33 Barbados and the OPEC Fund for International Development have launched a new initiative aimed at helping climate-vulnerable countries access more affordable financing for development and climate resilience projects. The Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Compact, unveiled in Vienna, brings together 78 climate-vulnerable economies and more than 15 development finance institutions. The initiative seeks to improve access to capital through longer repayment terms, better alignment with national priorities and financing mechanisms designed to help countries build resilience and sustain essential services. Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the Compact is intended to help vulnerable nations move beyond “survival” towards “viability and prosperity” by unlocking affordable capital. (Prime Minister’s Office)

516 In a rare double triumph, the private St Gabriel’s School has secured both the top male and female positions in this year’s Common Entrance Examination, marking a historic first for the institution and underscoring its academic dominance. The island’s top-performing boy was identified as Benjamin Enzo Luciene, whilst Xiomara Alexis Lascaris secured the title of top-performing girl. In a double victory for the prestigious St Gabriel’s School, both scholars have secured places at Harrison College, where they will begin their secondary education in September. It was not immediately clear how the taxpayer-funded public schools fared in terms of the total number of placements and their distribution among the schools. Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman praised the students for their exceptional academic performance and outlined the government’s ongoing commitment to comprehensive educational reform. Speaking during the official announcement of the results, he extended his warmest congratulations to the stellar...

147 The Ministry of Education Transformation is pressing ahead with phasing out the traditional common entrance examination from September, replacing the high-stakes, single-day test with a continuous assessment model designed to track student development over time, Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman confirmed on Monday. As the ministry released the 2026 examination results, Blackman revealed that the shift forms the cornerstone of a broader, years-long education overhaul aimed at bringing equity, fairness, and a “purpose-driven” focus to the national curriculum. “I understand the historical significance that a Common Entrance [Exam] has played in Barbados, and this is no different today,” Blackman said. “But it must not determine how people are viewed; it must not determine a person’s self-worth. It must determine, however, your ability to move forward and to help build and shape this nation.” Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman; Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles, Acting Permanent Secretary...