PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE MAY 17, 2022 The United States affirms today, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), that the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons are the same human rights to which all persons are entitled. As enshrined in Article 1 …

April 29, 2022 Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  Thank you all for joining us today for this very important meeting.  I am Kamala Harris, and I’m pleased to welcome you all to this conversation and this convening. As a neighbor in the Western Hemisphere, the United States shares a common bond with the nations of …

On February 1, the U.S. Embassy kicked off its Black History Month celebrations with a movie screening of the award-winning film The Great Debaters. More than 70 movie-goers attended the free event at the Globe Drive-In Tuesday night. The movie tells the story of an underdog 1930’s Black debate team, and both the rhetorical and …

On Saturday, December 18, the U.S. Embassy hosted its first Holiday Bazaar dubbed “Entrepren(hers) in the Square” to support alumnae of its Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). The bazaar held at Worthing Square, Christ Church, featured 16 former and current participants of the AWE program, who showcased everything from jewelry to educational services on Saturday …

The U.S. Embassy in association with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) will present the Next Level Hip Hop Exchange, a two-week intensive arts residency, from November 1-12. Four American hip hop artists – Aysha Upchurch (dance), UnLearn the World (MC), Vincent “GYREFUNK” Czekus (beat maker), and J Muzacz (aerosol art) – will join videographer, Anthony …

On September 9, 2021, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) presented the Offshore Tax Evasion Case Study training course to the Grenada Inland Revenue Division and Financial Intelligence Unit. The course incorporated multiple areas of transnational financial crimes specific to offshore banking schemes, tax evasion, and Klein conspiracy, while specifically focusing on an offshore tax …

The Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training launched a two-year initiative referred to as the Saint Lucia ConnectEd Activity. The project is funded through a US$1 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project is a timely response to the need for building the resilience …

On Thursday, September 23, at 10a.m, the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS will host a Facebook Live discussion with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Caribbean Regional Office Director Dr. Varough Deyde. The session will allow the public to ask their questions about vaccines in real-time. The …

On Monday, September 20, U.S. Ambassador to Barbados Linda S. Taglialatela opened the Tactical Safety and Survival Course held at the Regional Police Training Center (RPTC) in Christ Church. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) joined efforts to conduct the …

More than 140 media professionals, academics, and communication students participated in a virtual workshop on “Media and the Law” hosted by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC), with support from the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) between July 20 and August 3, 2021. Over a …

Can data be the answer to unveiling the pathway to reducing crime? Answers to this pertinent question flooded the virtual auditorium as regional agencies, national partners, security personnel and the general public joined in a two-day conference to discuss, examine and analyse data’s role in the future of citizen security in the region. The Citizen …

On Tuesday, August 24, United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Linda Taglialatela attended the ceremony for the arrival of the latest allocation of 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Barbados through the COVAX Facility.  This delivery brings the total doses delivered to Barbados through COVAX to 100,800.  COVAX, a global …

U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), wrapped up his four-day visit to Barbados meeting with acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw and members of Barbados’ National Security Council, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr. Jerome Walcott, Minister of Health and Wellness Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, Minister of …

On Tuesday July 27, the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown in partnership with the Jan’s Empowerment Institute (JEI) launched the U.S. Department of State’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program in Antigua and Barbuda. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy, AWE aims to work with women entrepreneurs to develop …

U.S. Ambassador to Barbados Linda Taglialatela joined Chief Justice of Barbados Sir Patterson Cheltenham and other distinguished guests from around the Caribbean on Wednesday, June 23, to sign an agreement to establish an electronic case management system in the Magistrates Courts in Barbados. U.S. Ambassador Taglialatela explained, “The introduction of an electronic court case management …

The United States Agency for International Development/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission (USAID/ESC) and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, June 21. The signing of the MOU occurred at the offices of the CDF in Barbados. The MOU provides a broad framework for cooperation between the two organizations and …

JUNE 01, 2021 •  PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS The uprising at the Stonewall Inn in June, 1969, sparked a liberation movement — a call to action that continues to inspire us to live up to our Nation’s promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all.  Pride is a time to recall the trials the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer …

On Wednesday, May 19, U.S. Ambassador to Barbados Linda Taglialatela attended a brief ceremony with Lt Col Junior Browne, Director of Operations for the Barbados Defence Force’s Field Medical Team (FMT) to officially handover US$30,000 in medical equipment. This donation will assist with the deployment of the Field Medical Facility in the event of a …

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Center on Crime and Community Resilience (CCR) at Northeastern University organized a virtual conference to promote evidence-based decision making for more effective strategies to prevent and reduce youth crime and violence in vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC). The event forms …

U.S. Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Linda Taglialatela announced in Kingstown an additional US$3.8 million in humanitarian assistance for people affected by the eruption of La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent.  This additional support through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide thousands of people in Saint Vincent …

The U.S. government has mobilized a multi-tier, interagency approach to bring much needed relief to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently announced an increase of US$100,000 in disaster relief for people affected by violent eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano. Partnering with the St. Vincent …

The U.S. Agency for International Development is providing an immediate $100,000 in disaster relief for people affected by violent eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano on the island of Saint Vincent. This assistance follows support USAID has already provided to the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) for evacuation efforts and the …

The United States congratulates St. Kitts and Nevis on the April 7 arrival of more than 21,000 vaccines through COVAX, its first tranche from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. COVAX is a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. St. Kitts and Nevis participate as a self-financing member and an active partner …

The United States congratulates Antigua and Barbuda on the April 8 arrival of 24,000 vaccines through COVAX, its first tranche from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. COVAX is a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Antigua and Barbuda participates as a self-financing member and an active partner in the multilateral effort …

On Friday, April 9, U.S. Southern Command donated a C-26A maritime patrol aircraft spare engine to the Regional Security System (RSS) Air Wing, as well as additional aviation spare parts including gyros, landing actuators, and navigational transponders. The donation, which is valued at approximately US$750,000, is part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Foreign …

The United States congratulates Grenada on the successful arrival of 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 on April 7, 2021. This shipment was made possible through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The United States recently announced an initial $2 billion obligation—out of a total planned …

[Castries, Saint Lucia] — The United States congratulates Saint Lucia on the successful arrival of 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 on April 7, 2021. This shipment was made possible through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.  The United States recently announced an initial $2 billion obligation—out …

[Roseau, Dominica] — The United States congratulates Dominica on the successful arrival of 28,800 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 on April 6, 2021. This shipment was made possible through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.  The United States recently announced an initial $2 billion obligation—out of a …

On March 30th, the Embassy of the United States and the High Commission of Canada jointly hosted a virtual dialogue on the “Gender Economic Disparity in the Eastern Caribbean.” The event, streamed on Facebook Live, featured a moderated discussion on the ways in which the private and public sectors can incorporate more gender-inclusive policies as …

On March 25, 2021, the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS convened 21 Eastern Caribbean and U.S. female leaders at a virtual conference to inspire and expand the networks of over 150 female conference participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent …

On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS held a closing ceremony for its second cohort of Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program. The Academy graduated 24 women creating and leading start-ups in construction, catering, fashion, education, human resource development, and other fields. The program provided them …

On March 17, 2021 the United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided five drones to the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) to strengthen the region’s capability to predict and respond to climate variability and natural disasters. The drones will support the CIMH’s work in gathering climate data …

Marika Baptiste of the St. Vincent Girls’ High School won the top prize at the U.S. Embassy’s Fourth Annual Black History Month Secondary School Speech Competition. The competition is held each February in recognition of Black History Month. This year secondary school students from across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean were invited to give outstanding …

A virtual meet and greet session for participants of the Crisis Communication TechCamp took place on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. The event was coordinated by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), U.S. Embassies of the Eastern Caribbean, and ECA TechCamp. The event brought together over 30 journalists, government information officers, disaster management professionals, and …

Members of the Royal Grenada Police Force at a training session for the Police Incident Form which was developed under the CariSECURE project. The United States Government is Strengthening Evidence Based Decision Making in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean On December 14, 2020, the Citizen Security in the Caribbean (CariSECURE) project and its software development …

BRIDGETOWN – On Wednesday, November 11, music students from Barbados Community College (BCC) and University of West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus sang, danced, and played instruments alongside Tim and the Space Cadets, a New York-based music group touring Barbados this week.  Tim Kubart, who won a Grammy award for Best Children’s Album in 2016, …

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown has partnered with the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT), and the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) to implement the U.S. Department of State’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program. The AWE program will begin on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 and will run until Tuesday, March 18, 2021. Sessions will be held …

We All Have a Duty to Protect Our Oceans U.S. Ambassador Linda S. Taglialatela Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott wrote, “The sea is history.”  Scientific theory holds that life on earth began shortly after the formation of the world’s oceans 4.4 billion years ago and may have started there.  Today our oceans remain a lifeline, covering …

St. George’s, Grenada – Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean (Peace Corps EC) continued its series of stakeholder meetings with a session in Grenada on Monday, November 19thth at the Marryshow House UWI Centre. The meetings bring together senior members of the Ministry of Education, along with District Officers, Principals, Teachers, Peace Corps Volunteers and members of …

November 25, 2019 United States Working with St. Vincent and the Grenadines by Digitizing Crime and Violence Data On November 25, the United States Government, in support of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, launched a Police Records Management Information System (PRMIS).  The PRMIS will help the Police Force to improve data management …

On Friday, November 1, 2019 the U.S. Embassy in Barbados presented a grant of US$24,921 to the Girl Guides Association of Barbados (GGAB), in support of a soon to be executed program entitled: “Girl Guides Strong: Towards 100% Renewables.”  The program will enable members of the GGAB, aged 7-25, to learn and improve their technical …

On August 8, 2019, eight Youth Ambassadors from the Eastern Caribbean traveled to the United States to participate on the 2019 Youth Ambassadors Program. Sierra Letlow and Esquire Henry of Antigua and Barbuda; Joshua Desir of Barbados; Shawnalee Gordon of Dominica; Kenya Louison of Grenada; Sephra Serieux and Sherwin Alexander of St. Lucia; and Nikita …

As we begin hurricane season, all of us in the Eastern Caribbean must work together to prepare our families and fellow citizens for the potential destruction these storms can unleash.  The devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria are constant reminders that these storms are the biggest threats to the region.  One category four or five …

The U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS was pleased to host Shanna McClain, PhD on Friday, May 31, 2019 for an educational presentation on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).  Dr. McClain is the Program Lead for Risk Reduction and Resilience with NASA’s Disasters Program.  Her work involves developing resilience-based programs …

Environmental leaders worked in partnership to restore St. Vincent and Grenadines largest mangrove system. On May 31, international and national environmental leaders and representatives from the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the government of Grenada celebrated the long-awaited restoration of Ashton Lagoon at Sustainable Grenadines’ (SusGren) office located in Jerome Village on …

The U.S. Embassy in Barbados has partnered with the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) to implement the U.S. Department of State’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program. The Academy of Women Entrepreneurs course will begin in early July 2019 and will run for thirteen (13) weeks. Sessions will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30pm …

Official Contest Rules  “Protect Our Species – Earth Day 2019 Poster Competition” Competition Sponsors [1] The “Protect Our Species – Earth Day 2019 Poster Competition” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Description of Contest Objectives Earth Day is an …

The Embassy of the United States of America invites proposals for customized Health and Group Life Insurance for the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States is pleased to host the Huntertones, an American jazz ensemble in a four-country tour. The program traveled to St. Lucia, and will perform in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda.