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The sights, sounds, and flavors of the Caribbean will take center stage this summer at the 1st Annual Caribbean Vibes Party and Caribbean Theme Boat Contest, set for Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 1 PM to 6 PM at the Southern Shore Yacht Club, 6401 South Richard Drive, Jackson Park Inner Harbor, Chicago, IL 60649.

Presented by Cruise Planners and sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, this one-of-a-kind event is an immersive celebration of Caribbean culture, designed to spotlight tourism, hospitality, and heritage in an exciting new way.

Why It Matters: According to Norrell Joseph, Sales & Marketing Manager for Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority USA, this cultural activation merges entertainment and tourism marketing, providing an opportunity for destinations like Antigua and Barbuda to reach the African American travel market, while elevating awareness of Caribbean destinations through themed visuals, music, cuisine, and contests—all against the stunning backdrop of a Chicago lakefront harbor.

Event Highlights Include: – Caribbean lunch experience (1:30 PM–4 PM) featuring regional flavors of – Oxtails, jerk and grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, and sides.

–Unlimited English Harbor rum punch, live music, DJs, and dancing.

* Caribbean Boat Theme Contest with cash prizes and a stay at St. James Club Antigua.

* A unique tourism activation opportunity with direct audience engagement.

Audience & Access: This inaugural event targets culture seekers, boaters, and travelers who are passionate about the Caribbean lifestyle and looking to experience the islands from the heart of Chicago. Attendees must purchase advance tickets to participate. Southern Shore Yacht Club members and boaters receive a preferred rate of $45 (plus fees), all others $50.

Advance Tickets are _only_ available at: https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/caribbeanvibes/

Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Hon. Anthony Smith Jr., has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in restoring and boosting production of the Antigua Black Pineapple.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has embarked on an ambitious initiative to revive the iconic fruit, with a goal of cultivating over 200,000 plants by the end of 2026.

The first step in the restoration process involved selecting premium strains of the Antigua Black Pineapple from 10 local farmers. These selected strains underwent a tissue culture clean-up process and were sent to a laboratory in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for propagation.

“We had our first 15,000 slips come in from the lab in St. Vincent. At Cades Bay, we have already planted all 15,000 of those pineapple slips, and we are now awaiting an additional 15,000 to arrive.

We are also working with our local pineapple farmers to obtain more slips, which are currently being planted at Cades Bay as well. I must say again that I am very proud of the Ministry of Agriculture and where we are at the moment with the resuscitation of the Antigua Black Pineapple,” Minister Smith stated.

According to the Minister, Antiguans and Barbudans will have an opportunity to witness the progress made during Piango Fest, scheduled for October 17th at Cades Bay.

“I’ll use this opportunity to invite the local population to Piango Fest on October 17th, which will be held at Cades Bay—the same location where the pineapples are being cultivated.

As part of the event, we will have officers from the station available to guide members of the public through the fields and demonstrate the progress we’ve made with the resuscitation effort,” he added.

Minister Smith also acknowledged the critical support of regional and international partners in the restoration efforts.

“Again, we are very proud of where we are. We must thank our partners: IICA for the role they’ve played, CARDI, who have also made a major contribution, and the FAO for their assistance.

Most importantly, we must thank the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for the resources they have committed to the resuscitation of our Antiguan Black Pineapple.”

He emphasized the pivotal role of local farmers and revealed that, once available, the Ministry will begin distributing pineapple heads to farmers to support wider cultivation.

He also encouraged youth participation in agriculture, especially in pineapple production, highlighting its profitability and strong government support.

The Antigua Black Pineapple, renowned for its distinctive sweetness, is more than just a crop—it is a national treasure and a powerful symbol of Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural heritage.

This initiative not only safeguards the genetic legacy of the fruit but also promotes it on local, regional, and international platforms.

In a monumental step for human rights in the Eastern Caribbean, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has declared sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Code criminalizing buggery and gross indecency are inconsistent with various Constitutional rights protected under the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of Saint Lucia.

The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) alongside United and Strong, welcome this historic ruling.

It comes as a beacon of hope amid recent setbacks, such as disappointments in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Trinidad and Tobago, that have tested our region’s commitment to equality.

The decision of the Honourable Justice Innocent declared that sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia criminalizing consensual same sex intimacy in private contravene the rights to protection of the law, privacy, life, liberty, security of the person, freedom of expression, and protection from discrimination on the basis of sex (interpreted to include sexual orientation). Thereby affirming that such colonial-era laws are incompatible with modern democratic principles and human dignity.

This is the fourth major decision in a regional, five-country legal challenge led by ECADE since 2020, following similar rulings in Antigua and Barbuda (June 2022), Saint Kitts and Nevis (August 2022) and Barbados (December 2022).

Despite infrequent enforcement, these outdated laws have long fueled stigma, discrimination and violence.

The court declaring these provisions unconstitutional and ordering that the law be read in a way that removes discriminatory language and recognises the rights of all consenting adults, regardless of gender, affirms the dignity and humanity of LGBTQ+ individuals in Saint Lucia.

Kenita Placide, Executive Director of ECADE and long-time LGBTQ+ advocate in Saint Lucia, hailed the decision;

“This decision is deeply personal. For many years we’ve worked to see the rights, lives and dignity of LGBTQ+ persons in Saint Lucia and the OECS protected.

Today’s ruling is not just a win in the courts, it also represents a step towards justice for the many lives lost to violence simply for being themselves. It signals that our Caribbean can and must be a place where all people are free and equal under the law.’

ECADE commends the bravery of the claimants and the legal team, led by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, and Attorney-at-Law Veronica Cenac.

This case marks another turning point in a growing movement across the Caribbean to repeal discriminatory laws and affirm LGBTQ+ rights. This judgment affirms what we have always known: that LGBTQ+ Saint Lucians deserve to live without fear of criminalisation.

ECADE remains steadfast in its commitment across an intersection of issues to advancing justice, equality, and dignity for all LGBTQ+ people and other vulnerable groups in the Eastern Caribbean and beyond.

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Machel Montano Pays Courtesy Visit to Prime Minister Gaston Browne

UNAIDS celebrates the groundbreaking decision by the High Court of Justice in Saint Lucia declaring sections 132 and 133 of the Criminal Code unconstitutional for criminalizing consensual adult sexual acts in private. This triumph upholds LGBTQ+ people’s rights to protection of the law, privacy, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, and equal protection under the law, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“This landmark decision underscores the transformative power of the law in protecting human rights and public health,” said Luisa Cabal, UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “In a region where punitive laws hindered progress towards ending AIDS, Saint Lucia’s High Court has set a powerful precedent. UNAIDS stands ready to support all governments and communities in ensuring everyone can live free from discrimination and access the services they need to thrive healthily and safely,” said Ms. Cabal.

The case is one of the five country strategic litigation initiatives of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) which has been working closely with LGBTQ+ organizations, individuals and allies to protect and promote the community’s basic human rights. The case removes outdated, colonial-era barriers that fuel stigma, discrimination and violence. The Court modified the laws relating to exclude private consensual acts between adults (section 132) and those aged 16+ (section 133), paving the way for dignity and equality to be respected.

Saint Lucia now joins Belize (2016), Antigua and Barbuda (2022), St. Kitts and Nevis (2022), Barbados (2022), and Dominica (2024), which decriminalised same-sex intimacy in recent years. This chronology reflects a surging momentum against outdated laws, fostering more inclusive, rights-based societies across the region.

“The ruling in Saint Lucia gives us hope, demonstrating that justice and equality can prevail and that our courts are advancing public health initiatives by protecting human rights,” said Richard Amenyah, UNAIDS Country Director for the Caribbean. “By removing these outdated criminal provisions, we open doors for LGBTQ+ individuals to seek HIV prevention and care without fear, ultimately strengthening our regional fight against HIV and saving lives.”

UNAIDS champions this move as a key stride toward zero discrimination and ending AIDS by 2030. By erasing these discriminatory provisions, the ruling removes an obstacle to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, vital in a region where gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender women have disproportionately high rates of HIV and often are kept away from health services for fear of stigma, discrimination and criminalization.

UNAIDS urges remaining countries where these discriminatory laws remain on the books to repeal such laws and prioritize rights-based HIV strategies for healthier futures and more equitable societies.