Category Archives: Caribbean

1. Editorial

The impacts of COVID-19 are growing daily. The pandemic has triggered not only a health crisis, but also an economic one. Its consequences and duration are still unknown, but we know, for example, that its impact on poverty rates and food security has no recent precedent. According to some estimates, global poverty will increase by 548 million as a result of the COVID-19. There will also be an increase in the number of food insecure people, estimated at 183 million. Poverty in our region is expected to increase by 4.4 percent, that is, an additional 30 million people.

In such a scenario in which achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability is increasingly indispensable for the planet the agrifood system needs urgent and innovative solutions. In this respect, digitalization is a recommendable path to follow.

Digitization has become a key driver for rural transformation, creating new opportunities for farmers. The future of agrifood systems will depend, to a large extent, on how agricultural stakeholders will be able to take advantage of the digital transformation to improve inclusiveness, efficiency and environmental impacts.

2. Key messages

The digitalization of agriculture and food systems can have positive impacts in economic, social, environmental and institutional terms, especially in the post-pandemic recovery process.

Currently, the adoption of digital technologies among small producers is low, so they may be excluded during the post-pandemic recovery process.

The lack of specific public policies, low e-literacy, poor connectivity, lack of advice or actionable services, and low capacity are some of the factors hindering the transition.

However, the pandemic has accelerated the digitalization processes, with e-commerce being the most visible.

The digital transformation of the agrifood sector should take an inclusive, efficient and sustainable approach. This approach requires significant action by governments to establish enabling policy frameworks and incentives.

Governments' efforts to achieve a digital transformation of the agrifood sector should focus on infrastructure and connectivity, accessibility, the level of education and institutional support, designing services for the unconnected.

A general framework of incentives that could be used by governments could include (i) smart demand and supply subsidies; (ii) support for incubators, accelerators, innovation clusters; and (iii) better access to appropriate financial products (angel investors, venture capital, debt, equity, quasi-equity, crowdfunding) for new enterprises, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and service providers.

Digital transformation in the agrifood sector can occur at any link in the value chain.Opportunities exist at the on-farm and off-farm levels.

See the original post:

Food systems and COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean: The opportunity for digital transformation (Bulletin 8) - Guatemala - ReliefWeb

The Caribbeans most glamorous destination is reopening for tourism, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The French Caribbean island of St Barth is reopening for travel and tourism on June 22, according to Bruno Magras, president of the islands territorial council.

Whether you are visiting an island friend or local resident, returning to spend time in your vacation home or coming back to spend some vacation time on the island, St Barth is pleased to welcome you back, Magras said.

Magras said life on the island has returned to normal.

Island beaches are open without restriction, restaurants and boutiques are operating as usual, houses of worship are open and holding services and nautical services as well as the other services to which you are accustomed are being provided as usual, he said.

Thats due to early, aggressive action to lock down the island in the early days of the pandemics spread, and now it means St Barth is open for business.

The island has implemented new COVID-19 protocols for incoming travelers, however.

Every visitor to the island will be asked to provide a COVID-negative RT-PCR test performed within three days prior to the visitors departure.

If its not possible to arrange a test prior to departure, visitors will be required to be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of arrival.

Until test results are known, visitors will be required to observe strict quarantine in their villa or hotel room during which time interaction is limited to only those traveling in your party.

Test results will take less than 24 hours to be released, Magras said. For those staying on the island for more than seven days, a second RT-PCR test will be required on Day 7. (Children under the age of 10 do not require a test).

The islands villas and resorts are beginning to reopen, most notably the Hotel Le Toiny, the first hotel on the island to announce its reopening, along with the popular Les Ilets de la Plage beachfront resort in St Jean.

Of course, leading villa companies like WIMCO and St Barth Properties are also reopening their properties for travelers.

And the best ways to get there from the United States remains flying luxury carrier Tradewind Aviation via San Juan.

CJ

Go here to see the original:

St Barth to Reopen for Tourism on June 22 Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has launched a reopening tourism tracker for the major islands in the region, to help visitors in their travel plans, as the world reopens from the coronavirus pandemic.

The travel information on "Caribbean Travel Advisories" is updated daily and provides information on airport and cruise port openingsl health and safety requirements for all entering visitors; if quarantines are required upon arrival; and whether restaurants and other tourism-related businesses are open and under what conditions.

The Caribbean islands listed run from Aruba to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and include many other destinations in between, such as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

For Puerto Rico, the travel tracker states in part:

The Government of Puerto Rico has activated the Puerto Rico National Guard to assist with enhanced health screenings of all passengers upon arrival into SJU, which consists of a brief verbal screening or temperature check via thermographic cameras, making the process of screening all arriving passengers to the airport more efficient and reliable.

Additionally, all commercial flights are being diverted to SJU to control passenger traffic and all passengers (visitors and residents) must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, regardless of symptoms.

Cruise operations: All ports are currently closed for cruise ship vessels.

As part of the Islands responsible four-phased reopening plan, the Caribbean destination announced it will formally reopen for in-bound tourism on July 15

As reported by THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, the COVID-19 crisis has led to losses of more than $6 billion in the Caribbean's important tourism industry.

According to Frank Comito, CEO of the CHTA, hotel occupancy rates in early June remained at around 8.3 percent and could plummet to 3 percent, which has generated losses of $2 billion in tax earnings and one million jobs.

"Before the pandemic, the industry worldwide maintained a growth tendency that had lasted for nearly a decade. The impact has been severe and our region is not the exception. The losses are considerable and it is estimated that they will continue to increase," Comito said.

For more information on the region's travel advisories, log on to http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/.

Read the original:

Reopening Tourism Tracker Launched for the Caribbean | Business - The Weekly Journal

A recent history of natural disasters and its longstanding dependence on tourism have left the Caribbean extremely ill-prepared to address the economic effects of COVID-19. Caribbean economies were already highly indebted after calamities ranging from hurricanes to earthquakes to the destructive effects of higher sea levels stemming from climate change in the past few years. Those natural disasters have left most of the regions economies with poor and declining credit ratings, limiting their borrowing capacity and their ability to mobilize resources against the pandemic. And if it hasnt already, the sharp drop in tourism stemming from the pandemic will undoubtedly plunge most Caribbean countries into severe recessions, with few resources at their disposal to cushion their populations from the fallout.

The first cases of COVID-19 emerged in the Caribbean in early March, and within several weeks, most countries in the region were reporting cases. While some countries took active containment measures early on and have fared reasonably well against the virus so far, others are struggling. Some countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda, opted for minor responses, like calling on citizens to wash their hands often and avoid close physical contact and large groups. At the other extreme is the Bahamas, which closed all schools in mid-March and banned certain foreign visitors from entering the country. Between the two, the Bahamas was able to flatten its curve much more quickly. ...

More:

The Caribbean, Uniquely Vulnerable to COVID-19, May Take Years to Recover - World Politics Review

WASHINGTON The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Tuesday announced that Jamaican, Judith Green, has been appointed the regional manager for the Caribbean, overseeing operations in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the English-speaking Caribbean.

The Washington-based financial institution, which is a member of the World Bank Group, said that Green will be based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, IFCs hub for the Caribbean.

IFCs role in the Caribbean is important now more than ever and I look forward to working with our long-term partners and forging new relationships to support the development of the region, Green said, adding she aims to lead IFCs operations to provide private sector investments that drive sustainable growth, as well as leveraging our advisory services to improve the investment climate and support regional governments capital expenditure programs through the successful structuring of public-private partnerships.

Green will also manage IFCs relationships with regional governments, donors and private sector stakeholders. She is taking over the position from Luc Grillet, previously Senior Manager for Central America and the Caribbean, and recently appointed as Chief Operations Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean based at IFC headquarters in Washington.

The IFC said that Green has worked as head for the English-speaking Caribbean since 2016, expanding IFCs operations in the sub-region.

As Country Manager, she will play a critical role in building our portfolio, developing new investment and advisory opportunities for IFC and enhancing our impact in the cluster of countries. Specific focus will be provided to promoting financial inclusion for SMEs (small medium enterprises) and women entrepreneurs and working hand in hand with the private and public sector to provide solutions for the region to improve infrastructure and public services through public-private partnerships.

In announcing her appointment, Gabriel Goldschmidt, IFCs Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, assured that Judith brings tremendous professional experience and a deep knowledge of the Caribbean market.

Through her leadership, we look forward to continuing our strong track record in the region, serving our clients and creating new markets and opportunities where they are needed most, Goldschmidt added.

As of February 2020, IFCs committed investment portfolio in the Caribbean stood at nearly US$900 million across a broad range of sectors, including financial markets, infrastructure, information and communication technology, manufacturing and services, and education. This includes about US$200 million mobilized from partnering institutions.

Green previously worked with IFC from 2011 2013 as a senior investment officer in Jamaica before joining the Ministry of Finance and Planning, as a member of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee where she headed the government Coordination and Implementation Unit.

She also has extensive capital markets and corporate banking experience, having held senior management positions in RBC Bank Jamaica Limited, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (New York), and Citibank N.A. Jamaica.

CMC

Originally posted here:

Jamaican Appointed as New IFC Regional Manager for the Caribbean - caribbeannationalweekly.com

Karisma Hotels & Resorts announced that its portfolio of resorts based in Mexico and the Caribbean will begin to welcome back guests

As top leisure travel destinations open their doors again and nonstop flights begin to return, Karisma Hotels & Resorts announced that its portfolio of resorts based in Mexico and the Caribbean will begin to welcome back guests June 15. The resorts, which include the award-winning Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana and the brand new Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun, have seen marked increases in bookings for vacations and weddings at its various luxury properties, 13 of which are luxury oceanfront properties in the Cancun area.

Weve seen the number of direct bookings for trips in the next quarter significantly outpace bookings in 2019, said Bill Linehan, president of Premier Worldwide Marketing, the exclusive worldwide representatives for Karisma Hotels & Resorts. This shows that travel is coming back gradually but steadily and with even higher demand, which is incredibly important for our Mexico and Caribbean destinations that rely so heavily on tourism.

In anticipation of the return to travel, Karisma has launched a comprehensive well-being program named Karisma Peace of Mind to ensure guest safety and an unmatched level of service. The program features new health protocols, updated guidelines and industry-leading best practices, including alignment with Delos Well Livings International WELL Building Institute and Well Living Lab, in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic, with endorsements by Deepak Chopra. The program will be implemented across all Karisma properties, setting a new standard for the hospitality industry. For example, the company is combining holistic well-being options including sound meditations and breathing exercises with 100+ new hygiene and sanitation initiatives, and long-time certifications from the leading independent safety and sustainable organizations: Check Safety First/Cristal International Standards and EarthCheck.

We hope to give our guests an authentic, upscale setting to restore and relax where they can be free of all worry, said Linehan. Weve worked with world-renowned organizations to institute a comprehensive program that goes beyond cleanliness protocols to deliver a true sense of safety and relaxation for our guests.

Properties in the Karisma Hotels & Resorts portfolio are slated to welcome guests on the following dates in accordance with government guidance and regulations:

June 15, 2020

El Dorado Maroma Riviera Maya, MexicoPalafitos Overwater Bungalows Riviera Maya, MexicoHidden Beach Au Naturel Resort Riviera Maya, MexicoGenerations Riviera Maya Riviera Maya, MexicoHoliday Villages Montenegro Montenegro

July 1, 2020

El Dorado Royale Riviera Maya, MexicoEl Dorado Casitas Royale Riviera Maya, MexicoEl Dorado Seaside Riviera Maya, MexicoMargaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun Riviera Maya, MexicoAzul Beach Riviera Cancun Riviera Maya, MexicoAzul Beach Negril Negril, JamaicaEl Cielo Winery & Resort Baja California, Mexico

July 15, 2020

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Aug. 1, 2020

Allure Chocolat Cartagena, Colombia

Now until June 30, Karisma Hotels & Resorts is offering flexible bookings of future, refundable stays at up to 77 percent off with a $500 resort credit.

See the original post:

Karisma Hotels to Reopen in Mexico and Caribbean - RusTourismNews

No surprises.

Thats what the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association want to make sure you avoid if you are traveling to any of the island nations in the region.

Trending Now

No arriving in St. Barts without proof that you are coronavirus-free.

No figuring out whether U.S. residents are allowed yet in Aruba.

No wondering if you have to quarantine upon arrival in Montserrat.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has debuted a tracker that it updates daily with information for each island nation from A (Anguilla) to, well, V (Virgin Islands, both U.S. and British).

The tracker gives travelers information on whether airports and cruise ports are open, if restaurants are allowed sit-down service, and more.

It is similar to the updated information on the TravelPulse report for the reopenings in the Caribbean.

Checking either site will give you the information you need to know as you make your travel plans.

Read the original post:

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Introduces Reopening Tracker - TravelPulse

By Sam Bojarski

Caribbean flags of all colors filled the streets of Flatbush on the afternoon of June 14, as calls for racial justice were punctuated by the sounds of reggae music.

Marlyne Gaston was one of the protesters who marched up Flatbush Avenue, from Church Avenue to Grand Army Plaza, demanding justice for George Floyd and an end to racism and police brutality.

I was hesitant to come out earlier in the protests because of COVID, but last night another black man was killed in America, said Gaston, in reference to the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, which occurred late Friday night.

I was vocal from my house, but now, I see I had to come out here, added Gaston, a Haitian-American who lives in Flatbush.

Several hundred people, perhaps more than 1,000, attended the Caribbean Americans for Justice march, organized as a show of unity during Caribbean American Heritage Month. The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy, Mount Zion Church of God, Byways & Hedges Youth for Christ Ministry, Ride Along Live and Haitian American community leader Rose Guerrier, of International Cultures United, were among the organizers of the event.

Speakers and marchers called for black unity and solidarity among immigrants, and attendees marched peacefully through the streets, chanting the names of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Call-and-response slogans like no justice, no peace, were regular features of the march.

Jeff Paul, a Haitian American who was in attendance, noted the significance of the event, given Brooklyns large Caribbean community.

I think its good for us to show unity with each other, were all from different islands and everything, but you know, when we all come together for a cause its a beautiful thing, said Paul, who lives in Flatbush.

Haitians, in particular, have been settling in the U.S. in large numbers since the 1960s. According to Paul, the generation of Haitians who were born in the U.S. have become more in tune with the challenges faced by other black Americans.

I think the generation that was born here, you know, we pretty much have been in black culture, and we know the different things in black society that affect us, he told the Haitian Times.

Gaston acknowledged that the past has not always been free of conflict between the different Caribbean communities in Brooklyn. But she said the march represented an opportunity for all people of African descent to come together as one.

When they said they (were) having a Caribbean protest, I was like, oh yeah, thats up my alley. African Americans, Caribbean Americans, were all one and the same, she said.

The crowd gradually began to swell at around noon, as march attendees, most of them dressed in black, gathered on all four corners of Church and Flatbush avenues. Rev. Terry Lee of Byways & Hedges kicked things off with an electrifying prayer and speech. After acknowledging his own background as a Jamaican immigrant, he called for solidarity among all immigrants during the march.

TO READ FULL STORY

Sam Bojarski has been covering Haiti and its diaspora for The Haitian Times since 2018. He is currently covering New York's Haitian community as a Report for America corps member.

Excerpt from:

Haitians join with Caribbean community to demand justice - Haitian Times

What happened

Investment banker J.P. Morgan predicted "a reasonable, albeit slow, recovery in operations" for cruise lines Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) (NYSE:CUK), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NASDAQ:NCLH), and Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) last week, but said shares would "remain choppy and range-bound until investors receive more clarity" on such data points as, well, precisely when the CDC will permit cruise lines to resume cruising.

And they were half right -- maybe more than half.

Today, on a no-news day for the cruise industry, shares of Carnival, Norwegian Cruise, and Royal Caribbean stock are busting out all over, each up more than 10% in early trading. By 10:45 a.m., each cruise line stock had given up some of its gains, but Carnival is still hanging onto a 7% profit for the day, Norwegian's up 7.5%, and Royal Caribbean, 5%.

Image source: Getty Images.

What exactly is going on here? Let me first eliminate the obvious suspects:

There have been no analyst upgrades, nor price target changes, from Wall Street's analysts on any of these three stocks today. Nor have Carnival, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean issued any updates on their operations. The CDC has given no more clarity on when cruisers can resume cruising: We're still looking at a July 24 date for earliest resumption of operations, unless the CDC extends its no-sail order again.

What news we do have is more macro in nature. In England, clinical researchers are having some success treating COVID-19 patients with low doses of a common steroid injection known as dexamethasone to reduce inflammation that can interfere with breathing. They're finding that the steroid improves survival rates of patients on ventilators or taking supplemental oxygen, but doesn't otherwise improve outcomes for patients with less severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Still, any treatment is better than no treatment, and this news from the UK is a positive for consumer-facing businesses such as the cruise lines.

Meanwhile, in other news, Marketwatch reports today that President Donald Trump is pushing a $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan to stimulate the economy. On the one hand, that should have no direct effect on the cruise industry whatsoever. On the other hand, though, pushing more money into the economy means some of that money will eventually trickle into the pockets of discretionary consumers who might spend it on pleasure cruises.

Long story short, I see no particular reason to get excited about cruise stocks today. This is still a heavily indebted industry ($7.5 billion in net debt at Norwegian at last report, $13 billion at Royal Caribbean, and $13.1 billion at Carnival).

It's an industry that was once pretty profitable, but one that is losing money today. It's an industry certain to keep on losing money for as long as the CDC keeps cruise ships locked in port, and one probably destined to lose money for some time thereafter, as cruise lines struggle first to convince tourists that it's safe to board their boats, and then must find a way to survive on 50% or less occupancy rates in order to promote social distancing for a while.

In last week's report, J.P. Morgan said it doesn't see cruise lines returning to 100% occupancy rates before 2022. Can the cruise lines survive an industrywide recession that lasts that long? Investors are voting "yes" with their wallets today, but I have my doubts.

Follow this link:

Why Carnival Corporation, Norwegian Cruise, and Royal Caribbean Stocks All Popped Today - The Motley Fool

Last month, DaniLeigh released her latest single, Dominican Mami, which features assistance from Fivio Foreign and sees the two flexing over a blended New York drill beat courtesy of Tommy Brown, MoneyEvery, and Xavi:

He play my game like Atari, he want Minaj like Safaree, I cook the beef like hibachi/

I got a pound of biscotti, yeah, I can see that they jealous/

Moon walking, Margielas, VVS on my tennisI broke his heart, its my fetish/

Shawty a bird, feathers, hate when she sees us together.../

Now, fans get to check out a fly music video to match, which shows DaniLeigh living it up in the Dominican Republic, relaxing on the water, driving through town on four-wheelers, and twerking with her crew. Fivio can also be seen playing dominoes and performing his verse around some eye candy.

In addition to the release, DaniLeigh has also revealed merch in promotion of the single. Given the current state of events, shes also revealed that all proceeds from said merch will be going to organizations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Given that DaniLeigh was also outside during the Los Angeles protests, its clear that shes down to assist in stopping the current injustices that were facing in the country today.

Along with another new track titled Levi High, Dominican Mami is expected to appear on DaniLeighs forthcoming album Loved A Liar, which she explained during an interview with Billboard:

Its a whole movie, like, it got 16 tracks on it, its literally like, start to finish is my entire story of me loving a liar. So the album is called Loved A Liar, i loved a liar (laughs)... Im gonna do so many interviews, and theyre gonna be like, whos this person? And Im gonna be like, yall can try to figure it out. But Im a super low-key person. Its dope though, it goes from that to me loving somebody else thats, you know, was a superstar too.

Press play on Dominican Mami below.

Visit link:

DaniLeigh and Fivio Foreign head to the Caribbean for Dominican Mami visual - REVOLT TV