Caribbean round-up: Antigua free education, Jamaica tourism holds up, St Lucia unemployment falls
Also: CARPHA marks Caribbean Wellness Day with a focus on youth, and Guyana's president courts LuLu Group and Qatar Airways.
Antigua and Barbuda
Education Minister Daryll Matthew described the introduction of universal free education from early childhood to university as "historic". The government is covering costs including CXC examinations and tuition at UWI Five Islands.
"It means that in Antigua and Barbuda, in 2026, the question of whether a child is educated to the very limit of their ability is no longer a question about that family's bank balance," Matthew said. He acknowledged increased pressure on schools and promised teachers better tools, training and working conditions.
Caribbean Wellness Day
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) marked Caribbean Wellness Day under the theme "Engage. Empower. Elevate", focusing on mental health, nutrition and substance-use prevention among people aged 18 to 35.
CARPHA executive director Dr Lisa Indar said non-communicable diseases "continue to be the leading cause of death and loss of productivity in the region". CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett said empowering young people "requires a whole-of-society approach".
Guyana
President Irfaan Ali said Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group International is interested in operating in Guyana after he met its chairman, MA Yusuff Ali, during a three-day state visit to Qatar. A technical team is due to visit within 30 days. The president also met Qatar Airways chief executive Hamad Ali Al-Khater about adding Guyana to the airline's network, and held talks with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Jamaica
Jamaica welcomed 2.34 million visitors up to August 31, generating US$2.5 billion in earnings, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said this showed robust demand despite a reduced room stock after Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. About 70% of hotel room capacity has been restored, with the rest due to reopen in phases by the first quarter of 2027.
St Lucia
St Lucia's unemployment rate fell to 10.1% in the second quarter of 2026, from 12.1% in the first quarter and 13.4% a year earlier, according to the Central Statistical Office's Labour Force Survey. The number of people employed reached 99,528, and youth unemployment fell to 15.5% from 24.1% a year earlier. The government credited its economic policies, noting rises in construction employment of 14% and in administrative and support services of 35.1%.
