach Janta Party’s agitation against blatant corruption and an increasingly repressive government which treats political opposition and criticism as enemies of the state.

Where is the Commonwealth, given the evident backsliding of democracy? India is a prominent member, and the supposed ‘largest democracy’ in the association. But India should not be immune to being held to the standards of the Commonwealth Charter.

– K. S. Dakshina Murthy is Consulting Editor for The Federal, India.

[This article was shared with the Round Table by the author. Views expressed in articles do not reflect the position of the editorial board.]

The struggle for justice, dignity, and equality remains unfinished

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The struggle for justice, dignity, and equality remains unfinished

“As we honour the sacrifices of those who resisted enslavement and relentlessly demanded emancipation, we draw inspiration from their vision of freedom rooted in justice, human dignity and equality.”

By CARICOM Reparations Commission

On Emancipation Day 2026, the CARICOM Reparations Commission joins the people of the Caribbean, Africa and the global African diaspora in honouring the courage, resistance and unyielding determination of our ancestors, who fought for freedom against one of history’s most pernicious and enduring systems of oppression. As we come together to celebrate their triumph over racialised chattel enslavement, we are reminded that the struggle for justice, dignity, and equality remains unfinished.

This year’s observance has particular significance as it comes in the wake of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 March 2026, of the landmark Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity.  This historic recognition affirms what descendants of the victims of enslavement, scholars and advocates have long asserted: that the transatlantic trafficking of Africans and the system of racialised chattel enslavement was a brutal dehumanising crime whose devastating consequences continue to shape the social, economic, political, and developmental realities of nations and peoples across the Caribbean and the African diaspora. The Resolution strengthens the moral and political foundation for reparatory justice and marks an important milestone in the international community’s acknowledgement of historical truth.

This Emancipation Day also heralds the 25 Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The Durban Declaration remains the most comprehensive international framework for confronting the enduring legacies of enslavement, colonialism and systemic racism.  As the international community prepares to commemorate this important anniversary, the CARICOM Reparations Commission calls upon all states to renew their commitment to the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to resist efforts to diminish its enduring relevance.

For the Caribbean Community, Emancipation Day is inextricably linked with the movement for reparatory justice. Political freedom, though hard won, did not erase the profound structural inequalities created by centuries of exploitation. The wealth extracted from enslaved African labour financed the development of European empires while leaving Caribbean societies to contend with underdevelopment, economic dependency, and persistent racial disparities. These historical injustices continue to impede sustainable development and demand meaningful redress.

The CARICOM Reparations Commission has therefore relaunched the expanded CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment, to serve as a framework for former colonizing states, private corporations, academia, the church, civil society and all people of goodwill, to engage in honest dialogue, acknowledge historical responsibility and embrace reparatory justice as an essential pillar of reconciliation, shared human progress and the coming enlightenment.

As we honour the sacrifices of those who resisted enslavement and relentlessly demanded emancipation, we draw inspiration from their vision of freedom rooted in justice, human dignity and equality. Their struggle compels us to continue building societies free from racism, discrimination, and exclusion. Together, let us transform remembrance into resolve and justice into reality for present and future generations.

Why Caribbean households remain under pressure after oil prices ease

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Why Caribbean households remain under pressure after oil prices ease
    • Caribbean households are paying more for fuel and electricity even as oil markets calm, signaling that the effects of a supply shock outlast the disruption that caused it.

GENEVA, Switzerland – Oil prices have returned to near pre-Hormuz Strait crisis levels. But for economies importing both fuel and food, the disruption does not end when markets settle. It persists through freight and energy costs that weigh most on small and vulnerable importers.

“Resilience to these shocks is unevenly distributed; small, import-dependent economies face the highest costs and the fewest alternatives,” said Pedro Manuel Moreno, acting secretary-general of UNCTAD.

UNCTAD’s latest monitor shows oil shocks

Fuel-importing economies with limited fiscal space are hit hardest, with small island developing states among the most exposed. Of 75 vulnerable economies analyzed, 65 are net oil importers, home to nearly 1 billion people.

With as much as 50% of food being imported through fuel-dependent logistics in some of the Caribbean islands, energy costs can rapidly feed into the price of essentials. As food prices are already up from 55 to 60 percent since 2018, households have little room to absorb another rise.

How pressures hit households

UNCTAD draws on WFP/CARICOM 2024-2026 survey of 13,686 people across ten Caribbean countries.

Initially, effects appear limited. Reports of “not having enough food” rose from 22.1 to 22.9 percent , while “going to bed hungry” increased from 21.0 to 21.6 percent . These modest increases warrant caution rather than reassurance as food-security indicators lag that of prices.

Household costs, however, rose sharply after April 2026, spreading across electricity, food, gas and transport.

Reports of perceived higher electricity prices increased from 41 to 55 percent  and that of gas prices jumped from 38 to 57percent . Reports on perceived food prices also increased by 7percent , while that of transport increased by 4 percent . These combined increases in essential goods affect household budgets which will limit disposable income for food security.

Burden falls unevenly across the region

Jamaica reports the largest perceived increases, then Suriname and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while Guyana and Grenada are more muted. As exposure reflects each country’s food and energy system, not household circumstances, the most affected economies can be targeted for support ahead of future shocks.

CARICOM heads of government have linked regional food security to the Middle East crisis and are addressing fuel, freight and energy costs under Vision 25 by 2025+5.

Measures introduced now, while the shock is felt through higher costs, are more effective than those taken once food insecurity rises. The timing of the support should consider the lag time to avoid leaving households exposed at the point of greatest strain.

Commonwealth dialogue brings generations together to inspire the next generation of leaders

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Commonwealth dialogue brings generations together to inspire the next generation of leaders

LONDON, England – More than 40 young leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered in London for a special edition of the Commonwealth Leadership Series last week to explore what leadership should look like in a rapidly changing world.

The event, hosted by the Commonwealth Youth Council on 24 July 2026, in partnership with the John A. Kufuor Foundation, at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, also brought together leaders from different generations to promote effective leadership as a catalyst for good governance and socio-economic development.

At the centre of the conversation was H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, former president of Ghana, who drew on his experience in public office to share practical lessons with young leaders as they shape their own leadership journeys. Speaking to the young leaders in the room, he urged them to embrace technology and change while keeping people at the heart of their purpose.

“In an era defined by artificial intelligence, climate disruption, democratic pressure and economic uncertainty, leadership is no longer measured only by title or office. It is measured by judgment, service and the ability to hold ambition together with empathy”.

Youth leadership in action

For the Commonwealth, the President’s message comes at an important moment. More than 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people are under 30. Across the 56 Commonwealth countries, young people are building businesses, defending democracy, responding to climate shocks and using digital tools to solve local problems. In her welcome remarks, deputy Commonwealth Secretary-General (Corporate) Tania Baumann spoke about the value of bringing young people into decision-making spaces early, linking youth leadership directly to the Commonwealth’s work on democratic, economic and environmental resilience.

She said: “Young people are central to our Strategic Plan. Our responsibility is to create the conditions in which their leadership, ideas and action can grow — through access, opportunity, practical support and genuine influence on the choices we make together.”

Building on the call for greater youth participation, Joshua Opey, chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council, said:

“Young people must take a front seat, building on the experiences of those who have led before us, and making the most of the connections and opportunities the Commonwealth creates.”

Building tomorrow’s leaders today

The event also featured remarks from former prime minister, Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom and a leadership masterclass led by John Mark Williams, CEO of The Institute of Leadership, alongside Dr Pascal Brenya, director of the Kufuor Scholars Program at the John A. Kufuor Foundation.

Designed as a practical capacity-building session, the speakers challenged participants to move from discussion to action. Young leaders were invited to identify a real leadership challenge, reflect on the skills needed to address it, and consider how networks, mentorship and structured support could help turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Looking ahead

Participants reflected on the event in different ways, but a common message emerged: meaningful leadership grows when experience and ambition meet in genuine conversation.

Some young leaders said the dialogue showed the value of intergenerational exchange, while others said their biggest takeaway was that youth leadership is not a promise for the future but a force already shaping the present.

Later this year, the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) will take place from 2 to 4 November 2026 at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda alongside the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  Under the theme ‘Investing in Youth Agency – Co-Creating Pathways Towards Shared Prosperity’, young leaders will explore how they can contribute as partners in building a resilient Commonwealth.

Outlook for Barbados’ economy – updated July 2026

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Outlook for Barbados’ economy – updated July 2026

By Central Bank of Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The bank expects the economy to grow by approximately 2 percent in 2026, at the lower end of the 2 to 3 percent range published at the end of the first quarter. Growth of 1.4 percent in the first half came in below the pace that range assumed. Tourism, construction, and transportation each fell short of projection, and together they account for the difference.

External conditions weighed on activity during the first half, with the effects concentrated in the second quarter. The war raised freight and energy costs, disrupted shipping routes, and lifted the cost of capital. Sharply higher airfares and reduced seat capacity weighed on the United States market in particular, and long-stay arrivals held broadly level rather than expanding as projected.

Reaching approximately 2 percent for the year requires second half output to expand by approximately 2.5 percent relative to the second half of 2025. The forward indicators support an acceleration of that order. Forward bookings for the July to December period stand approximately 3.7 percent ahead of the same period of 2025, with the United Kingdom pacing 10 percent ahead and Caribbean and European markets also higher, while the United States market remains slightly behind. Planned seat capacity for July to December stands 3 percent above the corresponding period of 2025, with increases of 13 percent from Canada, 9 percent from the United Kingdom and Ire land, and 5 percent from both Europe and the Caribbean, partly offset by an 8 percent decline from the United States.

Ongoing work at the Pierhead Development, Coverley Residences, Atlantic Breeze, and Vistara Residences, together with the planned start of several new projects such as One Carlisle and the Afreximbank Trade Centre, should strengthen construction activity during the second half. The resulting increase in investment should support business and other services, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, and employment. Improved rainfall and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security’s crop escalation programme should also support selected food crops, although weather conditions, planting decisions, and the availability of quality planting material remain risks.

External pressures nevertheless temper the pace of that recovery. Freight, energy, and capital costs remain elevated, and further softening in the United States market or slower delivery of planned investment would hold the acceleration below the level this projection assumes.

The global outlook remains subject to elevated uncertainty amid persistent geopolitical tensions and trade policy shifts. The IMF’s July 2026 World Economic Outlook projects global growth of 3 percent in 2026 before recovering to 3.4 percent in 2027. For Barbados, external developments influence economic activity through tourism demand, commodity prices, freight costs, and supply chain reliability. A further escalation in geopolitical tensions or trade restrictions could weaken external demand for tourism, raise imported costs, disrupt supply chains, dampen business confidence and investment, and increase uncertainty around external financing.

Domestic inflation should rise modestly as global input costs strengthen, although targeted Government measures should contain the pass through. The Bank projects the 12-month moving average inflation rate within a range of 2 to 3 percent in the near term. Higher food, energy, and freight costs create the upward pressure. Targeted Government measures should limit the domestic effect, particularly on energy prices. Further geopolitical escalation presents the main upside risk to this projection.

Tourism earnings and other external inflows should keep international reserves strong and adequate. The first-half increase in current transfers reflected corporate tax receipts, including flows associated with the global minimum tax regime, which may not recur at the same pace. Higher fuel imports, weaker tourism demand, delays to investment inflows, and geopolitical disruption present the principal risks to the external position.

BERT 2026 and the precautionary Stand-By Arrangement provide a framework for maintaining fiscal discipline, protecting external buffers, and advancing reforms that support investment and productivity. The arrangement offers insurance against external shocks without drawing on Fund resources, while the programme anchors the primary balance path required to continue reducing public debt. Continued progress on tax administration and public sector governance reforms should support that path.

Continued economic growth should support lending and asset quality, while strong capital and liquidity protect the system against shocks. Improvements in borrower repayment performance should preserve loan quality, and capital and liquidity positions provide the capacity to absorb shocks. The recent rollout of BiMPay should improve payment efficiency, broaden access to electronic payments, and support financial inclusion over-time.

Strong buffers give Barbados the capacity to withstand shocks, but the full-year growth outcome will depend on faster investment execution, stronger productivity, and improved traded performance sector. Prudent fiscal management and the timely delivery of public and private investment will determine how much of the projected acceleration materialises.

Lovely Coffee

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Lovely Coffee

By Tony Deyal

Drinking coffee with caffeine has been linked with improved mood and a lower risk of depression in some groups. Drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day is linked to a lower risk of stroke in some studies. And coffee may help protect against cancers of the mouth, throat and digestive system. I didn’t know that, but when I was three, I was drinking it. What happened was that my mother took me to her parents’ place to spend a few weeks with the family and their two other children, each of whom had their little ones. My boor Grandma had to do all the work while her children were taking care of theirs. While the food was simple, coffee was different. Grandma had to provide three types for the family: hot chocolate, green tea and coffee. However, they looked the same- lots of milk. I never liked chocolate at home. I hated green tea. So, I drank coffee because it had more milk than the other two, the chocolate and green tea. And since then, even though I, like my father and other family, had coffee every morning with milk, I had mine with only a little sugar and even less milk.

Over the many years, as I am close to 81 on August 10, and I have lived in many places, especially in the Caribbean, US, and Canada, I have learnt, read and sometimes joked about coffee. Some seen as wild history. For example, the great Pope Clement VIII blessed coffee in 1,600 after priests called it “Satan’s drink.” Then the Ancient Turkish law allowed women to divorce husbands who failed to provide daily coffee. Brazil’s coffee empire began in 1727 via seeds smuggled inside a hidden bouquet. Then Mecca, Italy and Sweden all banned coffee at various points throughout history and, worse of all, King Charles 11 banned coffeehouses in 1675, fearing citizens were plotting a revolution! There were and are others like, “Drinking roughly 70 to 100 cups of coffee rapidly can cause a fatal overdose! Fortunately, I’m still more like underdosed. Better than that, while a lot of people drinking roughly 70 to 100 cups of coffee rapidly can cause a fatal overdose, I sometimes, especially in weddings, can ask for more.

What I learnt was that coffee is the second most traded commodity on Earth, trailing only crude oil. I tried but at my age I can’t go after crude oil. Worse, I have no intention of bothering with Cambridge scientists who invented the first webcam just to check if their coffee pot was full. I can understand, though, that over 125 million people globally depend on the coffee industry for their livelihood. Then I heard that the oldest cat on record, Creme Puff (38 years), drank coffee every morning. Obviously, I would hide mine if my home cat tried to grab mine. Or worse, honeybees get addicted to caffeine in flower nectars, which improves their pollination efficiency. In my house, I have three dogs, and that is why there are no honey or any other kind of bees around. What made me feel good was that, “Coffee drinkers have up to a 65% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.” I actually grabbed a coffee to celebrate.

More than that, I went and looked for jokes to make us laugh to support our coffee. Actually, I heard some of them when I was three, like when my Mother told me if I continued to drink coffee they would send me to jail. What I read a few years later was, “Why did the coffee file a police report?” It got mugged! Then there was, “Why don’t coffee beans ever get into trouble?” Because they are always grounded; “What do you call sad coffee?” Depresso.; “How does Moses make his coffee?” He-brews it. “Why don’t coffee beans ever get into trouble?” Because they are always grounded. What we learnt over the years was that Coffee is not a bean; it’s a seed! Europe coffee isn’t from Europe but comes from Central and South America, East and West Africa and even parts of Asia and the Pacific. Then dark roasts don’t have more coffee; Starkduks coffee is not burned, Decaf is good, coffee does not stunt your growth, coffee doesn’t sober you up. This last one ends the rest and puts you to sleep sometimes on the road.

On the other hand, those who feel even better when they share and laugh loudly with jokes like one by AJ Lee, “”Never trust anyone who doesn’t drink coffee.” As one of the others said: “I will drink to that!” Then American writer, Cassandra Clare said, “As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?” and Terri Guillemets, an American quotation anthologist, responded, “Coffee is the best thing to douse the sunrise with.” She also made it clear, “I appreciate my mornings to the tune of coffee.” And from far away from an Australian actor and singer, “To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions.” Most like he took another one from the guys who liked what he said. There were others like Hanoré de Balzac. “As soon as coffee is in your stomach, there is a general commotion. Ideas begin to move…” Then  Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, the former president of the council of ministers of France, made it clear, “Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.” To end it at that level was Louisa May Alcott, an American novelist best known for writing the Little Women, and perhaps she needed it with, “I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.”

I suppose that from my early days and in other places where I worked in the World Bank, PAHO and the West Indies cricket, I also liked writing and joking, especially language. This is why I loved T.S. Eliot, the poet and essayist, and his comment, “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” Then there was the renowned Islamic scholar and preacher, Sheikh Abd al-Qabor, making it clear, “No one can understand the truth until he drinks coffee’s frothy goodness.” The great Napoleon Bonaparte, Former Emperor of the French, clearly needed support with, “Strong coffee, much strong coffee, is what awakens me. Coffee gives me warmth, waking, an unusual force and a pain that is not without very great pleasure.” Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) put it in a brilliant comment for himself, “Without my morning coffee I’m just like a dried up piece of roast goat.” And to end it with Star Trek: Voyager, “Coffee, the finest organic suspension ever devised.”

*Tony Deyal loved Abraham Lincoln, 16th US president, who said, “If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.”

Strong El Niño ahead, UN weather agency warns

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Strong El Niño ahead, UN weather agency warns

NEW YORK, USA – As much of the world faces grapples with above normal temperatures and major rainfall changes, the UN Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday that El Niño, a powerful climate pattern shaping global weather, will intensify starting next month.

Why it matters

  • A strong El Niño is developing and expected to strengthen during August through October, bringing powerful weather events around the world, according to WMO’s latest monthly global seasonal climate update;
  • Above-normal temperatures expected worldwide;
  • Wetter conditions expected in some regions while drought risk increases in others;
  • Tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures projected to remain warmer than average;
  • Forecasts provide a window for early action and support decision-making.

Scorching heat domes, record hot seas

Multi-model forecasts indicate expected anomalies related to seasonal-average sea-surface temperature to exceed 2.9°C in key monitoring regions, according to WMO.

“El Niño is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires and record hot seas,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.

“El Niño is not just on our doorstep; it is inside the house and turning up the heat, and this is only a warm-up act.”

Flames fanned by fossil fuels

He said fossil fuels are “fanning the flames of this crisis”, and expansion must stop. “More coal, oil and gas will lead to a more combustible future,” he warned.

“Unless we act to protect people and tackle the root cause of the crisis, the dangers will become deadlier still. The warm-up act is over. We cannot afford to wait for the main event.”

Mobilising to save lives

The WMO is stepping up coordination, climate information services and early warning to help those affected prepare for potential impacts, including governments, humanitarian agencies, such climate-sensitive sectors as agriculture and health as well as vulnerable communities.

“El Niño is one of the most closely monitored climate phenomena in the world, but forecasts in themselves do not prevent hazards, people do,” said WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo.

She said this El Niño is developing against the backdrop of unprecedented ocean heat and rising temperatures, but governments and communities have a window of opportunity to anticipate risks and act before impacts unfold.

“The decisions we make today will shape the impacts we experience tomorrow,” she said, adding that WMO and its members are committed to ensuring that credible and relevant climate information reaches those that need it most.

Trinidad and Tobago becomes first Caribbean country to advance a national roadmap for communicable disease elimination

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Trinidad and Tobago becomes first Caribbean country to advance a national roadmap for communicable disease elimination

WASHINGTON, USA, (PAHO) – Trinidad and Tobago has become the first country in the Caribbean to begin developing a national roadmap to accelerate the elimination of communicable diseases, supporting the country’s efforts to strengthen health systems, protect public health, and advance toward the elimination of more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions.

Developed with technical support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the roadmap brings together government leaders, health professionals, technical experts and development partners around a shared strategy to sustain past achievements while accelerating progress against diseases that continue to affect the population, including HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, leprosy and cervical cancer.

“The development of this national road map provides us with an opportunity to critically examine where we are, identify gaps, strengthen existing systems and determine the actions required to accelerate progress. This process will allow us to better understand our current capacities address bottlenecks and define strategic priorities that align with international best practices while responding to the unique needs of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Dr Lackram Bodoe, minister of health, Trinidad and Tobago.

The roadmap is part of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030. Rather than addressing diseases individually, the Initiative promotes an integrated approach by strengthening health systems, improving health information and surveillance systems and laboratory capacity, expanding access to quality health services, addressing social and environmental determinants of health, and reinforcing governance and sustainable financing.

Trinidad and Tobago enters this new phase from a position of strength. The country has maintained its malaria-free status since 1965 and has also sustained the elimination of poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, neonatal tetanus and lymphatic filariasis through strong immunisation programs, robust surveillance systems and sustained public health leadership.

The new roadmap seeks to build on these achievements by strengthening synergies across disease programs, integrating surveillance and laboratory systems, improving case detection and management, and identifying shared solutions to accelerate progress toward multiple elimination targets simultaneously.

“Trinidad and Tobago is building on its public health achievements and choosing to move forward with an integrated vision for the future,” said Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, assistant director of PAHO. “This roadmap reflects a national commitment to accelerate disease elimination through stronger health systems, coordinated action and sustained partnerships. PAHO is proud to support the country in translating that commitment into lasting public health impact.”

The key components of the roadmap were developed during a two-day high-level workshop convened by the ministry of health with support from PAHO. The workshop brought together representatives from the ministry of health, regional health authorities, technical experts, academia, international partners, and other stakeholders to identify priority diseases for elimination, define timelines for achieving additional elimination milestones, analyze barriers slowing progress, and agree on practical interventions to overcome these challenges.

These actions will focus on four strategic areas: integrated service delivery, stronger surveillance and health information systems, addressing the social and environmental determinants of health, and improving governance and sustainable financing.

The initiative also comes at a critical time for the region. Recent measles outbreaks have highlighted the need to sustain high vaccination coverage, strong laboratory networks and rapid response capacities to protect the Americas’ hard-won disease elimination achievements.

“Trinidad and Tobago has demonstrated leadership in communicable disease elimination for decades,” said Dr Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, PAHO/WHO representative for Trinidad and Tobago. “By becoming the first Caribbean country to develop a national disease elimination roadmap, the country is once again leading by example. This roadmap provides a clear, integrated and evidence-based framework that will help translate today’s commitments into measurable improvements in people’s health.”

PAHO will continue supporting the implementation of the roadmap through technical cooperation focused on strengthening surveillance and laboratory systems, enhancing clinical capacity, developing national guidelines and facilitating access to regional expertise and best practices.

IMF – Guyana 2026 Article IV Mission

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IMF – Guyana 2026 Article IV Mission

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team, led by Lusine Lusinyan, held discussions virtually and in Georgetown for the 2026 Article IV Consultation during July 20–31, 2026. The team met with finance minister Dr Ashni Singh, Central Bank Governor Dr Gobind Ganga, minister of parliamentary affairs and governance Gail Teixeira, attorney-general and ninister of legal affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, and other senior officials, representatives from the private sector, banks, labor unions, and other stakeholders.

At the conclusion of the visit, Lusinyan issued the following statement:

Strong growth

Guyana’s economy continues to expand at a very rapid pace, supported by robust oil and non-oil activity. Real GDP grew by over 19 percent in 2025, following average growth of nearly 40 percent during 2023–24. Oil production exceeded expectations and surpassed 900,000 barrels per day by the end of 2025—an impressive 35 percent increase over one year, with similar volumes recorded in the first half of 2026. Encouragingly, broad-based growth in the non-oil economy continued at about 14 percent, with construction remaining the largest driver, and agriculture, mining, and manufacturing also contributing meaningfully. These trends broadly continued in the first half of 2026 though some sectors were affected by heavy rainfall. Robust growth was also reflected in a stronger labor market, with unemployment down at 6.2 percent by the end of 2025. Average inflation was contained to 3.3 percent in 2025 but edged up by mid-2026, reflecting higher global energy and food prices.

The fiscal and external positions improved in 2025, and credit growth remained strong. The overall fiscal deficit narrowed by nearly two percentage points to 5.5 percent of GDP in 2025. Large public investment continued, and oil revenue more than offset the decline in non-oil revenue. The non-oil primary deficit amounted to one-third of non-oil GDP. Public sector credit helped finance the fiscal deficit, and private credit supported economic activity, especially through household credit and business lending across the real sector. Strong foreign exchange (FX) demand, especially from private investment with heavy import content, kept the FX market tight. At the same time, rising oil production and a decline in oil-related service imports strengthened the external position, which is assessed to be broadly in line with the level implied by fundamentals and desirable policies in 2025.

Prudent macroeconomic policies continue to support growth. Building on the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, the government’s five-year development plan maintains a welcome focus on economic diversification, resilience, and sustainability. Continued accumulation of oil revenue in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) is helping build external and fiscal buffers, while large investments in physical and human capital are supporting non-oil growth and improving outcomes, especially in health and education. Tight monetary conditions have helped maintain price and exchange rate stability, while fiscal measures have cushioned near-term price pressures. These policies, together with continued strengthening of governance frameworks, have helped sustain macroeconomic stability, support growth, and advance national development priorities. Available indicators do not point to clear signs of overheating or resource-driven competitiveness pressures. But strong wage growth and wage-based real exchange rate indicators warrant close monitoring.

Outlook and risks

The economic outlook remains highly favourable. Oil production is expected to continue expanding, and the non-oil economy is projected to grow by about 7 percent on average over the next five years as the government continues its ambitious plans to address infrastructure and developmental needs. The external position is expected to remain strong over the medium term, supported by higher oil production as new fields come onstream and existing projects mature. High oil prices strengthen the outlook for export earnings and the fiscal position going forward. As oil operators complete cost recovery, a larger share of oil revenues will accrue to Guyana through higher NRF inflows.

Risks around the near-term outlook are broadly balanced in the context of elevated global uncertainty. On the upside, further oil discoveries would continue to improve growth prospects, and construction growth and strong public investment may support higher-than-expected short-term non-oil growth. Higher oil prices would further improve fiscal and external accounts but could also intensify overheating pressures, leading to real exchange rate appreciation beyond the level consistent with a balanced expansion of the economy, with oil price volatility adding to fiscal risks. Adverse climate shocks may also negatively impact the economy.

Fiscal policy

Staff commends the authorities for sustained prudent fiscal policies. The fiscal deficit is expected to widen somewhat in 2026 due to social transfers and electricity subsidies but improve in 2027 given the one-year lag in the NRF withdrawal rule. If oil prices remain persistently high, a larger share of additional oil revenue should be saved, in line with the economy’s absorptive capacity. Public spending should continue to prioritise productivity-enhancing projects and support the most vulnerable. Policy efforts should remain focused on strengthening monitoring of spending outcomes and oversight of public enterprises. Staff urged that consideration be given to improving the targeting of subsidies. Over time, broad price-mitigating measures should be gradually phased out, as they can weaken price signals. The authorities’ prudent borrowing strategy continues to support debt sustainability, with the risk of debt distress assessed as low, as in the previous assessment.

Reflecting strong commitment to fiscal responsibility, policies have supported rapid accumulation of substantial NRF balances and one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios in the hemisphere. The budget documents already provide detailed medium-term projections, performance indicators, and macroeconomic assumptions, offering a robust foundation for further developing medium- and long-term fiscal guideposts as the economy continues to transform. To help guide the balance between spending now and the needs of future generations, the non-oil primary balance could serve as the main operational target, strengthening gradually over the next decade to a level consistent with a chosen long-run anchor. During the transition period, public spending should continue to be aligned with peer-country levels of Sustainable Development Goal-related expenditure—taking into account the higher cost of public service delivery in a low population density country such as Guyana. Staff will continue to engage with the authorities on how best to calibrate medium- and long-term fiscal guideposts to Guyana’s development needs and absorptive capacity.

Monetary and exchange rate policy

Monetary policy should remain consistent with the stabilised exchange rate arrangement and price stability. Policy continues to operate within a reserve money targeting regime, with liquidity management—primarily through FX operations—helping moderate base money growth. Broad money growth should remain broadly aligned with nominal non-oil GDP, with liquidity managed through FX operations, as needed, in addition to greater use of treasury bills and reserve requirements. Additional tightening would be warranted if demand pressures intensify, credit accelerates, or exchange rate pressures emerge.

Over time, as Guyana’s economy expands and diversifies, incomes rise, and FX demand persists, the monetary framework should be strengthened by activating the interest rate channel, deepening financial markets, improving macroprudential tools, and gradually scaling back broad price-mitigating measures. These steps would enhance monetary transmission and further support macroeconomic stability. The current stabilized exchange rate regime remains appropriate, and over the medium term, as policy frameworks mature and the economy diversifies further, consideration could be given to allowing greater exchange rate flexibility to facilitate macroeconomic adjustment and enhance resilience to shocks.

Financial stability

The banking sector remains well capitalised, with robust liquidity buffers and improving asset quality. Stress tests continue to suggest that banks remain resilient under reasonable adverse scenarios. Staff welcomes the authorities’ continued vigilance in safeguarding financial stability, including concentration risks. Developing a comprehensive macroprudential framework, including through technical assistance, would further help safeguard financial stability, and enhance policy formulation and implementation. Rapid growth in the housing market, largely supported by public housing investment, warrants continued close monitoring, and developing a real estate price index would strengthen the financial stability toolkit. Data collection on corporate and household balance sheets would further support risk monitoring and banking supervision, and cybersecurity standards should be further enhanced as digitalisation of services expands.

Governance

Staff welcomes ongoing efforts to further enhance public sector transparency and service delivery, supported by digitalisation. The authorities are advancing digital solutions across key public services, including interoperability of management information systems. Timely audits of available financial accounts continue, supported also by efforts to strengthen internal audit practices. Staff acknowledges the authorities’ efforts to resolve outstanding cost-oil audits, including through arbitration. Given their fiscal and governance implications, resolving these audits in a timely manner remains important. Improving timeliness of financial accounts of public enterprises and agencies also remains a priority. The authorities are encouraged to continue strengthening audit capacity, especially in oil and gas sector. As public expenditure expands rapidly, ongoing efforts to further strengthen public procurement practices and ensure consistent compliance with the procurement framework will help safeguard spending quality, supported by the new centralised digital platform.

Staff welcomes the authorities’ strong commitment to strengthening AML/CFT and anti-corruption frameworks. The authorities are pursuing a comprehensive approach to AML/CFT, including steps to address vulnerabilities identified in Guyana’s 2024 Mutual Evaluation Report by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and preparing new AML legislation along with modernising the relevant legislative frameworks. Staff commends the authorities’ efforts to strengthen oversight and transparency of the gold mining sector, with the planned risk assessment of extractive industries expected to contribute to identifying remaining gaps and informing further reforms. While some beneficial ownership information is already publicly available, facilitating public access and enhancing monitoring and enforcement of reporting requirements would further support transparency. Continued strengthening of the Integrity Commission, including compliance with and enforcement of asset declaration requirements, will also reinforce the broader anti-corruption framework.

Climate, energy, and diversification

Guyana remains at the forefront of market-based forest conservation while advancing its transition to a cleaner and more cost-effective energy mix. Staff welcomes the authorities’ strong commitment to strengthening resilience to climate-related risks and protecting biodiversity. Efforts to bolster resilience to natural disasters are advancing through investments in sea defenses and drainage infrastructure alongside investments in more climate-resilient agriculture. The Gas-to-Energy project is expected to significantly reduce reliance on fuel-based power generation by 2027, with limited use subsequently as demand expands, lowering energy costs and supporting long-term competitiveness.

Efforts to strengthen human capital, expand job opportunities, and enhance food security remain central to the authorities’ broader diversification strategy. The Local Content framework continues to support private sector development, while higher personal income tax thresholds are helping to encourage labor force participation. Reforms to address labor shortages should continue, including to strengthen skills and better align the workforce with the needs of a rapidly expanding economy. Ongoing initiatives to boost agricultural production and reduce regional food import dependence will support export diversification and enhance food security.

Economic statistics

Staff welcomes the authorities’ continued efforts to strengthen official statistics to better reflect the economy’s transformation. These efforts include enhancing external and real sector statistics, including with technical assistance, as well as resuming regular labor force surveys and publishing preliminary census results. While progress continues in these areas, advancing work on updating national accounts, price, and external sector statistics remains a key priority. Together with maintaining regular updates to the labor force survey and the planned rollout of a new household budget survey, these efforts are important to strengthen the information base for policymaking and assess the impact of policies on economic growth and living standards.

University of Guyana announces transitional management arrangements following completion of vice-chancellor’s term

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University of Guyana announces transitional management arrangements following completion of vice-chancellor’s term

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The University of Guyana today announced that the contractual term of Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin as Vice-Chancellor concluded on 31 July 2026, bringing to a close seven years of service as the University’s principal academic and administrative officer.

On behalf of the University Council, Chancellor and Chair of Council, Sir Ronald Sanders, expressed appreciation to Professor Mohamed-Martin for her service and commitment to the University during her tenure. “The University Council thanks Professor Mohamed-Martin for her seven years of stewardship of the University of Guyana and wishes her every success in her future endeavours,” Sir Ronald said.

To ensure continuity of leadership and the uninterrupted conduct of the University’s academic, administrative and financial affairs, the University Council has established a Transitional Management Team to oversee the day-to-day operations of the University until a new vice-chancellor is appointed.

The Transitional Management Team will be chaired by Professor Stafford Griffith, Professor at the University of Guyana and Professor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies. Professor Griffith has had a distinguished career in higher education across the Caribbean, having served in a number of senior leadership positions at The University of the West Indies, including Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Five Islands Campus, regional director of the office for online learning, director of the school of education, and deputy dean of the Mona Campus. He has also held senior regional appointments with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and has served on numerous national and regional commissions, committees and boards.

Joining him on the Transitional Management Team is Dr Diana Devika Gobin, deputy vice-chancellor (finance and administration) of the University of Guyana. Dr Gobin has more than 18 years of experience in higher education and has served in a range of academic and administrative leadership positions, including assistant dean of the faculty of social sciences.

She has played a significant role in the University’s financial administration, academic development and institutional governance, and holds a doctor of education in leadership and innovation, an international MBA in innovation and entrepreneurship, and a Bachelor of social science in management.

The third member of the Transitional Management Team will be the incoming chair of the Committee of Deans, who is expected to be elected next week.

The Transitional Management Team will manage the University’s day-to-day affairs under the oversight of the Chancellor and the University Council until the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.

The search for the University’s next vice-chancellor is continuing. Following a comprehensive and rigorous international search process, four candidates have been shortlisted and are proceeding through the final stages of consideration by the University Council.

Sir Ronald Sanders said: “The Council is committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition in the leadership of the University while maintaining continuity in its academic mission, governance and administration. I have every confidence that Professor Griffith, Dr Gobin and the incoming chair of the Committee of Deans will provide the steady and experienced leadership necessary during this interim period. At the same time, the Council remains fully engaged in completing the search for the University’s next vice-chancellor through a rigorous and transparent process.”

St Lucia’s PM Pierre dismisses Chastanet’s letter: ‘Full of inaccuracies, laced with venom, bad faith’

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St Lucia’s PM Pierre dismisses Chastanet’s letter: ‘Full of inaccuracies, laced with venom, bad faith’

By Caribbean News Global

CASTRIES, St Lucia – Allen Chastanet, Leader of the Opposition (LOO) letter dated July 28, 2026, to Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip J Pierre and copied extensively to director of audit; president of the Caribbean Development Bank,(CDB); foreign embassies and Representatives of Civil Society Organisations, about the governance and financial management of the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), including the independence and oversight of SSDF audit, raises eyebrowns on the future engagement of international benefactors, and their commitment to the development of Saint Lucia.

Prime Minister Pierre’s sharp retort

The matter was quickly responded to by Prime Minister Pierre in his letter of July 30, 2026, stating: “ As usual, your letter is full of inaccuracies and laced with venom and bad faith,” citing counterarguments.

The LOO claims

“This is my fourth letter on these matters, and to date none have been acknowledged and/or replied to by the director of finance.

“Since my last correspondence, the country has been confronted with the “sex for cheques” scandal, in which publicly available information suggests that a minister of government had access to signed SSDF cheques and personally delivered them to two individuals,” the LOO continued.

“These developments directly reinforce the unresolved concerns I previously raised regarding the transfer and use of public funds from the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) via the Economic Fund, including the legal authority for such transfers and their intended purpose.”

The LOO acknowledged

“I have been informed that an audit of the SSDF is currently under way.”

Caribbean News Global (CNG) publication July 27, 2026 stated: “… the government is proceeding to action a full audit of the SSDF and to get a complete understanding of what transpired.”

The LOO’s advice?

“ … The seriousness of these recent allegations requires that the process be demonstrably independent, impartial, and beyond reproach. Public confidence is as important as the audit itself.”

“… Neither the SSDF board, its members, nor its senior management should be involved in appointing auditors or determining the terms of reference, as this would create a clear perception of conflict where those potentially subject to scrutiny are directing the process.”

“Moreover, given the gravity of the matter, consideration should also be given to the appointment of an independent Commission of Inquiry. At minimum, the audit should be commissioned and supervised independently by the director of audit, or under a framework agreed with the CDB or another suitably independent body.”

Allen Chastanet, Leader of the Opposition (LOO)

The LOO wishes …

“The director of finance, should recuse yourself from all involvement in selecting auditors, approving terms of reference, supervising the audit, or participating in any decisions relating to its conduct or findings.”

Restoring public confidence

“These issues concern the stewardship of public funds, legal compliance, and the integrity of public institutions, and must be treated with the requisite urgency and importance. It is therefore essential that the process adopted be transparent, independent, and capable of restoring public confidence,” the LOO, said.

In closing, the LOO said that he looked forward to an early response to his letter, copied to the director of audit; president, Caribbean Development Bank; ambassador, United States Embassy, Bridgetown, Barbados; ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan); ambassador, French Embassy and Representatives of Civil Society Organisations.

Per the stamped date of receipt of the LOO’s letter, July 30, 2026, his wishes were granted. Prime Minister Pierre, said:

“ The matter referred to are the complaints of one individual and currently being investigated by the police.”

“Audits are the responsbility 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.”

Refutation

Citing counterarguments alluded to earlier, Prime Minister Pierre said to the Leader of the Opposition (LOO), Chastanet:

“Your assertions, as usual, continue to impugn the character of individuals while you dream with the hope of destroying Saint Lucia so you can rule the ashes.”

“By your letter you have insulted the entire fraternity of Chartered and Certified Auditors and Accountants. I hope they remember,” said Prime Minister Pierre.

First half of 2026 delivers broad economic benefits for Cayman Islands

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First half of 2026 delivers broad economic benefits for Cayman Islands

By CIDOT Public Relations

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands welcomed 40,460 stayover visitors in June 2026, recording its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year stayover growth. This was a 6.9 percent increase compared with June 2025, with growth led by the United States and strongly supported by increased visitation from Canada and Europe.

June’s performance solidified a record first half of 2026 for the destination, with stayover arrivals between January and June reaching 288,694, an increase of 11.3 percent from the same period in 2025.

Cruise arrivals show year on year increase

The destination also welcomed 55,639 cruise passengers in June, an increase of 15.5 percent compared with June 2025.

Total visitation for June, including both stayover and cruise passengers, was 96,099 up 11.7 percent year over year.

The first half of 2026 saw the destination welcome 681,391 cruise passengers, an increase of 6.8% compared to the same period in 2025. This increase underscored the destination’s robust growth trajectory across every segment of tourism industry.

“Tourism is one of the strongest engines of our national economy, and a record first half of the year means that engine is delivering for Caymanians,” said Gary Rutty, deputy premier and minister for tourism and trade development. “Growth of this type extends well beyond the arrivals hall. It is shown in the wages of our hospitality workers, in the order books of our restaurants, taxi operators, water sports businesses and small suppliers, and in the confidence of those choosing to invest in our tourism product. Eight consecutive months of stayover growth, alongside sustained cruise arrivals, gives our people and our businesses something they can plan around. The Cayman Islands Government remains committed to ensuring that this growth continues to create real, lasting opportunity across all three Islands.”

Canada continues to lead market growth

Canada was the destination’s fastest-growing market in June recording its strongest June on record with arrivals reaching 1,679, an increase of 44.1 percent compared with June 2025. Arrivals from Canada for the first half of the year reached a record 26,674, up 48.9 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

Canada’s share of total year-to-date stayover visitation has grown to 9.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in 2025. This increase has moved Canada from a secondary market for the destination to a new primary market and is a testament to the results of the Cayman Islands department of tourism’s business development strategy focused on diversifying the destination’s source markets.

European market growth fueled by trade partnerships

European markets also showed solid gains in June, reflecting the continued strength of the destination’s strategic partnerships with travel trade in the UK, Ireland, and European markets.

Visitors from the UK and Ireland increased by 4.1 percent, while Continental Europe recorded the strongest increase at 73.9 percent, led by growth from France, Germany, and Spain. Arrivals from UK & Ireland for the first half of the year rose by 8.0 percent and arrivals from Continental Europe increased by 22.9 percent.

LATAM shows strong year-over-year growth

Latin America saw a modest dip of 4.8 percent in June, however, the market’s overall performance for the first half of the year showed a more positive outlook with arrivals up 10.8 percent compared with the same period in 2025. This increase in arrivals is evidence of growing interest among Latin American travellers in the Cayman Islands as an alternative warm-weather destination as a result of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism’s strategic engagement in the region.

The United States delivers largest number of visitors for June

The United States generated the largest absolute increase of any market in June, adding 2,259 visitors for growth of 6.8 percent compared with June 2025. The largest gains came from the Southern states with an increase of 4.1 percent, driven by visitors from Austin and Miami-Fort Lauderdale.

Increased airlift continues to support visitation growth

June’s visitation was supported by continued strengthening of the destination’s airlift.

Inbound airlift capacity from the United States and Canada, together with British Airways’ London-Grand Cayman service via Nassau, increased by 9.0 percent over the previous year.

The expansion in North America for the first six months of the year was led by increased capacity from Miami, Toronto, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, alongside new service from Ottawa, Fort Lauderdale and Austin.

Cayman Airways launched its new service from Austin in June, following the department’s participation in an aviation industry trade show in that city. The new route reflects the Department’s ongoing work to translate trade engagement into new and expanded air service, giving visitors more travel options and supporting sustained demand for the Cayman Islands.

Strong visitation translates into meaningful economic impact

June’s stayover growth translated to strong commercial results for the destination’s accommodations sector.

According to global hotel intelligence firm STR Inc., hotel occupancy reached 61.0 percent in June 2026, an increase of 5.3 percentage points compared with June 2025. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose 6.7percent over June 2025and Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) increased 16.8 percent year over year.

Notably, this growth happened concurrently with an increase in inventory with the opening of ONE GT in May 2026, demonstrating that increased visitor demand is keeping pace with the destination’s growing room supply.

Year-to-date through June, occupancy rose 6.4 percentage points to 73.3 percent compared with the same period in 2025, while ADR increased 6.2 percent and RevPAR rose 16.3 percent.

Hotel revenue for the first half of the year recorded an increase of 17.3 percent when compared to the first six months of 2025 – a clear indication that record stayover visitation is translating directly into stronger earnings for tourism businesses and, in turn, the wider Cayman Islands economy.

“Results like these are never accidental. They are the product of steady, deliberate work by the team at the Department of Tourism and by our partners right across the industry,” said Rosa Harris, director of tourism. “Eight consecutive months of stayover growth reflects the disciplined execution of a clear strategy – diversifying our source markets, securing, and sustaining airlift, deepening our travel trade relationships, and keeping the Cayman Islands visible in the markets that matter most. Canada’s rise from a secondary market to a primary one, and the new Austin service that followed our aviation trade engagement, are examples of that work translating into measurable results.”

Harris continued: “As we move through the summer months, the Department remains focused on strengthening our airlift, deepening our travel trade partnerships in our growing markets like Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, and continuing to position the Cayman Islands as a preferred year-round destination.”

To learn more about how tourism drives economic growth across the Cayman Islands, the public is encouraged to follow the Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Matters series.

Emancipation Day message – ‘Let us build a future worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before us’

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Emancipation Day message – ‘Let us build a future worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before us’
  • Message from Philip J Pierre, chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Saint Lucia

Today, we remember the women, men and children, those whose bodies were enslaved, but whose spirits could never be conquered. We remember those who endured cruelty beyond imagination, yet refused to surrender their dignity, their humanity, or their hope. And because they endured, because they resisted, because they believed, we stand here today as a free people.

That is why Emancipation Day is not simply another date on our calendar. It is a sacred reminder of where we have come from. A reminder of what we have overcome and of what still lies before us. Freedom was never handed to our ancestors. Freedom was demanded.

Freedom was fought for. Freedom was paid for with sacrifice, with courage and with an unbreakable faith. That is why we honour them today. Not only with our words, but with our commitment to build the kind of society they dreamed was possible.

My fellow citizens: The end of slavery was not the end of injustice. Our ancestors walked into freedom without land, without wealth, without compensation, without opportunity. Yet those who benefited from their labour were rewarded. History cannot be changed. But history must be understood. Because only when we understand our past can we fully appreciate our responsibility to shape a better future. That responsibility belongs to every generation. It belongs to us.

Our Caribbean story is unlike any other. It is a story shaped by the dispossession of Indigenous people, the suffering of African enslavement, the experience of indentureship and centuries of colonial rule. But it is also a story of extraordinary resilience. Out of pain our people created beauty. Out of struggle our people created strength. Out of oppression our people created hope.  We built nations. We built communities. We built democracies.

We have created music that moves the world. Literature that enlightens the world.
Culture that transforms and enriches the world. And we must never apologise for who we are.
We are Caribbean people. We are a proud people. We are a resilient people. And have every reason to believe in our future.

My brothers and sisters: The work of emancipation continues. Political freedom alone is not enough. Our people deserve economic freedom. They deserve opportunity. They deserve ownership. They deserve prosperity.

We must build economies where Caribbean people are creating wealth, not merely consuming it. Where our young people see opportunity at home. Where our entrepreneurs can succeed. Where our farmers, fishers and manufacturers are valued. Where hard work is rewarded with dignity.  That is the Caribbean we must build.

Our young people must remain at the centre of everything we do. Every child deserves the chance to dream. Every young person deserves the chance to achieve. Our schools must prepare them to innovate, to lead, to build businesses, to master technology, to transform our societies. We want our young people to fulfil their potential, to pursue lives of purpose and achievement, and to use their talents to strengthen our nation and our Caribbean Community.

My fellow citizens: No nation is truly secure if it cannot feed itself. That is why food security matters.
Every acre cultivated, every farmer supported; every fisher encouraged, every Caribbean product placed on our supermarket shelves brings us one step closer to genuine independence.

The same is true for energy. Our future depends upon affordable, reliable and cleaner sources of energy.  Not only because it protects our environment. But because it strengthens our economy, creates jobs, and lowers the cost of living for our people. These are not simply development goals. They are part of the unfinished journey of emancipation.

There is another part of that journey. The pursuit of reparations for slavery is not about blame, not about revenge. It is about the truth and justice for the human suffering of slavery.

My sisters and brothers: Every generation inherits more than freedom; it inherits a responsibility. Our responsibility is to honour the sacrifices of those who came before us by building a society that is more just, more united and more prosperous than the one they entrusted to us. The true measure of our freedom lies not only in what we remember, but in what we choose to build together. I believe we are equal to that responsibility because I believe in the people of our Caribbean Community.

Let us strive to create a CARICOM Community where emancipation is measured not only by how we celebrate but by how we live. Together, let us continue the work begun by our forefathers; let us strengthen our Caribbean Community; let us build a future worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before us.

We are one Caribbean people. May God bless our Caribbean Community. And may He guide us always as we continue the unfinished journey from emancipation to justice to prosperity and to lasting freedom.

Air Canada achieves IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification

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Air Canada achieves IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification

MONTRÉAL, Canada – Air Canada today announced that the airline has achieved IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries certification for shipments with Air Canada Cargo, further strengthening its specialised cargo capabilities and reinforcing its commitment to safety, compliance and operational excellence.

The certification validates Air Canada’s adherence to globally recognised standards for the safe handling, storage and transportation of lithium battery shipments, a growing segment of the global air cargo market driven by demand from industries including consumer electronics, medical technology, electric vehicles and energy storage.

“Achieving IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries certification is an important milestone for Air Canada Cargo and reflects the strength of our people, processes and operational discipline,” said Janet Wallace, managing director, Cargo Operations and Transformation at Air Canada. “As customers increasingly rely on air cargo to transport complex and highly regulated shipments, this certification gives them added confidence that their lithium battery shipments are handled safely, efficiently and in accordance with rigorous global standards.” 

As part of the certification process, Air Canada completed a comprehensive review of its cargo operating procedures and undertook an independent IATA audit of its documented processes, procedures and operational activities, including an on-site assessment of its Montréal (YUL) cargo facility. Key Air Canada personnel, including Dangerous Goods specialists from warehouse operations and representatives from Cargo Operations and Transformation Management, also completed specialised IATA lithium battery training required for certification in the proper handling of lithium batteries.

This certification applies only to commercial cargo shipments and does not apply to passengers travelling with lithium batteries.

  • Passenger requirements are available here. 

CEIV Lithium Batteries builds on Air Canada’s existing CEIV Pharma and CEIV Live Animals certifications, reinforcing its expertise in handling specialised, sensitive and highly regulated commodities across its global network.

With service to more than 450 destinations worldwide, Air Canada combines broad global reach with internationally recognised safety and quality standards.

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