Colonialism is often the starting point to explain the linguistic makeup of the wider Caribbean, but the true language landscape is much more diverse. According to the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, while European languages dominate the linguistic grouping of ‘official languages’, there is a plethora of others, including Amerindian, African, Creole, and Asian languages, which also contribute to the region’s linguistic diversity and heritage. A multilingual Caribbean space relies heavily on translation services to facilitate written communication among speakers of different languages and transfers of knowledge within the public, private and academic sectors. At the University of the West Indies, there are Translation Bureaus at the St. Augustine, Mona and Cave Hill campuses, and post-graduate programmes that contribute to the sustained growth of a highly qualified cadre of professional translators. At the same time, online translation tools and applications, especially those powered by artificial intelligence, offer an alternative for accessing translation services. Tools like Google Translate or Chat GPT have become modern-day quick references for the translation of words, paragraphs and in some cases complete documents from one language into another. For our observance of International Translation Day earlier this year, UNIC Caribbean explored the impact of artificial intelligence translation tools on the practice of translation in the Caribbean.We spoke with Dr. Rossana Herrero-Martín, Coordinator of the UWI Cave Hill Translation Bureau, Mr. Eric Maitrejean, Coordinator of the UWI St. Augustine Caribbean Interpreting and Translation Bureau and Mrs. Lyndell Logan-Salina, retired translator and interpreter about the world of professional translation and the impact of AI-powered tools on its relevance and sustainability.  Translation: the process and productHerrero-Martín describes the process of translation as not merely the swapping of words from one language into another but rather a “purposeful, ethical act of intercultural communication: rendering meaning, intent, tone and function of a source text into a target language so it works for its new audience.”  The skill set of a professional translator is underpinned by a perfect command of the target language, including an advanced-level understanding of style and register, as well as cultural nuance and contexts. The process of translation also includes background research, revision and proofreading so that the translated product adheres to international standards. According to Maitrejean and Logan-Salina, exposure to and familiarity with a broad range of topics and issues - including historical and current events - are assets for students of translation, enhancing their capacity to recognise and appropriately replicate topic-related or contextual nuance and references. Logan-Salina says the translator’s ability to weave together these various linguistic, cultural and contextual threads, is directly linked to the quality of the translated product. The professional translator’s fluency also extends to the use of translation tools and technology, including machine and computer aides and software designed to support their work. Artificial intelligence within the context of translation studies, refers to the ability of computer systems to translate text from one language to another.   Tools powered by this technology can potentially enhance the efficiency of the professional translator’s workflow, from drafting to revision, and even the inclusion of terminology options to convey appropriate nuance and context . 
 “But machines doing that now!”Before she entered the profession, says Logan-Salina, many outside the field anticipated the imminent takeover of the translation process by computers. Since the turn of the century, artificial intelligence has enhanced the capacity and output of translation tools and applications. These tools have become widely available and accessible via online and mobile applications, making translating from one language into another not just easily available, but also cost effective for those purchasing this service.  So, does the availability of AI portend the demise of translation as a human endeavour? For Maitrejean and Herrero-Martín, as Coordinators of Caribbean Translation Bureaus, reinvention and evolution is what comes next for the profession of translation. According to Maitrejean, it is the responsibility of language professionals to upskill and improve their capacity to utilise AI tools as part of their professional toolkit, in order to add value in sectors where “a very simple phone app” can replace their services. Herrero-Martín envisions translators as not merely remaining relevant but also leading the modern-day process and workflows that utilise these tools to ensure adherence to international standards of quality and compliance. Output that is rapidly (and often very cheaply) churned out by online translation tools still requires professional review and editing for linguistic, cultural or contextual nuance. This is where Herrero-Martín predicts a sustained and even increased demand for professional translators. She believes that despite the advances made by AI translation tools, core human skills – “judgement, ethics, cultural intelligence, writing craft” – will remain irreplaceable. Translators and AI – preserving the multilingualism of the Caribbean The linguistic landscape of the wider Caribbean includes many of what Herrero-Martín refers to as “under resourced” languages; that is, languages for which there are few or no resources that can be accessed by translators globally. Within the context of the 21st century, this lack of data available to train AI translation algorithms and models severely reduces the options for translation from and into these languages, potentially undermining the value of these languages as vehicles of knowledge and culture for their respective communities. For Herrero-Martín, Logan-Salina and Maitrejean, professional translators possess a unique skillset as builders of corpora including, dictionaries, glossaries and other language resources. For them, this skillset is critical for curating the resources required to ensure these languages become potentially more visible to AI-powered algorithms, and therefore more accessible globally. Herrero-Martín says it is imperative that this resource-building and curation prioritize community language sovereignty and the safeguarding of this intangible heritage: “When carried out responsibly and in close collaboration with language communities, translation can be a powerful instrument of preservation, revitalization, and visibility for Caribbean languages, including indigenous languages.” The unique role of professional translators as community partners, language curators and potential facilitators of resource access to AI-powered algorithms and models should be considered “not just a technical act but an act of cultural justice.”The expert contributions of qualified translators working in the Caribbean facilitates communication while preserving the region’s multilingual identity. Artificial intelligence technology has transformed the process of translation and offers translators tools to enhance their professional experience while continuing to practice the art of translation. By keeping pace with the advantages offered by AI and adopting and adapting its tools to address the linguistic needs of the region, Caribbean translators strengthen their roles as protectors of the region’s multiple language identities and linguistic diversity.
End NotesInterviewees:Eric Maitrejean, UWI St. Augustine Caribbean Interpreting and Translation BureauDr. Rosana Herrero-Martín, UWI Cave Hill Campus Translation BureauMrs. Lyndell Logan-Salina, Qualified Translator and InterpreterReferences:AI and the future of translation. In search of evidence. Anthony Pym. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46rUOOmNlkA  Accessed 24 September 2025Using AI in Translation, a technological leap, or a translator’s nightmare. Mohammed Tewfik Bouguesmia. ALTRALANG Journal Volume: 02 Issue: 02 / December 2020 pp. 78-102Implications of using AI in Translation Studies: Trends, Challenges, and Future Direction
Mansour Amini, Latha Ravindran, Kam-Fong Lee
Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences e-ISSN: 2682-8502 | Vol. 6, No. 1,740-754, 2024Enhancing Translation Studies with Artificial Intelligence (AI): Challenges, Opportunities, and Proposals. Çeviribiliminin Yapay Zeka (YZ) ile Geliştirilmesi: Zorluklar, İmkânlar ve Öneriler, International Journal of Philology and Translation Studies, Volume 5, Issue 2, 2023
Artificial Intelligence in Translation: Challenges and Opportunities. Roya Shahmerdanova. Acta Globalis Humanitatis et Linguarum. Vol. 2, No. 1 (2025)

“God was with us. Anyone in Jamaica who survived this hurricane,  can no longer say God is not real. He was here with us and brought us through.” Judene Brown, Resident  of Westmoreland, Jamaica. Against the backdrop of the scorching midday sun, Judene Brown looks towards the horizon with gratitude. A solitary tear flows down her cheek bearing the weight of weeks of uncertainty.  She is hopeful. The storm has passed and as time progresses, she sees the promise  of renewal.“What you guys are doing  - the effectiveness and the speediness that we saw -  we are so grateful because we were without hope,” she says recounting the horror of the destruction faced in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa – being plunged into darkness, inundated with mosquitoes and frogs, and their home almost completely flooded out.“Oh my God the frogs  - we aren’t used to these frogs – and then the  flooding. Most of us were completely flooded out. We had nothing. No clothes, nothing. But the fact that we were able to come together helped …and when we saw that truck, and then more trucks coming,  the more the trucks came , the more we knew that help is coming.” One month post-Melissa, Judene’s family, residents of  Ferris Cross in Westmoreland, are among thousands of Jamaican families still displaced, despite round-the-clock relief efforts of over 90 organizations, including Government, UN and other international and local humanitarian actors,  working to improve coverage in underserved western communities.When Hurricane Melissa struck seven parishes in Jamaica’s western corridor in late October,  it upended lives and livelihoods across of hundreds of families. Homes were destroyed, leaving piles of rubble where memories were once created. Schools ground to a halt, as classroom tables and benches substituted as beds for the homeless. The winds, rain,  and rising waters of Hurricane Melissa swept away practically everything in  their path, crops, electricity poles, businesses, churches, possessions, animals and even vehicles. While portions of the country were flattened, the spirit of community was evident.  Over in Whitehouse, Dale Johnson 72,  looks over the ruins of his furniture workshop, unsure of how or when he may be able to retrieve his tools buried beneath the rubble and start to rebuild. While the workshop that has been established since the 1970s has weathered many storms – he says Hurricane Melissa was different.“We’ve faced many  but never suffered this catastrophic damage yet. Hurricane Beryl tore  off a few zinc (roof sheets)  , but the structure remained but this time,  Hurricane Melissa moved everything!”,  he declared, motioning towards a large 40-foot container that was tossed many yards during the hurricane.“It’s a real setback at this time, so it is going to be low-key Christmas for us,” he added, noting that  five other workers also lost their livelihoods, leaving families in limbo on the eve of the Christmas season.As  one of the fastest growing  and well-established furniture businesses  in the Whitehouse community, Mr. Johnson explained that they worked for a wide area.  He is thankful that many customers were  “sympathizing” with them, and said that once electricity is restored, they would try to protect some of the nearly completed furniture items.For the time being , Mr. Johnson , a divorcee , who also lost his home, is sleeping in an unoccupied concrete structure nearby. He hopes to retrofit a container  to serve as his temporary home.“I don’t know if there is any assistance or any support that can be provided to revive and rebuild. It is a massive undertaking; a lot of debris from the area is dumped here . It also can pose a danger as frivolous persons may come and just light a match and that would be worse. So, we are just hoping  that we might be able to survive  all this and rebuild.”Faith and Family Unity “Everything is chaos at this point, but family unity keeps us together,” Judene says of her close-knit family, that is headed by a strong single mother -  a  diabetic amputee, who she says is “still a fighter.” There is also her God-fearing grandmother who raised she and her younger sister, and her extended family, who are all hunkered down  in the home of the nearest relative that was safe.But this young mother, like most Jamaicans, is resilient. While she smiles through the uncertainty, she desperately wants to rebuild and return to normalcy. At the one-month anniversary of Hurricane Melissa, over 1,100 people remained crowded in 88 emergency shelters island wide, with some displaced households also forced to shelter with relatives, in churches and other informal facilities.Partnering to bring hope Judene and her sister have arrived early at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)/ Water Mission community distribution point, where  World Central Kitchen, a global NGO, is preparing to distribute  their daily hot lunches ( over 1 million meals so far distributed around the country), and UNICEF, in collaboration with Water Mission, is providing clean safe drinking water. She has left her two girls at “home”.With food and safe drinking water no longer a concern,  Judene says given the scorching Jamaican heat,  water storage was now more of a priority.“To be honest with you , the way that it is so hot, we need water. We need big enough containers to store our water because these frogs are slippery and they can creep through surfaces. If I see a frog,  I am done with that water. We need safe containers,” she pleaded.Relief Efforts to Date  Since Hurricane Melissa struck, the spirit of solidarity and resilience has shone across Jamaica, where the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has assisted approximately 103,000 people with emergency food kits and is now transitioning to cash-based transfers  which gives families greater flexibility to meet their needs and helps boost local markets. WFP also supported the expansion of the Jamaica Household Damage, Impact and Needs Assessment helping to conduct gap analyses and map food assistance coverage and integrate findings into broader social protection planning. To date, more than 26,000 households have been assessed. In terms of logistical support , the Agency also helped to strengthen supply chains through the establishment of nine Mobile Storage Units and coordinated the processing of 85 shipments, totalling 2,235 metric tons of food and supplies, via the WFP–CDEMA Control Tower. In partnership with the Emergency Telecommunications Sector, connectivity was restored at 68 sites, including hospitals, benefiting over 24,500 people. These efforts highlight the importance of preparedness, partnerships, and innovation in ensuring timely, life-saving support and reinforcing resilience across the Caribbean. Shelter has also remained a priority with more than 14,000 tarpaulins distributed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), offering protection to families and allowing quick resumption of services at 26 damaged health centres. With more than 279,000 people still displaced, IOM  is recruiting partners to undertake shelter recovery, debris removal and psychosocial support in the four affected parishes and is currently assessing community centres that could be upgraded to emergency shelters, in support of government's move to resume school in January. In the days after Hurricane Melissa, access to clean water became a lifeline for families trying to regain a sense of normalcy. UNICEF , working closely with Water Mission International, moved quickly to set up treatment points where water could be safely processed and then trucked into surrounding communities. Across Westmoreland, 20 distribution sites were established, equipped with storage tanks and standpipes to ensure that households could collect water close to home. To help families store it safely, UNICEF provided 2,500 jerrycans and 6,000 buckets, along with 60 large 1,000-gallon tanks for communities and institutions. Together with Water Mission International and Global Support Development, the team delivered more than 980,000 litres of safe drinking water to households and health facilities. Thanks to coordinated efforts with the government, more than 80 per cent of national water systems are now back online, and assessments are underway to identify the schools and health centres that will receive support to rebuild their WASH infrastructure. Amid ongoing uncertainty, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to help restore health services as well as  hope. In the initial days and weeks following the storm, PAHO coordinated 12 emergency medical teams, alongside the Ministry of Health and Wellness, providing care through over 6,483 consultations , 226 admissions,  and 78 major  and 139 minor surgeries.  A total of 19 live births symbolized resilience itself , despite the storm’s destruction. Health facilities bore the brunt of Melissa’s fury. Of the 101 primary health care centres in the most affected parishes, 58 sustained major damage. Together with the government , regional health authorities, and NGOs, PAHO is reinforcing emergency repairs to these centres and 5 hospitals, ensuring continuation of care even in the most devastated areas. Beyond the visible destruction, PAHO also strengthened disease surveillance and expanded laboratory capacity for leptospirosis, ensuring rapid confirmation of diagnosis and treatment before disease spread.  Beyond the provision of immediate relief including food shelter , water and health system strengthening , the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other  partners in the Protection Sector , are also supporting the Government to ensure that the needs of children, women, girls, persons with disabilities, the elderly  and  are other vulnerable groups are met, and that they are protected from exploitation and abuse, given their heightened risk during disasters. “Coordination continues to be central to the relief efforts”, says UN Resident Coordinator, Dennis Zulu, who has lauded the leadership of the Government of Jamaica, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), with strong support from UN OCHA. He also praised the ongoing collaboration between relevant Government Ministries and Agencies, the JDF, which remains central to distribution efforts,  and other UN Agencies and local and international partners.“Across all these efforts, the UN coordination system has worked hand-in-hand with the ODPEM and relevant Ministries, ensuring that assistance is data-driven, needs-based and nationally led. This partnership remains central to collective recovery,”  Mr. Zulu maintained.The Road Ahead As Jamaica is already turning its gaze toward recovery, with the strong support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and several other agencies. Clearing debris, helping small businesses get back on their feet, and providing cash support to families are just the beginning. Recovery, Mr. Zulu says, will require everyone—government, all 22 UN agencies, private sector, civil society, and the communities themselves—working side by side.Transitioning from crisis to rebuilding is daunting, but hope endures. Judene draws strength from her faith and the values passed down by her grandmother. She speaks for many.“You showed up, without any strings attached, and we’re grateful for that  – thank you. We will get through this.” Her words echo the gratitude and resilience that will carry Jamaica forward, together, into the future.

BRIDGETOWN, 19 January 2026: The 13th annual Model United Nations (MUN) Assembly got underway at UN House in Barbados over the weekend, with over 40 secondary school students from across the island set to be immersed in the world of international relations,  global affairs, negotiations, and policy making over the next six weeks. Organized by the Rotary Clubs of Barbados, Barbados West and Barbados South, the theme for this year is World Trade, and will feature a World Trade Organization  Model United Nations (WTO MUN). In the coming weeks,  students will assume the role of diplomats, represent various nations, and address  some of the most pressing trade issues impacting countries, including small island developing states. A team of highly qualified international professionals and career diplomats will support them, through intensive training and mentorship.  UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, welcomed the students to UN House during the Official Launch ceremony, urging them to embrace the experience as a global leadership platform, rather than simply as an academic exercise.“With this assembly focusing on the WTO, you are stepping into one of the most dynamic areas of international cooperation. Trade is not just about economics  - it is about fairness , opportunity and building bridges  between nations. It is about ensuring that no country, no community, and no individual is left behind. The work you do over the course of the next weeks, and conversations you have, will mirror the realities faced by leaders around the world - including your own Prime Minister  - reconciling diverse perspectives, seeking compromise and finding creative solutions,” he said. Also addressing the launch was Rotary District Governor, Soraya Warner-Gustave, who welcomed the ongoing partnership between Rotary Barbados and the UN. She told the gathering:  “A Model UN represents for me a powerful partnership between education and service – one that aligns closely with the mission of Rotary International, which is to develop ethical leaders and engaged global citizens.”To student delegates, she reminded that this year’s focus will place them at the heart of how a nation shapes trade and development,  and urged  them to practice ethical leadership - by  balancing economic growth with social responsibility – to ensure that decisions benefitted people and communities, not just markets.“I encourage you to see your Model UN experience not as an end, but a beginning. So, engage critically, debate responsibly, collaborate intentionally and as you negotiate trade rules, remember that when young leaders commit to ethical cooperation and fair trade, they help to shape a more stable and inclusive  and prosperous world,” she added.  Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ambassador Matthew Wilson, was the Featured Speaker for the first training session. Reflecting on his career of  over 20 years in trade and development nationally and globally, Ambassador Wilson underscored the importance of always being prepared, finding your passion and not being afraid to fail. He also encouraged students to speak up, and to push past their personal fears and the opinions of others. “My biggest message for  you this morning is over these next  couple of weeks when you are here  - I want all of you to have a voice and to use it, to have a perspective, an opinion, and to have a view. Standing on the fence is not necessarily a view. Feel comfortable and confident to have an opinion, to have supporting evidence for that opinion, and to be passionate about that opinion. But, more importantly, be brave enough to change that opinion if you have evidence to the contrary.” With career aspirations that ranged from finance to nursing, law, architecture  and international relations, among other areas, students were keen to roll up their sleeves and get to work. They welcomed the opportunity to improve their public speaking skills, to learn how to  listen, disagree respectfully, and learn from each other.Tej Thomson, a student at The Codrington School, who received positive feedback about the programme from past participants, said he was keen to develop his diplomatic skills and gain insight into international trade. “I want to go into a career in finance, so I am very intrigued about how trade impacts the financial  situation of a country. That is my main interest and I expect this to be a little difficult at times, but I expect it to be overall fun and informative,” he said.For Tia Frew, a student at  The Lodge School and an aspiring nurse, this will be her second year on the programme, and she hopes to build on her previous experience. “I am so excited to be here [again], this is shaping my  future in terms of how I speak, and how I look at the world. If one country is affected, all of us are affected. All of us as human beings need to be aware. The more aware you are you can make a change and be a part of that change in the world,” she said.    President,  Rotary Barbados, Jeff Evelyn, President, Rotary Barbados West, Andre Wharton, and President,  Rotary Barbados South, Jacqueline Broome also delivered remarks during the official launch. The MUN training sessions are slated to run until February 28 and culminate with the programme’s grand finale on March 7th, 2026.  ..........................................................................................This news was first published by UN Barbados and and the Eastern Caribbean.

In a statement delivered by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Security Council was meeting “at a grave time” following the 3 January US military action in Venezuela and seizure of President Nicolás Maduro.The broad outlines of the operation, which unfolded across Caracas and the northern states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, have been widely reported, though the extent of casualties remains unclear.  US President Donald Trump announced a “large scale strike” and rendition of his Venezuelan counterpart on Saturday, later stating the US would now “run the country” until a transition could be secured.Venezuela has characterized the operation as blatant military aggression and a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, posing a threat to international and regional peace and security.President Maduro is being held in New York and due to appear in court on Monday – just a few miles south of UN Headquarters in Manhattan – accused by US authorities, along with his wife Cilia Flores, of serious drugs and weapons offences.Future of Venezuela at stake“What is less certain is the immediate future of Venezuela,” the Secretary-General said, warning of the risk of deepening instability, regional repercussions and a dangerous precedent for relations among States.He stressed that respect for international law must remain the guiding principle, voicing concern that the rules governing the use of force “have not been respected” in the 3 January military action.  The UN Charter, he recalled, explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.“The maintenance of international peace and security depends on the continued commitment of all Member States to adhere to all the provisions of the Charter,” he said.Call for inclusive, democratic dialogueThe UN chief noted that Venezuela has endured decades of internal instability and social and economic turmoil, with democracy undermined and millions of people forced to flee.While describing the current situation as critical, he said it was still possible to prevent a “wider and more destructive conflagration.”He called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in inclusive dialogue that allows all sectors of society to determine their future, grounded in respect for human rights, the rule of law and the sovereign will of the people.Stick to principles“In situations as confused and complex as the one we now face, it is important to stick to principles,” the Secretary-General said, underscoring respect for the UN Charter, sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force.“The power of the law must prevail,” he said, stressing that international law provides tools to address issues ranging from human rights concerns to illicit trafficking and resource disputes – and that this is “the route we need to take.” .....................................................................................................This story was first published to UN News.