Global Pulse

标签： Africa

非洲

  • No Official Opening Parade for Carnival 2025

    No Official Opening Parade for Carnival 2025

    There will be no official opening parade for Antigua’s Carnival this year, according to Mas and Parades Sub-Committee Chair Marcelle Freeland.

    Instead, elements of the traditional cultural showcase will be incorporated into the LIAT T-shirt Mas on Friday, 26 July.

    Freeland said the parade will start at the Old House of Culture and follow a route through Queen Elizabeth Highway, featuring stilt walkers, moko jumbies, John Bulls, steel and iron bands, and other traditional characters.

    “We’re hoping to pay tribute to Claudette Peters, Burning Flames, and have Hell’s Gate participate in honour of their 80th anniversary,” she said.

    Seventeen troupes have registered for T-shirt Mas. The parade is set for 3pm to 9pm and will follow a route from Old Parham Road near T.N. Kirnon School through several key city streets before returning to the starting point.

    Judging will take place at three points: Factory Road (near the old Brother Bee gas station), Redcliffe Street (outside the Cultural Division), and the top of High Street.

    Freeland urged all bands to be punctual for T-shirt Mas and all other scheduled parades.

  • DJ Khaled visit boosts Antigua’s cultural tourism push

    DJ Khaled visit boosts Antigua’s cultural tourism push

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez has hailed DJ Khaled’s recent visit as a valuable boost for the island’s cultural and culinary promotion efforts.

    The international music producer spent the weekend exploring local hotspots, including popular eateries Landing Strip and Perry Bay BBQ, sharing his experiences with millions of followers on social media.

    “This visit is significant, especially during our culture-culinary month,” said Fernandez. “It’s a chance to showcase our food and encourage experiential tourism.”

    DJ Khaled also attended Claudette Peters’ Kiddies Fete at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, engaging with the local entertainment scene.

    Fernandez said celebrity visits help brand the destination. “He’s done a tremendous job promoting Antigua and Barbuda,” he added.

  • Curfew to remain in place and will be strictly enforced, Cabinet Decides

    Curfew to remain in place and will be strictly enforced, Cabinet Decides

    CABINET NOTES: **The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda recently held discussions regarding the possible relaxation of the curfew law that came into effect on October 1, 2024, following amendments to the Small Charges Act.**

    **This legislation prohibits minors from being outdoors unaccompanied between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, unless special permission has been granted.**

    After comprehensive consultations—including input from senior officials of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda—the Cabinet resolved that the law will remain in force and that its provisions are to be strictly enforced.

    Under the legislation, parents or guardians of minors found in breach of the curfew may face the following penalties:

    * A fine of up to EC $5,000 for a third offense

    * For earlier offenses, warnings or escalating fines starting at EC $2,000, increasing to EC $3,000, and ultimately EC $5,000, with the possibility of six months’ imprisonment or community service

    * Establishments such as bars, nightclubs, or events that permit unaccompanied minors during curfew hours may also be fined EC $5,000 per violation

    The Government views the curfew as part of a broader strategy to curb youth-related crime, reduce unsupervised nighttime activity, and reinforce the responsibility of parents and guardians in safeguarding the well-being of minors.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Among Top Eastern Caribbean Nations in Minimum Wage Purchasing Power

    Antigua and Barbuda Among Top Eastern Caribbean Nations in Minimum Wage Purchasing Power

    Minimum wage levels across CARICOM reveal significant disparities in worker compensation standards throughout the region. According to 2024 ILO Statistics, monthly minimum wages range from over $1,000 to under $200 when adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP).

    The figures are presented in PPP dollars, which adjust for differences in the cost of living between countries, providing a more accurate comparison of what these wages can actually buy in each nation. This means the numbers reflect the real purchasing power of minimum wage workers rather than simple currency conversions.

    The Bahamas leads the region with a monthly minimum wage of $1,017 PPP, closely followed by Dominica at $1,001. Trinidad and Tobago rounds out the top three at $909. These higher-wage nations contrast sharply with countries at the lower end of the spectrum, where Suriname ($283) and Haiti ($167) set minimum wages well below regional averages.

    Several Eastern Caribbean states show relatively strong performance, with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ($766), Saint Kitts and Nevis ($740), Grenada ($705), and Antigua and Barbuda ($702) all maintaining wages above $700. Jamaica, despite its larger economy, falls in the middle range at $670, while Guyana registers $624 and Barbados $542.

    These disparities mean that a minimum wage worker in The Bahamas has over six times the purchasing power of their counterpart in Haiti, illustrating how national economic policies and conditions significantly affect workers’ economic realities.