McHale Andrew’s article, “At the Crossroads Again,” attempts to position the upcoming election as a choice between continuity and instability. But the piece would be far more credible if it reflected the same standards McHale once demanded from prior administrations. For years, he was one of the foremost voices on transparency and accountability; yet today, that clarity has faded. Instead of confronting the government’s serious breaches of accountability, especially as the real indicators of progress such as safety, healthcare access, cost of living, and economic mobility are at their worst levels in modern history, he has resorted to political polishing in an attempt to mask the real lived experience of the people. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre The writer correctly cites Carl Stone’s observation that voters often act out of frustration, but he ignores the obvious: Saint Lucians are frustrated for good reason. There has been no real human development...

25 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Spain is back atop the football world for a second time, after Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup — unquestionably the goal of his life — gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final on Sunday. “It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. Maybe not by them — but certainly for them. It denied Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated was his final World Cup match. Torres, a second-half substitute, pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar in the 106th minute. From there, the airtight defence that dominated opponents throughout the tournament came through one final time. Spain — which also won the title in 2010 — allowed only one...

The recently concluded General Election, which delivered a decisive 16–1 victory to the Saint Lucia Labour Party over the United Workers Party, stands as one of the most significant electoral outcomes in Saint Lucia’s modern political history. Prime Minister Philip Pierre being sworn-in at last Friday’s swearing in ceremony by Cabinet Secretary Agosta Degazon While comparisons to the 1997 Labour landslide are inevitable, a closer examination shows that although the figures are identical, the meaning of the mandate is profoundly different. In 1997, under the leadership of Kenny D. Anthony, the landslide reflected pent-up frustration with the prevailing order and soaring expectations for systemic reform. It was a vote driven by hope, emotion, and a strong appetite for change. By contrast, the 2025 election, led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, was far more measured. It was neither a protest vote nor a leap of faith. Instead, it reflected a...

Journalist Kim Ives interviews analyst Kervens Louissaint about the return of former President Michel Martellly to Haiti, the deployment of Sri Lankan and Chadian troops as part of the Washington-assembled Gang Suppression Force (GSF), and some of Louissaint’s recent writings on Haitian society, among other topics. Previous articleLa CARICOM se range derrière Fils-Aimé et Trump

24 Young revellers lit up the National Botanical Gardens on Saturday as the 2026 Sandy Lane Charitable Trust and Affinity Plus Junior Kadooment Parade showcased the creativity, energy and cultural pride of Barbados’ youngest masqueraders. Hundreds of children, dressed in colourful and intricately designed costumes, entertained spectators as they paraded to pulsating music in a vibrant celebration of Crop Over, community, and youth spirit. A total of 24 bands took part in this year’s parade, representing a mix of community groups, schools, and private organisations. Their presentations reflected a wide range of themes, from Barbadian culture and national heroes to technological innovation, music, and imaginative fantasy. Although brief showers interrupted the latter part of the event, the rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the young participants, who continued to dance, wave, and perform for cheering family members and supporters lining the route.

Veteran Journalist and DBS Special Report Host Lissa Joseph The Saint Lucian media landscape is in mourning today following the heartbreaking news of the passing of Lissa Joseph, a veteran journalist whose voice and presence became a staple across the nation. As the host of DBS Television’s Special Report, Joseph was widely respected for her incisive interviewing style, professional integrity, and her unwavering commitment to bringing critical issues to the forefront of public discourse. Her career, spanning several years, was defined by a passion for storytelling and a dedication to the high standards. The Star extends our deepest and most sincere condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues at DBS Television during this difficult time. Her loss leaves a significant void in the journalism fraternity, but her legacy will undoubtedly endure.

349 Tipsy Music Festival (TMF) Beach 2026 got off to an energetic start on Saturday as hundreds of patrons packed the Copacabana Beach Club on Bay Street, St Michael, for the opening day of the two-day festival. The beachfront venue quickly filled with patrons dressed in colourful beachwear and swimwear, creating a lively atmosphere as music, dancing and entertainment carried on throughout the evening. The event, scheduled to run from noon to 8 p.m., began with DJ sets that kept the crowd engaged from the outset. Sheldon Papp, Jus Jay, and Noah Powa each took turns behind the decks, delivering a mix of soca, dancehall and party favourites that kept the crowd moving before the live performances got underway around 7 p.m. The live entertainment opened with new artist Doejay, who drew enthusiastic responses with performances of his popular tracks “Good Better Best” and “2 Bad”. Fans sang along throughout...

CBC News – The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States. The State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from the countries affected in accordance with a broader order issued in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become “public charges” in the U.S. The suspension, which will begin Jan. 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas, who make up the vast majority of visa seekers. Demand for non-immigrant visas is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months and years due to the upcoming 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, both of which the...

549 My first opportunity to pay public tribute to our most adored National Hero, Sir Garfield Sobers, was on the occasion of the award of his honorary doctorate by The University of the West Indies at Cave Hill in 1992. That citation brought the audience to their feet, with a full five minutes of continuous applause. It was repeated at the presentation of our 10 National Heroes at Government Headquarters on April 28, 1998, when the hundreds of seated guests stood as one, and the roar of applause from the whole crowd of thousands gathered seemed in danger of “bringing down the walls of Jericho”, for the love and admiration of Sir Garry is both local and global. I had opened my UWI citation with the words, “Chancellor, I present to you the man who has done more than anyone else in recorded history, since the settlement of Barbados in...

OECS – The Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) met in Saint Lucia on 13th January 2026, hosted by the Honourable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, and under the chairmanship of Honourable Dr. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in his inaugural Heads of Government meeting. OECS Heads of Government Meet in St. Lucia The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Commonwealth of Dominica; Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia; Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada; Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis; Premier Reuben T. Meade of Montserrat; Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley of the British Virgin Islands; and Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge of Anguilla. The Heads of Government were accompanied by the Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules.  The meeting addressed several critical regional and international issues, including...