Daily Archives: January 25, 2021

Anguilla (CNN) Why on Earth would you take two kids younger than 3 to a remote island in the middle of a global pandemic? I asked myself this question many times last month as I embarked on my first attempt to get to St. Martin, my transit point to Anguilla, a Leeward Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea.

In addition to the safety dimension, there's another allure: travelers coming back to New York from Anguilla are not required to quarantine because the destination has managed the pandemic so well by remaining closed until November and implementing strict entry protocols.

Malliouhana Resort is one of the properties inside Anguilla's "vacation bubble."

Shawn Walters/Malliouhana Resort

Even in the best of times, Anguilla is hard to get to -- either two flights from New York or a flight and a boat -- making it an upmarket, but not stuffy, destination. I had visited Anguilla in 2018, right after Hurricane Irma devastated the island. While I was keen to see how a tiny island was once again managing a return to tourism, its CDC Level 1 status was definitely the No. 1 reason we chose Anguilla.

There, we could enter a "vacation bubble" -- designed so that hotels and resorts can offer guests access to a variety of amenities and activities within a restricted area. (Visitors aren't cleared to freely roam the island until passing a negative PCR test on day 14 of their stay, or day 10 if they are coming from a lower-risk country.)

A complicated arrival

Our trip got off to an inauspicious start, to say the least.

The family trek that began at 5 a.m. on a Friday at the end of December ended in us missing our flight, then spending six more hours in two airports in a desperate attempt to rebook.

Was this the best risk calculation? Maybe not. But after having packed and prepared to go on the road with a baby and a toddler, my husband and I went into our persevere-at-all-costs travel mode.

Following that debacle, my entire family, including my preschool-age daughter and nine-and-half-month-old son, went on standby to get retested since our initial Covid-19 test results for admission to Anguilla were due to expire that day.

This is Anguilla's first line of defense against the pandemic: requiring travelers to wait at least 72 hours after a negative test before traveling there. This policy -- mandating a gap between the test result and travel date -- is the equivalent of building a moat in front of the castle walls.

Open-air spaces are standard at Anguilla's luxury resorts such as Belmond Cap Juluca.

Courtesy Belmond Cap Juluca

I came to terms that we weren't getting on a plane that Friday and we all went home -- momentarily. A few hours later, I dragged everyone to Rapid Test Center on the Upper West Side, where they charge $250 for rapid PCR tests.

The multiple airports and Covid tests in New York weren't the full extent of our odyssey, since there are currently no direct commercial flights to Anguilla's tiny airstrip (private jets, however, are plentiful and convenient for those who can afford that route).

So after we were cleared to leave two days later, my family took the conventional method of entry to Anguilla: a four-hour flight from New York to Saint Martin (Sint Maarten in Dutch), followed by a luggage transfer, short trip by van, immigration check, private boat ride to Anguilla, a second Covid test upon arrival, and then another round of luggage transfer, immigration and a van ride to the resort. (Don't accuse me of promising the journey to Anguilla is easy -- even without little kids and a pandemic.)

There was a significant financial investment at stake as well: Anguilla opened its borders in November but with an asterisk. In their own words: "Anguilla is open to pre-approved visitors." So I applied, paid the required fees -- $1,350 for my family -- to cover our testing on the island (not including testing prior to arrival), provided proof of insurance and read up on the experience of entering a Covid-free fortress as a tourist.

Belmond Cap Juluca is one of the resorts inside the vacation bubble.

Richard James Taylor/Belmond Cap Juluca

Inside a luxurious Caribbean Covid fortress

I knew there was a vacation bubble, and we had to stay at our hotel until we received the results of our arrival PCR tests. Still, I didn't completely understand how that tracked with the promise I made to my almost 3-year-old that we were going through all this hassle so she could swim in a pool the MINUTE we arrived.

After a scenic, open-air, ocean spray-and-rain-speckled 30-minute ride on the ferry (think small boat with an outboard motor that seats a dozen people max) across Simpsons Bay Lagoon in Saint Martin and Anguilla Channel, we arrived at Anguilla's sole passenger port, the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal.

We were administered our arrival PCR test in an open-air facility nestled between the dock and the border control post, had our passports checked and then we bundled into a private chartered van.

But there would be no dip in the main pool until we cleared our arrival test. I found it difficult to explain to my daughter that Anguilla has caught a handful of cases through this two-stage testing protocol so no big pool until tomorrow.

Belmond Cap Juluca is situated on picture-perfect Maundays Bay.

Richard James Taylor/Belmond Cap Juluca

By the next morning, though, when we found that our Covid tests came back negative, it started to feel like a normal vacation. The sand was soft, Maundays Beach was postcard-picture perfect and we'd all (almost) forgotten all the swabs, planes and boats it took to get there.

This includes restrictions on walking down a beach from a hotel property or exiting its gates on foot or bicycle while you are still in the vacation bubble. (Those staying more than 10 days have the potential to test out of the vacation bubble and take off the red bracelet that flags quarantined visitors and residents. In December, two visitors were fined $5,000 for going outside of the tourist bubble during their quarantine period.)

Within the bubble, my daughter made a friend and it almost made me cry tears of joy that they could play in the sand and ocean without masks.

The bubble makes a range of amenities and activities at a handful of resorts accessible to guests whose movement is restricted.

Shawn Walters/Malliouhana Resort

A quieter peak season

Unlike St. Barths, which was almost completely sold out during festive season in December, according to their tourism board, Anguilla is a little less on the radar, or just a very well-kept secret for those who study the CDC list of low-risk Covid destinations.

"The testing protocols were not palatable to our traditional festive guests," corroborated Haydn Hughes, Anguilla's minister for tourism. ("Festive" is the industry term for the peak demand period of year-end holiday travel.) "They have been visiting the island for many years and like the ability to dine around and enjoy Anguilla. They have given this year a pass, but we could not compromise the health of our citizens, so we had to enact strict protocols even at the risk of possible poor arrival numbers," he added.

But that's the price of going to a destination that has such little community spread of the coronavirus that there is no mask mandate for residents, a rare case where it's actually not needed.

Sunset Lounge at the Four Seasons Resort was still lively over the holidays.

Courtesy Four Seasons

Still, there were signs that high season had arrived and the island has its game face on. Private planes were jetting in. Over the last weekend of December, Belmond Cap Juluca saw occupancy levels of over 70%. The outdoor Sunset Lounge at the Four Seasons Resort was still a lively -- but socially distanced -- scene. Tables for New Year's Eve were going for between $5,000 and $15,000.

Celeste, the restaurant at the glamorous Malliouhana, has a new, young talented chef, Angelica Ampil, who is upping the ante on the already strong culinary scene on the island.

There is no escaping the pandemic, but Anguilla's measures gave me some peace of mind, a headspace that is increasingly hard to find these days. And that sometimes comes at a hefty price tag that certainly does not make Anguilla a great travel equalizer.

Life on Anguilla does not feel like a normal freewheeling tourist experience. There are some absurdities like having to pay $25 for a taxi ride to go half a mile because movement is so restricted. And spas might not open until the second quarter of 2021.

Leon's at Meads Bay is one of the restaurants at Malliouhana Resort.

Courtesy Malliouhana Resort

Baby steps toward getting back to normal

But the vacation bubble is, ultimately, reassuring for Anguilla residents and visitors.

Naturally, some in the hospitality industry, which was at a total standstill for nine months and accounts for 95% of the island's economy, say the government's measures go a bit too far.

"I think the quarantine period could be shortened," said a restaurant worker at an establishment in the vacation bubble that is usually bustling during the holiday season but was half full that last week of December.

Hughes said there has been "tremendous pressure" to relax Anguilla's rules, but the government refused. "We observed the escalating cases of Covid across the world, particularly in our main markets," he said.

Like other small islands with limited accessibility, the economic impact of the global pandemic is palpable on the island. "People are going hungry. The situation is dire for many families," an employee at one Anguilla's top luxury hotels confided.

Still, the prevailing sentiment on the island seems to be that while its denizens desperately need tourism dollars to funnel into the economy, they are not willing to sacrifice the health of their friends and family since the healthcare system on Anguilla is already fragile.

"The key goal of Anguilla's approach is to make residents feel safe," said Tiago Moraes Sarmento, the general manager of Belmond Cap Juluca and a member of Anguilla's tourism board. "We wanted to start with baby steps," he said. "Ultimately, we want Anguilla to be the safest destination in the world."

Top image courtesy Belmond Cap Juluca

Read the original:

What it's like inside a luxury Caribbean 'vacation bubble' - CNN

TipRanks

Investing is all about finding profits, and investors have long seen two main paths toward that goal. Growth stocks, equities that will give a return based mainly on share price appreciation, are one route. The second route lies through dividend stocks. These are stocks that pay out a percentage of profits back to shareholders a dividend, usually sent out quarterly. The payments vary widely, from less than 1% to more than 10%, but the average, among stocks listed on the S&P 500, is about 2%. Dividends are a nice addition for a patient investor, as they provide a steady income stream. Goldman Sachs analyst Caitlin Burrows has been looking into the real estate trust segment, a group of stocks long-known for dividends that are both high and reliable and she sees plenty of reason to expect strong growth in three stocks in particular. Running the trio through TipRanks database, we learned that all three have been cheered by the rest of the Street as well, as they boast a Strong Buy analyst consensus. Broadstone Net Lease (BNL) First up, Broadstone Net Lease, is an established REIT that went public this past September in an IPO that raised over $533 million. The company put 33.5 million shares on the market, followed by another 5 million-plus picked up by the underwriters. It was considered a successful opening, and BNL now boasts a market cap over $2.63 billion. Broadstones portfolio includes 628 properties across 41 US states plus the Canadian province of British Columbia. These properties host 182 tenants and are worth an aggregate of $4 billion. The best feature here is the long-term nature of the leases the weighted average remaining lease is 10.8 years. During the third quarter, the most recent with full financials available, BNL reported a net income of $9.7 million, or 8 cents per share. The income came mainly from rents, and the company reported collecting 97.9% of rents due during the quarter. Looking ahead, the company expects $100.3 million in property acquisitions during Q4, and an increased rent collection rate of 98.8%. Broadstones income and high rent collections are supporting a dividend of 25 cents per common share, or $1 annually. Its a payment affordable for the company, and offering investors a yield of 5.5%. Goldmans Burrows sees the companys acquisition moves as the most important factor here. "Accretive acquisitions are the key earnings driver for Broadstone While management halted acquisitions following COVID-induced market uncertainty (BNL did not complete any acquisitions in 1H20) and ahead of its IPO, we are confident acquisitions will ramp up in 2021, and saw the beginning of this with 4Q20 activity We estimate that BNL achieves a positive investment spread of 1.8%, leading to 0.8% of earnings growth (on 2021E FFO) for every $100mn of acquisitions (or 4.2% on our 2021E acquisition volumes), Burrows opined. To this end, Burrows rates BNL a Buy, and her $23 price target implies an upside of ~27% for the year ahead. (To watch Burrows track record, click here) Wall Street generally agrees with Burrows on Broadstone, as shown by the 3 positive reviews the stock has garnered in recent weeks. These are the only reviews on file, making the analyst consensus rating a unanimous Strong Buy. The shares are currently priced at $18.16, and the average price target of $21.33 suggests a one-year upside of ~17%. (See BNL stock analysis on TipRanks) Realty Income Corporation (O) Realty Income is a major player in the REIT field. The company holds a portfolio worth more than $20 billion, with more than 6,500 properties located in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and the UK. Annual revenue exceeded $1.48 billion in fiscal year 2019 (the last with complete data), and has kept up a monthly dividend for 12 years. Looking at current data, we find that O posted 7 cents per share income in 3Q20, along with $403 million in total revenue. The company collected 93.1% of its contracted rents in the quarter. While relatively low, a drill-down to the monthly values shows that rent collection rates have been increasing since July. As noted, O pays out a monthly dividend, and has done so regularly since listing publicly in 1994. The company raised its payout in September 2020, marking the 108th increase during that time. The current payment is 23.45 cents per common share, which annualizes to $2.81 cents and gives a yield of 4.7%. Based on the above, Burrows put this stock on her Americas Conviction List, with a Buy rating and a $79 price target for the next 12 months. This target implies a 32% upside from current levels. Backing her stance, Burrows noted, We estimate 5.3% FFO growth per year over 2020E-2022E, versus an average of 3.1% fo rour full REIT coverage. We expect key earnings drivers will include a continued recovery in acquisition volumes and a gradual improvement in theater rents (in 2022)." The analyst added, "We assume O makes $2.8 billion of acquisitions in each of 2021 and 2022, versus the consensus expectation of $2.3 billion. [We] believe our acquisition volume assumptions could in fact turn out to be conservative as, eight days into 2021, the company has already made or agreed to make $807.5 mn of acquisitions (or 29% of our estimate for 2021)." Overall, Wall Street takes a bullish stance on Realty Income shares. 5 Buys and 1 Hold issued over the previous three months make the stock a Strong Buy. Meanwhile, the $69.80 average price target suggests ~17% upside from the current share price. (See O stock analysis on TipRanks) Essential Properties Realty Trust (EPRT) Last up, Essential Properties, owns and manages a portfolio of single-tenant commercial properties across the US. There are 214 tenants across more than 1000 properties in 16 industries, including car washes, convenience stores, medical services, and restaurants. Essential Properties boasts a high occupancy rate of 99.4% for its properties. In 3Q20, the company saw revenue increase of 18.2% year-over-year, reaching $42.9 million. Essential Properties finished the quarter with an impressive $589.4 million in available liquidity, including cash, cash equivalents, and available credit. The strong cash position and rising revenues had the company confident enough to raise the dividend in going into Q4. The new dividend payment is 24 cents per common share, up 4.3% from the previous payment. The current rate annualizes to 96 cents, and gives a yield of 4.6%. The company has been raising its dividend regularly for the past two years. In her review for Goldman, Burrows focuses on the recovery that Essential Properties has made since the height of the COVID panic last year. When shelter in place mandates went into effect in early 2020, only 71% of EPRTs properties were open (completely or on a limited basis). This situation has improved in the intervening months and now just 1% of EPRTs portfolio is closed We expect EPRTs future earnings growth to be driven by acquisition accretion and estimate 2.8% potential earnings growth from $100 mn of acquisitions, Burrows wrote. In line with her optimistic approach, Burrows gives EPRT shares a Buy rating, along with a $26 one-year price target, suggesting a 27% upside. All in all, EPRT has 9 recent analyst reviews, and the breakdown of 8 Buys and 1 Sell gives the stock a Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares are priced at $20.46 and have an average price target of $22.89, giving ~12% upside potential from current levels. (See EPRT stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

See more here:

Will Carnival, Royal Caribbean Or Norwegian Stock Grow The Most By 2022? - Yahoo Finance

Hotels and resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean have borne the brunt of the CDC's recent decision to require Covid-19 tests for all U.S.-bound flyers, with hospitality operators reliant on U.S. tourism moving quickly to ensure guests have access to convenient and reliable on-site testing.

According to Robert Sands, president of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and a Baha Mar senior executive, the new mandate has made testing "perhaps the single most important amenity at a hotel, as it relates to travel."

But while many larger and well-established properties have successfully rolled out on-site testing over the past week, broader efforts to make testing more accessible and cost-effective, as well as guarantee fast results, have hardly been without challenges.

In a statement, Vanessa Ledesma, acting CEO and director general of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, called testing requirements for entry back into the U.S., as well as Canada and the U.K., "a tremendous challenge for most of the small countries and jurisdictions in the Caribbean," citing insufficient testing equipment, lab facilities and manpower in some destinations.

Likewise, Felicia Knaul, a public health expert and the director of the University of Miami Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, expressed some skepticism around the quick scaling of testing capabilities in markets like Mexico, "where the lack of testing, in general, has been appalling."

Under the CDC's new mandate, travelers must show proof of a negative Covid-19 antigen or PCR test taken with 72 hours in order to board a flight to the U.S., effective Jan. 26. In the U.K., a similar requirement went into effect earlier this month, while in Canada, proof of a negative PCR test prior to boarding has been mandatory since Jan. 7.

"When we saw Canada announce their policy, we knew the U.S. could follow," said Paul Gielen, general manager of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. "The U.S. is our bread and butter, so we began calling around to [coordinate on-site testing] early. Our focus was making sure testing wasn't too expensive, and the next concern was, how do you make it easy, so people don't lose half their vacation getting tested?"

In partnership with local lab MedCare Aruba, the Renaissance Aruba was able to get its on-property testing site -- which it claims is the first resort testing facility on the island -- up and running in just a few days. Antigen tests are available for $50 each, with PCR tests -- which are generally considered the gold standard for Covid-19 testing but require a longer turnaround -- offered at $125 each.

The property has also launched a package for travel through April 4, offering complimentary antigen testing for up to two people per room, for stays of four nights or longer.

Though the tests themselves aren't in short supply in Aruba, Gielen did point out that the number of labs on the island able to perform them is relatively small, with only three in operation. While he predicted some larger resorts would forge similar partnerships and be able to bring testing in-house, the amenity isn't likely to be ubiquitous anytime soon.

"Obviously, they have the ability to come in and work with us, but by the time the third or fourth resort reaches out to them, it may not be so easy," said Gielen.

In the Bahamas, testing capacity has been relatively robust, due in part to a requirement, predating the U.S. mandate, that travelers staying in the country longer than five days take an antigen test. (Some resorts, including the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, even require their own testing prior to check-in, on top of the country's existing protocols.)

Sands characterized the Bahamas' existing testing strategy as "very proactive," but even so, he acknowledged that for Bahamian properties in more remote locations, accessible testing for travelers may be more difficult.

"I don't think we have to be concerned about Providence or Grand Bahama and some of the other tourist-heavy islands, but there's still work to be done to instill that same level of confidence on some of the other Family Islands," Sands said.

For AMResorts, which has properties throughout Mexico, Jamaica, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama and Spain, dealing with each destination's disparate testing regulations has at times proven complicated.

Reynal discusses its testing rollout as well as the impact the CDC's new requirement could have on AMResorts' recovery.

While AMResorts has been able to roll out free antigen testing across the vast majority of its portfolio, antigen tests have yet to become available for use in Costa Rica or St. Martin. Consequently, the company's resorts in those markets instead work to facilitate off-site PCR testing for an additional cost.

"We have a strong relationship with the hospitals there, so we can prioritize the processing. Our scale helps a lot," said Gonzalo del Peon Suarez, group president for AMResorts Americas and global commercial. "Hopefully, we'll see those countries accepting the antigen test soon, because it is challenging."

Meanwhile, the University of Miami's Knaul hopes that the new testing requirement will have some positive impact on destinations like Mexico, where tourism demand has remained relatively steady, even as Covid-19 cases continue to surge.

"I would love to see a situation where this results in more reasonably-priced testing for [local residents] who need it," said Knaul. "A hotel could say to a tourist, you pay for a test, and your test will pay for five more tests for people who can't afford them. It's good to require tests to enter a country or get on a plane, as long as it doesn't come at the expense of the local population."

Originally posted here:

CDC entry rule is testing resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico - Travel Weekly

In the Caribbean, luxury is different.

Of course, any great resort must have excel in the fundaments of luxury: food and drink; interior and exterior design and, most importantly, service.

But Caribbean luxury transcends that. In the Caribbean, luxury is also about beauty, about space; about the natural environment; about the sights, the aromas, about the art of experiencing the outdoors.

In other words, its about all of the things that travelers prize most right now.

Compiling our annual ranking of the best luxury resorts is always a challenge; and this year, even more so.

But the properties that made this list combined exacting quality in the aforementioned technical areas (including, of course, health and safety protocols) with that most important criterion of all: how special a resort makes you feel.

Here are our favorite luxury resorts for 2021.

The Shore Club, Turks and Caicos Now more than ever, travelers are drawn to residential resorts properties that combine all the amenities of a home or villa with the ones you get at a hotel. Indeed, the things we want in a hotel experience have changed and thats whats made the Shore Club Turks and Caicos even more of a masterwork. This Long Bay beach stunner has some of the most gorgeous and gorgeously appointedrooms youll find in the Caribbean, married with marvelous service, an exceptional culinary offering (including the wonderful new Almond Tree), a world-class spa and the kind of impeccable service that answers every request without ever being intrusive.

Go here to read the rest:

The 15 Best Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean for 2021 - Caribbean Journal

The original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy had some clever lore, but few viewers noticed the secret double meaning of the heroes names.

The original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy had some clever lore, but few viewers noticed the secret double meaning of the heroes names. Released in 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was the first major studio blockbuster to focus on sword fights and swashbuckling since the infamous Renny Harlin flop Cutthroat Island was released eight years earlier in 1995.

Fortunately for Disney, The Curse of the Black Pearl was an unexpected hit with both audiences and critics. The creepy horror elements, mile-a-minute action, winning script, and game cast all won the movie a huge fanbase, and soon two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels were rushed into production. The sequels may not have recaptured the first films magic, but that could be attributed to how much evident care and attention to detail went into the script of The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Related: Pirates of the Caribbean Needs An Original Villain More Than Jack Sparrow

For example, few viewers would pick up on the naming motif shared by the heroes of the firstPirates of the Caribbeanmovie on first viewing, but theres a clever double meaning to each major protagonists surname. Whether its Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, or Jack Sparrow, all three of their surnames are references to different families of birds, in keeping with the first movies motif ofwanting to fly free. The first film of the series, in particular, sees Will yearn to take flight from his boring existence as a blacksmiths apprentice, Jack Sparrow eager to be free from the more immediately impactful threat of the gallows, and Elizabeth yearning to break out of the gilded cage that is her upper-class existence as a lady.

A further look at each of the characters individual name proves that the writers of Pirates of the Caribbean put even more meaning into each moniker than is immediately obvious. Jack Sparrow is a reference to the bird of the same name, but Elizabeths surname Swann has another clever double meaning as swans are often associated with regality, like the comparatively privileged Elizabeth. Graceful and elegant, swans are also famously able to break a man's arm (as noted in Hot Fuzz), which makes for a fitting name for a heroine who progresses from captive to pirate lord as the series progresses.

But the more obscure name of the trio is Will Turner, whose name comes from terns. For anyone who somehow managed to pick up on that, theres actually a pretty major spoiler for his fate later in the Pirates of the Caribbean series hidden in the characters name. Terns are seabirds, and despite beginning the series as a blacksmiths apprentice, Will is eventually left wishing he never dreamt of a life at sea when the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie ends with him doomed to sail the seas for ten long years as captain of the Flying Dutchman (for any upset fans, its worth noting that the fifth film reveals he made it home to Elizabeth after the lengthy sentence).

More: Pirates of the Caribbean: Tia Dalma's Powers and Backstory Explained

Neville Longbottom Actor Can't Watch His Harry Potter Films

Go here to read the rest:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Secret Meaning Behind The Heroes' Names - Screen Rant

IDB-UNESCO: Gaps in education systems will be exacerbated if education is not prioritized within pandemic response plans

"The region has an urgent need to plan and define priority actions to guarantee the safety of school operations and educational attention to the most vulnerable populations". This is the conclusion of the IDB and UNESCO report "Reopening Schools in Latin America and the Caribbean: Keys, challenges and dilemmas to plan for a safe return to in-person classes". The report was launched by both international organizations on Monday, December 7th, 2020 at an online event. The English version is available since January 20th.

The document presents an assessment developed by both institutions as a contribution to the prioritization of education in national response plans to the health emergency and future recovery strategies. "Countries have deployed various response and recovery plans in which education needs to be incorporated as a central element," the report says, "not only to ensure an education response, but to achieve an equitable, inclusive and sustainable recovery.

The report points out inequality increases the challenge of developing an education strategy that integrates educational experiences of 2020 - and that recovery of students who have not returned to school will be difficult. For this reason, the document also calls for regional action ensuring that all educational responses are based on the fundamental principles of inclusion, equity, and non-discrimination. To this end, the report analyses the possibilities, restrictions and needs that Latin American and Caribbean countries will face during the process of returning to in-person classes, considering the following dimensions: safe schools (school infrastructure, access to water and sanitation); human resources (principals and teachers); remote education (access to ICT and connectivity; education financing; and information and planning.

In their conclusions, both organizations indicate that the responses that the countries have implemented to guarantee continuity of learning reflect a remarkable capacity to react to an uncertain scenario, but that there are difficult decisions to be taken as soon as possible, as the longer the return to in-person classes is delayed, exclusion will grow and inequalities will increase.

Within these decisions, UNESCO and the IDB call for investments to improve the state of school infrastructure to ensure conditions for basic sanitation and hygiene. They also call for careful planning of the demand and supply of teachers for the return to classes and emphasize the urgent need to improve policies on teacher training, availability, allocation and working conditions.

In terms of information and communication technology (ICT) and learning continuity during the pandemic, the report emphasizes inequalities among students in access to educational options in terms of technology during a pandemic and the enormous challenge for educational continuity, especially in rural areas. This period has also highlighted disparities in teachers' ICT skills, which require sustained policies that transcend the crisis.

With regard to education financing, the IDB and UNESCO state that the recovery of the education sector will require additional resources, as well as improving their distribution. Huge inequalities highlight the need to incorporate equity criteria and the prioritization of vulnerable populations.

In order to build more comprehensive education systems that will allow dealing with crises such as this one, it is also essential to modernize the collection and analysis of information and to make these systems more efficient Currently, there are marked gaps in comparable data from all countries on key indicators for planning the return to in-person classes. In many cases these gaps reflect basic information that is not available at the national level.

Sabine Riegle-Aubourg, Director (a.i.) of the Education Division at the IDB says this report is "a wake-up call about the urgent need for careful education policy planning. The ability of countries to define priority actions to ensure safe school operations and prioritize education for the most vulnerable populations will be key. In order to do this and to avoid a generational disaster, education funding must be protected.

"This diagnosis gives an account of the challenges faced by the education systems in the region, which have been deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why today, more than ever, we must maintain our commitments for the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Goal 4. Adequate, timely and efficient investment will be crucial to reducing the current and future impacts of the pandemic on education and to avoid a generational catastrophe".

Claudia Uribe, Director of the Regional Bureau for Education in LAC (OREALC/UNESCO Santiago)

Even before the sanitary emergency, education systems faced major challenges. In 2018, 10.5 million children were out of school in Latin America and the Caribbean, 16% of them outside primary education, 22% without lower secondary education and 62% without upper secondary education. In addition, a large number of students in the region do not achieve basic learning competencies according to the results of PISA (OECD) and the Third Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study (TERCE), implemented by UNESCO.

The conclusions

Safe schools (school infrastructure, access to water and sanitation)

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed structural shortcomings in school infrastructure.

Most schools in LAC countries do not have the classroom size conditions that allow for the enforcement of the physical distance protocols for a safe return to in-person classes for every student. Around 1.3 million students at the primary level do not have access to drinking water in their households nor in school. It is urgent that LAC countries invest in the improvement of the state of school infrastructure to offer basic sanitation and hygiene conditions.

Human resources (principals and teachers)

Constraints on the return to in-person classes for some teachers and the implementation of hybrid models will require the need to hire new teachers. However, even before the pandemic, many countries already faced a shortage in trained staff to cover the education needs of the population. The region needs to plan the supply and demand of teachers carefully in order to return to in-person classes; the pandemic has brought to light the urgent need to improve training, availability, allocation and working condition policies for teachers.

Remote education (access to ICT and connectivity)

The most utilized resource in the region for remote and hybrid education are online platforms, employed by 85% of countries. However, access to connectivity and technological resources in households and in schools are deficient: 46% of children between 5 and 12 years of age live in households without Internet connection. In terms of schools, 62% of primary schools and 75% of secondary schools have access to ICT equipment. This represents a huge challenge for learning continuity, especially in rural areas. The pandemic has highlighted the disparities in ICT competencies among teachers, this requiring sustained training policies that go beyond the urgency of the current situation.

Education Financing

The recovery of the education sector will require additional financial resources and better distribution. The large inequalities highlight the need to include criteria of equity and prioritization of vulnerable population in plans to return to in-person classes for students currently out of school. In this sense, education financing as well as fair and efficient resource allocation are key to respond to this crisis and to guarantee the right to quality education for everyone.

Information and planning

Ministries of education require strong education management information systems (EMIS) that allow for the planning, development, and management of these strategies. 42% of LAC countries still use physical formats (such as paper forms) completely or partially to gather data. The EMIS of the region need to be strengthened through the use of technologies to collect and analyze data more effeciently, allowing ministries to build a more comprehensive picture of their education systems to deal better with crises.

Further information:

Public information / Contact:

Carolina Jerez HenrquezKnowledge Management Section (KMS)Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbeanc.jerez@unesco.org(link sends e-mail), +56992890175

Excerpt from:

Reopening schools in Latin America and the Caribbean: key points, challenges, and dilemmas to plan a safe return to in-person classes - World -...

As popular as the movies continued to be from a commercial perspective, it wouldnt be unfair to say that the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was running on fumes by the time Dead Men Tell No Tales arrived back in the summer of 2017. Ironically, if it wasnt for the massive popularity of Johnny Depps Captain Jack Sparrow, then theres every chance audiences would have lost interest in the big budget swashbucklers a long time ago.

After all, The Curse of the Black Pearl took everyone by surprise when it quickly gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the most purely entertaining blockbusters of the 21st Century, landing Depp his first Academy Award nomination in the process. And sequel Dead Mans Chest became just the third movie ever to reach a billion dollars at the box office, but At Worlds End was a major disappointment that was overstuffed, awfully complicated and way too long.

On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales, meanwhile, saw the law of diminishing returns well and truly settle in, and each new Pirates of the Caribbean blockbuster has fared noticeably worse than its immediate predecessor on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Now, the series faces the incredibly difficult challenge of moving forward without its biggest draw and selling point, with a sixth entry in the main saga and female-driven spinoff both in the works with no sign of Johnny Depp being invited to return.

However, insider Daniel Richtman claims that Disney are still planning an entire Pirates of the Caribbean cinematic universe anyways, and theyre reportedly developing up to ten movies, spinoffs, and Disney Plus shows. What these other eight potential mystery projects are to have sprung up out of nowhere, the tipster doesnt divulge, but based on the backlash that the studio has faced already from Depps supporters, they may as well just set fire to a big pile of money instead.

Read the original:

Disney Reportedly Wants To Do 10 More Pirates Of The Caribbean Projects - We Got This Covered

You always have that feeling of joy, Sybille Sorrentino says, gazing at the wall of green just across the water. Its a three-by-two-mile sanctuary.

Were at Virgin Islands Eco Tours, set on the southeastern coast of the island of St Thomas, an operation that has been running kayak tours for 25 years.

And from the moment you turn off Route 32, you feel it, too.

Paddle a minute or two off the dock and youve entered the frontier; youre no longer in St Thomas or so it seems.

This is the Mangrove Lagoon, and its one of the most spectacular settings in the Virgin Islands, a breathtaking natural gallery of mangroves and tiny cays abutting the oceans edge.

And whats wonderful how accessible it is, equally enjoyable for the novice just off Highway 32 and the advanced kayaker.

And the choices are vast: you can explore the mangroves on your own and then discover the underwater habitat snorkeling; you can take the full journey to nearby Cas Cay, where youll find volcanic cliffs and even join a hermit crab race.

You have that sound of the ocean and the waves, you have tidal pools, you can reach in the water and pick up starfish and octopus, Sorrentino says.

Or you can return at night and kayak under the full moon.

No matter when you go or how you do it, its one of the truly great experiences in the USVI an instant adventure in a rarefied place.

Sorrentino says the mangroves have never looked better, a renaissance in green just a few years after Irma and Marias devastation.

Its growing back so nicely now, she says.

Of course, theres an added bonus here, thanks to the recent debut of the St Thomas outpost of St Johns Bikinis on the Beach.

The STT edition is already one of the islands best waterfront dining settings, with an excellent menu by Chef Sam Maricchow, whose culinary experience includes stops at Coki Beach and the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas.

In other words, there are quite a few ways to find joy here, just off Route 32.

For more, visit VI Eco Tours.

Link:

In St Thomas, Kayaking Through the Mangroves Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

As demand continues to grow for the US Virgin Islands, another carrier is expanding its service to the Caribbean destination.

Frontier Airlines has announced plans to launch a new nonstop route between Miami and St Thomas beginning in March.

The new service, which will operate on Sundays and Thursdays, is set to begin March 7.

Thats along with soon-to-debut service on Frontier from Orlando to St Thomas, with twice-weekly service that will begin Feb. 19.

We are once again thankful for this partnership with Frontier as the carrier works to meet existing and create new demand for travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands with affordable fares, said US Virgin Islands Tourism Commissioner Boschulte.

The US Virgin Islands has been open for tourism since September, with a region-leading travel portal that has been an exemplar for safe tourism reopenings in the Caribbean.

Its yet another new route for Frontier at Miami International Airport, part of what the airlines senior vice president of commercial called exceptional growth at Miamis convenient airport.

Indeed, Frontier has been steadily ramping up its Caribbean network out of Miami, including recent expansions to destinations like San Juan and Cancun.

Every traveler aged five and up who enters the US Virgin Islands is required to use the USVI Travel Screening Portal and submit a negative test result taken and received within five days before travel.

Notably, as a US territory, the USVI is exempt from the new CDC requirement of negative tests for travelers returning home to the United States.

CJ

Read more from the original source:

Frontier Launching New Nonstop Flights to St Thomas Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

LONDON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --International Game Technology PLC ("IGT") (NYSE: IGT) announced today that its subsidiary IGT Global Solutions Corporation (hereinafter "IGT") has signed a seven-year contract extension with Supreme Ventures Limited ("SVL") to continue providing world-class lottery technology, content, and ongoing services and support in Jamaica.

"Over the past 19 years, IGT's commitment to our growth and provision of superior service has directly influenced SVL's ongoing success,"saidGary Peart, SVL Executive Chairman."This agreement represents the next chapter in our winning partnership, and further supports SVL for expansion, reinforcing our market leadership position and our place as an integral part of the fabric of Jamaica. SVL is an important contributor to nation-building on multiple fronts and growing business for all stakeholders. Our long-term strategic relationship with IGT is a key enabler for our growth platform and delivering our vision for SVL in the region."

"This latest extension demonstrates IGT's and SVL's mutual commitment to creating value for SVL's stakeholders through innovative gaming solutions, while emphasizing SVL's confidence in the performance and stability of IGT's offering,"saidJay Gendron, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Lottery."As SVL continues to offer best-in-class lottery and gaming products, this extension will sustain business momentum and player engagement, make an impact on small businesses through SVL's expanding retailer network, and ultimately benefit all Jamaicans."

With the previous contract period scheduled to end in January 2026, the latest contract extension is for a period of seven years, extending the contract through 2033 and enabling IGT to continue strategically supporting SVL for the next 12 years.

Under the agreement, IGT will continue providing lottery products, games and services, and as part of a Facilities Management integrated services arrangement, will continue to operate and maintain its stable, high-performance central system, terminals, and communications network, producing high transaction volumes daily for the lottery business; provide marketing support; and supply field services. The agreement also includes data center operations and a 24-7 customer contact center, game design and development, data analytics, strategic planning, and sales support.

In addition to its lottery contract with SVL, IGT also provides mobile phone top-up services to SVL, as well as operational support for its VLT program, including field services, installations for new retailers, and marketing and sales support.

IGT, previously as GTECH, has been the lottery technology and services provider to SVL since the Lottery began selling online games in 2001.

About IGT

IGT (NYSE:IGT) is the global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated segments, from Gaming Machines and Lotteries to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivaled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 11,000 employees. For more information, please visit http://www.igt.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release may contain forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning International Game Technology PLC and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company") and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions, and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, dividends, results of operations, or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the management of the Company as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, such management. Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "could," "would," "should," "shall", "continue," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "guidance," "intend," "may," "will," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project" or the negative or other variations of them. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company's control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those predicted in the forward-looking statements and from past results, performance, or achievements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to) the factors and risks described in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December31, 2019 and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://www.IGT.com. Except as required under applicable law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider these factors and other risks and uncertainties that affect the Company's business. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to International Game Technology PLC, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Contact: Phil O'Shaughnessy, Global Communications, toll free in U.S./Canada +1 (844) IGT-7452; outside U.S./Canada +1 (401) 392-7452 Francesco Luti, +39 3485475493; for Italian media inquiries James Hurley, Investor Relations, +1 (401) 392-7190 Rhonda Whittaker, Global Communications, +1 (506) 878-6471

2021 IGT

The trademarks and/or service marks used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of IGT, its affiliates or its licensors.

SOURCE International Game Technology PLC

http://www.igt.com

Here is the original post:

IGT Reaffirms Leadership in the Caribbean with Seven-Year Lottery Extension in Jamaica - PRNewswire