BAHAMAS: Bahamas progressing in reaching MDGs. The Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has reported that the Caribbean nation is doing well in efforts to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), revealing that it has not only achieved, but also surpassed, the goal regarding the elimination of poverty. Full article

BERMUDA: Young artist and her mentor who have all the right strokes. When aspiring-artist April Branco first met local art teacher Sharon Wilson last spring she had never before shown her work in a gallery. Full article

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: Territory helps steer discussion at regional HIV-AIDS forum. The Virgin Islands helped to steer the discussions during a recent regional forum on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), in Bridgetown, Barbados. Full article

DOMINICA: 20 Dominican students to engage the CSME through field promotion. Twenty students from the Dominica State College are among the first batch of sixty (60) university students to be trained on how to identify and develop a response to opportunities within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Full article

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: President Leonel Fernandez talks about Dominican education. Dominican President Fernandez called education “the only way to speed up economic and social progress” and agreed that his government must concern itself with improving the public school system. Full article

JAMAICA: When young girls strut. In a letter to The Gleaner, Dr Marie Hamilton raised some of the very pertinent and troubling issues related to the choice of a 13-year-old girl child as the 2008 top model by the Pulse modelling agency. Full article

JAMAICA: Teachers have low expectations of inner-city students, says Holness. Jamaica's teachers and school administrators have lower expectations for students from inner-city communities than those from higher-income backgrounds, asserts Education Minister Andrew Holness. Full article

JAMAICA: End illegal student demonstrations or else! Education Minister Andrew Holness warned principals and teachers not to allow students to demonstrate illegally, or face the consequences. Full article

JAMAICA: Companies shun HIV/AIDS meeting. Representatives from only six of 25 companies showed up for a breakfast meeting Friday to explore HIV/AIDS risk reduction among employees and non-discrimination to those living with the disease in the workplace. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: breaking number of volunteers clean beach. An army of volunteers swarmed Mullet Bay Beach Saturday to collect and record the type of garbage left behind by picnickers or washed up on the shore. A record-breaking 634 volunteers took part in the event almost double that of last year. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: Youth hostility forum attracts large turnout. Facilitators at a well-attended symposium held at the Belair Community Centre last night have come up with two concrete initiatives to help tackle the problem of youth hostility plaguing the local society. Full article

NETHERLAND ANTILLES: Police want young people on force. PHILIPSBURG--The Windward Islands Police Force KPSSS has made its third appeal this year for young people to consider careers in law enforcement, touting less stringent application criteria and the chance to “give something back” to local communities as more reason to think about becoming police officers. Full article

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Young readers win big with Newsday. The Newsday Kids Activity competition now in its final week saw many of our young readers competing against each other for prizes courtesy Newsday. Full article

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: Constitutional debate focuses on public education. Vigorous debate about whether or not proposed language about public education reflected the will of the community - or boxed in future governance - dominated the morning portion of Tuesday's Constitutional Convention session. Full article

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: Celebrities in V.I. for Beacon Schools benefit. When the stars shine, the Beacon Schools of the Virgin Islands light the way for the youth of the territory. Full article

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: Ex-NBA star tells young students to prepare for future challenges.  Elena Christian Junior High School students got a welcome "assist" from a legendary professional basketball player who visited the campus Thursday morning. Full article