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C&W Communications officially launches ‘JUMP’

A plan to deliver all-important internet connections to low-income Caribbean households has been unveiled as part of a private-public partnership between leading telecoms operator C&W Communications and some Caribbean countries. Aptly called JUMP, the initiative aims to help bridge the digital divide and foster greater digital inclusion in a region that today still has less than 65% broadband penetration with 27 million users from a total combined population of 44 million.

In partnership with local governments, C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business and BTC, will provide qualifying households with a subsidised high-speed internet connection, a free laptop computer and relevant training for individuals and families.  So far, the governments of Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, and The Bahamas have committed to JUMP and more than 2,700 households have already been connected.

“There is a widening gap between those who have access to online opportunities and those who do not, so JUMP has been created to ensure the benefits of digital technologies are available to as many people as possible. It is here to help transform lives and empower previously underserved communities,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer, C&W Communications.

She was speaking at the official launch of JUMP in Barbados at Sandals Royal.

“In the Caribbean, some of the barriers to internet use and adoption include general lack of awareness, affordability, the absence of digital skills, and inadequate infrastructure. JUMP aims to address all these issues in a comprehensive way, and we are proud to deliver this initiative that will have an immediate impact in the communities we serve,” added Smidts. 

The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, endorsed JUMP and welcomed the initiative in Barbados.

“The digital divide is a large, multifaceted issue that requires holistic solutions, and a successful strategy requires building innovative partnerships, so we must co-create solutions in partnership to ensure no citizen is left behind,” she said.

“There is a role for each of us to play, and we are optimistic that JUMP will provide an opportunity for everyone to bring their energy, commitment and collaboration on the mission of uplifting our region.”

In Barbados, C&W Communications has partnered with the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs to provide low-income households that qualify for the programme with a subsidised home internet package, a compatible device (laptop/tablet) and digital literacy training.

Smidts said JUMP is C&W’s long-term commitment to the communities it serves.

“We aim to eliminate barriers and to ensure that every individual and family, despite their financial situation, can benefit from the digital world. We firmly believe that connectivity is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, and we plan to connect 1,000 households in Barbados before the end of the year,” she said.

“We believe this investment will change lives, unlock the potential of economies, and truly enable progress. Our core social mission is to connect everyone to the digital world, regardless of their income or where they live, and we are committed to harnessing our resources and capabilities to narrow the digital divide,” she said.

Bob Marley Movie First Trailer Released

The first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated Bob Marley biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, has been released.

The film, which stars British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, is expected to make its theatrical debut on Friday, January 12, 2024.

The trailer serves up an enchanting preview of the biopic, which has been, according to producer Ziggy Marley, “four or five years in the making”. It opens with an aerial shot of a massive crowd clamoring for the Reggae legend, before an instantaneous pan takes the viewer to a much calmer scene backstage with I-Threes member Rita and The Wailers.
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard) confirmed that the film will primarily cover the periods 1976 to 1978, which will include the infamous attempted assassination of Bob Marley and wife Rita, the making of his iconic Exodus album, and his eventual return to Jamaica for the historic One Love Peace Concert.

CARICOM to Accelerate Free Movement of People

Barbados and other CARICOM member states are accelerating plans for full freedom of movement in the Caribbean, with a definitive position on the matter to be taken by March next year.

CARICOM chairman, Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, said this was the key decision made by Heads during their 45th Regular Meeting, which ended yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who has lead responsibility for the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), said she and other leaders determined that the push for full freedom of movement may “guarantee a minimum level of rights” that may relate to pre-primary, primary, and secondary education, and primary and emergency health care.

SkilliBeng joins Drake on Tour

Esyde deejay Skillibeng will be joining Drake, as the rapper kicks off his ‘It’s All A Blur’ (IAAB) tour on July 5-6 in Chicago.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday Skillibeng shared that he wil take the stage for the first two nights.
The tour, co-headlined with 21 Savage, will see Drake make over 55 stops across the U.S. and Canada.

Threads Launches to Battle Twitter

More than 10 million people have registered accounts for Meta’s new Twitter rival, Threads, just seven hours after its launch, according to Mark Zuckerberg.

The CEO, who goes by the handle “Zuck,” made the announcement as he penned a flurry of posts and replies coinciding with his new app’s debut.
Earlier that day, he said Threads had seen two million registrations in its first two hours, then five million in its first four hours.

West Indies Cricketers Tour England in 2024

West Indies Men will tour England in the summer of 2024 where they will play three Test matches.

The series will bowl off at Lord’s on July 10-14, followed by the second Test at Trent Bridge on July 18-22 and final contest at Edgbaston on July 26-30.

The tour will mark the second occasion the two teams will compete for the Richards-Botham Trophy – named in honor of cricket icons Sir Vivian Richards and Lord Ian Botham.

West Indies are the current holders, having won the inaugural series which was played in the Caribbean in March 2022. This will also form part of the ICC’s World Test Championship 2023 to 2025.

CFLI Donates Over CAD $80K Grenadian Organizations

The High Commission of Canada announced the contribution of CAD$82,620 to 2 Grenadian organizations — the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association (GPPA) and GrenCHAP Inc. — through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

These new projects will strengthen sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) services in Grenada and increase public awareness of human rights through community outreach.

Canada awarded CAD$49,905 to the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association to pilot a one-stop centre for SGBV survivors in Grenada. This CFLI project provides a safe space for persons who have experienced SGBV to access client-centred medical and social services. Funding will support the training of GPPA clinical staff and hospital healthcare providers in survivor-focused care as well as the upgrading of facilities at the designated centre.

Spirits giant Diageo says it’s cutting with entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs

Spirits giant Diageo says it’s cutting ties with rapper and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs following his move to sue the company over allegations of racism in the handling of his liquor brands, according to a Tuesday court filing.

Combs’ lawsuit, filed with the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan last month, says Diageo North America starved Combs’ Cîroc vodka and DeLeón tequila brands of resources while showering attention on other celebrity brands.
Combs said Diageo leadership told him that his race was one of the reasons it limited distribution to “urban” neighborhoods and stunted sales growth of his brands. According to the suit, which seeks billions of dollars in damages in other legal proceedings against Diageo, Combs was also told that some Diageo leaders resented him for making too much money.

Madonna Postpones Tour

Madonna has postponed her career-spanning Celebration tour due to what her manager called a “serious bacterial infection” and her ongoing recovery.

Manager Guy Oseary wrote on Instagram Wednesday that the singer had spent several days in an intensive care unit after becoming ill on Saturday. He said the 64-year-old singer is expected to make a full recovery.
The tour was set to kick-off in Vancouver on July 15.

LIAT talks inescapable at CARICOM SUMMIT

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne Tuesday described as “inescapable” discussions with fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders on the future direction of the inter-regional airline, LIAT, when they meet in Trinidad and Tobago next week.

The leaders will be meeting from July 3 to 5 for their annual summit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the regional integration grouping.

Browne has been among those in the forefront seeking to reverse the fortunes of the Antigua-based airline, which entered into administration in July 2020 following increased debt and the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Trump to acknowledge keeping classified document

An audio recording in which Donald Trump appears to acknowledge keeping a classified document after leaving the White House has been obtained by US media.

In the recording, the former president is heard riffling through papers and saying: “This is highly confidential.” It was first obtained by CNN, but the BBC’s US partner CBS also has the clip. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of mishandling sensitive documents.

Obama Ruffles India with Comment

Leaders of India’s governing party have criticized former US President Barack Obama for his recent remarks on Muslims in the country.

Mr. Obama said in an interview last week that India may “start pulling apart” if minority rights weren’t protected. He was replying to a CNN interviewer who called India’s leader an “illiberal democrat” and asked how President Biden should engage with such people.

Scholarship opportunities through COL-Skills for Work Programme

The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) continues to provide scholarship opportunities for Grenadian citizens to attain skills that are required for decent employment or entrepreneurship through the COL-Skills for Work programme COHORT #5.

The initiative enables citizens to access over 5000+ high quality skills development courses provided through the world’s leading e-learning platforms, Coursera and Udemy. Courses are certified upon completion. 

The initiative is aimed at increasing citizen’s chances of employment both locally and abroad as well as encouraging entrepreneurship, thereby enabling the improvement in livelihood for citizens and promoting lifelong learning.

Drake Book in the works

Drake’s creativity knows no bounds as the rapper reveals that he is releasing an accompanying album, For All The Dogs, to match his upcoming poetry book.

The rapper announced that he was releasing his first-ever published poetry book on Saturday and later posted a message where he seemed to hint that he was releasing music to accompany the artistic piece.
The rapper has been advertising his Kenza Samir co-authored book, which is said to be a poetry collection named Titles Ruin Everything: A Stream of Consciousness, by Aubrey Drake Graham and Kenza Samir.
The date for the release has not been revealed, but this would be Drake’s first project for 2023 following his 2022 LP Her Loss.

Dr. Dre will be honored for his unforgettable contributions to Hip-Hop culture

On Tuesday, June 20, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Rhythm & Soul division announced its intentions to present the N.W.A. co-founder with the first-ever ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award.

The award is “presented to ASCAP members whose musical contributions have made an indelible impact on the art and culture of Hip-Hop. Dre will accept the honor at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

Grammys Announce “only human creators” for awards

Meteorological Services Tracking

The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) is currently tracking the progress of a tropical wave located on the West African coast along 18 degrees west.

This system is expected to track westward to west-northwestward within the next seven days.

Model guidance suggests the wave will pass north of Barbados sometime next week Friday June 23, 2023, and any development of this system is expected to be slow at this time.

CXC Exams Schedule Remains the Same

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) advises all stakeholders, that following consultations with Ministries of Education from across the region yesterday, the regional examinations will be administered as scheduled. 

To date, there has been no confirmation that the secured fire-proof cabinet containing examination papers, which was stolen from a school in Jamaica, has been compromised.

CXC® reassures candidates that their best interests continue to be at the centre of the organisation’s decisions and processes and wishes all candidates well in their examinations. As the police continue their investigations in Jamaica, CXC® and Ministry officials from across the region will continue to monitor the security of the regional examinations.

interCaribbean Acquires Seven Additional ATR-42s

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, June 14th, 2023 – interCaribbean Airways announces the
closing on the acquisition of seven (7) additional ATR-42s. The 48-seat regional aircraft have
been acquired from TAROM, S.A., a long-standing Romanian flag network airline.

Accepting the ATRs from TAROM, Chairman and founder of interCaribbean Airways, Lyndon Gardiner, expressed satisfaction at fulfilling promises to the governments and people of the Caribbean. “We are delighted to introduce these capable aircraft, boldly expanding our capacity and operational flexibility.

These aircraft will allow us to implement our commitments to expand in under-served markets, especially in the eastern Caribbean. interCaribbean will start adding capacity following this transaction closure in time for the summer peak season when travelers within the region take to the skies. interCaribbean has been determined to increase capacity to meet increasing demand for its services since entering the eastern Caribbean during the pandemic. Today interCaribbean is seven steps closer to realizing that goal.

Thanking TAROM for their collaborative approach to the transaction, Chairman Gardiner said interCaribbean will benefit from TAROM’s excellent example in sustainable aviation practices, quality assurance in the airline industry, and timeliness in the delivery of the aircraft. Gardiner said, “Strong partnerships as we have developed with TAROM are very helpful to our growth objectives.”
The newly received ATRs from TAROM brings the number of ATRs operated by the company to 10. The company intends to retire Embraer 120 aircraft by the end of 2023, positioning these newer and larger airplanes to support the growing regional demand. With a significant expansion of schedules and routes from its new Barbados hub, interCaribbean reported a first-quarter increase of 83 percent in the number of flights, and a 109 percent increase in seating capacity across its routes. As the largest privately-owned airline in the Caribbean, interCaribbean has been making significant progress with a uniquely strong focus on the resilient niche demand for intra-regional travel. It is especially responsive to governments, tourism interests, airports, and passenger voices asking for more regional air service.

FLOW JUMP Project Hits Homes

FLOW is proud to announce its partnership with the Government of Grenada and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) to introduce ‘JUMP’ — an initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion throughout the country.

JUMP, a joint effort between FLOW, the government, and the NTRC, targets 1,500 households over the next 6 months, offering subsidised high-speed internet connectivity, compatible devices, and digital literacy training for just $20 per month. This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of FLOW, the government, and the NTRC to ensure equal access to digital opportunities for all citizens.

With JUMP, FLOW, the government, and the NTRC are not only providing connectivity but also empowering individuals to access remote learning, telehealth, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, and social services, thereby fostering national development and preventing generational poverty.

Bud Light Sales Decline

Bud Light has lost its position as the best-selling beer in the US after facing a boycott, new figures show.

In the four weeks to 3 June sales were down by almost a quarter, according to consulting firm Bump Williams.

Some drinkers in the US stopped buying Bud Light after transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney showed off a personalised can of the beer.

It means Modelo Especial has taken the top spot, with 8.4% of US beer sales by value in the period.

Grammys to include African Music

African music is getting its own category in the GRAMMYS. An announcement from the Recording Academy said that a Best New African Music Performance category is among three new ones that have been added.

The other two are Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.
These new categories will be introduced at the 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards:
Additionally, the existing Categories of Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical will be moved to the General Field allowing all GRAMMY voters to vote in these important, non-genre-specific Categories.
These Category additions and amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s most recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May 2023.

ICT a Driving Force in Public Service

ICT is soon to be the driving engine for the public service as the government seeks to improve its functions.

Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell during an interview on POWER95 earlier today hinted at some fine tuning that will take place in the public service. He said the move is geared at improving the services offered and the customer experience.

He said there will be a significant push for more online transactions for time efficiency.

Culinary Partnership launched in Grenada

The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched a culinary partnership with renowned Chef Alexander Smalls to raise its profile as a leading culinary destination.

The partnership will involve a Master Class with local chefs, recipe development showcasing Grenada’s spices and cocoa, a Tastemaker event featuring celebrity and influential chefs, a Fireside Chat with Grenada’s leaders in food security, agriculture and sustainability, and a Spice Replanting Programme.

Alexander Smalls, both a Grammy and Tony award-winning opera singer, is a James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and culinary activist. He is the visionary of the restaurants The Cecil, which won Esquire Magazine’s Best New Restaurant, New York City’s first Afro-Asian-American Brasserie and its sister jazz club, Minton’s.

Children Rescued after Plane Crash

In the deep depths of a Colombian jungle, four children have been found alive weeks after a deadly plane crash. 40 days after the plane crash the children were found alive by Columbian soldiers and search and rescue squads.

A saga which captivated many Colombians as search teams frantically combed through the rainforest hunting for the children, aged 13, nine, four and 11 months old. Following the news, President Gustavo Petro said: “A joy for the whole country! The four children who were lost… in the Colombian jungle appeared alive.”

CARIBCOIN – New Caricom Currency

The ability to settle payments is a major obstacle to increasing trade among CARICOM countries, a challenge which has prompted the development of a new digital currency.

CaribCoin Inc., a Barbados-based financial technology company, is proposing to introduce a complementary currency this year. The plan is to start it as a pilot project involving 15 businesses from Barbados and Jamaica.

The introduction of Carib Dollar (Carib$) is being welcomed by CARICOM Private Sector Organisation chief executive officer and technical director Dr Patrick Antoine.

Former President Donald Trump Charged

Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.

Mr. Trump, 76, faces seven charges including unauthorized retention of classified files, US media reported. The charges are not yet public. It is the second indictment of Mr. Trump and if convicted it carries a maximum 10-year jail term.

He is campaigning to make a return to the White House in 2024.

Apple Launches Vision Pro Headset

Apple has unveiled a much-anticipated augmented reality headset, Apple Vision Pro, in its first major hardware launch for almost a decade. Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the new headset “seamlessly blends the real world and the virtual world”.

The headset has a two-hour battery life, costs US $3,499 and will be released early next year in the US. The cost is considerably higher than virtual reality headsets currently on the market. Last week Meta announced its Quest 3 – which costs $499. Scenes of the launch on social media saw the audience reacted with some initial shock at the price tag.

Pan Tuner to Revitalize Steelpan

The services of a pan tuner have been secured to help with plans to revitalize steelpan playing within communities of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Trinidad tuner Federico Gay, under an arrangement through the Division of Youth of the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government, is presently on island. He is tuning pans that were donated to the Ministry by the Grenada Electricity Services Ltd (Grenlec) over 10 years ago. Gay, whose maternal and paternal grandparents were originally from Carriacou, also volunteered to clean and spray the pans for the Ministry.

Youth Officer Georgina Ray said the tuning of the pans now sets the pace for steelpan to once more become part of the culture of the twin-isle parish.

Economy Travel of the Future

23-year-old airplane seat designer Alejandro Núñez Vicente believes double-level seating is the future of economy flying.

“People can talk and they always hate innovation in some ways,” he says. “Most of the times when they show you something new, everyone hates it at first, they’re scared of change. But the more you show it, and the more you develop it, and the more they see it, the more they get used to it.”

Seems we will soon find out how travelers feel about the comfort and the price of travelling in these seats. What do you think?

Linda Yaccarino replaces Elon Musk as Twitter boss

Linda Yaccarino, the new boss of troubled social media firm Twitter, has started the role earlier than expected.

Ms Yaccarino, previously head of advertising at NBCUniversal, joined days after Twitter lost its second head of trust and safety. Elon Musk had announced on 12 May that his successor would join in six weeks but her start date appears to have been brought forward.

Twitter also announced it had recruited Joe Benarroch from NBCUniversal. Mr Benarroch was senior vice president of communications, advertising and partnerships at the media giant. He also worked for a number of years at Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. At Twitter he will focus on business operations.

Mr Musk has said he plans to remain involved with the firm. The billionaire owner of Twitter said last year he would resign as chief executive once he found “someone foolish enough to take the job”.

It followed a Twitter poll when Mr Musk asked people to vote on whether he should resign – 57.5% voted yes.

UMG signs AI deal with ENDEL

Amid the growing global conversation surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI), Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a new deal with Endel, an organisation that uses AI to create instrumental soundscapes to facilitate work, meditation, and sleep.

UMG plan to use Endel’s technology to create “science-backed” soundscapes designed to “enhance listeners’ wellness. They plan to create entirely new music as well as alternate versions of pre-extant music.

Endel’s AI software factors in a host of variables, including weather, time of day, location and heart rate, when creating new music on demand tailored for specific users. Endel has previously collaborated with Grimes, Miguel, Richie Hawtin, and UMG artist James Blake.

Haiti Lashed by Heavy Rains

Haitian Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry says the National Emergency Operations Center (COUN) has been opened as heavy rains continue to lash Haiti causing widespread damage, but so far no loss of life.

Director General of the Hydro-meteological Unit, Marcelin Esterlin, said the rains which have been pounding the country since June 1, are expected to continue during this week, with the authorities saying the probability of rain is 65 per cent for Monday and 85 per cent, the following day.

The government met on Saturday to discuss the situation as rivers overflow their banks,  floods, landslides and extensive damage across the country.

Government of Grenada renews insurance (CCRIF SPC)

The Government of Grenada has renewed its insurance policies with the Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC).

CCRIF SPC, which provides parametric insurance coverage against natural hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes, has been operating since 2007, with Grenada being a founding member.

Grenada currently holds 4 policies: Tropical Cyclone, Excess Rainfall, Earthquake and the Caribbean Ocean and Aquaculture Sustainability Facility (COAST).

With the existing policies expiring on 31 May 2023, the Government has elected to renew coverage effective 1 June 2023 for one year with Gross Premiums amounting to US$1.5 million.

Tina Turner Passes

Singer Tina Turner, whose soul classics and pop hits like The Best and What’s Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar, has died at the age of 83.

Turner had suffered a number of health issues in recent years including cancer, a stroke and kidney failure.

She rose to fame alongside husband Ike in the 1960s with songs including Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High.

SENATOR TIM SCOTT JOINS REPUBLICAN NOMINATION

Senator Tim Scott has become the latest Republican to join an increasingly crowded 2024 race for US president.

Mr. Scott, 57, who has represented South Carolina in the chamber since 2013, promised to revive America’s “culture of greatness”. He is the first Black Republican Senator from the south in more than a century.

With about $22m (£18m) in cash on hand, he enters the fray with more campaign funds than any of his rivals.

ICE CUBE THREATENS TO SUE

Ice Cube has threatened to sue persons who attempt to use artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate his voice.

O’Shea Jackson Sr, aka Ice Cube, debated using AI to recreate fake tracks and artist voices.

During an appearance on the Full Send podcast, Cube made his stance clear.

“I don’t wanna hear an AI Drake song,” he said, referring to the AI-generated Drake songs that appeared on YouTube and TikTok last month. “Yeah, I don’t wanna hear that bull****. He should sue whoever made it.”

Podcast host Kyle Forgeard then asked Ice Cube what he would do if he was in a similar situation. He went on to state that

“I think AI is demonic [and] I think AI is going to get a backlash from organic people.”

In recent months, several artists including Drake, The Weekend, and Frank Ocean have been affected by AI-generated tracks.

CIBC FCIB Becomes COOP-BANK

FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited (FirstCaribbean) and Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited (GCBL) announced that the sale of FirstCaribbean’s business in Grenada, to Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited has received approval from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

The banks further announced that the process of transferring FirstCaribbean’s clients to Grenada Co-Operative Bank Limited is expected to be completed by 14 July 2023.

The two banks will shortly begin communicating to clients about the plans and dates for the withdrawal of services from CIBC FirstCaribbean and the transfer of client information to GCBL, as part of the transition process.

CXC Papers Leaked?

On Wednesday, 17 May 2023, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) launched an investigation following concerns that the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC®) Mathematics Paper 02 was leaked, prior to the administration of the examination on that day.

CXC® has been in constant contact with regional Ministries of Education since this information came to light.

CXC® has now concluded its investigation. The security measures which CXC® has put in place have led to locating the country as Jamaica and the examination centre where the leak originated. In discussion with the Ministry of Education and Youth, the matter will be dealt with following CXC’s security protocols.

As a result of the breach and the compromise of the examination, as well as consideration for the mental health and wellbeing of candidates, timely release of results, and matriculation requirements, CXC® has determined that for this examination, the modified approach will be used to award fair and valid grades.

Carriacou Fish Center Coming to Carriacou

Working together to revolutionise the fishing industry in Carriacou and Petite Martinique is the promise made to the fishermen of the twin-isle parish by MP Tevin Andrews, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government.

Speaking at the official sod-turning ceremony for the construction of a new fish centre in the community of Windward, Minister Andrews recalled visiting the present fish centre during the 2022 general election campaign and noting its rundown condition. He promised then that once elected, it would be one of the first major infrastructure projects to be undertaken.

At the new fish centre, there will be improvement in the storage and ice facilities, and as Windward is considered the fish capital of Carriacou, enhancement work will also be done on the 2 jetties in the area.

Creative Affairs Office Reinforced

The Grenada Office of Creative Affairs is proud to announce the appointment of Mrs. Tracy Baptiste as the new Operations Manager, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing implementation capacity and driving excellence in the creative sector. Mrs. Baptiste’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment following the recently concluded National Cultural and Creative Industries Conference–Unleash, where industry stakeholders convened to shape the future of Grenada’s creative sector.

Mrs. Baptiste, who previously served as the Administration Manager at Digicel Grenada Ltd., brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role. As Operations Manager, Mrs. Baptiste will work closely with Mr. Orlando Romain, Advisor for the Creative Economy, to execute the office’s strategic vision and oversee the seamless implementation of key initiatives.

In her capacity, Mrs. Baptiste will assume a multifaceted role, encompassing responsibilities such as planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, financial management, supervisory management, and relationship management.

Angela Versus Antigua

The Ministry of Tourism in Antigua and Barbuda is in talks with the attorneys of Angela Bassett after her representatives demanded that the government in St Johns stopped the use of her photographs for promotional purposes, and end any dissemination of information about appointing her as a Tourism Ambassador.

The government announced that Bassett was appointed Tourism Ambassador of the country, following discussions with her while on vacation in Antigua and Barbuda, but her attorneys have asked the Ministry of Tourism to hold out on the initiative.

The Hollywood actress also indicated however that she wants to make sure she and her team fully understand what the Tourism Ambassador scope and activities will mean, and they look forward to continuing the conversation.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR CARRIACOU

The implementation of local government for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs should be done within the third quarter of this year, as the Ministry of Legal Affairs drafting team continues to work on the legislation.

This was confirmed by Minister for Legal Affairs and Labour Senator the Hon. Claudette Joseph, who is leading a team on an official visit to Carriacou. Minister Joseph, who met with Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government Hon. Tevin Andrews, said that her drafting team is working assiduously to ensure that local government is implemented.

AIR PEACE TO ACQUIRE LIAT

In related travel news, Antigua’s Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has announced that Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, is set to acquire a 70 percent stake in LIAT 2020.

The intention is for LIAT 2020 to be operated purely on a commercial basis.

According to the Prime Minister, efforts are currently being made to establish the air operating certificate (AOC) for LIAT 2020.

He emphasizes that the revamped LIAT will not function as a regional bus, operating unprofitable routes.