Daily Archives: July 16, 2021

For years, tourists flying into the off- the-beaten track to the tiny Caribbean nation of Dominica have been relying on island-hopping from neighboring islands using planes or boats to arrive at their destination.

While Dominica, known as the nature island of the Caribbean, has always had international flights from neighboring islands, the small nation couldnt offer direct flights to and from Europe and Mainland U.S. until now.

The buildout of a new international airport, set to be completed in 2025, will be a game changer for the small country that has been relatively difficult to access, opening up a world of opportunities for tourism and economic growth.

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And in a hyper-competitive market like the Caribbean, a new airport that can transport tourists directly from lucrative source markets like Europe can change the status of a destination like that.

The international airport development has been a longtime goal and dream of our government, because we know the importance to significantly grow the tourism industry, and improve the ease of doing business in Dominica, said Denise Charles, Dominicas minister of tourism, in an interview with Skift.

A rendering of the future Dominica international airport.

Samuel Johnson, CEO of the Dominica international airport development company, agreed it will all come down to air access.

You can have the best attractions, the best hotels. and the best brands, but if its difficult to get to the island, it adds that much more friction to the journey of a visitor. And were an island in a chain of islands, so they could as easily land in any of our sister islands which are easier instead of ours, said Johnson. So we definitely think its going to improve several aspects of the country.

There is no price tag yet for the project as the bidding is ongoing but some press reports pegged it at north of $220 million.

The airport which has been in the planning stages for several years is being designed by a boutique American company Landrum and Brown, specializing in airports and aviation planning. The new international airport will meet world-class standards and will be located nearby to Douglas Charles airport, which it may eventually replace, Johnson said.

Dominica expects that once the airport project officially starts with the groundbreaking, it will stimulate the overall economy in a major way.

This has already started because we expect to see a boost in the construction industry. And in the actual construction phase, we will see an increase in direct jobs associated with the construction of the airport and also indirect jobs, Charles said.

Indirect jobs include people that provide accommodations services, restaurant owners, and transportation services contributing to jobs in the economy and overall improving the business climate once Dominica has an international airport.

Hotels will also add jobs to the economy and plans are already underway to prepare the infrastructure for the influx of tourists a new airport will bring.

Unlike the rest of the Caribbean region, Dominicas coronavirus story is one of success.

The Caribbean island currently sits at Level one low risk on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions list of Covid-19 travel recommendations by destination and is on the coveted UK Green List. Thats because Dominica has managed to contain Covid-19, without community spread and zero deaths.

Its good news for an island that pre-pandemic, had been pursuing developments of hotels on the island, including a combination of major chains and luxury boutique hotels such as Marriott, Hilton, Secret Bay, and the currently open Jungle Bay and Cabrit Resort and Spa Kempinski.

In addition to increasing tourism, the international airport will help Dominica with the transportation of goods and trading.

Charles said Dominica has a lot of agricultural, locally made organic, and manufacturing products to offer including flora, a variety of crops such as bananas and dasheen some of which are traded in the region.

One of our challenges has been getting it on international markets because of the time and it has to get there fresh and crisp for the markets. So that will definitely open up a lot of avenues for us in terms of trade, not only into the U.S. market but also into the UK market, Charles said.

Its too early to put a dollar figure to how much revenue the new airport will generate for Dominica, Charles said, but she believes it will be tremendous revenue. Based on the expansion the island is seeing with hotel plans, trade, jobs, and the opportunity for further investment into the country, Charles believes the possibilities are endless.

Its definitely going to transform our economy and increase our GDP (gross domestic product) significantly, said Charles.

Building an airport is paying off with increased tourism to the Caribbeans St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Loop news reported. Opening a new airport also changed things for the better in St. Lucia, a neighboring island of Dominica.

St. Lucia is often looked at as a sister island of ours with many similarities including the same French connection culture wise and the French Creole common language in addition to English, but Dominica is a little bit more rugged and not as densely packed which leaves a lot of room for expansion, Johnson said.

To avoid a cold start once the new airport is completed, Johnson is working feverishly to start international flights from Mainland U.S. to Dominica as soon as possible including making upgrades to its current airport to facilitate this. He has reached out to Delta, JetBlue, Caribbean airlines and is in active talks with American, Johnson said.

We have the view that we might not be able to accommodate the larger aircraft, but theres new changes in technology where for example the Airbus A220, a smaller aircraft that is very effective at running long thin routes which Dominica initially would be, Johnson said. Because our long-term plan is to gradually increase our visitor arrivals during the buildout stage so that it transitions nicely into the international airport.

Dominica is also actively working on active route development for the current and future airports, he added.

American crewmembers join Dominica airport and government officials on the tarmac at Douglas Charles airport after completing a proving flight from Miami, Florida to Dominica in June. Photo Courtesy of Dominica International Airport Development Company.

In preparation, the island welcomed its first American Airlines flight when an American Eagle aircraft operated by Envoy completed a proving flight into Dominica from Miami, Florida in June, Charles said. Proving flights are one of the final hurdles airlines face before obtaining an air operator permit to a destination.

Dominica is going to be a changing environment in terms of consumption, restaurants, entertainment, luxury transportation, and clothing that will attract a significant amount of visitors from Europe and Asia, said Missi P. Henderson, permanent secretary in the office of the prime minister.

With its new airport, Dominica is looking to attract tourists from the U.S., U.K, Asia and in particular France, all markets that are big to the country. Additionally, its looking to South America, Latin America, and other areas that love nature and nature lovers who love adventure, water sports, and swimming with whales, Charles said.

Dominica is one of the top ten destinations for diving in the world and many people dont know that, said Charles.

Henderson said Dominicas central location in the Caribbean makes it an ideal hub even for regional travel and they believe its airport will become the regions new hub.

The airport will be built out in five phases, but because the request for bid proposals is currently ongoing the Prime Ministers office declined to disclose how much the airport project is costing at this time.

However, in terms of financing for the projects, Henderson said the country considered several options for loans or grants. And to minimize debt for the country and its citizens, Dominica decided as a country to use its Citizen by Investment program (CBI) under the management of the Montreal Management Consultants Est., specializing in immigration and CBI for several countries, she said.

This has proven to be an innovative financing model which weve used for a number of our projects from Tropical Storm Erika in 2015, Hurricane Maria in 2017, and of course during this pandemic, Henderson said. And so weve tested it in terms of our health centers, our housing, and the intention is at the end of the day when you have an airport, not to have any debt burden, and to have allocated revenues to run and operate the airport in a viable way, she said.

The way Dominicas CBI program works is very similar to the United States E-B5 Immigrant Investor Program fast-tracking citizenships for investors, where foreigners desiring to become citizens in Dominica through an approved foreign direct investment will then be given accelerated citizenship, said Johnson.

As tourism slowly recovers, Dominica is taking advantage of the remote work revolution around the world right now, by offering a Work in Nature program allowing visitors to stay up to a maximum of 18 months on the island, with a selection of apartments of participating resorts to rent with reliable internet service, Charles said.

Dominica is currently in the midst of a massive vaccination drive with 40 percent of its target population inoculated.

Fully vaccinated tourists with proof of vaccinations are no longer required to quarantine if they arrive with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours and take an antigen test at the Dominica airport on arrival which takes about an hour to process, she said.

Light clearing of land is beginning this week and new homes are being built for families whove been relocated to make room for the new international airport, said Charles.

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Dominica Hoping New International Airport Will Elevate It to Major Caribbean Destination - Skift

Simply put, the PlateSmart AI-driven software and analytics are unlike any other in the industry.

"PlateSmart's flexibility, which allowed us to work together and customize the solution to suit the needs of our Caribbean clients, made them a natural fit for us," said Kayon Gibson, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, AV COM Jamaica. "Their ALPR solution is scalable, robust, and easy to integrate with the IP video surveillance infrastructure we sell and support."

PlateSmart CEO John Chigos said the company's solution has been well-received by law enforcement customers. "The software's analytics and accuracy has surpassed all expectations and has helped law enforcement apprehend criminals faster than before."

As an enterprise-grade solution, PlateSmart ARES 3.0 software has virtually no upper limit to the number of cameras it can read. This makes it ideal for even the largest surveillance applications. In the Caribbean, it can even be configured to monitor feeds among islands, which is ideal for nations and dependencies that are part of an island group or archipelago.

Even better, PlateSmart ARES 3.0 returns search results within seconds, no matter how many cameras it is monitoring. In the aftermath of a crime, those seconds make it possible for police to apprehend suspects before they can make their getaway.

PlateSmart CEO John Chigos said that the advanced analytics PlateSmart ARES offers can help law enforcement prevent crime in the first place.

"Many solutions help police investigate crimes after the fact," he said. "PlateSmart can also help stop crime by giving law enforcement the intelligence they need to see if a crime is being planned. This includes vehicle behavior like 'casing' a location in advance of a crime or attack. Our software's ability to examine vehicle behavior means keeping more people safe and putting more criminals out of business.

"Simply put, the PlateSmart AI-driven software and analytics are unlike any other in the industry. It is proactive and predictive. And as has always been our philosophy, the customer owns all their data. They determine who accesses it as well as where and for how long it is retained. We never touch it."

For more information or to schedule a demo, visit http://www.platesmart.com.

About PlateSmart

In 2004, Cyclops Technologies, under the PlateSmart Technologies brand, introduced the first software-only, camera-agnostic automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) engine powered by early AI-based object recognition technology and compatible with video management systems (VMS). Today, the brand's solutions have evolved into stand-alone vehicle recognition tools as well as those designed to integrate with almost any third-party software and hardware. They serve diverse applications, from law enforcement to wide-area surveillance to customer service enhancement, across a variety of markets in the U.S. and around the world.

The cutting-edge PlateSmart ARES 3.0 enterprise solution is designed for use with a virtually unlimited number of cameras. It can search those cameras within seconds across a number of vehicle attribute, location, and date/time parameters for up-to-the-moment actionable intelligence and complete situational awareness. ARES Analytics provides deep intelligence about a vehicle's travel behavior as well as mass traffic patterns, with a full suite of data visualizations and the ability to export data for additional analysis.

PlateSmart solutions have received multiple industry awards for excellence in security technology. Learn more at http://www.platesmart.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release may contain forward-looking statements and/or predictions. These statements are based on history, current knowledge, and current market conditions. They are subject to change without notice as conditions and knowledge change; therefore, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

Media Contacts

Kathleen Chigos | [emailprotected] | 813-749-0892

SOURCE PlateSmart Technologies

http://www.platesmart.com

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Partnership of the Caribbean: Securing the West Indies - PRNewswire

Joint Force Command Norfolk is NATO's first operational command in North America.

NORFOLK, Va. It is being called the first change in NATO strategy in more than 50 years.

On Thursday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization reached full operational capacity for a new organization called "Joint Force Command Norfolk."

The 72-year-old NATO is built upon the principle of collective defense: that, an attack against any ally is considered an attack against all allies.

Joint Force Command Norfolk is being established as the 30-nation alliance's only operational command in North America, in response to the rising Russian threat, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

Its arrival coincides with the United States Navy re-establishing the 2nd Fleet, as the Department of Defense recalculated its strategy in this hemisphere because of Russia's increased activity in the North Atlantic.

"No one nation can face today's challenges alone," said Vice Admiral Andrew "Woody" Lewis, Jr, commander of US Second Fleet, during a ceremony aboard the USS Kearsarge at Naval Station Norfolk.

Lewis continued: "Standing up JFC Norfolk demonstrates the dedication of both sides of the Atlantic to the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area."

The command's mission: to increase security in the North Atlantic, from the Caribbean to the Arctic.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offered a stern warning.

"NATO s still the most powerful alliance in the world," said General Mark Milley, the event's keynote speaker.

"And the United States is still the most powerful and capable military in the world," he continued. "We are ready now. Those who think we are not are mistaken. And any adversary that seeks to challenge the United States military's resolve will do well to respect this military and our alliance in NATO."

NATO is believed to have 3.5 million troops and civilian personnel.

NATO invoked the collective defense Article 5 provision for the first time in its history after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

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NATO command is now fully operational to defend seas from Caribbean to Arctic - 13newsnow.com WVEC

KLM announced that during this boreal summer season it has resumed almost all of its destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, reaching 17 cities, while already planning the winter programming, it will add Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) and Bridgetown (Barbados).

The company is adapting its network based on the dynamics of restrictions imposed by different governments.

The most important changes compared to 2019

Pieter Elbers, President and CEO of KLM said: It is good news that our network in the Caribbean and South America is almost back to normal. We currently fly almost the entire global network, with 60% of capacity and 40% of passengers. We do this in a safe and responsible manner, which has been awarded with the APEX Diamond status for its health safety. The next steps are to expand capacity and of course as soon as the situation permits, welcome more passengers on board.

During July, KLM will offer about 57 thousand seats on 165 weekly flights between Amsterdam and Latin America / Caribbean, which represents a variation of just -0.6% compared to the same month in 2019.

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KLM recovers its network of flights to Latin America and the Caribbean - Aviacionline.com

Traeth Bach, Ceredigion

This is a beautiful beach, about two miles south of Llangrannog on the Ceredigion coast. The walk from the car park at Traeth Penbryn, along the Ceredigion coastal path, is a glorious day out in itself, and once down on the beach you will rarely have company, so there is peace and quiet to enjoy the scene. Keep an eye out for birds, as the cliffs are home to many. The water is usually calm and perfect for swimming, and if youre lucky you can see the dolphins further out. Ieuan, energy data analyst, Cardiff

As a child, I lived minutes away from this beach so it holds many memories. I would spend hours roaming the sand dunes, avoiding dead sheep that had wandered off the cliff at night and been washed ashore. When I was nine, I cycled off the bridge by the beach mouth, landing in a clump of nettles. It was the location of many family barbecues, freezing swims and the last walk I did with my father before he died. This beach will always be incredibly special to me. Jenny Duarte, teacher and psychotherapist, Bushmills, Northern Ireland

This has to be one of the most pristine, spectacular beaches in the UK. Luskentyre sands on Harris may get all the plaudits, but Scarista is the (relatively) lesser explored rival. My husband and I often holiday at Scarista House where you can glimpse the beach beyond the dunes from our room. The lack of parking and signage makes a trip there a wonderful, solitary experience. In the right light, the sand has hues of pink, lapped by aquamarine waves into green and inky blue. Sunsets are spectacular, too. David McMullan pharmacist, Bridge of Allan

This is probably the most secluded beach in south-east England. It is more than half an hour from the nearest road, through some of the most stunning countryside in the region. The approach, whether through the waterfall, streams and fern-covered gullies of the glen or the sandstone cliffs of the Hastings country park, gives the beach an exotic character that feels a million miles away from the crowded beaches further west in Sussex. It is worth going at low tide when the beach has a wide stretch of sand and you can walk back into Hastings under the cliffs, spot fossils and feel like you are on a 1980s Doctor Who-style alien planet. Stefan Noble, researcher, Hastings

The middle of this beach, outside the hotel, gets really busy but the far right and left corners of the beach are always quiet. We visited at the end of June and were one of five small families spread out. Its our favourite because its a white, sandy beach, the water is clear, the current isnt too strong, the backdrop of the cliffs is stunning and you feel like youre in an oasis. It doesnt feel like youre in England at all and to be able to compare it with beaches in Florida and South America is just mindblowing. Aj Ellahi, property developer, Nottinghamshire

Although there are many hidden and lesser known beaches in Cornwall, going back home to the beautiful sandy beach at Dornoch always feels special. The walk through the sand dunes opens on to a lovely, quiet spot which holds many fun childhood memories for me. Victoria Allan, strategic commissioning manager in adult social care, Cornwall

The sea doesnt go out too far here, so its great for swimming at low or high tide. There is soft, pale sand on a wide beach and deep dunes behind, and its never busy, so always peaceful for walks. There are also clean toilets, a large car park, and a nice Airstream cafe. Its dog-friendly and great for wildlife, with a large year-round population of seals that pup on the beach in winter and terns that breed in spring. Sue Charles, life science communications consultant, Norwich

Driving down the narrow winding lane from Aberffraw, on the west coast of Anglesey, you catch sight of Yr Eglwys yn y mr the church in the sea whitewashed and gleaming in the sunlight. St Cwyfans church originally stood on a peninsula but erosion has left it on an island, and with sturdy shoes, it is accessible at low tide. I love this place and the Celtic feel of it. My four-year-old grandson, Hamish, likes it too as he can build sandcastles and potter about in the rock pools. Dilwyn Griffiths, trade union officer, Llangefni, Ynys Mn, Anglesey

We have just returned from Shetland. The weather, unlike the rest of the UK, was glorious. We happened upon this immaculate, white sand bay at Sumburgh Head on a clear, hot, sunny day when the sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue and the sea a deep shade of azure. It was hard to believe we werent in the Caribbean. Across the road lies Sumburgh airport and while the sound of helicopters and planes coming and going was hard to ignore, there was nothing else to disturb the tranquillity of the beach, which we had almost to ourselves. We walked up to the top of the head to the lighthouse and were treated to a wonderful show of puffins. Perfect! Jane Deans, writer and blogger, Christchurch, Dorset

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Its just like the Caribbean: readers on eight beautiful, tranquil British beaches - The Guardian

Submitted

FOLEY Celebrate the island life at OWA with a festival paying respects to Caribbean heritage and culture. The 2nd Annual Caribbean Day will feature a live art competition, music, vendors, drum clinics, stilt walkers and kids activities. This free event will take place from 4 - 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 in Downtown OWA.

Live music from Dex Daley and JAM-X will play on the OWA Island Stage from 4 - 6:30 p.m. Grab a seat on the OWA Island Amphitheater, and enjoy their unique blend of reggae, ska and Caribbean roots music featuring steel drums. The Defrosters will close out the live music for the evening, playing from 8:30 - 10 p.m.

Calling all vendors! OWA is looking for arts & crafts vendors to join in on the fun. Arts & crafts vendor spaces are only $30, and vendors are encouraged to apply. Applications are accepted through July 23.

A highlight of the event is the live sidewalk chalk art competition. Categories include both Pro and Youth, and OWA will give away cash prizes for the top three picks in each division. Interested artists may submit their artwork as an application. Artwork submissions will be accepted through July 28.

Guests can mingle their way through the many activities set up throughout Downtown OWA. Kids activities will include hair braiding, pineapple bowling, a hula hoop contest, sand art, and a photo wall! Complimentary brewed Mango Tango or Blue Raspberry Crush tea will be available while supplies last between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. at The Spice & Tea Exchange.

Downtown OWA is the destination for everyones shopping, dining, and entertainment needs! For more information on this growing event and to learn more about other new Downtown additions like Gravity Island Watersports, Rum Island, or El Diablo, head to VisitOWA.com.

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OWA Announces 2nd Annual Caribbean Day on Saturday, Aug. 7 - Gulf Coast News Today

Cruising has returned to Antigua and Barbuda.

The first cruise ship to return to the destination was Windstar Cruises Sea Breeze, which called on St Johns this week.

The ship was welcomed with a water cannon salute in St Johns harbor, the booming of tugboat horns and steel pan performances by the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra.

Today is truly an exciting day for Antigua and Barbudas cruise industry. It is one that we have been working hard towards with our Health Authorities and International Cruise lines to ensure that we restart in a safe and sustainable manner to the benefit of all stakeholders, said Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez.Its also one that has been looked forward to with anticipation by the scores of businesses and hundreds of our countrymen who depend on this industry for their livelihoods.

The return comes as the island has mounted a successful vaccination program, with 37,000 people in Antiguas adult population vaccinated, and cases at an all-time low.

Nothing could have given me greater joy today than the sight of the Star Breeze pulling into the port! We are absolutely thrilled to welcome this fabulous yacht-style cruise ship and its passengers and crew to Antigua and Brbuda, said Dona Regis-Prosper, General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port. In recent weeks, we have been in many discussions with the Windstar Cruises team and the government to determine how to make this trip, and voyages to come, as safe and successful as possible for everyone involved.

All crew and passengers on Star Breeze are fully vaccinated.

More than 60 passengers disembarked from the boutique ship to enjoy the destination.

CJ

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Cruising Returns to Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

07/13/2021

With a population just north of 71,000, the Caribbean island country of Dominica (J7) boasts a modest but active ham radio population. Given Dominicas vulnerability to hurricanes, the ham radio emphasis often focuses on emergency communication support. In 2017, after Hurricane Maria hit the tiny island, ham radio filled a huge telecommunications gap. Now the countrys telecommunications regulator is asking hams to help formulate new amateur radio guidelines and standards. Dominicas National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) collected comments until July 12 from radio amateurs participating in a consultation (what the US FCC would call a proceeding) that could lead to a formal and better-documented set of rules and regulations.

There is limited guidance for those who seek to utilize the telecommunications media for their own personal use, enjoyment, and fulfilment as hobby, as in the case of amateur radio, the NTRC said in the consultation document. Generally, [amateur radio] is self-regulating, and so the involvement of the telecommunications regulator is minimized. Though the amateur radio clubs generally do their best to provide some level of guidance and support to existing and prospective operators, there is great need for a formal and comprehensive set of guidelines and standards for the operation of Amateur Radio Services in Dominica.

Resources used in developing the draft proposals included ARRL, the FCCs Part 97 amateur radio rules, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

A primary source for this document was the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 47, Part 97), due to its comprehensiveness and its informal adoption in certain parts by the local amateur radio fraternity, the NTRC said. Specific ARRL resources included The ARRL FCC Rule Book; The ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs, and The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications. The regulators also looked at Canadas and Australias amateur radio rules. The proposals would provide for three license classes Novice, General, and Advanced as well as the licensing procedures for each.

The NTRC held a public meeting via Zoom in mid-June to highlight and clarify important issues regarding the consultation. NTRC personnel later met with amateur radio club representatives at the NTRCs office. Under Telecommunications Act No. 8 of 2000 and its associated regulations, the NTRC oversees compliance with all telecommunication rules in Dominica, including amateur radio. The NTRC also manages amateur radio spectrum.

Following the initial comment period, the NTRC will review the comments and subsequently submit the Revised Draft Amateur Radio Guidelines and Standards document for the comments on the initial comments received. The NTRC will also review these comments and finalize the policy document, taking all views into consideration, to adopt and publish the Amateur Radio Guidelines and Standards document.

Brian J. Machesney, K1LI/J7Y, a frequent visitor to Dominica, has provided considerable guidance and assistance to the amateur radio community in Dominica, especially in the area of emergency and disaster communication. He characterized the NTRC proposals as a comprehensive documentation of the common-sense practices that have traditionally been followed, with some notable additions.

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Young Caribbean Nation Formalizing Amateur Radio Guidelines and Standards - ARRL