Daily Archives: July 27, 2022

By Sounds and Colours | 25 July, 2022

The Caribbean history and culture could be a book of hundreds of pages because Caribbean culture is highly diverse. Its culture has been built from the heterogeneous identities of indigenous peoples, settlers (mostly Europeans), and enslaved people from Africa, all created by the diaspora of these peoples and the influence of Latin America. The Caribbean Sea washes many shores belonging not only to continental powers but also to island powers. The union of these states is commonly referred to as the Caribbean countries. The island nations stretch between North and South America, some of the largest being the Bahamas and the Antilles, whose area is 245,000 square kilometers.

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Christopher Columbus declared this place the West Indies because in 1492, on his way back from Europe, his crew became lost and, upon docking on the shores of the Bahamas, though it was India. From that moment, the Spaniards were actively exploring new lands. Soon enslaved people were brought to the island to develop land and build plantations. Africans were especially valued because they were resistant to the hot climate and, therefore, more hardy.

But Spain wasnt the only one claiming newly discovered land; countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and France also wanted a piece of it. But it wasnt just the enslaved people that attracted them, and it was mainly the crops that grew:

Plantations were established on the islands to grow these crops, and enslaved Africans accustomed to the hot climate were used to work on them. Thus the colonies in the islands of the Caribbean came into being.

The period of colonization lasted three centuries, after which the individual islands gradually became independent. The first freed colony was San Domingo, and it received independence from France in 1804. It was followed by Cuba, Puerto Rico, and others. But colonial History left its mark on the culture of the peoples. The locals mingled with natives from Africa and other regions, merging religion, customs, and blood, which gave birth to a whole new culture, unique.

Nearly a century after Christopher Columbus set foot in new lands, mistakenly assuming that they had only discovered a new route to Asia rather than new lands, pirates began to settle in the Caribbean islands. The newly discovered areas of land were fertile, and all developed countries tried their best to claim the islands; ships came and went constantly and carried many valuables; no doubt this attracted the pirates. The most favored islands for them were Tortuga and Port Royal.

The islands period of prosperity for pirates is considered the first 30 years of the 18th century, during which time personalities such as Blackbeard, Charles Vane, and many others became famous.

At the moment, like many warm countries, the island nations thrive solely on tourism. The lists of resorts are vast, and the country can be chosen based on culture, local cuisine, service, and season. Even though the islands washed by the Caribbean Sea have a year-round resort, seasonality still exists; in some months, there comes a period of rain. At this time, beach lovers are better to stay somewhere else, glad that this seasonality comes to the islands, not at the same time.

The nature here is unique in its way:

It is a dream to rest here for many, but because of the flight distance for residents of several countries, such a trip can seriously hurt the bottom line. The list of benefits rest here is complemented by the presence of the tastiest ripe fruit, which will replenish your body with vitamins.

The Caribbean climate is good; at least in November, it is not hot; however, in May, it is very hot in some places. Therefore, a hurricane season is roughly from mid-June to mid-November, with a high risk of weather-related flight delays or cancellations.

Cuba

Europeans, for example, are very fond of Cuba, and, despite the costly flight, visiting this country our compatriots is growing every year. Stay on the island without a prior permit can be 90 days.

Holidays in Cuba will suit every generation, the youth can dance till they drop at the brightest parties, trying the famous Cuban rum, and the older generation can indulge themselves with the authentic Cuban cigars and beautiful sea views. Gambling is popular here. It is especially true for the best 3 patti real cash game and poker.

Haiti

Haiti is the only state with two official capitals. Haiti is the most exciting island in the Caribbean because of its volcanic origin and the high frequency of earthquakes. In addition, the island is full of rips and fast rivers, perfect for rafting.

Jamaica

The most relaxed island, washed by the Caribbean Sea. In addition to visa-free travel for Europeans, the island is also attractive as the cradle of reggae. Here, Bob Marley, the progenitor of reggae, was born, raised, and built his solo career. It is also where a museum was opened in his honor. Holidays in Jamaica are the most relaxed.

Puerto Rico

An island of solitude and tranquility with lots of small unpopulated islands around. It is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle and people, among other things.

Housing in this region is expectedly expensivethe most expensive area in the British and American colonies. The British are costly because they are not tourist-oriented but offshore: 40% of offshore companies worldwide are registered in the British Virgin Islands.

Also costly accommodation on small independent islands: St. Kitts, Barbados, Antigua everywhere the cheapest room without air conditioning costs from $50, no hostels. The high prices can be explained by the fact that all these hotels are made exclusively for tourists, mainly Americans, who have enough money. Hotels are unnecessary for locals who do not live very rich because anywhere on the island you can get in one or two hours. So it feels like the colonies are somewhat cheaper than the independent countries.

Living in the Caribbean islands is safe and beautiful but not cheap. The economy of the islands is dependent on tourism and investors. Previously, the Caribbean countries emphasized farming, mainly growing spices. Today, more and more attract investors, offering them many advantages.

To obtain a passport as a citizen of an island country, you must make a financial contribution to its economy; the money is considerable, and the amount varies from state to state. However, we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars, so much pleasure can not afford not everyone.

The most attractive investors are Dominica, St. Kitts, Grenada, and Antigua, because their infrastructure is the most developed, and their residence security is at the highest level.

The Caribbean is currently in a phase of prosperity, and the island nations are not only friendly but ready to cooperate. Resorts are attractive to celebrities from all over the world, which is why the prices here are not small, but this makes the alternatives even more beautiful, and the tourist flow increases yearly.

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The Caribbean islands - how not to get confused and see all the exciting things? - Sounds and Colours

A Greenland sharkPhoto: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)

One of the strangest and longest-lived species of shark has been spotted far beyond its usual haunts. In new research this month, marine biologists report having found a sleeper shark in the western Caribbean waters near Belize for the first time. The discovery is the latest to suggest that these enigmatic creatures, typically seen in the Arctic, may be more common and widespread in the waters of the deep than previously thought.

The sighting happened this April by researchers from Florida International University. With the help of local fishermen, they had been trying to tag tiger sharks at Glovers Reef, a coral atoll in Belize, when they captured something else: a small-eyed, grayish, roughly 11-foot-long fish, pulled from the waters depths. When the beast was brought to the surface, it was especially slow-moving and quite unlike any fish that the team had come across before.

I knew it was something unusual and so did the fishers, who hadnt ever seen anything quite like it in all their combined years of fishing, said Devanshi Kasana, a Ph.D. candidate at the Florida International University Predator Ecology and Conservation lab, in a statement from the university.

The sleeper shark briefly encountered by the researchers near Belize. Photo: Devanshi Kasana

Due to incoming storms and not wanting to endanger the creature, the group quickly released their catch, though not before documenting it. Upon consultation with other experts, they soon surmised that they had briefly met a sleeper shark. Their findings were published this month in Marine Biology.

Sleeper sharks are named for their sluggish behavior. Even in their usual deep-water setting, they swim slowly and expend little energy in hunting or scavenging for food, often catching their prey while theyre asleep. Perhaps the most well-known sleeper shark, the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), may also be one of the longest-lived animals in the world, with a lifespan thought to extend up to 400 years. Though these sharks could in theory snack on a human, their natural environment is far from human activity and no attacks have ever been reported. Their bodies are also normally toxic to us, thanks to the adaptations theyve made to survive in the depths, but Icelandic people have figured out a way to eat them anyway, and cured Greenland shark flesh is a local delicacy. Due to the sharks large size, the researchers believe they either captured a Greenland shark or the hybrid offspring of a Greenland and a related species called Somniosus pacificus.

Though these sharks are typically thought to spend most of their time in the frigid waters of the Arctic, some populations do seem to migrate, and there have been occasional sightings around the tropics in recent years, including in the Caribbean. This latest sighting adds another wrinkle, though, since the team was much closer to the shore than other teams have been when they stumbled upon their tropical sleeper. But because the reef has waters that reach as far down as 9,500 feet, there is a plausible source of cold temperatures available for these sharks to live comfortably. Since we know so little about these sharks, they could be much more widely distributed around the world than currently documented.

The team plans to continue studying the deep sea fish of Belize. And though theyre not necessarily expecting to spot a sleeper shark again, they will be carrying specialized tags from now on to monitor any potential specimens they do encounter, just in case.

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A Mysterious Arctic Shark Just Showed Up in the Caribbean - Gizmodo

What happened

Shares of cruise ship stocks have that sinking feeling this morning, with Carnival (CCL 0.47%) (CUK 0.79%), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH 2.64%), and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL 2.02%) all falling 4% or more at 10:41 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

While there was no specific company or industry news to trigger the rogue wave that is swamping cruise stocks, Walmart yesterday issued a profit warning for its second-quarter and full-year earnings that also said consumers were cutting back on discretionary spending.

The prospect of a second consecutive quarter of gross domestic product contraction -- the rule of thumb for what a recession is -- suggests consumers are stepping hard on the spending brake, which could lead to fewer people taking cruises.

The cruise industry, though, is seeing robust booking patterns with rates above pre-pandemic levels even though prices are higher. Last month Carnival reported occupancy was rising sequentially as it has 91% of its fleet back in the water, while deposits for future cruises exceed $5 billion.

Royal Caribbean is running at 95% capacity with booking 40% above 2019 and Norwegian is seeing similarly strong numbers, although it admits much of it is because occupancy that typically wouldn't be available now is. Even so, that shows people want to go on cruises again.

However, the cruise operators have significantly more debt now than they did before the pandemic and they're burning a lot of cash to remain afloat. Carnival just completed a share issue at a steep discount to raise $1 billion. The announcement of the stock sale at a price below $10 a share caused shares to tumble hard as investors feared the company may burn through its available cash if it's not able to stay shipshape on bookings.

Analysts view the move as a proactive one on Carnival's part, not a defensive one, and following the CDC's decision to lift its monitoring requirements on the industry, a more relaxed atmosphere may help cruise stocks.

Still, if the economy continues to deteriorate, cruise line stocks will be in for even rougher seas in the coming months, and there is the risk the recent monkeypox outbreak plunges the industry into chaos again. The World Health Organization recently declared monkeypox a global health crisis.

Both Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean are scheduled to report second-quarter results next week. Analysts are looking for a loss of $0.82 per share for Norwegian, which would be a 57% improvement over the year-ago period,while Royal Caribbean is expected to lose $2.18 per share, which would show similar year-over-year improvement.

Investors will be watching for how much the cruise lines are burning through their available cash. If it's significantly worse than it's been (not that anyone is anticipating that at this time) it may mean Norwegian and Royal Caribbean might also have to tap the equity markets to raise more money.

With these stocks already sinking to Davy Jones' Locker territory in recent months, it could prove devastating.

Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walmart Inc. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Why Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean Are Taking on Water Today - The Motley Fool

Hes a truly spiritual person, Fuad Abu Bakr told me. He was referring to his father, Yasin, the notorious Trinidadian militant who led thefirst and only Islamist insurrection ever attempted in a Western democracy.We were standing in front of the mosque his father built at 1 Murcarapo Road on the outskirts of Trinidad and Tobagos capital city, Port of Spain.

It was early 2016, and I had gone to Trinidad toreporton Trinidadian ISIS foreign fighters forThe Atlantic.Between2013 and 2016,some240Trinis travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the caliphate, making Trinidad one of the worldsbiggest exporters, per capita, of ISIS foreign fighters. I wanted to know how a country famed for calypso, rum and carnival could incubate something so profoundly unTrinidadian.

As a former resident of the country, Id heard a lot of things about Yasin Abu Bakr, none of which contained the word spiritual. He had led the Jamaat al Muslimeen (JAM), a fringe group of black Muslims, with all the tact of an inebriated pitbull and it was clear there was a connection, albeit tangled and complex, between the JAM radicals of the Nineties and the ISIS fighters who came later.

It was here, 32 years ago this week, on 27 July 1990, outside the mosque where Fuad and I were standing, thatBakr gathered his men for a group prayer and pep-talk. They were armed to the teeth with AK47s, pump-action shotguns and rifles. According to Fuad,Bakrwas seeking guidance from God, a sign that he was on the right path: He was saying to God, if Im gonna do the wrong thing, then stop me from leaving here. But there was no divine obstruction, and Bakr and his men, all 114 of them, sped off into Port of Spain to overthrow the government.

When Bakr and his men left the compound at1 Murcarapo Road, one group headed for the nations parliament in the Red House, and another to Trinidads only TV station, Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT). Within hours of laying siege to the parliament, which was still in session, aseniorJAM member had shot Prime Minister Arthur Robinson in the leg. Afemale clerkwas killed, and Leo des Vignes, a government MP, was also shot in the leg: he died from blood loss a couple of days later. Robinson, already wounded, was made to lie on the floor with his trousers pulled down.

In the TTT building, where 27 hostages were being held, Bakr was preparing to address the nation. Like the stars of the present-day global jihad, Bakr instinctively understood the power of the media, both as a tool for attracting attention and for spreading propaganda. At just after 7pm, TTT went on air with the most dramatic newscast in its 28-year-old history: At 6pm this afternoon, the government of Trinidad and Tobago was overthrown, Bakr coolly told the nation. The Prime Minister and members of the cabinet are under arrest. We are asking everybody to remain calm. The revolutionary forces are commanded to control the streets. There shall be no looting.

Almost immediately, looting began but there was no uprising. The JAM leadership had made a gamble: that once they took over the parliament and TTT, a groundswell of popular support would propel them forward to a real and durable political takeover. But it didnt happen, because while many Trinis sympathised with Bakrs critique of political corruption and social injustice, they were appalled by his violent contempt for democracy. This included the vast majority of Trinidads mostly East Indian Muslim population, who were suspicious of Bakrs group and did not take kindly to Bakrs inflammatory suggestion, voiced to theTrinidad and Tobago Sunday Expressin 1985, that they were not really practising the true tenets of the religion.

The coup continues to cast a dark shadow over life and politics in Trinidad. Bakr and his followers were never properly punished for their actions they were pardoned after serving just two years in prison and Bakr not only took perverse delight in playing up to the monstrous image that the local media had assigned to him, butremaineda vexatious and controversialpublic figurein Trinidad right up until hisdeathlast year aged 80.

Furthermore, many Trinis believe that the spiralling levels of crime in the country since the late Nineties is a legacy of the coup: Trinidad and Tobago currently has one of the highest crime rates in the world. In Freudian terms, Bakr, the big monster, cleared a path for all the little monsters, showing them it was possible to unleash murderous havoc in Trinidad and more or less get away with it. Then in 2013, Trinis began joining ISIS; many were the sons and daughters of original JAM members.

But how could this mainly Christian and Hindu country, with a population evenly divided between descendants of African slaves and Indian indenturedlabourers, fall victim to an attempted Islamist coup?

The answer doesnt lie in ideology although Bakr would have journalists believe that the JAM had sacrificed themselves for the poor and oppressed. While its true that Bakrs group attracted many impoverished families, providing them with shelter, food, work and a supportive community, the coup had nothing to do with advancing the interests of Trinidads marginal men and women. Nor was it about some grand plan to create an Islamic State in Trinidad.

The primary cause, rather, was far more prosaic: it was to do with a convoluted land dispute between the JAM and the government over the ownership of 1 Murcarapo Road. When the JAM moved there in the late Seventies as guests of the Islamic Missionary Guild (IMG), it wasmostly swampland. The IMG left, but the JAM remained: they drained the land and started building on it, putting up a mosque, a medical clinic, housing quarters and a primary school. But they did so without the approval of the local government, and on land that they had no legal right to. And so began the JAMs conflict with the government.

Three months before the coup attempt, the army and police entered the Murcarapo premises and set up positions. This was to prevent the JAM from continuing to build on the land. Bakr not only saw this as an intolerable challenge to his moral authority; he also came to believe that the authorities wanted to kill him and destroy his group. When asked, in 1993, by criminologist Ramesh Deosaran what really sparked the 1990 insurrection, Bakr said: It was a military solution to a military problem.

Last year, I made a 12-minute documentary: Diary of a Jihadi: The 1990 Coup in Trinidad and Tobago, supported by the Airey Neave Trust, on how the coup unfolded over the course of six days. The opening scene features the late Raoul Pantin, a prodigiously talented journalist who was working at TTT when Bakrs men came calling and was taken hostage alongside his other male colleagues. In his personal account of the coup,Days of Wrath, he sharply conveys the sheer ridiculousness of Bakr and the strangeness of the events he unleashed. In one telling passage, he recalls that three days into the coup Bakr and his men broke into song:

There was Bakr, using the mouth of an AK47 rifle as a microphone, singing along with a popular calypso playing on the radio. It was the old legendary calypsonian, Sniper, crooning, Trinidad is my land and to love it Im proud and glad Two or three other gunmen had joined in, one of them using his rifle butt as a drum, and the other strumming an imaginary guitar on his AK47.

Just days earlier, these militants had aimed those very same weapons at the heads of the hostages in TTT, and had already put them to vigorous use. Now they resembled the kind of moronic extremists that Chris Morris would go on to satirise with such verve inFour Lions.

In an observation that cuts to the very psychological core of Bakr, Pantin speculates that it wasnot wholly implausible that Bakr had staged a bloody coup merely to appear on television and harangue the nation In his two earlier appearances on TTT that Friday night, Bakr had been the star of his own show, relishing every moment of it, switching from the angry Leader of the Revolution, to the humble Imam who was merely carrying out the will of Allah.

Toward the end ofDays of Wrath,Pantin wonders if Bakr is crazy. On the last day of the coup, after he had successfully negotiated a deal with the government and agreed to surrender, Bakr invited all the hostages at TTT to dinner at his Murcarapo compound once the coup was over. A shuddering thought went through my mind, Pantin wrote. Hes insane. Hes probably been insane for years.

Political violence is such a horrible and serious business that theres a strong temptation to think that violent extremists must be deeply serious people. Pantins book calls this into question. A good number of the JAM militants were very young, Pantin observes, and clearly didnt know what they were doing. But did Bakr and the other senior leaders of the JAM know any better? Despite their rhetoric about martyrdom, they clearly did notwant to die. Indeed, they eventually surrendered. And the idea that 114 self-styled jihadis could overthrow a democratically-elected government in a majority Christian-Hindu country was utterly insane. Pantin teaches us to prick the self-glorifying rhetoric of extremists and to recognise their fundamental lack of seriousness.

Of all of Bakrs critics, perhaps the most trenchant were the Trini ISIS jihadists, whose parents were once part of Bakrs orbit. In July 2016,Dabiq, ISISs glossy propaganda magazine, published an interview with Shane Crawford, one of the first Trinis to join ISIS.He would have beenfive years old in 1990: There was a faction of Muslims in Trinidad that was known for militancy, he told the magazine, referring to the JAM. Its members attempted to overthrow the disbelieving government but quickly surrendered, apostatised, and participated in the religion of democracy, demonstrating that they werent upon the correct methodology of jihad. This was no idle reminiscence on Crawfords part: according to many classical interpretations of the Islamic faith, the punishment forapostasyis death. Crawford was, in effect, saying that the blood of the JAM washalaland could be shed.In February 2017, Crawfords own blood was shed: he was severely injured in a US airstrike in Raqqa and died.

The irony is thatwithout Bakr and the JAM, Crawford would probably still be selling fishalong the Southern Main Road in Enterprise, central Trinidad, for it was from the JAM that an ISIS-supporting faction emerged.Nazim Mohammed, who fought in the coup and is now in his late seventies, split from Bakr and set up his own radical Islamic community in the south. At least 15 members of his family left Trinidad to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq but he denies any association with ISIS.

No one in Trinidad has yet been charged for joining or supporting ISIS, and there arereportedlyaround 100 Trinis in detention in camps in Syria, while Nazim Mohammeds daughter and three granddaughters are currently locked up in an Iraqi prison. At some point, they will return.

Whether the jihadi spirit will be rekindled in Trinidad is yet to be seen. But Bakrscoup shows just how easy it is for a small group of marginal men, radicalised by grievance and inflamed with ideological zeal, to inflict a tremendous amount chaos and suffering on a democratic society. It also serves as a salutary reminder that, while we should resist the temptations of apocalyptic alarmism, we should never take for granted the resilience of democratic institutions.

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The Jihadists of the Caribbean - UnHerd

CANCUN, Mexico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GigNet, a Digital Infrastructure company with an extensive regional fiber optic broadband network from Costa Mujeres, North of Cancun, through the Hotel Zone of Tulum, announced today it has signed an agreement to provide high-speed Internet to five Selina Hotels in Cancun and the Riviera Maya including Isla Mujeres, Downtown Cancun, Cancun Hotel Zone, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.

Selina is a unique hospitality brand operating in more than 60 destinations worldwide that combine remote work, sustainable travel, and community. From off-grid hidden gems in the middle of nature to buzzing hubs in the heart of innovative cities, Selina has changed the remote work landscape and enabled digital nomads to travel seamlessly across the globe. Selina enables the ultimate work-life balance with well-designed co-working spaces at every destination complete with desks, high-speed WiFi, meeting rooms, and more. Selected locations also feature curated wellness programs to nourish the mind, body, and soul. For example, Selina Isla Mujeres offers a library area, a movie theater, an outdoor event area, and an IDC Scuba Instructor Certification Center - the only one in Latin America inside a hotel.

Mark Carney, OBE, and President of GigNet Mexico, stated, We are excited about welcoming Selina Hotels to the GigNet family. I personally have fond memories from Selina Isla Mujeres, the former site of Poc-Na an original Mexico hostel, since I stayed there for a year when I first arrived in Cancun over forty years ago. Just as when I started my career in Cancun, Selina caters to a new generation of travelers seeking career and personal adventures. The difference is that now guests at all the Selina properties in the Mexican Caribbean can work, communicate, and innovate with friends and colleagues around the world seamlessly and securely.

Mr. Carney added, Selina recognizes that digital nomads are some of the most interesting and productive entrepreneurs and creators on the planet. The Cancun region is the perfect nomad and permanent - destination for tomorrows technology and business leaders who can now travel, live, and work with the advantage of GigNets high-speed fiber connectivity.

ABOUT SELINA HOTELS

Rafi Museri and Daniel Rudasevski, creators of Selina Hotels, have designed a travel experience where guests can enjoy a hearty and healthy breakfast and concentrate on their work while sharing a space in the co-working area, and relax and meet other travelers to enjoy a drink, food, and music from guest DJs or live musicians. Museri and Rudasevski themselves embody Selina, working remotely, traveling the world, meeting new people, and forming lasting bonds. Their desire to build Selina was personal fueled by a desire to make interesting spaces around the world, driven by the social aspect, and the vision that Life must be with people. https://www.selina.com/es/mexico/

ABOUT GIGNET

GigNet is the Mexican Caribbean brand of GigNet, Inc., a U.S. based international Digital Infrastructure company specializing in Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) for enterprise customers including hotels, resorts, retailers, offices, large commercial operations, governmental offices, and medical and educational facilities, as well as fiber-optic transport services for mobile phone operators in the region. Through its Mexico operating subsidiaries, GigNet, S.A. de C.V., and Sanalto Redes Peninsular, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the Company is a fully licensed telecommunications provider in Mexico. GigNet is actively adding customers to its extensive regional broadband network in the Mexican Caribbean, one of the largest and fastest growing tourism and new residential development destinations in the world, with over 25 million annual airport visitors. GigNet is a leader in the Digital Transformation of the region.

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GigNet Signs Agreement with Five Selina Hotels in the Mexican Caribbean to Provide High Speed Internet - Business Wire

Posted on July 27, 2022

Executive Vice President of the Afreximbank, Kanayo Awani chats with Prime Minister Mia Mottley during her visit - GP

Barbados is expected to host more than 700 African businessmen, investors, and representatives of financial institutions during the first Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) from August 31 to September 3 this year.

The Forum is one of the first projects coming out of last years First Africa-Caricom summit and will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre under the theme: One People. One Destiny. Uniting and Reimagining Our Future.

The event is a collective initiative of Invest Barbados and Export Barbados in collaboration with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The Forum aimsto fosterthe development of strategic partnerships between the business communities in Africa and the Caribbean, to bolster bilateral cooperation and increase engagement in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, tourism, culture, and other sectors, a media release from Export Barbados (BIDC) and Invest Barbados stated.

Additionally, ACTIF 2022 is expected to contribute to the implementation of theAfrican Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)and the Caribbean trade development agenda, further reflecting the deep-rooted ties between Africa and the Caribbean based on their shared history, culture, common identity, and destiny.

As part of their commitment to the Forums success, CEOs of Export Barbados (BIDC) and Invest Barbados Mark Hill and Kaye Greenidge respectively, hosted Kanayo Awani, executive vice president of Afreximbanks Intra-African Trade Bank and her team during a preparatory visit to Barbados between July 20 and 22.

Awani also had meetings with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and representatives of key local and regional organisations.

Mottleysaid Barbados ACTIF2022 will be a major step towards strengthening relations between Caricom and Africa.

Last September, Barbados signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Afreximbank, and we are committed to the success of that MOU, she said.

Indeed, Barbados is of the view that the Afreximbank is a key partner for all Caricom member states in facilitating trade and investment opportunities between Africa and the Caribbean.

The prime minister added: Establishing air links between our regions is vital if those prospects are to be realised, and Barbados is committed to doing its part to achieve that. After four centuries, Africa and the Caribbean are joining forces, and so this Forum must embrace all our people.

It is a historic moment that cannot be captured by only a few businesses and businessmen; none of us should miss it.I am confident that ACTIF2022 will connect our peoples and result in an increased flow of goods and services between our two regions and overall, wider cooperation.

Commenting on the Forum, Awani said ACTIF2022was taking placeagainst the backdrop of the renewed engagement between Africa and the Caribbean.

The joint hosting of the first Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum is a key step towards the renaissance of the relationship between Africa and the Caribbean, she said.

Following the step taken on September 7, 2021, by the African and Caribbean heads of state and government at their summit, where they renewed their commitment to revitalise the relationship, ACTIF2022 is the next logical stride, using the power of trade to reconnect the two regions.

We thank the government of Barbados for sharing our vision and generously committing itself without hesitation to host this Forum, extending the invitation to the business communities and developmental agencies in Africa and the wider Caribbean region. We look forward to a successful Forum and a renewed relationship between two regions that everything links.

Intending participants, including potential exhibitors, can register for ACTIF2022 by visiting the event website.

(PR/AR)

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Forum to advance Africa-Caribbean trade and investment in August - Nation News

What if a tourist could travel across the Caribbean on a single visa?

Thats the idea of Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who says the implementation of a regional tourist visa regime among CARICOM nations has huge economic potential.

A regional visa regime is something that weve been talking about. I think if we are to build Caribbean tourism, then we must recognize that as individual states, we are too small to grow and to benefit from the recovery of tourism as it now stands, but together as a region, we can grow and we can benefit, Bartlett says.

That would create the potential for a malt-destination tourism network, Bartlett says.

More importantly, it would create a single common airspace, where airlines flying to the Caribbean would pay one fee.

The idea would be that a traveler could clear customs in Jamaica and then be domestic across the countries of the Caribbean Community, from Barbados to Antigua to Trinidad.

It will bring more airlines into our space because the turnaround time for the aircraft will be significantly reduced as a result. More rotations could be had, and thus more visitors can come in, Bartlett says.

The other element of importance is that it also provides a new skill set to be developed in the Caribbean area. What tourism will be doing is now saying were not just people who have bartenders, cooks and housekeepers, but we are into technology, aviation, logistics and procurement, he said.

Its not completely without precedent.

Indeed, for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, CARICOM treated the nine host countries (and Dominica) and a single domestic space tor travelers for nearly three months.

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A Single Tourist Visa for the Whole Caribbean? - Caribbean Journal

Theyre the kinds of meals you savor. Not just when youre finishing dessert, but months and years in advance.

This is the experience diners are seeking when they come to any strong culinary destination, and, thankfully, the Caribbean is full of them.

Whether youre in a seaside food stall or a Michelin-level fine-dining destination, the Caribbean is filled with world-class culinary experiences, a reminder that this remarkable part of the world is a full-fledged global gastronomic destination.

Its hard to believe, but this year marks the 10th anniversary of Caribbean Journals groundbreaking list of the 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean, a list that is still the authority, that is still without peer: our on-the-ground, exhaustively-experienced guide to the most memorable places to eat in the Caribbean. What hasnt changed in 10 years is our loyalty to our three pillars: Food, Service and Ambience, the essential ingredients to any great restaurant.

These are the fundaments of an unforgettable meal the kind that stay with you long past dessert.

Congratulations to all of this years selections!

#1 Brass Boer, Bonaire The Caribbean leader remains in the top spot. This Bonaire classic, the Caribbean outpost of three-Michelin-star Chefs Johnny and Therese Boer (the team behind Hollands De Librije, has created the Caribbeans true destination eatery, with a level of culinary artistry the region has not seen before, all in a setting at the oceans edge at the Delfins Beach Resort.

See the article here:

The 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean - 2022 - Caribbean Journal

Join the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas Tuesday, Aug. 2, for a free webinar as we launch a free multilingual ebook on journalist safety in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Experts on the topic will come together for a discussion on the current situation of violence against journalists in the region and measures to protect the press.

Speakers include:

The webinar takes place, in Spanish, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. US Central Time via Zoom.Registration is required.

Protection of Journalists: Safety and Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean, the ebook soon available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, is a compilation of articles produced over the course of eight months by members of the Knight Centers digital magazine, LatAm Journalism Review, and journalists from the region.

The four-part project focuses on: 1) coverage of protests, 2) reporting on violent conflict, 3) development of protection mechanisms, and 4) investigation and prosecution of violence against journalists.

The 15-story project, edited by Mexican journalist Javier Garza and coordinated by The Knight Centers Teresa Mioli, presents country case studies and never-before reported details of violence targeting press professionals. It includes guides on how to stay safe while reporting on protest and violent conflict. And, it looks at delays in setting up systems to protect journalists, as well as flaws in the offices meant to prevent impunity.

This is one of the most complete assessments of the risks journalists face and the systems designed to protect them, but from the perspective of the journalists themselves and how safe they are in their own countries," Garza said.

The project was made possible thanks to funding from UNESCOs Global Media Defense Fund.

We are grateful to UNESCOs Global Media Defense Fund for its support to enable us at the Knight Center to work on this project that has helped journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean with useful information about their safety and ways to fight against impunity, said professor Rosental Alves, Knight Center founder and director. We have helped journalists to understand many aspects of the problem of violence against the press in the region, but we have also highlighted the need for justice, the end of impunity.

Register today for this important webinar and join the discussion on journalist safety in the region.

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Knight Center to launch ebook on journalist safety in Latin America and Caribbean during webinar | Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas -...

2022 Atlantic hurricane names: See list, including supplemental names

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Here is the list of names for 2022, as established by the World Meteorological Organization.

Cheryl McCloud, Wochit

The Atlantic basin remained quiet again, with no tropical cyclones expected over the next five days, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters are watching three tropical waves, with one in the western Caribbean.

Your guide to preparing for the 2022 hurricane season in Florida

Track all active storms

Excessive rainfall forecast

A weak tropical wave brought thunderstorms to South and Central Florida Tuesday, with rain amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches.

Scattered storms are forecast this afternoon over the same areas.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.

The next named storm in the Atlantic basin will be Danielle.

Hurricane season 2022: CSU, AccuWeather forecasters agree: Active hurricane season ahead. Here's what you need to know

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Forecasters agreed earlier this year an active hurricane season is coming. Colorado State University meteorologists predicted 19 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationsaid 14 to 21 named storms will develop.Of the predicted hurricanes, three to sixcould be major hurricanes, packing wind speeds of 111 mph or higher.

Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8a.m. July 27:

Tropical wave 1:A tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic is located north of Cape Verde. It's moving to the west at 19 mph. It's embedded in dry Saharan air, which is inhibiting development.

Tropical wave 2:A tropical wave is located in the central Atlantic between the British Virgin Islands and Cape Verde. It's moving to the west at 15 mph. It's also embedded in dry Saharan air.

Tropical wave 3:Another tropical wave is located in the western Caribbean off the Yucatan Peninsula. It's moving to the west at 13 mph.

It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to the U.S. from the tropical waves.

Forecasters urge all residents to continuemonitoring the tropics and to always be prepared during what's expected to be an active hurricane season.

If you can't see any local weather warnings here, you'll need to open this story in a web browser.

See the National Hurricane Center's five-day graphical tropical weather outlook below.

Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.

We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look at ourspecial subscription offers here.

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NHC keeping eye on 2 tropical waves in Atlantic, 1 in Caribbean - Ocala