BAHAMAS: Students to benefit from $5M donation. Hundreds of Bahamian children are expected to benefit from a $5 million donation that will go towards the construction and furnishing of 10 computer and science lab buildings on various Family Islands. Full article

BARBADOS: Teenager charged in Lusignan slaughter. A 19-year-old minibus conductor has been charged with the murder of 11 people during a massacre in the village of Lusignan just under a month ago. Full article

BERMUDA: Boat tax hike 'hurts youth'. Ordinary Bermudians can no longer afford to buy boats and youth sailing schemes will suffer, say critics. Government's plan to hike customs duty on boats from 33.5 per cent to 55 per cent will put sailing out of reach of average Bermudians, ex-Olympic sailor Glenn Astwood said yesterday. Full article

BERMUDA: Gray says PLP must embrace the youth. MICAL MP V. Alfred Gray called on the Progressive Liberal Party last night to become more involved with the youth of the nation, as their votes could no longer be taken for granted. Full article

BERMUDA: 300 new HIV cases reported since September 2007. Despite awareness of HIV acquisition, the incidence of HIV and AIDS cases is on the rise in The Bahamas, especially among young women. According to Jessica Stubbs, Coordinator of Prevention Education Unit of the AIDS Secretariat, there were 300 new cases reported since September of last year, with people between the ages of 15-29 being the fastest growing group contracting the disease. Full article

BERMUDA: BCC to host two-day workshop on HIV/AIDS. In an effort to eradicate the stigma and discrimination of persons living with HIV/AIDS, the Bahamas Christian Council, through the Caribbean Conference of Churches, is hosting a two-day workshop to address the impact that HIV/AIDS has on The Bahamas. Full article

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: BMSA, YEP ready for Sunday’s Soapbox Races at HLSCC. On Friday, the BVI Motor Sports Association (BMSA) and the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) unveiled two completed soapbox cars dubbed, “Pipe liner and Crispy” which were made under the supervision and direction of Jaron Maduro (engineer) and member of BMSA. Full article

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: Career Expo kicks off at ESHS. Employment and future employment viability is the prime focus of the Elmore Stoutt High School’s 2008 Career Expo. The five-day program which began at 9:00 this morning was well represented by persons from within the private and public sector. Full article

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: ESHS 2008 Career Expo focuses on the financial sector. Students of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) are learning more about careers in the financial services industry during their 2008 Career Expo which is being observed under the theme “Pursuing Purposeful and Profitable Productivity.” Full article

DOMINICA: Poor performances in CXC - education official. The Ministry of Education here reported Wednesday that it was not satisfied with the performance of secondary school students in the areas of Mathematics and Science. Full article

JAMAICA: Less care of boys. Girls are favoured over boys in the provision of high-quality health care and expenditure on medical treatment, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported recently. Full article

JAMAICA: Student absenteeism high. ATTENDANCE rates in public schools at all levels across the island remained relatively low up to the 2005/2006 academic year, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Education. Full article

JAMAICA: Jamaica Aids Support For Life expansion welcomed. WITH some 600 persons expected to be treated at the Jamaica Aids Support For Life (JASL) clinic in Kingston this year, executive director of the organisation Novlet Dougherty-Reid said the recent expansion of the facility by the Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring and Food for the Poor could not have come at a better time. Full article

JAMAICA: 'Turn them in' - Government says no tolerance for weapons in schools in Jamaica. Reacting to recent incidents of school violence, the education ministry has instructed that students caught carrying knives, or any other weapons, must be immediately turned in to the police to face charges under the Offensive Weapons Act. Full article

JAMAICA: Food culture comes to University of the West Indies (UWI). Nothing brings people together like good food. Last Friday, on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), students were brought together by a sampling of food from various countries as part of Caribbean Day, one of the activities to commemorate UWI's 60th anniversary. Full article

JAMAICA: World Wetlands Day 2008 - Providing hands-on learning opportunities for students. February 2 to 3 marked the culmination of activities in celebration of World Wetlands Day, an annual international environmental festival observed on February 2, the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. At the end of the weekend, the National Ramsar Committee (NRC) was satisfied that there was an increased demand for information on wetlands by students and teachers, its primary demographic, who were able to identify the importance of these resources to Jamaica. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: Zaandam firmly opposes expulsion Antillean youth. Member of Parliament (MP) Reginald Zaandam (DP Statia) is firmly against the concept Kingdom law, which would make it possible for Dutch authorities to send criminal Antillean youths back to the Netherlands Antilles. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: University wants to open branch here. University of the Dutch Caribbean (UDC), an institution of higher learning, has expressed interest in opening a branch in St. Maarten. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: Hundreds of students sent home Tuesday as teachers down tools. Scores of parents were forced to make alternative arrangements for their children on Tuesday when many teachers downed tools in continuation of their protest action that started on Monday. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: St. Maarten Cable TV, ECC staff enlightened about HIV/AIDS. St. Maarten Cable TV and East Caribbean Cellular (ECC) staff are now more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS after taking part in a workshop facilitated by the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team (PMT) on Wednesday. Full article

STA LUCIA: Great Expectations for students at International School. Great expectations! That’s what year ten students at the International School St Lucia had as they embarked upon a three-day career placement as the culmination of a four month long journey of discovery into the world of further education and personal development. Full article

TURKS & CAICOS: CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS NURTURE CREATIVITY TO TURN THE YOUNGSTERS OF TODAY INTO LEADERS OF TOMRROW. Youth 2 Leaders 2008 Conference, sponsored by the Department of Youth Affairs, gathered student leaders from the schools around the country to attend workshops and lectures on various topics such as leadership and becoming role models. Full article

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: Science Teachers Turn Students for Global Warming Issue. More than 30 St. Croix science teachers learned Friday night how to teach the issue of global warming to students from someone who should know. Full article

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: Students Share Dreams, Concerns for Black History Month. Doing their own version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have A Dream" speech, students at Charlotte Amalie High School talked about their hopes for the future on Thursday and celebrated Black History Month with a program that explored a variety of issues affecting today's youth. Full article