Daily Archives: January 25, 2021

As if traveling hasnt looked different enough this past year, things just got taken up a notch.

Last week, the CDC unveiled a new mandate requiring all inbound U.S. flyers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. The policy, which goes into effect on January 26, now has destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, racing to provide a solution for travelers who may have already been wary to travel abroad in the midst of the pandemic.

Airlines will be responsible for confirming the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before they board, and will deny boarding to any person who does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test.

Thankfully, a number of international hotels already have had processes in place, or organized quickly to help travelers abide by local regulations. Here are a few destinations you can travel safely and still have peace of mind.

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas

Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel, Grenada

Casa Kimberly, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Cayo Espanto, Belize

Club Med

Grace Bay Resorts, Turks & Caicos

Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Ocean Club Resorts, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort, Riviera Pacifica, Panama

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These 10 Caribbean Resorts Will Offer COVID-19 Testing In Response To New US Re-Entry Requirement - Essence

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Jan. 25, 2021: Foreign Direct Investment in the Caribbean fell by 18 percent last year, according to latest date from UNCTAD, though that drop was far less than 2019.

The report, released Sunday, said the FDI inflows into the Caribbean last year was just USD 3.2 billion, as the region was hit by COVID-19, which drastically impacted investment in the tourism sector.

However, there was somewhat good news for the Dominican Republic, which even though it has seen the highest rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the Caribbean, saw its FDI inflows drop by only 9 percent. The country was helped by investments in the manufacturing sector and new projects in medical devices.

The news comes as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), said Friday that the regions foreign trade in 2020 had its worst performance since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 because of the economic crisis prompted by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by governments to stop its spread.

In its annual report, unveiled on Friday, ECLAC estimated that the value of regional exports dropped -16 percent in 2020.

However, FDI flows to the Caribbean in 2019, had reported a worst decline. In the Caribbean, excluding offshore financial centers, flows declined by 32 percent in 2019. That contraction was owed to lower FDI $2.5 billion in the Dominican Republic, the largest recipient in the sub-region, despite strong economic growth there in 2018.

Flows to Haiti and Jamaica also had fallen in 2019, to $105 million and $775 million, respectively.

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Foreign Direct Investment In The Caribbean Again Drops - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News - News Americas

KEY FIGURES

17.4M CUMULATIVE COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN AS OF 17 JANUARY

234K VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED IN MEXICO TO DATE, MORE THAN ANY COUNTRY IN THE REGION

440K PEOPLE TARGETED IN FIRST PHASE OF JAMAICA'S VACCINATION PROGRAM

MEXICO

The Ministry of Health reported nearly 108,000 cases during the first 10 days of January, including a single-day record of 16,105 cases on 9 January, breaking single-day case records on four consecutive days during this period.The 80,492 cases reported between 3-9 January are the highest seven-day stretch of the pandemic. The increase is also driving up the death toll, with more than 1,000 daily deaths reported over five consecutive days during this same 10-day period, including a singleday record of 1,165 deaths.The rising cases and deaths come as the Government reports administering as many as 234,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, the most of any country in Latin America and the Caribbean and 13th overall in the world. Authorities are working to reach 400,000 vaccinations before 19 January to protect healthcare workers and use the next incoming batch to vaccinate the elderly.

PERU

The Ministry of Health confirmed that Peru is dealing with a second wave of COVID-19 infections, with their most recent epidemiological alert noting increases in positive tests, deaths and hospitalizations. Daily new cases are regularly reaching or surpassing 1,500 since the beginning of the year. Hospitals in the north, south and central regions have no available intensive care unit beds. Ministry officials attribute the increase in recent weeks to a new strain of the virus.

JAMAICA

The Government announced they will extend the nightly curfew already in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 until 31 January. Health authorities say the St Ann and Manchester parishes are showing signs of uncontrollable spread, with St Ann recording 35 cases per 100,000 people and Manchester 43 per 100,000 people, a major concern considering that the national average is just 2.5 per 100,000 people.

Health authorities in both parishes are ramping up prevention activities, including testing and contact tracing.Jamaica expects to receive a first batch of 292,000 vaccine doses in April 2021 through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX) mechanism, enough to vaccinate approximately 146,000 people. This represents about 33 per cent of the 440,000 people the Government plans to vaccinate in the first phase of its vaccination program, prompting the Government to explore potential bilateral arrangements with India,China and Cuba to secure more vaccines doses.

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Latin America & The Caribbean - Weekly Situation Update (11-17 January 2021) As of 18 January 2021 - Mexico - ReliefWeb

Celebrity Cruises will have eight ships sailing in the Caribbean this winter and next, including its newest vessel, the Celebrity Apex.

The line, which has normally based six ships in the region, said the increase is not related to the pandemic, but to growing demand.

The Apex, delivered in March but yet to carry any passengers, will be joined by its sister ship, the Celebrity Edge, as well as the Celebrity Equinox, Millennium, Silhouette, Summit, Constellation and Reflection.

The ships will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and San Juan, offering four- to 11-day itineraries, including an expanded offering of seven-day itineraries.

Celebrity said its seven-day itinerary from San Juan enables people to go farther south than most weeklong sailings from Florida, to destinations such as the ABC islands, St. Lucia and Barbados.

Celebrity recently launched Always Included pricing, including drinks, WiFi and gratuities in its base cruise fare.

Read more:

Celebrity pumps up supply in the Caribbean - Travel Weekly

Fixed-term six months contract

Competitive salary

IPPF is a global service provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. We are a worldwide movement of national organisations working with and for communities and individuals.

IPPF is opening a new Regional Office in the Americas and the Caribbean with two locations: Bogota, Colombia and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.**

Based in Bogota, but initially remotely if necessary, the Head of Operations is responsible for setting-up and sustaining robust, transparent and accountable policies, processes, systems and structures for the effective, efficient and compliant operations of Americas and Caribbean Regional Office (ACRO) in line with IPPFs policies.

The job holder will supervise finance, safeguarding, human resources, administration, security, logistics, procurement and information technology (IT) services that support the mission of IPPF and Member Associations (MAs) in the region. As part of the ACRO Senior Management Team, the job holder contributes to the strategic direction and leadership in the IPPF ACRO and is responsible for the efficient management of the two locations of the regional office.

You have a minimum 10 years of experience in Operations management with broad experience and solid track record gained based in the Americas and the Caribbean. You will need to have solid experience on compliance and are fully committed to safeguarding and womens rights. You will need to be fluent in English and Spanish and have a post-graduate qualification in Business Administration & Management or equivalent standard of education.

CVs will not be accepted. For further information and an application form, please see our website http://www.ippf.org or email jobs@ippf.org Application form available in Large Print, Audio or Braille. We regret only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Closing date: 7 February 2021

Interviews expected: 12 February 2021

Applications are particularly welcome from candidates openly living with HIV/AIDS. IPPF is committed to equal opportunities and cultural diversity. Candidates from all sections of the community are welcome to apply.

IPPF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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Head of Operations Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office - ReliefWeb

From sports, to your workplace,to school, there are always unwritten rules that everyone kind of knows about and should follow.

The same is true about going on a cruise ship, and these rules are not necessarily written down anywhere, but they are the social norms many guests follow.

Many of these rules are based on "common sense" or courtesies extended through much of society these days.

If you are going on a cruise, these unspoken rules are things you should definitely be aware of before doing something you might regret later.

The Windjammer buffet does not have defined lanes, or entry and exit points. But that does not mean you can drop in ahead of others as you see fit.

When you approach a buffet station, the courteous thing to do is start at one of the ends and let others who are there before you pick their food first.

The key is not interrupting the flow of the line, and being respectful of other guests who have been waiting for their food too.

Speaking of the buffet, always get a new plate whenever you go back up.

The pool deck tends to be more of a "wild west" in terms of reserving space, but the right thing to do is not hoard chairs if you are not using them.

A contentious issue is how long one can reserve a deck chair near the pool while it is unoccupied.

You may hear the term "chair hogs" thrown around, which refers to people who throw their belongings on a chair in order to reserve it for the day. While that may not sound bad, often someone will get up early in the morning to do this, many hours before the people who they reserved the chairs for actually show up.

It is easy to fall into, "if I don't do what they're doing, I won't get a chair either" mentality, but I prefer to not contribute to the problem.

The respectful thing to do is reserve chairs as long as they are actively needed. Certainly everyone steps away now and again, but locking up chairs for the day hours before they will be needed is a faux-pas.

Stateroom cabins are not soundproof, so it is important to be respectful of noise levels from your room.

Whether you are playing the television too loud, yelling at your kids, or "frolicking" with a loved one, keep in mind there is a good chance the people on either side of your room can hear it.

This applies to balconies as well, as noise can easily bleed over into other people's balconies and even rooms.

While gratuity istechnicallyoptional in the academic sense of the word, it is compulsory on Royal Caribbean cruises.

Just like dining at a restaurant, the crew members work on tips and your cruise fare does not cover their services.

Royal Caribbean charges an automatic gratuity that covers your stateroom attendant and waiters. This is a daily charge you can pre-pay or have take out on each night of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to remove the automatic gratuity if they would rather pay these same crew members in cash, andnotas a cost savings mechanism.

They say, "punctuality is the politeness of kings" and it applies to shore excursions too.

Often tours you go on will have time to explore on your own, and if you are late, you are holding up the entire group.

Be mindful of your time and do your best to ensure you are back when everyone agrees to return.

There aresalad tongs at each buffet station for a reason, so don't use your hands.

Not only is using your hands to pick up food badmanners, it is putting others health at risk when it comes to cross contamination. Germs can easily be spread from hands to food surfaces.

I know those bread rolls are hard to grab with the tongs, but it is still a must do.

When you are waiting for an elevator, let people who are in the elevator get out before trying to get in.

If you don't, you are going to cause a log jam in the elevator doors between trying to get in while others try to get out.

Not only is letting others out of the elevator first courteous, it also speeds things up all around.

The crew members work on the ship, but that does not mean they are your servants.

Show the crew courtesy and listen to their instructions. It iseasy sometimes to get caught up in frustrations or aggravation while on vacation, but it is crucial for guests to always remember that crew are there to help, not to get yelled at.

Being kind means following their directions, thanking them for little things, and even pausing to talk to them about where they are from or what they love about their job. Most crew membersare happy to chat and share things with guests, and being polite to them usually helps make their days great.

Regardless of where you are from, or who you are with, you should always watch your language and avoid profanity.

Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line, and you should avoidany cursing, inappropriate comments, or insulting words out of respect for your fellow cruisers.

More:

The unwritten rules of going on a cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog

Gay Nagle Myers

The recent CDC testing requirement is the latest challenge facing the tourism industry in the Caribbean.

The bottom line for U.S. travelers vacationing in the Caribbean: After Jan. 26, proof of a negative Covid test (PCR or antigen) taken no more than three days prior to boarding their return flight to the U.S. will be required. Anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last three months must show documentation of recovery, which includes proof of the positive test and a letter from a healthcare provider providing clearance to travel.

The test requirement will likely send some vacationers scrambling to find testing locations, and then anxiously await results, instead of spending their last days in the islands relaxing on the white-sand beaches.

A similar Covid-19 test requirement by Canada took effect on Jan. 7 and by the U.K. on Jan. 15, which requires that all passengers flying to these countries present negative test results to facilitate entry or avoid self-quarantine.

Most Caribbean destinations already require negative Covid test results prior to arrival, with the exception of the Dominican Republic, although the new regulation requires travelers in the DR to be tested prior to their return to the U.S.

The CDC said that it hoped that the testing requirement would slow the spread of the virus, which is now surging in the U.S., even as the slow vaccine rollout continues.

CDC Director Robert Redfield acknowledged that testing "does not eliminate all risk, but when combined with staying home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing can make travel safer, healthier and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports and at destinations."

Lindsey Epperly, founder and CEO of Epperly Travel in Atlanta, said that the impact of the new CDC rules on testing in the Caribbean "will vary not only by location but also by resort choices.

"Quite a few resorts already have excellent access to testing on site," she added. "This eliminates the hurdle of finding a testing site, which makes it easier for travelers to continue on with their vacation experience and obtain the test result within the time frame necessary."

The Hyatt Zilara Cancun.

Properties across the Caribbean and Mexico are racing to launch Covid-19 testing.

Epperly Travel is working to advise clients on the ever-changing restrictions and guidelines related to Covid entry regulations, according to Epperly.

"We are providing our clients as clear a picture of their options as possible and neither encouraging nor discouraging travel," she said. "It is up to each client to determine their comfort level with traveling internationally and, for many, this is simple one additional hurdle that they are willing to undergo in order to take their vacation," she said.

Reaction to the new regulation was swift among Caribbean tourism officials.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) said that the CDC testing requirement "presents a challenge for most of the small countries in the Caribbean due to the lack of availability and access to testing equipment and lab facilities to conduct massive amounts of PCR tests within a short turnaround time.

"Most of the region needs additional time to rapidly build up additional capacity beyond the short time window provided," said Vanessa Ledesma, the CHTA's acting CEO and director general.

Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett named a special task force to ramp up testing capacity in light of the growing demand. The U.S. is the country's largest tourism source market.

He said the task force would work with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and tourism stakeholders in both the public and private spheres "to boost Jamaica's capacity to facilitate wide scale Covid-19 testing for visitors," he said.

On-site testing at select resorts in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril is in the works, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board.

The Bahamas is well positioned to adhere to the new order, according to Dionisio D'Aguilar, its minister of tourism and aviation. Currently, visitors to the Bahamas who stay longer than five days are required to take a rapid antigen test regardless, at a number of testing sites approved to administer the tests, found at bahamas.com/travelupdates.Baha Mar, for example, is providing on-site Covid-19 testing upon arrival and departure, with both PCR and rapid antigen tests available at the Nassau resort complex.

"Our journey has not been without bumps in the road, but we have made great strides in combatting this virus as evidenced by the low number we have achieved," D'Aguilar said.

Eusi Skeete, U.S. director, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., said that the country was in the process of formulating a solution dedicated to travelers departing for the U.S. that will not put a strain on its current health system.

One bright light for U.S. travelers returning from the U.S. Virgin Islands is that the testing requirement does not apply to them. It does, however, apply to passengers arriving in the USVI from a foreign country.

While the CDC requirements will "stretch the resources for all countries," particularly with regards to the 72-hour window, Antigua and Barbuda "has risen to the challenge," said Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.

Health authorities have more than doubled the laboratory testing resources to take care of the expected surge in demand for testing, according to James. Additional swabs and test kits were ordered in anticipation of this development, he said.

Glenn Jones, interim CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, said, "We fully expect the government here to quickly adapt to the new pre-arrival testing protocols many countries have put in place. Even before that solution is finalized, travelers can book a private test with an approved medical practitioner to receive their negative Covid-19 test result within the required 72 hours turnaround time." Bermuda's on-island testing resources are listed at gotobermuda.com.

Numerous comments from advisors on the Facebook page of Travel Advisors Selling The Caribbean reflected frustration regarding the regulation, with one agent posting "let the cancellations roll in...I can't do this again." Another said that "guests are not going to want to stop their vacation to take a test, and the CDC hasn't taken into account the islands' availability to administer Covid tests."

Another agent tried to reassure her colleagues with the post: "By the end of the day the resorts are not going to want to lose business, so they will find a way to get their guests tested."

See more here:

Caribbean countries grapple with the new Covid-19 testing requirements - Travel Weekly

In Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 11 million Covid-19 cases have been reported and the pandemic has created a learning crisis for students. For over seven months, the education of 97 percent (more than 137 million children) has been on hold.

While schools are slowly re-opening in other parts of the world, many classrooms in the region are still closed and a number have not yet even set a re-opening date. Many students have missed out on nearly a full school year.

High levels of inequality have always been evident in the Caribbean region but the current Covid-19 crisis has widened the gap, particularly in terms of education.

The lack of access to computers, the internet, parental support and even a desk to study from makes continuing to learn from home almost impossible for the most vulnerable, poorest children. Children in private schools, on the other hand, have access to quality distance learning.

Without the safety net that school provides, the health, safety, development and well-being of children are at risk and the most vulnerable bear the heaviest brunt. When children dont have access to school feeding programs, they miss out on what might be their only nutritious meal of the day.

They lack the structure that comes with going to school and miss socializing with friends. Being out of school also means children are more exposed to dangers in their neighborhoods and homes, such as sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labor and adolescent pregnancy.

Governments, assisted by UNICEF, have responded to the situation by organizing multi-sectoral responses, including teacher training, prioritizing parts of the curriculum and distance-based learning. This is delivered through the internet as well as through TV and radio so those in remote areas and without internet access can also have access. However, despite all the efforts, half the children in public schools are still not accessing quality distance learning.

In the Peruvian Amazon, UNICEF has even had loudspeakers installed to help with remote learning in indigenous communities. Classes on a USB memory stick and a small electric generator allow students to listen to content in each subject area.

Students involved in distance-learning often have difficulty when doing assignments. They do not have access to help when they are struggling and they will often say, I dont know what to do. I need help to write my assignment . Using Writix assignment writing service can and all they need to do is contact a tutor with the request I want you to do my assignment. They can then receive the help of professional writers with the necessary experience in assignment writing and with the right subject background. Students from the UK trust Writix to be the best resource for academic writing and thats because of some genuine reasons.

According toUNICEF, school closures could cost the region as much as $1.2 trillion in terms of the lifetime earnings of a generation of children who are missing out on formal learning. The ability of many children to read, write and do basic maths has suffered and they need these skills if they want to thrive in todays world. Another year of school closure could have severe consequences.

One of the consequences is likely to be a decline in school enrollment, with more girls than boys at risk of dropping out. The economic impact is likely to be felt long into the future, risking the reverse of education gains that have been hard-earned over the past decade.

UNICEF suggests that children at higher risk of dropping out of school, such as girls, children with disabilities and children from indigenous communities, should have access to special educational support. Economic incentives, such as tuition fee support, transportation cost support and school meals, would encourage more parents to make sure their children attended school.

While recognizing the work of governments and education authorities, UNICEF gives a strong call to action in the face of the learning crisis. It calls for the installation of water and sanitation facilities, more teacher training and the adoption of more inclusive learning methods.

UNICEF urges preparation for the re-opening of schools in a coordinated and well-integrated way. The safety of all children must be a priority and it urges for public education budgets to be increased, especially to meet the needs of marginalized children at risk of dropping out. It is not too late to build a better, more inclusive and more resilient education system than the one that existed before the Covid-19 crisis.

Vendy Adams works as a research scientist for a wildlife conservation organization and as a part-time academic writer helping students with their biology theses and coursework. She uses her real-world work experience to write in a way thatll prepare students for their careers. When shes not working, she walks her dog, enjoys birdwatching or kayaking.

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Caribbean Students and #EducationOnHold - South Florida Caribbean News

Despite Trudeaus call to avoid all non-essential travel, international flights remain popular in Canada

Since October, Canadian airlines have completed over 1,500 flights between Canada and tropical vacation destinations. Montreals Pierre-Elliott Trudeau Airport alone operated more than 180 flights to and from Cancun, Mexico, over the same period.

While Canadians are advised to avoid travelling outside the country for non-essential purposes, there is no official ban that would prevent one from doing so. Travellers are not breaking any law if they self-isolate for two weeks immediately after returning from their non-essential trip.

On Jan. 2, Canadian airports registered over 50 flights between sunny destinations including Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. That same day, Canada witnessed 10,209 new COVID-19 cases, an all-time high since the start of the pandemic.

As a result, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned potential travellers that more severe travel restrictions may come into effect in the near future, without advance notice. Canadians are expected to follow Trudeaus advice regarding travel before the government is forced to take more extreme measures.

Let me be very clear: Nobody should be taking a vacation abroad right now. If youve got one planned, cancel it and dont book a trip for spring break. We need to hang on and hold tight for the next few months, and get through to the spring in the best shape possible, Trudeau tweeted on Friday.

As of Jan. 7, all passengers over the age of five who are flying into Canada must present a negative COVID-19 test to be allowed to board the flight. The negative result will only be considered valid if the test was taken within 72 hours before boarding the flight.

Gabriel Martinica, a second-year Computer Science student at Concordia University, returned to Canada on Jan. 11 for the winter term. The journey from his home country of Nicaragua included a layover at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, where Martinica encountered a concerning situation.

At the airport, I saw many people who werent wearing a mask or following social distancing. The restaurants were open, and the tables were positioned way too close together. It was a pretty scary experience since the airport was so crowded and travellers acted as if the pandemic didnt exist in the U.S., said Martinica.

In fact, the United States currently has 9.8 million active COVID-19 cases, the highest number in the entire world. Moreover, the U.S. has over 75,000 total recorded cases per one million people, while its northern neighbour has around 21,000.

Martinica added, I was happy to finally arrive in Montreal, because there is a noticeable difference. The immigration officer immediately checked for my COVID test, asked how I was planning to isolate myself and get groceries for two weeks, and he warned me about potential fines.

Any traveller who does not self-isolate upon entering Canada may receive a fine of up to $750,000 and/or be imprisoned for six months. Two days into the quarantine period, Martinica received a phone call from the Canadian government, which was to make sure the self-isolation process was being thoroughly completed.

Canada seems to have more control over the pandemic and takes it more seriously, the international student concluded.

Nevertheless, in the first nine days of 2021, over 30 international flights that landed in Toronto had a passenger who ended up contracting the coronavirus.

For many Canadians, including some highly-ranked politicians, travelling to the south is a way of temporarily escaping from reality and forgetting about the pandemic, which has already lasted an entire year. However, just one short getaway during these times can damage ones career and reputation.

Linda Hasenfratz, a member of Ontarios COVID-19 vaccine task force, visited sunny Barbados in December. As the news spread to the general public earlier this month, Hasenfratz stepped down from her position and made a public apology, admitting that her winter break vacation was unacceptable.

Moreover, Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips has also resigned from his post following a trip to the Caribbean island of St. Barts, also in December. Since the vacation took place during Ontarios strict lockdown, Phillips later called his actions a significant error in judgmenta dumb, dumb mistake.

Despite being greatly discouraged by the Trudeau government, Canadians may still fly abroad with no legal repercussions as of Jan. 24. Deciding whether to go on a tropical vacation during this worrying period now comes down to every Canadians personal judgment.

Graphic by Taylor Reddam.

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Thousands of Canadians vacationed in the Caribbean amid second wave of COVID-19 - The Concordian