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Virgin Islands (US).
Angry teachers
According to an article published in the Virgin Islands Consortium, teachers at Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas are protesting the deteriorating working conditions they are experiencing at the start of the new school year. Since last Thursday, they have been refusing to work in 35-degree, non-air-conditioned classrooms, mainly because of mold problems and lack of internet connection. The collective agreement governing unionized teachers in public schools requires teachers to leave classrooms that present an environmental health hazard, be it mold, excessive heat or otherwise. As a result, the battle with the Ministry of Education has only just begun. According to Leontyne Jones, President of the St. Thomas and St. John Teachers' Federation, it is currently impossible to teach or attend classes in the high school.
Grenada.
Compulsory schooling extended to age 18
The Minister of Education, Senator David Andrew, announced in a recent speech relayed by the Caribbean National Weekly that the extension of the school-leaving age to 18 came into effect on September 1. According to the Government Information Service, several initiatives have been launched to support this transition. These include enhanced training programs for TVET (technical and vocational education and training) teachers, upgrades to centers ofexcellence, the introduction of a free tuition program and new strategies to improve access to education. "The government is actively seeking partnerships with technical service providers to offer students additional vocational training opportunities," said the Prime Minister.
Guadeloupe.
Phones banned in four secondary schools
To mark the start of the new school year, almost 200 secondary schools in France and overseas are experimenting with cell phone bans on their premises. In Guadeloupe, four schools are taking part in the experiment on a voluntary basis. They are as follows: Nestor de Kermadec and Sadi Carnot in Pointe-à-Pitre, Félix Éboué in Petit-Bourg, Olympe RAME Decorbin. If others are willing, we're more than open to it," declared Christine Gangloff-Ziegler, the school's headmistress, speaking to RCI. It's a challenge in terms of student concentration, and we also need to learn how to use it and use it well. Being constantly on social networks is a major problem. We sometimes have extremely young children who are totally focused on the laptop and have real tantrums when the laptop is taken away from them. "For the record, since 2018, the law already prohibits the use of cell phones in schools and colleges.
Jamaica.
More than 13,500 homes damaged by Hurricane Beryl
According to the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, more than 13,500 homes in Jamaica were hard hit by the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3. "We're closing in on 14,000," said the minister, who is receiving new reports every day, explains the Observer. The discovery of new disaster victims has prompted the ministry to consider requesting additional government funding to ensure that all affected Jamaicans receive the necessary support. Those whose homes were severely damaged received grants of up to $150,000, while those whose damage was minor received up to $50,000. Residents whose homes were destroyed received a partial grant of $200,000, with a further $200,000 to be provided during the reconstruction phase.
Haiti.
The hunt is on for gangs
According to various press reports (Le Nouvelliste, Caribbean National Weekly, l'Observer...), Haitian forces, in collaboration with Kenyan policemen dispatched by the UN, have opened the hunt for gangs.launched a joint operation to drive criminal gangs out of one of the most dangerous districts of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Prime Minister Garry Conille made the announcement while visiting three police officers injured in hospital. I'm tired of seeing police officers being shot at," he said. I'm tired of going to police funerals. We have to solve this problem of insecurity. "In 2024, more than 3,200 murders recorded between January and May. Gangs now control nearly 80% of Port-au-Prince, displacing more than half a million people fleeing urban violence. To help combat the gangs' grip, a UN-backed mission led by Kenya has deployed around 400 police officers to Haiti. In the coming months, additional police and soldiers from countries such as Benin, Chad and Jamaica are expected to join the mission, bringing the total number of foreign personnel to 2,500.
Saba.
Breathalysers to combat alcohol poisoning on the roads
The public entity Saba, in cooperation with the police, announces the introduction of field alcohol tests "as a crucial measure to combat drunk driving on our island", writes Saba News, which continues: "The application of these alcohol tests is an essential tool that will help us in our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all road users. "Fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 will be levied in the event of a violation.
Sint Maarten.
Rejection of building permit for The Morgan Resort residences overturned
The Daily Herald reports that Sint Maarten's Court of First Instance has overturned a decision by the former Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure to refuse a building permit for The Morgan Resort. The project was designed by the architectural firm DAM Caribbean. The case concerned the interpretation of parking requirements under local regulations. The case was brought by the developer of the project to renovate and redevelop the former Alegria complex on Beacon Hill Road. The project, known as The Morgan Resort, is part of a multi-phase development plan. A first permit was granted in June 2020, a second in December 2022, but the third, last January, was denied.
Bahamas.
Three brothers killed in accident
Three brothers, all in their twenties, were killed in a car accident on Monday, reports the Nassau Guardian. Philip McCarron Christie, 24, Philip D'Caprio Christie, 23, and D'Angelo Christie, 20, were traveling in a metallic-gray Honda Passport northbound on the highway when the driver lost control and crashed into a tree on the west side of the road. They were their mother's only sons and had moved to New Providence from North Andros, where they had been raised, for better prospects. The two eldest worked for the Bahamas Telecommunications Company and Bahamas Power and Light.
British Virgin Islands.
"Forbes" training for hotel staff
The Caribbean National Weekly devotes an article to a new training program initiated by the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission, after signing a partnership agreement with Forbes Travel Guide. Forbes Travel Guide will provide training for hotel workers in the British Virgin Islands. "The aim is to help enhance participants' skills to improve the customer experience in the territory," said Tourism Director Clive McCoy. Training will begin in November.
