Antigua and Barbuda
The regional airline LIAT (2020) has rebranded itself, introducing a fresh logo and visual identity inspired by the vibrancy, diversity, and unity of the Caribbean.
The Antigua-based LIAT (2020) Limited said that “Liat Air” is now its new commercial name and brand identity, marking ” a major milestone in our transformation journey and reaffirming our renewed commitment to regional connectivity and operational excellence.”
“While our legal and corporate name, LIAT (2020) Ltd, remains unchanged, we will operate publicly and commercially as Liat Air. This evolution allows us to strengthen our identity in both existing and emerging markets, clarifying who we are and what we do,” the airline said.
“The name LIAT carries deep historical and emotional significance across the Caribbean. However, as we grow and expand into new territories, we recognize the importance of making our purpose unmistakably clear,” said the chief executive officer, Hafsah Abdulsalam.
“The name Liat Air does exactly that, it honors and reinforces our legacy while positioning us confidently in the global aviation space.”
The airline said that the rebranding is part of a broader modernization strategy.
“The rebranding is being implemented in phases; therefore, passengers and the general public may continue to see the previous LIAT20 logo on certain platforms, including our aircraft. The complete transition is expected to be finalized by September 2025.
“Our operations continue to run uninterrupted as we take this exciting step together. Liat Air remains steadfast in its mission to serve the people and Islands of the Caribbean, reconnecting families, supporting economies, and promoting tourism across the region,” the airline added.
Bermuda
Opposition Leader Jarion Richardson recently announced that he will step down from his position as leader of the leading opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) and his position in parliament.
However, the OBA said that Richardson would step down as Opposition Leader on Sept. 8 but would remain as the parliamentary representative for Paget West.
“The next phase of this party’s growth, execution, energy, and endurance requires new leadership. I leave not in protest, but with peace. My work in public service continues, and I remain committed to governance, accountability, and the people of Paget West.”
“Leadership is not a reward – it is a commitment, an action, and a responsibility. And I’m happy and proud to have served in those ways. This resignation is a deliberate handover, giving an aspiring new leadership team the time to form and build on what I built, and what was built before me,” Richardson said in a statement.
“As exhausting a journey as it was, it was a worthwhile journey. I’m honored and I’m privileged to have done it.”
Richardson, who became the party’s leader in August 2023, was praised by the OBA for leading the party through a process of “strategic renewal,” including internal reform, better civic engagement, and the creation of a national platform.
Richardson said that when he first joined politics, his responsibilities meant he had less time for other commitments, including family and work.
“It took time away from other priorities in my life. In fact, there was no other priority in my life for five years other than the One Bermuda Alliance. I want to get back to those priorities, most especially in my family, but also in my career,” he added.
Dominica
The Dominica government said that constructing the multi-million dollar international airport at Wesley, north east of the island, is progressing satisfactorily and is “ahead of schedule.”
Minister of Finance Dr. Irving McIntyre, delivering the EC$1.3 billion budget, told legislators that since the mobilization and commencement of construction of the international airport, there has been substantial progress in transforming “this long-awaited national priority into a reality.
“The scale and pace of work on this project are unprecedented in our nation’s history, and the airport is now over 40 % complete and ahead of schedule,” he said.
McIntyre said that major supporting infrastructure has been constructed to ensure proper drainage and that the runway leveling is anticipated to be complete by the end of December this year.
“We have started construction of the passenger terminal and will soon commence work on the cargo facility, Air traffic control tower, and rescue and firefighting services building. We will also commence construction of a tunnel beneath the runway to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and efficient access between the communities of Wesley and Woodford Hill.”
McIntyre said that the government has, to date, paid over EC$45 million in compensation to 235 property owners, and 47 new homes have been constructed, with 31 built directly by the government.
“This transformative project remains on schedule. It will serve as a catalyst for tourism, trade, and investment, reshaping Dominica’s economic landscape and global connectivity, ” said McIntyre.
He added that the construction of the Cabrits Marina is also progressing on schedule and remains a key pillar in the government’s strategic plan to position Dominica as a premier destination for marine tourism.
Guyana
The Guyana government announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US-based Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change to enhance biodiversity research in the country, focusing on science, data, and technology.
Addressing the inaugural two-day Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the MOU was signed recently and marks the beginning of a strategic, long-term collaboration between Guyana and Yale University.
“This is a monumental step forward for Guyana, but for south-south and north-south collaboration in biodiversity science. We are building the global biodiversity knowledge infrastructure from the ground up and from Guyana out,” he said.
Under this agreement, Yale, through Map of Life, the global biodiversity intelligence platform, will work with Guyana to support the country’s leadership in the Global Biodiversity Alliance.
It also intends for the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change to help Guyana design a world-class International Center of Excellence for biodiversity research, build a National Biodiversity Information System with maps, dashboards, and data layers, and guide the application of cutting-edge biodiversity science to decision-making.
President Ali said that the university brings not only world-class expertise but also a network of partners, including the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, Map of Life, and the Sea-Geo community.
Haiti
Gang violence in Haiti has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and many are finding shelter in former schools.
The classrooms at Anténor Firmin school in Hinche in central Haiti are now filled with over 700 people displaced by violence who are crammed into the crumbling compound, sleeping on the floors of the school.
Warring gangs, which have long controlled most of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, have only recently moved to the more rural areas of the Centre department, where Hinche and Saut-d’Eau are located.
Edens Désir, a former teacher who found refuge in the school where he once studied, where desks have become beds, the classrooms have turned into shelter, and families lie in these crowded rooms, found a way to start over, not for himself, but for the children around him. With just a whiteboard, a marker, and quiet determination, he has brought a sense of purpose to lives that have been thrown off course.
“Ever since I was a kid, I loved teaching,” he explained. “It’s what matters most to me. I’d rather be in front of a class than sitting around doing nothing. For these kids, school is the only real chance they’ve got.”
Clean water is scarce. Hygiene conditions are horrible, with only a few latrines and showers available, hundreds are left without privacy or sanitation and the health risks are growing. Food is just as uncertain.
“There are nights I go to sleep without eating. “Désir says. “But I keep teaching because the kids are here.”
Delivering assistance to the displaced is a difficult task. The main road between the capital and Hinche remains blocked by insecurity, cutting off supply routes and isolating entire communities.
Despite the obstacles, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reached over 800 families across 17 displacement sites, providing emergency items. IOM teams continue working directly with displaced families, host communities, and local authorities to assess needs and provide relief.
— Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan
