Caribbean

Martinique officially became CARICOM's seventh Associate Member after France and the regional bloc completed all legal requirements, allowing the French territory to participate in CARICOM meetings and regional initiatives.

Julien Alfred clocked 21.51 seconds in the Monaco Diamond League, becoming the third-fastest woman in history over 200m and moving ahead of Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah on the all-time list.

The five Eastern Caribbean countries operating CBI programmes will send a high-level delegation to Brussels to discuss the EU's proposal to phase out citizenship by investment programmes by 2028.

Police and volunteer rescuers launched an extensive search in Marabella after children reported seeing what appeared to be a baby’s body floating in a river.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank introduced a redesigned EC banknote series featuring national heroes and regional icons, combining enhanced security features with tributes to leaders from all eight ECCU member states.

Marking CARICOM Day, Chairman Philip J. Pierre urged member states to move beyond discussion and accelerate regional cooperation on trade, food security, climate resilience, transport and digital transformation.

CARICOM leaders agreed to use a Trinidad and Tobago state-owned ferry as a temporary cargo service while a permanent regional ferry network is developed to reduce freight costs and strengthen intra-Caribbean trade.

Scientists aboard the RV Falkor recovered a rare deep-sea octopus during Trinidad and Tobago’s first deep-sea expedition, with researchers now examining its DNA to determine whether it represents a previously unknown species.

The US$50-55 million rehabilitation project at V.C. Bird International Airport remains ahead of schedule, with Phase 3 substantially complete and the full upgrade still targeted for completion by September 2026.

The Bahamas will compete alongside 11 other nations at the 2026 Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm, marking the first time the keelboat event will be hosted in Europe.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London heard the final appeal in Trinidad and Tobago's landmark same-sex intimacy case on Wednesday, with a written judgment expected later this year.

Premier Mark Brantley urged OECS governments to reduce their reliance on Citizenship by Investment revenues, warning that the EU's planned phase-out poses a serious economic challenge for the region.

The Barbados-London flight was cancelled after several cabin crew members were allegedly found unfit for duty following a night of heavy drinking, prompting suspensions and an internal investigation.

Grenada’s men's 4x400m relay team clocked 3:05.77 at the Barbados Grand Prix, finishing just 0.13 seconds outside the national record in one of the country's fastest relay performances.

While travellers report long appointment delays and slow passport processing, the Ministry of Homeland Security says there is no shortage of passport booklets and enough stock remains during the move to biometric e-passports.

Dominica will take over the rotating chairmanship of the ECCB Monetary Council during a ceremony that will also mark the 50th anniversary of the EC dollar's peg to the US dollar.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett were seen speaking ahead of the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, signalling continued diplomatic engagement despite recent disagreements.

The government says the Citizenship by Investment Programme will remain in place, arguing it is a vital source of revenue while Antigua and Barbuda continues discussions with the European Union.

Citizens of Barbados and Guyana can now travel between the two countries using ICAO-compliant national ID cards instead of passports under a new bilateral travel arrangement that took effect on July 1.

The additional daily service will operate from December 17, 2026, to April 5, 2027, increasing airlift during the peak winter travel season.