By Suzette A. Henry

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 25, 2025: Along the sun-kissed shores of the Eastern Caribbean, a silent epidemic is growing. It threatens the future of our youth and the strength of our communities. Obesity, particularly among adolescents, has surged at alarming rates. Nevis, a small but vibrant island, now bears the unfortunate distinction of having the highest per capita adolescent obesity rate in the region. According to the World Health Organization, (WHO, 2023), nearly one in three Caribbean adolescents is either overweight or obese, with Nevis reaching over 35 percent. This is a public health emergency unfolding in plain sight.

As I have journeyed across Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Montserrat, Guyana, and the twin-island federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, my heart has been both refreshed by our cultural richness and heavy with concern. Vending stalls overflow with sugary drinks and ultra-processed snacks. Schoolyards once alive with play now show signs of inactivity. The data confirms what the eye cannot ignore. A 2022 Pan American Health Organization, (PAHO) study revealed that more than 60 percent of Caribbean adults are overweight or obese, many from as early as adolescence. This trend increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, infertility, and even early death.

A broader regional snapshot further underscores the scale of this health crisis. Based on a 2019 PAHO comparative analysis, WHO Global Health Observatory data (2022), and Caribbean Public Health Agency, (CARPHA) reports, adult obesity prevalence in the Eastern Caribbean remains among the highest worldwide:
• Saint Kitts and Nevis: 45.6%
• Antigua and Barbuda: 33.3%
• Barbados: 38.0%
• Jamaica: 33.8%
• Dominica: 31.3%
• Saint Lucia: 33.5%
• Saint Vincent & the Grenadines: 33.2%

While the general Caribbean average is around 25%, several Eastern Caribbean nations now exceed 30%, and in the case of Saint Kitts and Nevis, nearly 46%. Antigua and Barbuda’s prevalence of 33.3% places it in step with this concerning regional trend.

In Saint Kitts and Nevis specifically, the Global Nutrition Report 2025 reveals that 33.6% of adult women and 18.1% of adult men are living with obesity – higher than the regional average for women (30.7%) and slightly below for men (22.8%). According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Observatory, approximately 23.1% of adults in Saint Kitts and Nevis have obesity (BMI ≥ 30, age-standardized), confirming a national burden in line with regional trends. Alarmingly, diabetes is estimated to affect 19.3% of adult women and 15.3% of adult men. Despite the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, there is still inadequate data on obesity prevalence among children under five, and no clear sign the nation is reversing these trends.

What is driving this growing health crisis? It is not only the food but the full plate of modern life. Our diets have shifted from vibrant local produce to heavily processed imports. Physical activity has declined, replaced by screen time and sedentary habits. Aggressive marketing of unhealthy products to children and economic barriers to healthy eating further compound the problem. In Nevis, the shift from farm-fresh ground provisions to convenient processed foods, combined with the loss of active communal living, paints a picture of lifestyle disconnection and cultural drift.

Yet the roots of our healing are still present in our soil, our traditions, and our kitchens. Alternative and integrative approaches, rooted in Caribbean heritage, offer hope. Herbal remedies like moringa for metabolism, neem for blood sugar regulation, cerasee for detoxification, and turmeric for inflammation have long been used in our communities. When paired with plant-based diets rich in callaloo, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, and guava, these natural interventions can significantly improve health outcomes. A clinical trial in Barbados by Best et al. (2020) demonstrated that culturally tailored lifestyle interventions led to measurable weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity within just six months. Healing does not always come in a capsule; it often comes in a calabash.

Medically appropriate strategies must support these lifestyle shifts. School-based screening and early intervention programs, community nutrition education, regular BMI tracking, and multidisciplinary wellness clinics should be prioritized. Pediatricians, dietitians, behavioral therapists, and exercise coaches must work together with families to support sustainable change. For young people already facing obesity, early referrals and ongoing support are critical. The earlier the intervention, the greater the chance of recovery and resilience.

The cost of inaction is far too great. Obesity burdens our healthcare systems, weakens our workforce, and shortens life expectancy. It disrupts families, fuels absenteeism in schools, and contributes to emotional distress and mental health challenges among our youth. A 2021 CARPHA report linked adolescent obesity to increased depression, social isolation, and early-onset non-communicable diseases. If left unchecked, this crisis will not only shorten lives but diminish the Caribbean’s collective future.

We do not need a temporary fix. We need a movement. A movement of parents who cook from the garden, teachers who inspire active learning, churches that preach wholeness, and leaders who legislate for health equity. We must return to homegrown habits, traditional knowledge, and faith-fueled purpose. The Caribbean’s healing lies not in imported pills but in the power of our people to reclaim their health, their heritage, and their hope. Acting now, with courage and compassion, to ensure our children carry dreams and not disease is a high priority.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Suzette A. Henry, MBA, MD, PhD, is a physician, public health advocate, and long-term health executive with over 27 years of experience in clinical care, education, and leadership. She holds degrees in nursing, biomedical sciences, business administration, and medicine from SUNY Downstate, Kaplan University, and the University of Science, Arts, and Technology.

NEWS AMERICAS, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, June 20, 2025: EarlyHealth Group (EHG), a global pharmaceutical company, and The University of the West Indies (The UWI) have announced a landmark partnership to accelerate clinical research and biomarker innovation throughout Barbados and the wider Caribbean.

This collaboration aims to accelerate advanced biobanking infrastructure and incorporate genotype-based biomarkers into regional clinical and translational research. The initiative will focus on identifying the genetic basis of hereditary disorders that disproportionately affect Caribbean populations, including hemoglobinopathies, oncogenic mutations, and metabolic syndromes.

By leveraging the region’s distinct genomic diversity and The UWI’s strong research capacity, the partnership is poised to drive precision medicine approaches tailored to Caribbean communities. This will improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance therapeutic targeting, and lead to better health outcomes across the region.

“This collaboration represents an important step forward in The UWI’s mission to elevate health research in the Caribbean,” said Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. “Through this partnership, EarlyHealth will not only support capacity-building efforts, such as laboratory enhancements and regulatory training, but help empower our scientific community to bring cutting-edge research closer to the people of the Caribbean, while contributing to the global scientific landscape.”

“We are excited to leverage our global sponsor network alongside The UWI’s deep understanding of Caribbean health needs, to create new clinical research opportunities for the region,” said Mr. Shaquille Williams, Director of Business Development for the Caribbean Region.

This strategic alliance underlines EHG’s and The UWI’s commitment to advancing evidence-based healthcare solutions for the Caribbean, while positioning the region as an emerging contributor to global pharmaceutical and biomedical innovation.

This initiative, facilitated by the Embassy of Barbados in the United Arab Emirates, highlights the growing importance of commercial diplomacy in a fast-changing multi-polar world.

About EarlyHealth Group

EarlyHealth Group is a global pharmaceutical company specializing in research, clinical trial management, and commercialization, driven by a core mission to make healthcare accessible.

Learn more at www.early-health.com

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been central to Caribbean development for over 75 years. Today, it is an internationally respected institution with five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, with global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu

News Americas, New York, NY, June 11, 2025: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is warning its nationals about stricter U.S. immigration enforcement following a formal Diplomatic Note from the Government of the United States.

People participate in the annual Guyana Independence Parade in Brooklyn on June 01, 2025 in New York City. This year’s parade, which also includes an afternoon of food and celebrations, is dedicated to Adriana Younge’s memory. Younge was an 11-year-old Guyanese girl whose death sparked national protests and international outcry over allegations that officials with the government were involved in a cover-up. The Brooklyn Independence celebration is the largest Guyanese celebration outside of Guyana and one of the largest West Indian celebrations in New York City, following the West Indian American Day Parade. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The warning comes as the administration of President Donald Trump reinstates and expands a number of hardline immigration policies. According to the U.S. government, these measures include the strict prosecution of individuals entering or remaining in the country unlawfully, and extend to criminal penalties and legal action against those violating their terms of entry.

The U.S. Secretary of State has reportedly made it clear that while the United States continues to welcome legitimate, documented travelers, there will be zero tolerance for violations of immigration law. The policies cover unauthorized entry, overstaying visas, and engaging in criminal activities as a non-citizen.

The Ministry emphasized that Guyanese nationals found to be in violation of U.S. immigration rules could face arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, or substantial fines. Nationals currently residing illegally in the U.S. are being strongly advised to leave the country immediately.

Guyanese citizens are encouraged to use legal and authorized avenues for travel, employment, education, or permanent relocation to the U.S. The Ministry also urges full compliance with American immigration regulations to avoid serious legal consequences.

This latest development adds urgency for those seeking to migrate to the United States to ensure all documentation and entry methods are in line with U.S. law.

News Americas, New York, NY, June 5, 2025: June 2025 – The Caribbean Culture Fund (CCF) has launched its third call for proposals, offering a total of USD 400,000 in grants to bolster cultural and creative projects throughout the region.

This latest round of funding invites individuals, organizations, and institutions to submit proposals by June 15, 2025, through the CCF’s platform. Projects from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and for the second time, Haiti, are all eligible for support under this initiative.

The 2025 call offers funding under three key themes:

Art for Change – Ten grants of USD 10,000 each will support projects that use the arts to foster social reflection and drive transformation.

Caribbean Collaboration – Ten grants of USD 25,000 each are designated for projects that promote intra-Caribbean artistic exchange and cooperation.

Residencies and Fellowships – Ten grants of USD 5,000 each will support short-term residencies hosted by Caribbean-based institutions, aimed at enriching regional artistic dialogue and mobility.

“Our residencies and fellowships programme is designed to build stronger networks across the Caribbean’s rich cultural landscape,” said Kellie Magnus, Executive Director of the Caribbean Culture Fund. “We want to change the idea that an opportunity for immersion means leaving the region. There are incredible opportunities within each of our countries from which artists from other parts of the region can benefit.”

The residencies and fellowships component is open to cultural institutions and residential-capable organizations located in the Caribbean, as well as cities in Latin America with deep Caribbean heritage ties. Priority will be given to established programs and cultural events that facilitate the participation of Caribbean creatives across different linguistic backgrounds. Grants may cover airfare, accommodation, stipends, and interpretation services.

Selected creatives must participate in at least one public and one virtual event during their residency. Program durations may range from one to six weeks, depending on the proposal.

Eligible disciplines include visual arts, performing arts, festival arts, film, literary arts, architecture, design, and interdisciplinary forms. Proposals should be clearly structured, feasible, and demonstrate a strong connection between objectives and budgets, while addressing potential implementation challenges.

To apply or learn more, visit caribbeanculturefund.com.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. June 2, 2025: In a striking omission, the White House has failed to issue a proclamation for National Caribbean American Heritage Month (CAHM), marking the first time in two decades that the federal observance has gone unrecognized at the presidential level.

June 1st, 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of CAHM – a milestone year that should have been celebrated widely. Yet, while proclamations were issued by the Trump White House on May 16th for both Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month, the Caribbean American community has so far received no such acknowledgment.

Traditionally, proclamations recognizing CAHM are released on or before May 31st. As recently as last year, the Biden administration had celebrated the month, emphasizing the vital role that Caribbean immigrants have played in shaping the United States. That 2024 proclamation praised the “diverse cultures” and “unwavering contributions” of Caribbean Americans who helped uphold America’s “most sacred values of opportunity and freedom.”

The inaugural proclamation establishing Caribbean American Heritage Month was issued on June 5, 2008, by then-President George W. Bush. In it, Bush declared: “Our Nation has thrived as a country of immigrants, and we are more vibrant and hopeful because of the talent, faith, and values of Caribbean Americans.”

But today, as the Trump administration intensifies its rollback of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, the month appears to have been sidelined. The silence comes just days after a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision on May 30th allowed the administration to move forward with revoking humanitarian parole protections for over 500,000 migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela – many of whom are Caribbean nationals.

The ruling has left countless immigrants in legal limbo and deepened the anxiety already rippling through the Caribbean diaspora, particularly among those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Haitians and Cubans now face the threat of deportation come August and September, respectively, despite escalating violence and unrest in their home countries.

Still, the demographic footprint of Caribbean Americans remains undeniable. Caribbean immigrant Alexander Hamilton, born in Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis, was a U.S. Founding Father and the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury. A key architect of America’s financial system, Hamilton served under President George Washington from 1789 to 1795. He also co-founded the Federalist Party and the African Free School, and played a pivotal role in shaping the early United States. Hamilton was married to Elizabeth Schuyler and was tragically killed in a duel in 1804. His legacy as a Caribbean-born visionary and American statesman endures.

Meanwhile, according to 2020 U.S. Census data – the first decennial survey to allow respondents to write in their Caribbean ancestry – some 4.6 million people in the U.S. identified as having roots in the Caribbean. The majority hailed from three nations: Jamaica (1,047,117), Haiti (1,032,747), and Trinidad and Tobago (194,364).

Geographically, Caribbean Americans are most heavily concentrated in Florida (30%), New York (25%), and New Jersey (6%). The data also show that most Caribbean Americans fall within the 45–64 age range, reflecting a well-established and mature population.

Caribbean presence in the U.S. dates back centuries. Historians like Jennifer Faith Gray of the Scottish Centre for Global History note that enslaved Africans were brought from the Caribbean to the U.S. as early as the 1660s, with one-third to half of enslaved persons in the Carolinas during the colonial era coming directly from the Caribbean. Harvard University, among others, profited from Caribbean slave labor through financial instruments and loans.

One of the most notable acts of Caribbean American resistance in U.S. history came in 1822, when Denmark Vesey, a Caribbean-born former slave, led a planned slave revolt in Charleston, South Carolina – one of the largest of its time.

Despite this rich and complex legacy, the lack of White House recognition in 2025 leaves many in the Caribbean American community asking: where is the respect, and who will stand up for us now?

As Caribbean American Heritage Month proceeds in silence from the nation’s highest office, one thing remains clear – this community’s history runs deep, and its contributions continue to shape the American story, with or without the fanfare.