Category Archives: Caribbean

(Bloomberg) -- A Caribbean refinery shut for most of this decade is coming back to life at a time the oil industry is struggling to recover from a historic pandemic-led collapse in fuel demand.

Owners of the Limetree Bay refinery located in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, initiated thestart-upprocess in a crude distillation unit and may begin making market-ready gasoline by late October, according to people familiar with the matter. Once the 150,000-barrel a day unit stabilizes, other units would be put into service, they said. A spokesperson for Limetree Bay Holdings didnt respond to email and call seeking comment.

Shuttered since 2012, the refinery is being revived just as the stubborn nature ofCovid-19shines a spotlight on the uncertain outlook for petroleum consumption. The situation has forced several refiners to permanently shut plants orconverttheir facilities intogreeneroperations. The International Energy Agency expects to downgrade its next forecast for oil consumption. Still the refinery, formerly called Hovensa, is positioned to take advantage of gasoline demand in Latin America and has ample storage capacity at a time when traders can make money by storing fuel now to sell in the future.

At a time like this, its extremely useful to have storage with demand so weak, said Vikas Dwivedi, a global energy strategist for Macquarie Group Ltd in Houston. With most fuels like gasoline and diesel trading at a premium for supply in the future compared with the present, having available tanks to store fuel is a valuable asset. Dwivedi also noted, Capital was put in a long time ago. If you invested in something two years ago, you want to start it as soon as possible even if its not the best return that you wanted.

TheLimetree complexhas nearly 34 million barrels ofstoragefor crude and products, according to the company website. Of that figure, about 10 million barrels of crude storage have already been leased to a unit of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation. The refinery was initially set to restart at theend of 2019tocapitalizeon stricter rules for shipping fuel rolled out by theInternational Maritime Organizationthis year. But it missed that target and another one set for the first quarter. Eventually the onset of Covid-19 pandemic upended demand globally and affectedstaffingat the site.

The plant will also be positioned to meet demand for IMO-compliant fuels, which before the pandemic disrupted international commerce was expected to boost demand for cleaner-burning product, said Dwivedi. Eventually IMO fuels will be a force.

Its previous owners, Petroleos de Venezuela SA and Hess Corp., shut the plant in 2012 in response to a downturn in fuel demand and increased international competition. At that time, it could process 350,000 barrels a day, using mainly imported crudes, including supplies from its Venezuelan owners. Limetree Bay Holdings, an affiliate of private-equity firm ArcLight Capital and Freepoint Commodities, took over the site in 2015. EIG Global Energy Partners joined the partnership in 2018.

The Hovensa refinery was a key supplier of gasoline and diesel to states along the U.S. East Coast. In 2010, it accounted for about 15% of gasoline blendstock imports to the region, which includes New York Harbor, the delivery point for U.S. gasoline futures.

2020Bloomberg L.P.

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Caribbean Refinery Restarts After Eight Years of Disuse - Rigzone

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in production, but what should the upcoming sequel include? What should the movie leave out?

Pirates of the Caribbeanhas truly stood the test of time. With five movies under its belt and two more on the way, there are plenty of stories to be told. One of those movies will be a continuation of the current series while another will star Margot Robbie in a female-fronted reboot.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Things The Reboot Can Improve (& 5 Ways It Can Fail)

Fans have high expectations when it comes to these movies sincePirates of the Caribbeanis still one of the most beloved movie franchises out there today. However, it hasn't necessarily gotten better through its run. Viewers are definitely looking for some particulars in the next sequel and spin-off.

Fans asked and they shall receive: Margot Robbie is going to star in the reboot, which will not be connected to the main storyline. It's about time that a female pirate lead steps into the spotlight in a franchise that hasn't had too many women characters before.

There's also no reason that the sequel movie can't focus on a female character, pirate or otherwise, especially with some options available. Carina, Barbossa's daughter, or perhaps even Elizabeth (the Pirate King herself!) couldreturn after her brief cameo in the fifth movie.

Many fans are not clamoring for the return of Captain Jack. He has certainly run his course, having starred in all five movies. The character has really gone downhill over time. While he started the series as a smart man who was ten steps ahead of everyone around him, he descended into a drunken pirate who was barely along for the ride.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Ways To Reboot The Franchise (& 5 Reasons It Should Be Left Alone)

There are plenty of other leads that can take his place, the most obvious being Will, who is poised to command the sixth movie with a resurrected conflict against Davy Jones. When it comes to Jack,audiencesmay have simply had their fill of the captain.

Pirates of the Caribbeanis iconic for a reason, as it knew how to write memorable characters. With Jack (the captain and the monkey), Pintel, Ragetti, Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth, Tia Dalma, and many more leading the way,lovable characters abound, even when they'retechnically bad news.

Both new movies have the opportunity to create new characters, whether they're comedic relief or serious members of the crew. It would be refreshing after all these years to fall in love with a new crew of pirates or even some fresh bad guys.

Technically,Pirates of the Caribbeanbegan asa dark story. It had cursed skeletons, wayward pirates, and plenty of gray skies on the sea. But the movies only got darker and darker. A lighthearted take (with a visually pleasing aesthetic) would serve to revive the tired franchise.

When Margot Robbie's crew sets sail, that would be the best chance to see a totally fresh take on the pirate world. Here's hoping that she can do for pirates what she did for Harley Quinn and have some fun on screen. Hopefully, the sixth film willalso be a bit lighter.

Many longtime viewers are already fan-casting who would be the best additions to the series, with names ranging from Karen Gillan to Florence Pugh. If there's one thingPirates of the Caribbeanhas always been good at, it's all-star celeb cameos for the best roles.

Whether it's Javier Bardem as a villainous captain or Bill Nighy as the legendary Davy Jones,the franchise didn't pull punches when it came to casting. The new movies have the potential to add more exciting names to a long list of hits.

Viewers have gotten attached to the central characters who make upPirates of the Caribbean,especially the original trifecta of Jack, Will, and Elizabeth. It would simply be painful to watch them get unhappy endings after all these years.

RELATED:Pirates of the Caribbean: 5 Characters Who Got Fitting Endings (& 5 Who Deserved More)

Since Will is poised to star in the next sequel now that Davy Jones has possibly returned, it would be terrible to watch the former meet an untimely demise or get cursed again. He already got a happy ending, being reunited with Elizabeth and Henry, so the next movie should not resort to forced drama.

Many talented actors and fantastic characters have contributed to the series over the years, but the cast has not always been the most inclusive. Zoe Saldana made a splash in the first movie as Anamaria and no one could forget Naomie Harris's turn as Tia Dalma, but the franchise needs to create moreopportunities for diversity.

There are so many phenomenal actors of color who could seamlessly join the sixth film's cast, and the same can be said for the spin-off. Fans can't wait to see who gets cast next.

It's not exactly a secret thatPirates of the Caribbeanmovies became long, convoluted, and way too wacky. With so many supernatural and fantastical elements, it was easy for the series to go overboard.The next movies need to rein it in and bring back the excitement ofThe Curse of the Black Pearl's action-adventure status.

The spin-off has the potential to put together a straightforward and acclaimed movie about female pirates on the open sea, while the mainline sequel should stick to what the series does best: Character-driven adventures. Although Davy Jones was supernatural, it was really when they began adding too many villains andplot threads that the franchise crossed a line.

Pirates of the Caribbeanhas never taken itself too seriously and the actors seemed to have plenty of fun on set. While they cast many popular actors in major roles, they also brought on some fan favorites in cameos. Namely, Keith Richards and Paul McCartney stood out as Jack's family members.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Best Rivalries (& 5 That Make No Sense)

It was a fun nod to Jack's rock-star roots and inspiration, and the new movies should keep the gag going. These cameos never got in the way of the movie, so it would be a nice touch to see who stopped by the set for a day of dress-up.

The Curse of the Black Pearlfeltlike it could have been made in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The swashbuckling spectacle had the perfect mix of practical and special effects.

The movie magic was just that magical. But the movies went on to feature more and more CGI, until they transformed into indistinguishable blockbusters. The next movies should go back to the roots of the first one, taking care to portray the setting as realistically as possible while toning down the over-the-top effects or story beats.

NEXT:Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot: 5 Actresses We Want To Join Margot Robbie (& 5 We Don't)

Next Lord of the Rings: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Merry & Pippin

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Pirates Of The Caribbean 6: 5 Things We'd Want In A New Movie (& 5 That We Don't) - Screen Rant

With the Pirates of the Caribbean movies more accessible than ever, and a summer season void of blockbusters, this month were diving deep into Disneys swashbuckling series. Grab your cutlass and hoist the colors: here be Polygons take on all things PotC.

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise juggles a lot of balls, but perhaps one of the most gripping threads is romance. Throughout the original trilogy, Elizabeth Swann is the central point of a triangle formed by Will Turner, Jack Sparrow, and James Norrington. The films end with Elizabeth choosing Will but was he the right choice?

To discuss the pivotal romance in the original Pirates trilogy, three Polygon staffers Karen Han, Emily Heller, and Petrana Radulovic convened to talk over Elizabeths three potential beaus, as well as all of the other high-seas heartthrobs introduced throughout the series.

Karen: Id like to start with the Big Three: Will, Jack, and Norrington. You guys have told me before that you both love Will why is that?

Emily: I do love Will Turner. I love a boy who pines.

Karen: So there was never any competition?

Emily: No, and in fact, I was annoyed whenever Jack Sparrow would get flirty with Elizabeth, and whenever anyone I talked to was into Jack Sparrow. I was anti-Jack Sparrow.

Petrana: I did not like Jack in the way a lot of people I know did. I do love a charming rogue, and as an audience surrogate crush, I get it, but I never wanted him for Elizabeth.

Karen: Please expand on why you love Will so much.

Petrana: I think Orlando Bloom is very cute. I think that was 85% of it, especially when I watched those movies. I also like a good childhood best friend love story, and I liked that it was mutual. They were both into each other, and society didnt like it, but they decided, hey, fuck society.

Emily: For me, I love a loyal character who has a moral code that they stick to even when theyre teaming up with someone who is not necessarily sticking to that. Whats interesting is that I was not an Orlando Bloom gal, I was not into Legolas. I was into Sam, that was my guy. Its that sort of loyalty that I really dig.

Petrana: I do like that Will has these principles. Norrington is the other character who has a strict moral code, in contrast to Jack, but his is a code of honor, which is hot in its own right. Whereas Wills devotion is to the people he loves.

Karen: The next logical talking point is Norrington, because he is the third love interest, but I feel like hes someone no one really considered until his arc in the second and third movies.

Petrana: I actually saw the movies in reverse order. I wasnt allowed to watch them because they were scary, so I saw the third one with my friends when I was old enough, then I saw the second one with my cousin. I finally saw the first one because I told my parents I was really into those movies. I think seeing them in reverse really elevates Norringtons story. He sacrifices himself for Elizabeth, and he was really hot in the second one. But then you watch the first one and its weird that she knew him when she was 11 and he was, like, 25.

Emily: I did not think of Norrington as anything other than an obstacle between Elizabeth and Will in the first movie. I agree that he was hot in the second and third movies. Removing that powdered wig really helped him out there.

Karen: So in the second and third movies, were you no longer like, Get him out of here, Will and Elizabeth need to kiss, because it was clear that Will and Elizabeth would get together?

Emily: I think because it was clear that Norrington did not have a chance with Elizabeth, that she was in love with Will and it was great, I did not see him as a threat then, and he was allowed to be cute without being a hindrance. The second movie is actually where I got really mad about the Jack Sparrow stuff, because thats where Elizabeth kisses him, and the look on Wills face when he sees it happen is devastating, because he doesnt know why shes doing it!

Petrana: The kiss is for the greater good! She kisses him for Will! Its the only way to save all of their asses. But he doesnt know that, so its dramatique.

Karen: So both of you, from the beginning, were like, She should be with Will Turner, there is no alternative, this is who she should choose. I will say I havent found Orlando Bloom attractive until very recently starting from when he was a villain in the Three Musketeers movie. I wasnt in love with Will while watching these movies. But I wasnt in love with Jack Sparrow, either. I was more interested in Norrington because of his redemptive arc; thats the story trope that really works for me. I find it interesting that both of you were with Will Turner from the beginning, because I feel like so much of the fandom thinks she shouldve gotten with Jack Sparrow.

Petrana: The fact that her choice is very clear from the beginning makes the other men good for the audience to project upon. Jack doesnt have a love interest until Penlope Cruz in the fourth movie (which doesnt count).

Emily: I never really went for the bad boy thing, I remember I got really mad at my sister for being really into the Phantom of the Opera. Thats part of why I wasnt into Jack Sparrow. If I was going to go for a bad boy, I would be into a bad man, i.e. Captain Barbossa.

Petrana: I have to wonder what it is specifically about Jack that I didnt get, because I usually do go for the rogue. I think the key thing missing is the heart of gold. Jack doesnt really have it. Hes an interesting character, but lacks the ride-or-die appeal of Will.

Karen: Yeah, the interesting thing about the end of the second movie is that hes trying to make an ultimately selfish and very villainous choice. So, of the three main love interests, the consensus is, two out of three, that Elizabeth made the right choice. But who would you pick?

Petrana: Will, but if Norrington kept his look from the second movie, that might sway me a little. I am very shallow and I love a man with dirty blonde hair.

Emily: I would also choose Will, but I do, as a 27-year-old woman versus a 10-year-old girl, understand the appeal of Norrington being much more established, and a more stable life is appealing to me, personally, as a tired adult.

Petrana: Will as a blacksmith has a stable income, but Will as captain of the Flying Dutchman doesnt.

Karen: He doesnt have a stable income, and the only thing thats stable is he can only come see you once every 10 years or whatever. What do you guys think of the way Will and Elizabeths story ends?

Petrana: I was looking into this because I was curious. In the directors commentary, they say that, because Elizabeth was faithful to him, the curse was broken, which I clung to as a little girl. Of course, they retcon that in the fifth movie, but I loved that tragic trope. There is the big question of why she doesnt just go with him. Her dad is dead, so why not?

Karen: Yeah, there is nothing preventing her from going with him. But I guess if you want to live in a nice house you wouldnt go because the Flying Dutchman is not very nice. Now, I want to dig into Emilys comment about Captain Barbossa. Personally, I wouldnt not choose Barbossa.

Emily: I love Barbossa, especially as hes juxtaposed with Jack Sparrow, because where Jack is morally ambiguous and kind of loosey-goosey and his whole thing is this stumbling rockstar thing, Barbossa is not loosey-goosey. He is controlled, he is tight, he knows exactly what his code is, which is none. I love that he absolutely does not care about anything besides his very specific goals. When he bites into the apple and the juice runs down his face? Its hot. Im sorry. Also he has a monkey, and thats cool.

Karen: Did you find him attractive during the first movie or is this something that has cropped up as youve grown up?

Emily: In the first movie, I was terrified of him. By the third movie, I was into him. I was 15, and I was like, Yeah, I like this guy. I was still all-in for Will, but I had some tinglings of, What about him, though?

Karen: Petrana, Im curious if there are any other characters that you looked at and were like, Hm, I do like them.

Petrana: Im not even sure if its romantic but I think Tia Dalma deserves so much more. I want to know more about her and Calypso. Her whole thing is kind of handwaved. Also Naomie Harris is just a beautiful woman.

Karen: I like when she turns big and then turns into a bunch of crabs. I do like that thats her ending: I am a sea goddess, goodbye. My huge crush was Davy Jones. I was so obsessed with him when these movies came out, and for a long time afterwards. I dont know if my crush on Bill Nighy came first or if liked Davy Jones first, but hes just so mysterious and cool. When I was 13, I was so into him that my friends made me a poster that was just a collage of pictures of Bill Nighy on a bunch of printer paper. They also got me a little piece of official movie merch which was a pen with a Davy Jones head-topper on it, which I treasured. I think its still in my childhood bedroom. That one moment where he turns into a man in the moonlight was hot. Not that Davy Jones with a squid face wasnt hot ... I dont look at Davy Jones with a squid face and think, I want to kiss him, but I dont look at him and think I dont not want to kiss him.

Emily: I mean, if we want to talk crushes that the room will not relate to: Jonathan Pryce, man.

Karen: Hes a devoted dad and has a nice house!

Emily: I like the wig, but also when he takes off the wig. Hes got that messy wig hair. Its good. Also, those Turner genes are strong because Id absolutely smooch Bootstrap Bill. Stellan Skarsgrd ... hes daddy, I dont know what to tell you.

Karen: Big, big same. Hes a hunk! More of a hunk than Will, in my opinion. Those barnacles aint nothing to me! I do have to bring up that when we were discussing this roundtable, Emily, you brought up the pirate Ragetti.

Emily: Yes! Specifically because of the scene where theyre doing the ritual to return Tia Dalma to her true form as Calypso, and the ritual says they have to speak to her like theyre talking to a lover. I love Barbossa, but he does this big, performative voice, and then Ragetti just walks up to her and whispers into her ear. She does this little shiver. I would, too. Also, Mackenzie Crook is a cutie.

Karen: I do love Pintel and Ragetti a lot. They are extremely cute together. OK, so what if Pirates of the Caribbean was a dating sim? If you were playing it right now, who would romance?

Emily: I think Governor Swann, just to see if the game would let me.

Petrana: I will say that I would not pick Will because he and Elizabeth were a first OTP for me, and I wouldnt want to mess with it. I want go with Norrington because I think that would be a challenging route. Whenever Im playing a game with romance options I have to choose the one that would be an uphill battle. (Disclaimer: this is not how I approach real-life romantic relationships.)

Karen: You have to fix him. It reminds me of Cullens route in Dragon Age: Inquisition, where you have to get him over his drug addiction.

Petrana: I picked that route.

Karen: I know you did. Obviously, I would romance Davy Jones. He was always my number one in Pirates of Caribbean. I was never into Will, Jack, or Norrington. I am fully aware he was not in the first movie, but I dont care. I love him. I love his little claw. Hes like a big octopus! Also, I feel like a new relationship would be good for him.

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The Pirates of the Caribbean cast: who was the best love interest? - Polygon

This Quarterly Mixed Migration Update (QMMU) covers the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. The core countries of focus for this region are the countries currently affected by the Venezuelan crisis, including Colombia, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador, in addition to the Caribbean islands. Concerning northern movements to the United Sates, this QMMU covers Mexico and Central American countries. Depending on the quarterly trends and migration-related updates, more attention may be given to some of the countries over the rest.

The QMMUs offer a quarterly update on new trends and dynamics related to mixed migration and relevant policy developments in the region. These updates are based on a compilation of a wide range of secondary (data) sources, brought together within a regional framework and applying a mixed migration analytical lens. Similar QMMUs are available for all MMC regions.

Key Updates

Returns of refugees and migrants to Venezuela in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of May 2020, more than 5 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants had left their country of origin; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused small return flows of Venezuelans from across the Andean region toward Venezuela since March, reaching approximately 75,000 to date. Serious concerns about stigmatization of returnees and lack of food and healthcare in Venezuela persist.

Restrictive stay-at-home orders in the North of Central America (NCA), including El Salvador,Honduras and Guatemala, limit mobility, while deportations continue. Border closures across Central America, along with restrictive quarantine measures, have limited mobility within and between countries. Despite these border closures, deportations and forced returns from the United States and Mexico to NCA countries continued, including of COVID-positive individuals.

More than 40,000 summary expulsions of refugees and migrants from the U.S. to Mexico under public health order. A public health order issued on March 21 by the U.S. government in light of COVID-19 permits the summary expulsion of people on the move from the U.S. to northern Mexico, with virtually no screening for international protection needs; since then, more than 40,000 incidents of expulsion have taken place. Meanwhile, refugees and migrants subject to the Remain in Mexico policy face extended wait times for resumptions of immigration court hearings in the U.S.

Thousands of African, Haitian and Cuban people on the move stuck in Panama during the COVID-19 pandemic. Border closures across Central America due to COVID-19 have paused movements on migration routes from the Caribbean and from other continents; at least 1,900 refugees and migrants from African and Caribbean countries remain in reception centers in the Darin province, Panama, and hundreds of refugees and migrants in southern Honduras attempted onward travel towards North America in late June.

Go here to read the rest:

Quarterly Mixed Migration Update Latin America and the Caribbean, Quarter 2, 2020 - World - ReliefWeb

Hurricanes can deal massive damage to homes. Here are a few tips that can help minimize the damage. Accuweather

Though the typical peak of hurricane season is still several weeks away, forecasters Monday were monitoring a trio of weak tropical systems in the Gulf, Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean.

The first system, a weak low-pressure area, formed over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. "The associated shower and thunderstorm activity is currently disorganized, and little additional development is expected before the system moves inland over Texas tonight or Tuesday," the hurricane center said.

Although this system is not a significant concern, Weather.com said "it could enhance rainfall near parts of the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts."

The second system is a tropical wave now spinning over the Bahamas and Cuba, the hurricane center said. Once the wave moves into the Gulf of Mexico late Tuesday, more favorable conditions for tropical development are forecast, AccuWeather said.

Forecasters were keeping watch on three separate tropical disturbances in the Gulf, Caribbean and Atlantic on Monday, July 20, 2020.(Photo: National Hurricane Center)

However, at this time, meteorologists believe the system will not have time to ramp up to a hurricane and the chance of a tropical storm developing from it is 10-20% and for a tropical depression to evolve from it is between 20-30%, according to AccuWeather.

Just like the first system, parts of the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts could see enhanced showers and thunderstorms from this system late in the week, Weather.com warned.

The third disturbance is a tropical wave in the central Atlantic Ocean that's has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm, the hurricane center said.

If any of the systems become a named tropical storm, it would get the name Gonzalo.

So far this year, six tropical storms have formed in the Atlantic Basin, with the most recent being Tropical Storm Fay 10 days ago. Fay soaked portions of the northeastern U.S. with heavy rain.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/20/tropical-systems-developing-gulf-caribbean-atlantic/5472028002/

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Forecasters monitoring weak tropical systems in Gulf, Caribbean and Atlantic - USA TODAY

The investigation into a fatal military helicopter crash off the Caribbean island of Aruba has been hampered after the aircraft sank into the ocean.

The Ministry of Defence said two of the four plastic balloons keeping the wreckage afloat had burst, making recovery much more difficult.

The NH-90 helicopter ditched in the sea at around 8.30pm Dutch time on Sunday. killing 34-year-old pilot Christine Martens and 33-year-old tactical coordinator Erwin Warnies. The two other crew members were not seriously hurt, a spokesman for the ministry said.

Director of operations Boudewijn Boots said the flight recorder had been recovered and was in good condition. So far the navy has not speculated on possible reasons for the crash or why two of the four crew died.

The only thing I can say is that the two military personnel who died were sitting in the front and the others were more towards the middle of the aircraft, Boots said.

The Netherlands has grounded its other 20 NH-90 helicopters. Other countries, including Australia, Belgium, Sweden and Norway have restricted or suspended their use of the aircraft because of technical or maintenance issues.

The DutchNews.nl team would like to thank all the generous readers who have made a donation in recent weeks. Your financial support has helped us to expand our coverage of the coronavirus crisis into the evenings and weekends and make sure you are kept up to date with the latest developments.

DutchNews.nl has been free for 14 years, but without the financial backing of our readers, we would not be able to provide you with fair and accurate news and features about all things Dutch. Your contributions make this possible.

If you have not yet made a donation, but would like to, you can do so via Ideal, credit card or Paypal.

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Setback for Caribbean crash investigation as ditched helicopter sinks - DutchNews.nl

The newest rum brand to hit the market is Rude Bwoy, a collection of rums born out of a deep family connection to the Caribbean.

The brand is the brainchild of Patrick Mitchell and James Larson, who have cultivated both white, gold and flavored rums (along with a vodka, too), celebrating Mitchells familys centuries-long roots in both Jamaica and Cuba.

To learn more, Caribbean Journal talked to Mitchell and Larson about Rude Bwoy and whats next for the company.

Patrick, can you talk about your familys connection to the Caribbean?

Our story begins on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, in the West Indies, back in the 1600s with the Wright family. The Wrights were living on the south side of the island in the parish of St. Elizabeth in a town named after the family. At the time, Wright Town stretched from the hills of Spur Tree to the beaches of Treasure Beach and Newell. The Wrights were serial entrepreneurs selling cattle and grew peanuts, onions, melons and scallion and of course sugar.

Our more recent Jamaican family was livestock famers. My grandfather was a cattleman and sold crops from his property as one of the best salesmen in the area. It was here that the ideas to start producing rum formed.

The Wrights were humble people who worked the sugar and cattle for their family. When opportunities for better pay came to Jamaicans by the building of Cubas railroads, some of the elder Wrights headed off to Cuba taking the opportunity.

The Wrights that went to Cuba tried hard to stay in connection with their Jamaican family, however back then communication was very thin.

Over time, the family spread out, some going to other countries such as England, and Costa Rica and to America. It wasnt for over a century later that Cubas revolution was the forefront of the world bringing rum right along with it.

What is a Rude Bwoy?

Rude Bwoy, sometimes also called Rudie is an endearing term for ones bredrin, friend, mate, and also sometimes used to identify a youth or child that is a cool yute. The term was born after the emergence of the Ska Music scene when Reggae music was on its way in Jamaica.

RudeBwoyhas four spirits. What are they?

All our spirits are 100% natural.

Ultra Premium Rude Bwoy Vodka

Ultra Premium Rude Bwoy Irie Gold Rum

Ultra Premium Rude Bwoy Irie White Rum

Ultra Premium Rude Bwoy Coconut Rum

Where is the rum made?

Our rum is made at The Point Distillery in the Tampa, FL area

The coconut rum is particularly unique what makes it special?

Our award-winning Ultra Premium Coconut Rum is a real game changer in the marketplace. Unlike most flavored rums on the market, it is made with 100% natural ingredients-nothing artificial. We like to say its literally made from the ground up. At 70 proof, its also stronger than most flavored rums in the market place and its exceptionally smooth with just the right tropical aromatic finish.

Whats the best way to drink Rude Bwoy?

Weve found most people truly enjoy our coconut rum on the rocks with a lime or with just a splash of your favorite mixer. Our mixologist, Bree Draughon, is constantly creating exciting new Rude Bwoy cocktails with our full lineup as we roll out the product across the nation.

Our very unique sugar cane Vodka has also become very popular with the Bloody Mary crowd with its very smooth and exciting twist versus the traditional vodka offerings.

RudeBwoyalso has apparel for sale. Do you foresee Rude Bwoy being a brand beyond the rum?

With our Caribbean-focused brand, as well as both partners background in the surfing, beach volleyball and reggae scenes, our apparel is a unique island inspired lifestyle brand that we intend to leverage along with our spirits.

Rum as a spirit has come a long way. What do you see as the future for rum?

We believe the future is very bright for high quality, ultra premium rum offerings. Consumers are interested in enjoying the content, quality, and the story behind brands. At Rude Bwoy, our story is quite unique and we encourage our customers to Taste the Experience which transcends most cost hurdles. Consumers are also gravitating very robustly to the all natural and organic components of high quality rums which also elevates the future of the rum sector.

For more, visit Rude Bwoy.

Read more from the original source:

Rum Journal: Rude Bwoy and the Spirit of the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal

A new bill proposed in the United States Senate titled, Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act of 2020, has put Caribbean states in the line of fire as lawmakers look to advance U.S. policy toward Cuba during the COVID-19 pandemic; a move that has the potential to strain U.S. relations with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

The bill, introduced by Republican Senators Rick Scott (Florida), Marco Rubio (Florida), and Ted Cruz (Texas), would require the U.S. Department of State to release the list of countries that contract with Cuba for their medical missions program, and ensures that such contracts are considered in the annual U.S. Trafficking in Persons report rankings.

In short, the bill would effectively stifle the revenue received by Cuba from its medical missions and punish recipient countries to appease President Donald Trumps key South Florida base as the 2020 U.S. presidential election gets closer. While the bill focuses on Cuba, its contents have extraterritorial and harmful effects on countries in the Caribbean, who without Cubas medical support, are unlikely to have tackled the COVID-19 pandemic as swiftly as they have.

The decision of CARICOM states to invite, at one point, more than 500 Cuban medical personnel into their respective countries, was pragmatic. At the time, this was against the backdrop of insufficient support from richer countries, such as the United States. Given the recent rhetoric of U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who earlier in the year stated that its time for a deeper relationship between the United States and Caribbean nations, one would think the United States would have been more forthcoming in its support for the region during the pandemic. The support never came, and so the Caribbean turned to its longtime partner, Cuba, for support.

CARICOM countries faced a potentially dire situation as their public health systems neared collapse due to the increase in COVID-19 patients. This led governments to impose travel restrictions, effectively shutting down the regions most important economic sector: tourism. With tourism a crucial sector in the economies of many island nations, it was imperative that states quickly manage COVID-19 in an effort to reopen and revive the economy.

The Caribbeans economic dependency on tourism is not unknown to the U.S. Senatorswho routinely influence U.S. policy on Latin America and the Caribbean. This means that they either unintentionally overlooked the effects the bills contents would have on Caribbean states or have simply disregarded the sovereign right of Caribbean nations to do what they must to protect the livelihoods of their people. With this bill, the senators are punishing CARICOM states and others whove depended on Cuban medical professionals to assist in their COVID-19 strategies, when ironically, the senators own states have seen dramatic spikes in COVID-19 patients and deathsFlorida is now the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.

If the bill is enacted, one of its stipulations, that the State Department factor in countries that receive Cuban medical personnel into their annual Trafficking in Persons report, will have consequential effects on several CARICOM states.

In the State Departments Trafficking in Persons reportwhich ranks states in terms of how well a government meets the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Acts (TVPA) minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, with Tier 1 being the best and Tier 3 the worstcountries placed in the Tier 2 Watch List for three consecutive years are automatically moved to Tier 3.

If the acceptance of Cuban medical personnel becomes a factor in the ranking system, it would place Tier 2 Watch List CARICOM states, such as Belize and Barbados, in Tier 3 for the 2021 report. Furthermore, it could put seven additional CARICOM states that are currently ranked as Tier 2 on the same trajectory as Barbados and Belize.

Placement in Tier 3 comes not only with funding restrictions from the United States, but gives the U.S president the authority to direct U.S. based multilateral development banks and the International Monetary Fund to vote against and use their best efforts to deny any loans or other uses of the institutions funds.

Given the economic impact of COVID-19 on CARICOM states, especially those potentially at risk of the senators bill, such as Barbados and Belize whose 2020 real GDP is forecasted to experience a 7.6 percent and 12 percent contraction respectively, the implications of the bill would serve as an unnecessary contribution to the challenges of these countries.

Numerous CARICOM heads of government have individually and collectively, for example through the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, opposed the senators bill. In their words, they repudiate its contents and argue that there is no evidence that the Cuban medical professionals in their country are part of forced labor, as the senators claim. If the bill moves forward, more heads of state are likely to speak out against it, and the contents will weaken U.S.-Caribbean relations at a time when global and hemispheric solidarity will be vital in a post-COVID environment.

U.S. actors routinely caution CARICOM states on their engagements with states such as China, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as lobby for their support in regard to U.S.-led initiatives against them, but the United States rarely provides the Caribbean with a mutually beneficial alternative. Instead, the bill reflects a unilateral and contradictory U.S. foreign policy toward the Americas that has consistently put partner nations at risk to advance its outdated Cuba policy.

Not only does the bill strain U.S.-Caribbean relations, but contradicts U.S. efforts to isolate Cuba from its Caribbean allies. CARICOM states routinely argue that the U.S. embargo on Cuba breaks international law and is unhumanitarian in its application. They have used international forums, such as the United Nations General Assembly as well as the communiques that follow each CARICOM intersessional meeting to voice these concerns. Thus, although not a member of CARICOM, Cuba remains a valued partner of the Community since Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad established diplomatic relations with the country in 1972.

The contents of the senators bill seek to infringe the good will enjoyed between the United States and CARICOM members. To pass such a move would be a grave mistake, further isolating the United States under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Wazim Mowla is a Guyanese American graduate student at American University, a researcher for the African & African Diaspora Studies program at Florida International University, and an intern for the Permanent Mission of Antigua & Barbuda to the United States and the OAS.

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New Cuba bill puts a strain on US-Caribbean relations - Global Americans

Less than three weeks after reopening to international travelers, the Bahamas is closing its borders to U.S. residents after a rise of coronavirus infections on the island nation.

In a national address on July 19, Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced that airports and seaports would close to all travelers except those coming from Canada, the U.K. and EU starting July 22 at midnight. While he did not specifically single out American tourists, that country has accounted for most of the Bahamas' stopover visitors more than 78% as of 2016.

"I understand the frustration and disappointment of many Bahamians and residents that may ensue as we reimplement certain restrictions," Minnis said. "But as a country ... we have to do what is right and we have to do what is necessary."

He said Bahamasair, the Bahamas national airline, will immediately cease all flights to the U.S. too.

(The situation) deteriorated at an exponential rate since we reopened our international borders.

Hubert Minnis

prime minister of the Bahamas

A record-breaking 7.2 million tourists visited the Bahamas in 2019, despite the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Dorian last year. Most of those visitors were from the United States.

The Bahamas is the closest Caribbean island to U.S. shores. One of its islands, Bimini, lies about 50 miles east of Miami and is reachable via charter boat or a two-hour fast ferry departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The travel reversal is a new blow to American travelers, who after being locked out of the EU, were welcomed by many Caribbean islands earlier this summer.

As of July 19, the Bahamas' Ministry of Health confirmed 49 new cases of Covid-19 since the country reopened its borders to international travelers on July 1. Of these, 31 were on the popular island of Grand Bahama, which had gone more than two months without any cases before the borders reopened.

Three islands New Providence (shown here), Grand Bahama and Bimini account nearly all coronavirus infections in the Bahamas.

Justin Crowder / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images

In total, the Bahamas, which has nearly 400,000 people, has confirmed 153 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

"Regrettably, the situation here at home has already deteriorated since we began the reopening of our domestic economy," said Minnis, adding that it "deteriorated at an exponential rate since we reopened our international borders."

Minnis announced additional measures to help curb the spread of Covid-19:

Beaches and parks on New Providence, Paradise Island, Grand Bahama and other locations have been closed.

Restaurants at Arawak Cay and Potter's Cay will also be closed until better social distancing can be practiced and enforced.

Grenada stands apart for its cautious reopening approach.

Buena Vista Images

Grand Bahama only: A daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. is in effect, and international and domestic borders will be closed effective July 22. Indoor dining is not allowed and bars are closed. Church services, weddings, funerals and sports activities are no longer permitted, and fines will be issued for flouting social distancing and mask rules.

Minnis warned that if cases continue to rise, the Bahamas could go on lockdown as early as July 24.

Many Caribbean nations such as Antigua, Aruba, Bermuda, Jamaica and St. Lucia had either already reopened, or were on the precipice of reopening, when U.S. coronavirus cases started to surge in mid-to-late June. Caribbean countries quickly began adding stricter measures, such as negative Covid-19 tests, to enter.

Grenada, however, took a different approach. Citing an increase in infection rates, especially in the U.S., it delayed reopening. On July 10, Grenada announced a three-tiered approach to begin on August 1:

Low-risk countries, such as other Caribbean nations, can take a rapid test upon arrival. Those testing positive must take a Covid-19 PCR test, which if positive would require a 14-day quarantine or two negative test results.

These Caribbean nations will not be the last to react in this manner.

Mark Cameron

epidemiologist, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Medium-risk countries where "there is active, but manageable transmission," such as Canada, the U.K. and EU nations, must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival and undergo a rapid test upon entry, which if negative would allow "limited movement" thereafter.

High-risk countries where "there is active and widespread transmission" (arriving mainly via charter flights and yachts) must arrive with negative PCR tests in hand, undergo rapid tests and, even if negative, must quarantine for 14 days in accommodations approved by the Ministry of Health.

To date, Grenada has only had 23 confirmed Covid-19 cases, all of whom have recovered.

Whether the Bahamas closing to Americans is a one-off incident or a sign of things to come is unknown.

Mark Cameron, an epidemiologist at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine said the U.S. is in uncharted territory in terms of its epidemiological curve, and has no global peers setting such "disturbing new trends."

"These Caribbean nations will not be the last to react in this manner," he said. "I think any country that has learned how to truly bend its curve down, learned how to truly resolve its first wave rather than be satisfied with an unstable plateau, will close or remain closed to U.S. resident travel until our numbers reflect that we've learned how to do the same thing."

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A sign of things to come? Bahamas welcomed, then shut out U.S. travelers - CNBC

At a meeting of the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership Working Group on Friday, July 10, the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) announced a $5 million initiative to strengthen community-led disaster preparedness, for which U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $1 million.

Frequent and intensifying natural disasters over the past decade have disrupted small island nations infrastructure and major industries. The joint initiative, Building Community Resilience in the Eastern & Southern Caribbean, will ensure that U.S. foreign assistance reaches communities most vulnerable to natural disaster throughout the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. The IAF will leverage community strengths in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters by channeling direct, flexible funding to grassroots organizations and mobilizing matching local resourcestypically more than $1.50 for every $1 provided by the IAF in this region. Grassroots and community-based organizations in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean can apply for funding via the IAF website at https://www.iaf.gov/apply-for-grant/

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is a nimble and transformative U.S. government agency that invests in community-led development across Latin America and the Caribbean. The agency directly engages local leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs in underserved areas to create more prosperous, peaceful, and democratic communities. The IAFs active portfolio includes more than 300 projects in 24 countries. For more information about the IAF, visit http://www.iaf.gov or contact: Rebecca Nelson, Media Liaison | Email: rnelson@iaf.gov | Telephone: +1 (202) 683-7188

USAID leads the United States Governments international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance. For more information about USAIDs work in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, visit https://www.usaid.gov/barbados.

By U.S. Embassy Bridgetown | 21 July, 2020 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases

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Inter-American Foundation and USAID Launch Joint Initiative to Foster Caribbean Disaster Resilience - US Embassy in Barbados