The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Friday said it regrets the recent United States reversal of its travel policies on Cuba and the likely effects on the socio-economic development of Cuba and the wider Caribbean region. In a statement, the CHTA said that it would continue to support the ending of the US-Cuba embargo and its restrictions on trade ...

Members of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean met with representatives of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for a policy dialogue on social protection and youth empowerment and employment — two key areas of work for both organizations that play an important role in promoting an inclusive, equitable and prosperous Caribbean. Representatives from the CARICOM Single ...

The Department of Environment (DOE) has invited stakeholders in Montserrat to participate in a national dialogue to enhance implementation of the Conservation and Environmental Management Act (CEMA). The stakeholders will work together over the next year to develop regulations and specific priorities and activities for an action plan and implementation budget to support conservation and environmental management in Montserrat. The ...

Tech start-ups from five Caribbean territories scored big at the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge mobile app entrepreneurship competition on June 17, each winning US$5,000 in seed funding to develop their businesses. All five enterprises have also been awarded spots in PitchIT Caribbean business accelerators across the region. After two rigorous days of pitching to two different panels of judges and an ...

The Agriculture Sector in OECS Member States is on the brink of a new era in collaborative production for regional and international trade. A comprehensive grouping of regional agriculture stakeholders, which include Ministers, Manufacturers, Traders, representatives from the Bureau of Standards and the OECS Commission, are working together to ensure the success of the initiative. The virtual OECS Agri-Export Working ...

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is aiming to reduce pollution and restore the health of Caribbean ecosystems, under the Caribbean Aqua Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Program. The program focuses on managing natural resources and building resilience to climate change. Lyndon Robertson, Head of CARPHA’s Environmental Health Department provided insight into the CATS program. “The CATS program is an initiative of ...

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The three men shot dead in John John, East Port of Spain on Monday evening reportedly went to the area to collect a ransom payment to free a Trinidad and Tobago national currently kidnapped in Venezuela. Up to last night, two of the men were identified. They were Dillon Lewis, 28, and Alfredo Malchan, 24. Both ...

We celebrate, by the Grace of God, 36 years since the formation of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Even as we give thanks for the many blessings and accomplishments so must we equally acknowledge the several shortcomings and weaknesses of our effort to date. In today’s fast paced world, small and vulnerable countries such as ours face an uphill ...

In his first Address as Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet noted that today small island states are much less insulated from the impact of world events. “In our quest for development and the modernization of our societies, we have to navigate difficult, sometimes hostile terrain.  The Revised Treaty of ...

Three men have been shot dead at John John, Laventille. The killings happened shortly after nightfall on Monday. Police said that shortly after 6. p.m. residents of an apartment complex located near Beverly Hills, heard several gunshots. They contacted the Besson Street Police Station and a team of officers visited the scene at around 7 p.m. to find the three ...

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago – There were reports of roofs being blown off, fallen trees and power lines, and flooding in some parts of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada as Tropical Storm Bret passed overnight, before moving along the northeastern coast of South America. There were no reports of any injuries or fatalities, according to information coming from ...

Citizens of OECS Member States now have data at their fingertips with the launch of OECSInfo 2.0, a centralised database with regional social and economic statistics such as labour force indicators, population, education and inflation rates. OECSInfo 2.0, launched on June 13th 2017, was developed by the OECS Commission as an adaptation of DevInfo, a dissemination tool created by the United ...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Canadian Government funded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project hosted its 4 th Project Steering Committee (“PSC”) meeting on June 14 th , 2017 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados. This year, the PSC meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Gail Miller, Senior Director, Caribbean Regional Programme, Global Affairs ...

“CARICOM governments must not be bullied, coerced, or bought by offers of aid, to alter their principled position,” the Movement for Social Justice said in a statement. Trinidad and Tobago’s Movement for Social Justice called for a united front of the 15-member Caribbean Community in support of Venezuela at the meeting of the Organization of American States beginning Monday in ...

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Executive director of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), Dr Denise Chevannes, is expressing concern that many married Jamaica women are prisoners in the sanctity of their bedroom, where their health is potentially at greater risk than that of prostitutes. There has been a decline in the HIV-prevalence among Jamaican sex workers (prostitutes) and many are believed ...

NASSAU, Bahamas —The Bahamas was presented the 2016 Caribbean Sapphire Pegasus Business Aviation Award for Outstanding Country Promotion, the first award of its kind for the region. The Sapphire Pegasus Award is a symbol of gratitude for the superb performance in an industry segment where mediocrity is unacceptable. The award was introduced to the region during the Caribbean Aviation Meetup ...

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – There was chaos at the ANR Robinson International Airport, Tobago on Monday as people who travelled from Trinidad to spend the long weekend, attempted to get off the island before the approaching storm. However, hundreds are expected to be stuck in Tobago because a decision has been taken by Caribbean Airlines to cancel all flights ...

The following is an Op-Ed by Ambassador Linda Taglialatela, U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS. As Ambassador, I occasionally promote U.S. policies that are unpopular with some government leaders in the Eastern Caribbean. That is the case now. The situation in Venezuela has reached the point where it is impossible for me to remain silent. What ...

WASHINGTON DC, USA – Caribbean/American Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke has called on the US Congress to pass legislation that would grant permanent status for Caribbean and others involved in the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, also known as the “Dream Programme”. “Since DACA was created in 2012, more than 750,000 young women and men have used the program ...

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has warned his colleagues in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that the quest for a regime change in Venezuela could destabilise some CARICOM member states. In a letter obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation, Gonsalves said “nefarious plans are afoot to sow deeds of division among CARICOM ...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Residents across Barbados are being urged to pay attention to their radios for regular updates as an approaching tropical wave shows signs of development. The Barbados Meteorological Service today issued a severe weather information statement at noon stating that: “The system is showing some slow development at this time and it could become a tropical storm by ...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A 48-year-old dog owner has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of 74-year-old Verona Lolita Gibson of Monroe Road, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael. Gibson was attacked and killed by a number of dogs on Saturday, January 28, while walking along Monroe Road in Haggatt Hall. Peter Christopher Rock, also of Monroe Road, ...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados Met Office says an approaching tropical wave is expected to begin affecting Barbados late Monday into Tuesday. The system is showing some slow development at this time and it could become a tropical storm by the time it approaches Barbados and the southern Windwards early Monday night . The Met Office says this could require ...

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Witnessing the death of a colleague who refused to refund a customer his money after sex, robberies, contracting HIV are some of the dangers etched in the mind of a Kingston woman who says she prostitutes herself to take care of her family. The 27-year-old mother of three, is among 16 people, including her nephews, mother and ...

Experts from Latin America and the Caribbean are in Saint Lucia to attend a four-day sustainable development workshop ahead of international climate talks. The workshop centres on building Sustainable National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management Systems, and the use of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Inventories for the Latin American and Caribbean Region. Saint Lucia’s Minister for Education, Innovation, ...

Immigration and customs officers underwent training this week to clarify the roles and functions of border officers. The training was geared at ensuring that there is a common understanding of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the Free Movement of Persons (FMP), and aims to further strengthen and build the capacity of officers on the CARICOM Free Movement ...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Members of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) will be exempted from paying the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) on items set out in the Tourism Development Act (TDA). The news from Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler was relayed to BHTA members by chairman of Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, Roseanne Myers, at the ...

My latest book – the children’s picture book and Caribbean fairytale, With Grace – has been selected for the 9th Annual Virgin Islands Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. It is one of six titles among this year’s picks for the programme, which exclusively spotlights books by Virgin Island and Caribbean authors. As explained in The St. Thomas Source , “The annual ...

Seaborne Airlines, is pleased to announce that non-stop service between the carrier’s hub in San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport and Antigua and Barbuda, V.C. Bird International Airport, will resume starting Friday, July 21, 2017. Seaborne Airlines and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority have entered into an agreement to resume flights. The service will provide increased airlift and ...

Caribbean Week in New York, hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), proved to be a successful endeavor for the promotion of Grenada’s tourism product. Grenada’s delegation was led by Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Hon. Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen; Chief Executive Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority, Ms. Patricia Maher and Director of Sales and Marketing (USA), Mrs. ...

Today, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) and Chef’d, the only non-subscription, fresh ingredient meal kit delivery service, launched the first-ever destination-inspired meal kits curated by some of the most talented Cayman Islands’ chefs. Foodies nationwide can now bring a taste of the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean into their own homes with the click of a button by ...

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in collaboration with the OECS Commission and the Grenada Netball Association will host the 27th OECS/ECCB Under-23 Netball Tournament in Grenada from 16 – 20 June. This year, six teams will compete for the championship title: Anguilla, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Team Grenada are ...

WASHINGTON DC, USA – A Caribbean American ex-registered nurse in Brooklyn, New York has been convicted of hiring a hitman to murder her Jamaican-born husband in 2013 after two failed attempts at the victim’s life. The gunman was also convicted of murder. On Wednesday, it took a jury less than three hours to convict Alishia Noel-Murray, 29 — whose father, ...

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Chinese nationals Shi Rui Zhao and Yangli Gu were escorted by security guards to their home on Thursday night. When the gunfire began, the guards saved themselves, police say. The couple had just left a members club and casino at Tarouba Road, Marabella, and were returning to their rented apartment at New Haven Avenue, Marabella. ...

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Justice Minister Delroy Chuck yesterday reiterated the Government’s position that Jamaica’s contentious buggery law will only be changed by a referendum. However, while insisting on what he said was a personal position that homosexuality is morally “wrong”, Chuck questioned whether it was the business of the law to determine right and wrong of private sexual conduct. “The ...

The OECS Commission observes World Blood Donor Day today, June 14th, under the theme “Don’t wait until disaster strikes. What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often.” In the OECS Region, our susceptibility to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters means that we have to be prepared for response in the case of an emergency. Beyond natural disasters, ...

Martinique is celebrating the formation of the OECS 36 years ago, on 18th June 1981 with activities and sensitisations. Seven countries signed the Treaty of Basseterre establishing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint-Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines. They have been followed by Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat ...

There is a simpler way to invest in the Caribbean and the US Caribbean territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. That’s the message Dr. Gillian Marcelle, executive director of the Virgin Islands’ Specialist Economic Development Agency, the UVI RTPark, brought to potential investors, executives and members of the Caribbean Diaspora, at the agency’s VIP Investment Showcase Reception during Caribbean Week ...

TORTOLA, BVI – Director of Public Prosecutions Kim Hollis has told the court that, during a police interview, Lennox Da Silva ‘clearly admitted’ to cutting his Jamaican wife’s throat on the ill-fated night of Saturday, June 10, 2017. The 52-year-old native of St Vincent and the Grenadines appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards yesterday on a murder charge. He was ...

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – There may be more of an argument that a 2014-2017 tax write-off incentive did more harm than good to the economy, and little to spur oil and gas exploration and production. The 2017 edition of the World Investment Report, normally released by government agencies with fanfare annually, remained unheralded last week on the United Nations Conference on ...

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Police are reporting that for the period January 1st to June 14th 2017, there have been 1,154 reported cases of robberies compared to 1,255 for the corresponding period 2016, which represents an eight per cent reduction. Out of the total robberies committed, 370 were committed with the firearm being the weapon of choice, which represents 32 per ...

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has recognised the potential for coastal and marine resources to be sustainably used to bring economic benefits to the region. At a key international conference examining how oceans should be managed, the Institute called for a focus on social equity and good governance as core principles in development of ‘blue economy’ approaches. Mr. Terrence ...

Rob Ceravolo, CEO of Tropic Ocean Airways, the largest commercial operator of Cessna Caravan EX seaplanes in the world, confirms he will present at the 2nd Annual Caribbean Aviation Meetup in St. Maarten, being held June 13-15. During the event, a factory-new seaplane will be flown in from Tropic Ocean’s base of operations in Fort Lauderdale, FL for demonstrations and ...

QYOU Media (TSXV: QYOU), the world’s leading curator of premium ‘best-of-web’ video for multiscreen distribution, has partnered with Caribbean telecommunications operator Flow to deliver curated short-form sports content via its network, Flow Sports. This is QYOU’s first deal in the Caribbean. Via Flow’s sports network, Flow Sports – which has become the region’s go-to platform for sporting content – QYOU ...

With many more countries around the world getting on board with efforts to ensure that online giants like Facebook, Google and WhatsApp obey the law and pay their fair share of taxes, Digicel is once again urging governments in the region to do the same. This time, the call comes with greater need for policy-makers to protect consumers, as well ...

On 13 June 2017, Jamaica deposited with the Director General of the ILO the instruments of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) as well as of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930. Jamaica is the 84th Member State of the ILO that ratifies the land-mark Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended ...

  BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI) continues to stand out in the Caribbean as a leader in sustainable tourism with the property receiving runner up for Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Environmental Sustainability Award. Chris Ghita, General Manager of OTI accepted the award on behalf of the property at CHTA’s CHIEF (Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum) ...

Flow’s younger viewers now have a kid-friendly service that delivers children’s content anytime, anywhere, on any device via the new “Flow Kids” app specially developed by Toon Goggles, the top kids’ on-demand entertainment service. The Flow Kids app offers viewers approximately 1000 hours of high-definition children’s content – thousands of fun and educational cartoons for boys and girls, live action ...

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Recently, two of the Caribbean’s most iconic personalities implored entrepreneurs to shake off the fear of thinking global and find the courage to take on the world by hosting a discussion panel and luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday, June 6th. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, the Caribbean’s top hotelier and Founder of Sandals ...

TORTOLA, BVI – New information reaching BVI News Online from highly placed sources are that Jamaican native Sherika Nelson was murdered when she resisted efforts to prevent her from leaving the matrimonial home during a heated quarrel. She was attacked and butchered with a knife while reportedly packing her belongings to leave. Her 52-year-old husband, Lennox Franklyn Da Silva, who ...

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Roman Catholic (RC) priest Father Clyde Harvey was robbed as he prayed at the Holy Rosary/St. Martin’s, East Port of-Spain, on Monday. Harvey is parish priest at the church and was in the chapel when two men entered at around 6a.m. Police confirmed that Harvey was robbed by the men at gunpoint. But officers refused to give ...

As part of an on-going partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its Hospitality Assured (HA) certification programme, the European Union under its Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) programme last month hosted an HA Business Advisor Training Workshop at the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce in Punda, Williemstaad, Curaçao. Participants came from the Curaçao Tourist Board, the Curacao ...

TORTOLA, BVI – Police in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have charged a native of St Vincent and the Grenadines with the knife slaying of his Jamaican wife Sherika Nelson last evening at their matrimonial home in Greenland, BVI. Lennox Franklyn Da Silva, 52, will appear in the Magistrate’s Court tomorrow to answer the charge of murder. That homicide last ...

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Nearly 600 people were murdered in Jamaica during the first six months of this year. Figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) show that between the period January 1 to June 3, a total of 585 people were murdered representing a 16 percent increase over the corresponding period last year. According to the figures, 136 people ...

Grenada has reiterated its willingness to subsidize the cash-strapped regional carrier, LIAT, but on its own terms. The island’s tourism minister Clarice Modeste-Curwen yesterday gave the clearest indication yet, how St George’s intended to support the Antigua-headquartered airline, which has been struggling over the last three days to cope with a pilots strike over pay. Modeste-Curwen told Barbados TODAY in ...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The police are reporting that 36-year-old Senita Blair has been charged with murder after she allegedly set her common-law husband on fire. Reports are that 42-year-old Kenton Brown, otherwise called ‘Chum’, was at home in Kingston with his common-law wife, Blair, on Friday, May 23 about 11:00 pm, when a dispute ensued between the two. During the ...

The following are remarks by the new Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) Chairman Dionisio D’Aguilar at Caribbean Week New York, delivered on June 8, 2017 at his first news conference in that capacity. The chairman spoke of the successes of Caribbean Week and decisions taken by the ministers and commissioners, and he gave up update on the region’s performance for the ...

The management of regional carrier LIAT and representatives of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) struck a deal late yesterday, bringing to an immediate end a three-day impasse over a demand for increased pay by the pilots. Captain Carl Burke, President of LIALPA, confirmed that a Consent Order was signed just before 6 pm yesterday between LIALPA and LIAT’s ...

Prime Minister Gaston Browne is joining residents and passengers in condemning the action taken by  LIAT pilots not to fly the ATR 72 series aircraft. LIAT is hoping that an injunction, to be heard tomorrow (Saturday) in the Industrial Court, goes in the company’s favour. Today marks the third day that the pilots have refused to fly the ATR 72 ...

The Management of LIAT continues to work towards resolving the current impasse with The Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA). LIAT denies reports that it has “abandoned” its pilots and left them stranded throughout the network. LIAT operates 10 ATR aircraft, the smaller ATR 42 which seats 48 passengers and the larger ATR 72 which seats 68 passengers. By refusing ...

The talented culinary masters at Sandals Resorts International (SRI) had a successful evening at the “Taste of the Caribbean” competition held in Miami, Florida last week. Ten teams from various Caribbean countries competed in the well-attended gastronomic event. Sandals Resorts International’s chefs took home the following awards in their respective competitions: • Rodroy Thomas, Executive Chef – Caribbean Pastry Chef ...

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), through Chief Executive Officer Dennis Chung, has been invited to participate in a series of activities organised by The Dominica Business Forum (DBF) in Roseau, Dominica, aimed at strengthening their private sector operations from June 13-15, 2017. The OECS Commission supported the Dominica Business Forum through the preparation of a successful financial request ...

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Travel Foundation (TF) to formally establish a framework of cooperation and facilitate collaboration between the organizations in areas of common interest to contribute to sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean Region. The MOU was signed by CTO secretary general Hugh Riley and Salli Felton, TF chief ...

Barbados is the Caribbean National Culinary Team of the Year. The Bajan team won the top honors in the finale of the 2017 Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition at the Hyatt Regency in Miami yesterday evening, after also bagging individual honors for Ryan Adamson, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, and Damian Leach for Seafood. Kenneth Molyneaux from the British ...

Discover Dominica Authority has launched its summer campaign, ‘Meet Me In Dominica, Summer 2017’. The campaign invites the region to the Nature Island of the Caribbean for a summer of adventure, nature and events for singles, couples and families. Dominica’s Tourism Director, Colin Piper remarked that “Dominica is the destination of choice when thinking of adventure, and with 2017 labelled ...