Daily Archives: February 17, 2017

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After a few sips of the house special, you may start feeling those shiggidy vibes. Its best enjoyed with live soca music, a blend of soul and calypso, or while watching Mr. Xs fire-eating show. This local beach hangout is also a great spot to catch a green flash sunset, a brief but beautiful atmospheric phenomenon that makes the sinking sun appear bright green as it dips below the horizon. With a Shiggidy Jig in hand, the green flash will be even brighter.

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Sample the Green Bonaire, a neon green liquid made from the Kadushi cactus while relaxing under the factorys ancient Calbas trees. Or take a quick factory tour to learn how a cactus can lead to 80 proof alcohol, which involves a process of cutting the cactuss skin, drying the inner membrane in the sun for two days, and then combining the strips with yeast and sorghum (Bonaires only local grains). The original cocktail recipe made with this unique ingredient blends together Cadushy of Bonaire Liqueur, vodka and triple sec. Try it and then you can boast to friends and family about that time you drank a cactus. As for the taste? Somewhere between sweet and herbal, a neat taste of Cadushy is a flavor profile so unique that youll just have to try it yourself!

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Hailed as a juice box for adults, Papa Jac is sold commercially around the island in pouches. But next time youre in San Juan, walk past the vibrant colonial townhouses along the cobblestone streets toward Don Pablo to drink the cozy cocktail bars Papa Jac in its original Big Gulp-style cup.

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A Caribbean trip would be remiss without a taste of the rare, crimson liquor found only in Aruba, the island of twisty fofoti trees and pristine white beaches. Agave plant sap is used for the sweet liqour known as Coecoei, which is hard to find off the island. Experience what makes this 100-proof liquor so good in Arubas signature cocktail,the Ariba, which is a synthesis of Coecoei, rum, vodka and fruit juices. Its served in a tall glass mug to showcase the rainbow effect of the juices red, orange and yellow hues, which mingle to revitalize parched palettes. After one swig, dont be surprised if you find yourself buying bubble wrap to protect those bottles of Coecoei packed in your suitcase.

Theres no better way to celebrate the clear waters and hot sands of St. Maarten than with a Guavaberry Kir. The cocktail combines champagne and the locally made Guavaberry liqueur, which together form a fitting homage to the islands Euro-Caribbean roots. Guavaberry liqueur is made from oak aged rum, cane sugar and wild guavaberries grown on the island. The plump, grape-like Guavaberry not related to guava fruit grows on trees, ripening into orange and black varieties. Drop by the Guavaberry Emporium in the heart of Philipsburg to taste a piece of the islands heritage.

Black pineapples populate the island of Antigua and are used to garnish the popular cocktail found all over the islands cosmopolitan epicenter. The unusual fruit, which is actually green instead of black when ripened, are renowned for their distinct sweetness. But the most important ingredient in the Antigua Smile is Cavalier rum, which the Antigua Distillery Limited has been creating on the island since 1947. The clear rum is distilled from fermented molasses and aged a minimum of two years in American bourbon barrels to create the silky, mellow flavor that balances the crme de banana and pineapple juice in the islands native cocktail. No wonder its called an Antigua Smile!

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At Landhuis Chobolobo, a 19th-century mansion, you can learn about this favorite island alcohol and taste the different cocktail variations created by the in-house mixologists that cant be found anywhere else. But dont miss the chance to ask the bartender for an authentic Blue Lagoon, so that you can consider yourself a true connoisseur while relishing Curaaos cool sea breeze.

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Those who make the pilgrimage to Mount Gay Rum Visitors Centre, just north of Bridgetown Harbor, can enjoy the creations of the distillerys master blenders at its Bottomless Rum Punch Station. You cant go wrong with a Mount Gay Rum Punch, which blends the signature rum with grenadine, lime juice, simple syrup, angostura bitters and fresh grated nutmeg for a satisfying old-timey favorite. Bottoms up!

Explore a new culture and experience the thrill of making lifelong memories with friends and family when you set sail with Royal Caribbeanvoted Best Cruise Line for 14 years and counting by Travel Weekly readers. Mix up your next vacation and visit Royal Caribbean to plan your extraordinary adventure.

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The 8 Most Memorable Island Cocktails To Try On Your Next Caribbean Adventure - Huffington Post

Walt Disney World on Thursday unveiled expansion plans for its Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach hotels.

Coronado Springs Resort will get a new 15-story tower with500 rooms, featuring suites and concierge level services.

The new tower overlooking Lago Dorado, the resorts centerpiece lake, will allow guests to experiencerooftop dining with viewsof fireworks from Disney theme parks.

The hotel will also refurbish its rooms.

Disney said on its blog it also plans to transform Coronado Springs landscape. There will be floating gardens and an island oasis that connects the resort through a series of bridges.

Also there will be additions to the Caribbean Beach Resort, including new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas at the Centertown marketplace. Disney said in a blog post this centralized location will offer the resorts guests more convenient access to services, amenities and dining.

The Southwestern-themed Coronado Springs opened 20 years ago, aiming to capture the convention market.

Caribbean Beach Resort has been around since the late 1980s.

Both are Disney moderate resorts. Both hotels currently average about $209 a night.

spedicini@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5240; Twitter @SandraPedicini

spedicini@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5240; Twitter @SandraPedicini

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Disney World announces expansion at Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach resorts - Orlando Sentinel

Black Caribbean immigrants play mas at the annual West Indian Day Carnival in Brooklyn, NY. (Hayden Roger Celestin image)

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 17, 2017: There is no denying that black immigrants from the Caribbean are a significant part of the African-American and black population in the United States today. Here are 10 facts you should know about this dynamic bloc this Black History Month:

1: Black immigrants from the Caribbean make up 50 percent of all foreign-born blacks living in the United States today according to the Pew Research Center and are estimated at 1.7 million.

2: Jamaican-born black immigrants make up the largest percentage of foreign born blacks in the U.S, with a conservative estimate of about 682,000 Black immigrants born or 18 percent of the national total of all foreign-born blacks.

3: Black immigrants from the Caribbean account for an estimated 8.7 percent of the entire black population in the U.S. today, according to data from the American Community Survey analyzed by Pew.

4: Researchers, however, have found that black Caribbean immigrants are more likely to assert an ethnic identity as West Indian or Jamaican, for example, rather than a racial identity as a black American.

5: Most black Caribbean immigrants admitted into the U.S. are less likely to be undocumented and are mostly legally admitted based on family ties and family sponsorship, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

6: Black Caribbean immigrants naturalize at a higher share than all other immigrants in the U.S. and are more likely to be U.S. citizens and less likely to be refugees or asylees or benefit from the diversity visa lottery.

7: Black Caribbean immigrants are most likely to be English proficient than other immigrants, according to Kevin Thomas of the Pennsylvania State University in A Demographic Profile of Black Caribbean Immigrants in the United States.

8: Today, some 813,000 children under the age of 10 have parents who are Black immigrants from the Caribbean, according to the Migration Policy Center.

9: English-speaking Black Caribbean immigrants earn more than Black African immigrants according to Thomas.

10: A new study from the New York City Department of Health, which examined health discrepancies among black New Yorkers, found that Caribbean immigrants tend to have fewer health problems like asthma and obesity than American-born blacks. Further, some 53 percent of American blacks labeled themselves as drinkers, compared with only 44 percent of Caribbean nationals.

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Black Caribbean Immigrants In The US Today 10 Things You Should Know This Black History Month - News Americas Now Caribbean And Latin America Daily...

The Fisheries Department of Belize and researchers with the Florida International University (FIU) registered their discovery of a previously unknown species of Sphyrna or hammerhead shark this week.

They say its range is relatively small and that it needs clean waters to survive, which is indicative of the health of the 300 kilometer long Belize Barrier reef -the longest in the northern hemisphere - where it was found.

Philipp Kanstinger, marine conservation expert with WWF Germany says the find underscores the importance of the reef as a biodiversity hotspot, and signals the need for action.

"The WWF is working with other partners to ensure this valuable location will be preserved in the future," he said in a press release.

The organization isalso calling on the government of Belizeto be actively involved in protectingthe marine paradise, which is home to more than 500 species of fish, over 100 types of coral as well as a rich diversity of flora.

Sharks, dolphins, sea turtles,manta rays and the American marine crocodileare also among the wildlife known to swim in those parts.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the reef is comprised of seven marine protected areas. But the ecosystem has come under threat in recent years as thousands of hectares of mangrove forest have been destroyed in the name of coastal and industrial development. In 2009, the destruction prompted UNESCO to put the site on its endangered list.

Blame it on Jaws or blame it on the fact that sharks do have rather a lot of sharp teeth, fact is, many humans have a fear of sharks as deep as the waters in which they swim. Any expert will tell you, we kill by far more of these great fish a year than they do us. So should we really be scared?

There are five species of reef shark, of which this is one. Feasting on crustaceans and fish alike, they are the top predator in the fragile ecosystem from which they take their name. They are no strangers to divers either, and have been known to attack when they feel threatened.

There are more than 250 recorded species of shark in the waters around our planet. They range in size and ferocity. The sand tiger shark weighs up to 159 kilos and can reach a length of 3.2 meters. They are big eaters, have a mouth full of frightening looking teeth, but are generally regarded as being docile and unlikely to attack humans unless provoked to do so.

Though it is impossible to know exactly how many sharks are killed annually for their fins, some estimates put the number around 100 million. Finning, as the practice is known, entails the removal of the fin while the shark is alive. The animals are then cast back into the sea where if not dead already, they succumb to a painful end. The fins are used to make soup, which costs up to $100 a bowl.

Recent research revealed that Greenland sharks can live to the extraordinarily ripe old age of 400. These predators have a healthy appetite, but have never been known to go for humans. They like cold waters, through which they move slowly. And that is not the only thing they do at a leisurly pace - they don't even reach sexual maturity until they are around 150.

...it will hurt you. At 18 meters, whale sharks are the longest species in the family, and indeed the biggest fish in the sea. At that rate, dinner should be theirs for the picking, but their penchant is for plankton. Good news for all the other creatures in the sea. But whale sharks are at risk. Not only are they fished for their fins, oil and meat, but are often hit by eco-tourism boats.

Said to be the best researched sharks, the lemon species is considered non-agressive. To date there have been no recorded incidents of a human fatality as a result of a lemon shark attack. They are social creatures that move in groups, where they rarely display aggressive behavior to each other.

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New shark of the Caribbean | Global Ideas | DW.COM | 15.02.2017 - Deutsche Welle

Press Release:-In light of the cordial nature that characterizes bilateral relations between Venezuela and the Caribbean countries, a delegation spearheaded by Mr. Jesus Faria, Venezuelas Minister for External Commerce and International Trade, completed a tour of some Caribbean countries (Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica) with Saint Lucia being its final stop in order to promote inter-regional trade with Venezuela and the rest of the Caribbean.

The delegation was welcomed by Honourable Bradley Felix Minister for Commerce, Industry, Investment, Business Development and Consumer Affairs. This encounter revealed that although both countries belong to the same geographic space, to date, they have yet to achieve satisfactory levels in the areas of commerce and co-operation. Also present at the meeting were Leo Preville, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce; Nancy Francis, Investment Director; H.E. Leiff Escalona, the Venezuelan Ambassador to Saint Lucia; Jos Lin Gmez, Deputy Secretary of Petrocaribe; the technical team of the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry; the Executive Secretary of Petrocaribe and Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Minister Faria expressed that the Venezuelan government is currently in the process of finalizing details to establish a sea route, with minimum obstacles, to facilitate trading amongst the countries of the region. He also stated, We have presented this proposal to the governments of some Eastern Caribbean countries and intend to present it to all of Central America in order to strengthen the economic integration amongst sister countries.

For his part, Minister Bradley Felix expressed his appreciation to the Government of Venezuela for the initiative to create a maritime route in the Caribbean region, and in turn, took the opportunity to invite Venezuela, to participate in the Trade Exhibition 2017 of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), from 9 to 12 March to identify companies from those countries interested in exporting to Venezuela. The Venezuelan minister expressed his thanks for the invitation and in turn invited the Saint Lucian Government and members from the manufacturing and commercial sector to participate in the annual trade fair organized by Petrocaribe. Over 35 countries participated in the Petrocaribe Pavillion 2016 last year.

The Venezuelan minister has expressed his countrys willingness to set up a technical workshop in the coming days geared at studying the production, export and import profiles of the manufacturing and commercial sectors in Saint Lucia so as to establish the link with the National Council of Productive Economy comprising of a variety of Venezuelan companies which has been established in Venezuela for that purpose.

Finally, the Venezuelan government once again reaffirmed its friendship, solidarity and co-operation with the peoples of the Caribbean, and its intention to continue to promote the integration policy promoted by Commander Hugo Chavez which President Maduro has continued to strengthen through ALBA and Petrocaribe.

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Venezuela promotes trade with Caribbean - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)