Category Archives: Caribbean

The IAEA has participated in the Ninth Caribbean Community United Nations General Meeting on 20-21 July 2017, in New York, USA.

The meeting, which takes place every two years, is held to discuss how the United Nations and its associated organizations can better support the strategic goals of the Caribbean region. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the UN have worked closely in pursuit of General Assembly Resolution 69/265 that articulates a goal for the organizations Secretaries General to continue to promote and expand cooperation with their respective mandates, so as to increase the capacity of the two organisations to attain their objectives and to seek answers to global challenges.[1]

Antnio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Community, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, attended, together with high-level UN representatives. The meeting included a number of working sessions co-chaired by Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Granderson and the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr Tay-Brook Zerihoun. Sessions also included a follow-up to the Eighth General Meeting which took place in Guyana in 2015, in which the IAEA also participated, as well as several sub-sessions on specific areas in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals.

See the article here:

IAEA Participates in Ninth General Meeting of the Caribbean Community and Associated Institutions and the United ... - International Atomic Energy...

Make a date with SinglesCruise.com this fall or winter for a cruise that doesn't require you to bring along friends to have a good time.

Among the upcoming offerings is a six-night Caribbean voyage aboard a windjammer, an eight-night Halloween cruise, and trips to Cuba, the Baltic and the Panama Canal.

Cruises generally include lodging, meals, onboard entertainment, roommate matching, special events such as cocktail parties, dance lessons, speed meeting, karaoke parties and single-mingle dining.

The Windjammer Mandalay cruise, Sept. 17-23, will set sail from St. Lucia, visiting several Caribbean ports. Possible calls will be at St. Vincent, Tobago Cays and Union Island, both in St. Vincent, and Carriacou in the Grenadine Islands chain.

Built in 1923, the Mandalay is a three-masted tall ship with teak decks and original woodwork. It accommodates 58 passengers and about 24 crew members.

Rates start at $1,748 per person, double occupancy.

Other upcoming cruises include an eight-night Halloween voyage, departing Oct. 28 on the Carnival Conquest. The ship will sail out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., visiting St. Martin, St. Kitts and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fares from $877 per person, double occupancy.

Cruise through the Panama Canal on the Carnival Miracle on an April 14, 2018, voyage departing Tampa., Fla. Rates from $1,230 per person, double occupancy.

Head to the Baltic on June 9, 2018, for a 12-night cruise on Royal Caribbeans Brilliance of the Seas. The trip will depart Amsterdam, Netherlands, and visit Skagen, Demark; Talinn, Estonia; and St. Petersburg, Russia. Fares start at $1,689 per person, double occupancy.

Also on the schedule is a five-night cruise to Key West, Fla., and Havana, planned for July 23, 2018. Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas will sail out of Tampa. Rates start at $1,110, per person, double occupancy.

Other singles cruises and land-based trips are available.

Info: Singlescruise.com, (800) 393-5000

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Catch a singles cruise on a windjammer to the Caribbean and other destinations - Los Angeles Times

Fidel Castro and a ragtag group of about 150 rebels launched the Cuban Revolution on July 26,1953. Their poorly-planned attack on an army barracks in the southeastern city of Santiago was quickly and roundly defeated. Within an hour, Fidel, his brother Raul and a handful of rebels fled to the nearby countryside, only to soon be captured and sentenced to prison.

But fortune favored the Castro brothers, and they were released along with other political prisoners two years later. Their next attempt to overthrow the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship also began disastrously in 1956, but their rebellion took hold, and they entered Havana triumphantly in January of 1959.

Sixty-four years later, the Cuban Revolution is still sowing mischief, and the erratic U.S. policy toward the island, centered around a decades-old trade embargo, has done little to prevent the Castro regimes nefarious influence beyond its borders.

The embargos objective was to contain the Castro government and achieve regime change. Despite what my fellow Cuban-American friends in the Senate and House might contend, the embargo has failed miserably to achieve its mission. But, for that matter, so has the policy of engagement and trade with Cuba from other first-world countries.

The regime is as strong as it has ever been, still controlling the island on all levels, continuing to repress the Cuban people and violating many articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Cuban-American conservatives are right, though, when they argue that President Obamas historic move to reopen relations with Cuba without demanding any significant concessions has been everything but a success. It looked fine on paper because nothing the U.S. had tried had managed to put a dent in the communist governments policies.

Also, Latin America was still in the midst of the pink tide, where most countries in the region had elected left-leaning governments (a trend thats been reversed) and a rapprochement with Cuba was seen as helping American relations in the hemisphere.

What seemed fine in theory has not worked in practice, mainly because it threw a lifeline to the communists stimulating the economy at a time when the regime desperately needed help. In fact, its fair to argue that the Cubans decided to reopen relations precisely because they knew the island faced its most dire economic challenge since the end of the Cold War.

Back then, in 1989, the Soviet Union had begun to fall apart. The enormous subsidies it had provided Cuba since the early 1960s disappeared, triggering a severe depression, euphemistically referred to as the Special Period. In one year, Cubas GDP plunged by more than the U.S. GDP dropped during the first four years of the Great Depression. Famine ensued and so did epidemics fueled by malnutrition.

The Cuban economy wouldnt begin to significantly recover for a decade. It was still struggling when, in 2002, a coup in Venezuela briefly deposed the then-president, Hugo Chavez. Soon after an understandably paranoid Chavez regained power, he chose to tighten relations with Cuba and use the G2, the Cuban Intelligence Directorate, to help him strengthen his hold on the government.

In exchange, Chavez began to send tens of thousands of barrels of oil a day to Cuba, far more than the islands energy needs. Cuba would then sell the surplus. With oil prices at all-time highs, the profits made Cubas economy expand.

All was well and good for the masters of Cuba and Venezuela, if not for their people, until Chavezs death in 2013. But, soon after his successor, Nicolas Maduro, took over, oil prices plummeted. The Venezuelan economy, more dependent than ever on oil and weakened by 14 years of extreme corruption, mismanagement of the oil industry and socialist policies went into a tailspin.

Seeing the largesse from Venezuela diminishing and, at times, disappearing, Cuba needed another source of hard currency. Thats when President Obamas thaw in relations came to the rescue and filled the void. As a result, instead of facing another huge economic crisis, Cubas GDP soared in 2015, the year that followed the crash in oil prices and the announcement of improved relations (GDP shrunk slightly in 2016 as Venezuelan aid declined and American tourism increases slowed).

Looked at superficially, that wouldnt seem to be a problem. Some of the economic growth in Cuba generated by the U.S. was trickling down to its impoverished people, while business opportunities related to Cuba were increasing on our side of the Florida Straits. However, the Cuban regime, bound by no promises to the U.S., continued its human rights abuses. Also, the greater flow of tourist dollars to the island strengthened the Cuban military, which controls most of the Cuban economy.

Worse yet, it has allowed the Cuban regime to continue exporting its repressive ways to Venezuela, the country with the worlds largest oil reserves. The countries now have a symbiotic relationship dedicated to keep both dictatorships in power. The Cubans desperately need Venezuela in their corner, with an estimated 21 percent of the islands GDP involving trade with Caracas.

Maduro, like Chavez before him, depends on thousands of Cuban military and intelligence officials who are in Venezuela to prop up his regime. Many of those Cubans are embedded in the Venezuelan military, working as snitches and hampering chances the armed forces could splinter and support the oppositions efforts to end Maduros dictatorship.

So, 64 years after the Cuban Revolution began with a debacle, the octogenarian Raul Castro effectively controls two countries crucial to American national security, with totalitarian Marxist governments that are tragic anachronisms in the 21stcentury.

Antonio Mora is a former news anchor for Good Morning America and the former anchor of Al Jazeera Americas primetime international news hour. He is a Cuban American who has reported on various occasions from Cuba. He also holds American and Venezuelan law degrees.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.

Excerpt from:

64 years later, Castros' Cuba still projects power in Caribbean | TheHill - The Hill (blog)

When I got the messages that "gay pride flags" were mounted on light posts across the city of my birthplace for Carnival, I became so excited. And though they weren't really rainbow flags (more like a patchwork of colours that are also in the rainbow), I immediately took my sarcasm to Facebook to celebrate while thanking the decorators for seeing my vision for a "Pride Antigua."

My excitement was short-lived as not only did the situation escalate to folks calling for prayers for the country as a gay agenda was being pushed, but it lead to the Minister of Culture responsible for the festival making the decision to take down the multi-coloured flags.

Yes, you heard me right! The flags were taken down because of the outrage that they resemble gay pride flags. Insane, right? Well these are just some of the disgusting and heartbreaking comments that were shared on Facebook and online news platforms by my fellow Antiguans.

I must admit, when I first saw some of the bitter and disgruntled homophobes arguing on social media about the flags, I couldn't do anything else but laugh at their ignorance. I concluded that these folks woke up on the wrong side of the bed or were just tired of using common sense. I forced myself to believe that these human beings just prefer to lead their lives with ignorance and hatred, as sad as that thought is.

But after seeing the hateful comments and thinking about the last conversation I had with a fellow Antiguan lesbian and a young gay man who was assaulted by homophobes there, I broke down in tears. While many see the act as organizers simply listening to the masses, no one has stopped to think how this move might impact the lives of LGBTQ members still living in this homophobic country.

Antigua and Barbuda already has laws that criminalize homosexuality. The country has seen its fair share of queer members being attacked and harassed, most of which aren't reported since the police treats members of the LGBTQ community like any other homophobe. And I know this as I had to leave my family and this same country because of no police protection.

Just recently, "Princess" a trans woman from Antigua who allegedly faced abuse at the hands of police officers in 2015, came to Canada to seek protection. How many more will have to leave before Antiguans and Barbudans recognize that their attitudes only fuel hate and harm towards other human beings who are just trying to be themselves? Citizens aren't even hiding like before. They are boldly showing the world just how homophobic Antigua and Barbuda truly is.

To think the mere sight of a flag that resembles something close to the rainbow symbol used by the LGBTQ community could cause an entire country to feel threatened, is not only pathetic but shows the level of homophobia that queers have to deal with on an island of 280 square kilometres.

If a piece of cloth can have such an impact on one of the leading festivals in the Caribbean, imagine what really happens to actual lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans men and women on the island. And that could be something as difficult as being forced to stay locked away in the closet because of attitudes like this.

Blog continues below

As you read this, there are so many Antiguans living in fear because of the crimes being committed across the country; sick folks are tired of the broken healthcare system; the electorate can't even trust their political leaders and law enforcement officers when some are at the centre of various scandals to include allegations of sexual assault and charges of incest. I could list out a whole book of problems that are plaguing the country as we speak. But somehow, multi-coloured flags that hold no real ties to the LGBTQ community are the biggest threat to this society.

If my wish for a gay pride caused such a panic in this country, then I should begin to speak up more about the shortage of running water and the irregular supply of electricity that residents put up with. That could either lead to better conditions or it could go wrong and result in a ban on Crayola crayons and Fruit Loops. Someone might even try to pull the rainbow down from the sky. I don't know!

But seriously, I look forward to the day when my fellow Antiguans stop getting offended by the wrong things like me calling out homophobia when I see it or a flag with rainbow colours and instead, stand up and speak out against things that do threaten their very survival.

More here:

When A Rainbow Flag Becomes A Threat To An Entire Caribbean Country - Huffington Post Canada

BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As if hurricanes were not menacing enough, small Caribbean islands risk losing their entire way of life unless they urgently strengthen defenses against a raft of future disasters, according to a climate change official.

"You don't even need to have a hurricane to get extensive damage .. a tropical storm or depression, it comes and sits over a particular island or territory and it deposits rain," said Ulric Trotz, deputy director at the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

"For us small island nations, basically everything comes to a stop. As a region, we are very exposed to climate risk .. and our projections show that this will be exacerbated," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Trotz - whose organization coordinates the entire region's response to climate change - said that along with the annual hurricane season, the Caribbean now faces extreme weather each year, from flooding to landslides.

Fishing and farming communities living in coastal areas and the tourism industry - vital for Caribbean economies - often bear the brunt of damage and loss of income.

Caribbean nations can now face as much rainfall as they would normally get over a period of months in the space of a few days, with drainage systems unable to cope, Trotz said.

"A lot of the damage now comes from extreme precipitation. So that translates into floods, landslides, loss of life, loss of livelihoods," said Trotz, a science advisor.

"We have some serious concerns about the viability of Caribbean life as we know it."

One key way to make coastal areas more resilient to storm surges and rising sea levels, linked to global warming, is to protect marine, coral and mangrove ecosystems, Trotz said.

Reefs act like breakwaters reducing wave strength, while salt-tolerant mangroves can buffer against hurricane winds and storm surges and cut wave height.

"As far as the human body is concerned, the healthier the body is, the more resilient it will be in terms of dealing with some of the threats, diseases," Trotz said.

"So the same principle applies here, that the healthier our ecosystems, the healthier our reefs, wetlands and mangroves are, the more they will be able to resist some of the impacts of climate change," he said.

Across the Caribbean, scores of projects are underway to restore battered coral reefs, establish artificial reefs, replant damaged mangroves and place millions of acres of marine areas under protected areas by 2020.

Some Caribbean nations also face water shortages exacerbated by longer droughts linked to climate change, Trotz said.

In several islands of the Grenadines, a pilot seawater desalination project using solar power is underway.

In Guyana, to better cope with drought and changing rainy seasons, rice farmers are using water harvesting and drip irrigation systems, and are receiving short-term weather forecasts allowing them to better decide when to plant crops.

But more defensive action is hampered by a lack of funds.

Despite the United Nations Green Climate Fund, set up in 2010 to help poor countries tackle climate change, red tape means many small island nations are unable to access funding.

"The bottom line is that we don't have the resources," Trotz said. "It's not that we don't have any idea about how we need to build resilience."

It can take from nine months to up to eight years to get funds from donors, Trotz said.

"The longer you delay, a lot of the assumptions you have made in the first instance are no longer valid .. we have to find some way of shortening that whole process."

Reporting by Anastasia Moloney @anastasiabogota, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org

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Caribbean life 'as we know it' at serious risk: expert - Reuters

FAIRBANKS The first time Natasha Cummings cooked, she was 11. Left home alone, she cooked a simple curry, using ingredients she could find in her house salt, pepper, curry and rice. When Cummings mother came home, she laughed at the effort. From then on, Cummings mother taught her how to cook properly.

Cummings passed on a bit of that knowledge Friday during her Caribbean Cuisine cooking class in the CTC Kitchen at Hutchison High School as part of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Using simple ingredients, Cummings taught the small group how to prepare brown stew chicken, pigeon peas and steamed cabbage.

Like many other first-time instructors, Cummings admitted her nerves at the beginning of the class. Her fears went unfounded as she described her recipes while encouraging hands-on participation.

I want it to be hands-on so when you get home, you know what to do and how its going to look, Cummings said.

Cummings made sure every student helped with at least one aspect of the dishes. Debbie Mathews, owner of Expressions in Glass and an instructor of several classes during the arts festival, helped chop carrots. Her friend Gus Luchini lent a hand. Mathews invited Luchini to the class, which was a way for her to enjoy herself.

I work too much, so this is my way to get out and have fun, Mathews said.

The ingredients used in the recipes are simple and easy to find, even in Fairbanks, quite a distance away from Cummings native St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean.Even so, when Cummings goes home, she brings an extra suitcase just for food and spices.

She puts that extra suitcase to good use at her business, Tashas Caribbean Cuisine and Catering. Started in 2008 out of her home as a casual business, its grown into Cabin No. 7 at Pioneer Park, open seven days per week from noon to 8 p.m. Cummings moved into the spot two years ago, but is on the lookout for a small, year-round space where customers can sit down and enjoy her food.

If I could quit my other job, I would, Cummings said. For now, she runs the cabin and caters you can even hire her to teach a private cooking class and dinner at home.

The mother of three came to Brooklyn when she was 15 with her father and siblings. There, she took over as the mom of the house, cooking dinner on Sundays, a big day in Caribbean families homes, and on weekdays after she got home from school.In 2002, Cummings husband a good but messy cooker was stationed at Fort Wainwright, and the familymoved to Fairbanks. Even so far from home, Cummings mother still guides her.

When I dont know something, I always call my mom or mother-in-law, she said. Her mother-in-law is from Trinidad and a great cook as well.

The dishes came together quickly Friday morning, which makes them an easy go-to on busy weekday nights or for those who dont like to devote a lot of time in their kitchens.

Cummings came to the class with the chicken already marinated, but the marinade itself was made of green onion, garlic, white vinegar, a little bit of salt and Adobo seasoning.

No Caribbean kitchen is complete without it, Cummings said of the Goya brand, Adobo.

The marinade she used can be made with whatever you have in the house, and to individual preferences. The important part is letting it marinate properly at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight. Cummings marinates her meat for two days.

What makes the brown stew chicken truly special is melting sugar in the pot with vegetable oiland adding in a little bit of ketchup for colorbefore adding the chicken. Cummings used brown sugar in the class, but any sugar on hand will do, she said. The syrup adds a thoroughly enjoyable slight sweetness.

The pigeon peas dish is even simpler. Basmati rice and pigeon peas (gandules) are boiled in basmati rice. Among other spices, the star is whole pimento (allspice) seeds, the flavor of which asserts itself strongly in the dish.The rice which takes about 15 to 20 minutes to cook can be eaten as a side or as the main dish.

Cummings has memories of pigeon peas from her childhood.

I grew up shelling them at home from a tree in the backyard, she said. Dont substitute them for regular green peas; if you cant find pigeon peas, use red beans instead, Cummings said.

The final dish steamed cabbage is colorful and highly adaptable. A roughly cut medium cabbage is added to sauteed onion in butter, garlic, pepper and other seasonings. Cummings had the class cut up carrots and multicolored bell peppers to add to the cabbage for color. During class, Cummings had to find a larger pot for the dish, as the newly cut cabbage didnt quite fit. After simmering for about 15 minutes, though, the ingredients had shrunk down into a flavorful and yes, colorful side dish.

Together, the three dishes made for a great meal, which the class tucked into eagerly. While munching, Cummings encouraged the class to make the dishes their own. She doesnt use measurements herself, which leaves a lot of room for spontaneity and personal taste. And the class has a great place to start, thanks to Cummings insistence on hands-on participation.

Natalie Duleba can be reached at 459-7536.

Brown Stew Chicken

1 whole (4 pound) chicken, cut into piece or leg quarters. Boneless chicken can also be used for those who want to avoid bones

2 finely chopped green onions

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon all-purpose(Adobo)Goya seasoning

1/2 chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

2 carrots cut into cubes

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/4 up brown sugar (or whatever kind is on hand)

1 cup water

1/2 canned coconut milk (optional)

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon butter

Clean chicken by removing any extra fat, then rinse with 1/4 cup vinegar. Place chicken in a bowl and sprinkle with green onion, cilantro, garlic, onion, Goya all-purpose(Adobo)seasoning, salt and pepper. Coat chicken. Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pot over medium heat. Stir in sugar, then stir until the it has melted into a nice, golden brown syrup. Add in ketchup and stir. Add the chicken pieces and turn continuously to coat the chicken. Cover the pot and let cook for two minutes.

Pour inwater, coconut milk, pepper flakes, carrots, butter, onions and anything thats left in the bowl.Replace the lid and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Continue cooking until chicken is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Serve with the sauce in the pot as gravy.

If you want a bit more gravy, add a bit more water as needed. But not too much, Cummings said, as water leaches away the flavor.

Pigeon Peas

1 can (19-ounce) of pigeon peas (gandules), including liquid

1 can coconut milk

2 scallion stalks

2 garlic cloves, chopped

A few pimento seeds (whole allspice)

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 to 2 teaspoon salt, to taste

1 teaspoon pepper

2 cups water

2 cups basmati or other long grain rice

Empty the can of pigeon peas along with the liquid into a large saucepan or pot. Fill the empty can with water and pour in. Add chopped onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Add coconut milk and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Add rice and boil on high for two minutes.

Turn heat to low and cook covered until all the water is absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Fluff with fork and serve.

SteamedCabbage

1 medium cabbage, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons butter

2 crushed garlic cloves or 2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 or 3 bell peppers, cut into small slices

1 medium chopped onion or 2 tablespoons onion powder

Goya all-purpose seasoning (Adobo) to taste

Lemon pepper to taste

Wash cut cabbage.Saute onion, garlic, pepper and thyme in butter in large pot.Add cabbage, carrots, bell peppers and stir.Cover pot and cook cabbage until tender.Sprinkle with Adobo seasoning and lemon pepper to taste. Simmer, then serve as a side dish.

Excerpt from:

Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival finds its Caribbean rhythm with a cooking class - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

UNESCO-listed sights, mountains cloaked in rainforests, and streets lined with ramshackle rum bars holidays to the Caribbean give you a tropical getaway with a twist.

All you have to do is mention the Caribbean and youll be met with chatter about coconut trees, soft sands and cyan-blue waters. But, this cluster of islands is about more than just fly and flop holidays. Waterfalls, rainforests and lively towns it ticks all the adventure boxes. Not to mention the rum.

This tiny island has some big-name beaches. The most popular of which Palm and Eagle regularly top all sorts of worlds best lists. The west is buzzing with shops and clubs, but the east is almost crowd-free. Youll also get some Dutch vibes, especially in the sherbet-coloured capital, Oranjestad.

Barbados definitely has the X Factor. Celebrities like Simon Cowell flock here year-round. And, while its the most British of the islands, its not all afternoon tea and cricket. Its dotted with sugarcane fields, all-night clubs, roadside rum shops, and pearl-white beaches, so whatever youre looking for, its got it.

Dramatic scenery comes as standard in the Dominican Republic. If you can tear yourself away from the palm-fringed beaches, there are waterfalls to scale, waves to surf and humpback whales to spot. Come-dark, this islands got a buzzing edge with shops and bars blasting merengue music.

Jamaica has some serious musical roots. You can move to chilled-out reggae rhythms on the white sands of Seven-mile Beach, listen to the cascading sounds of Dunns River Falls, or rev it up on a Jeep safari through the mountains. And don't forget to sample that spicy jerk chicken and sweet rum.

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Caribbean Holidays 2017 / 2018 | First Choice

Caribbean Reef Life of The Bay Islands, Honduras; a new reef identification book and field guide for Caribbean diving enthusiasts, by photographer and author Mickey Charteris. This 350-page guide book showcases the amazing underwater diversity of The Bay Islands and the entire Western Caribbean, with over 1000 species in full color, and descriptions for each species. It is anessential companion on any diving trip to the Bay Islands or anywhere in the entire region. Caribbean Reef Life covers all aspects of a coral reef ecosystem, from Marine Plants, to the Sponges and Corals, Invertebrates, Reef Fishes, as well as the Marine Mammals and Turtles. Even the juvenile, male and female and colour varieties are shown and described. For each species group there are plenty of fun facts, identification tips and extra information for divers wanting to know more about Reef Life.

Caribbean Reef Life is constantly updating it's collection of species. Come back every month to see new albums of what thefantasticallydiverse coral reefs surrounding Roatan have to offer:

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Caribbean Reef Life - a field guide for Caribbean diving ...

Written by Studentdoc Editor

Usually less expensive. Many Caribbean Medical Schools are affordable compared to U.S. medical schools. However, make sure you include the costs of travel abroad, travel student health insurance, and other miscellaneous costs in calculating the cost of medical school abroad. Often the education is a bargain even when these extra costs are included.

To get an idea of how your application might fare at a U.S. medical school try the MCAT score comparison tool.

Usually easier to get into. The medical school requirements for GPA and MCAT scores are lower than most U.S. Medical schools. There are also 3 application periods in a year. Nonetheless, your medical school personal statement should be tailored to these schools.

Schools like Ross School of Medicine, Saba School of Medicine, and St. George University (SGU) have the best reputations among Caribbean schools.

To get information on Osteopathic Medical schools try our DO schools search tool and the discussion of the difference between DO and MD degrees.

Not all are accredited. This is very important. If you plan to go to a foreign medical school make sure your degree will be accepted in the U.S. or Canada (depending on where you want to practice). Not all schools are accredited - so you must be sure your MD will count. Four states (California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York), evaluate foreign medical schools individually - most Caribbean medical schools are not accredited in all four of these states.

You might need to know Spanish. Find out what language courses are taught in, and what language your patient interactions will be in. Many foreign medical schools are taught in the native language of the country. You might be at a disadvantage when competing for strong residencies. However, your USMLE scores are an important determinant of your residency match - strong USMLE scores make up for a lot and can be a great equalizer.

Limited clinical rotations. Often the clinical rotations are done in U.S. medical schools. Many Caribbean Medical Schools have arrangements with U.S. hospitals, but your options in rotations might be limited compared to the options available to a student in a U.S. medical school.

You'll have to take the CSA (Clinical Skills Assessment) in addition to the USMLE tests.

Be sure you are attending an accredited medical school in the Caribbean

Consider residency placement after Caribbean medical school

Hear from a former Caribbean medical school instructor

Learn more from websites of Caribbean medical schools

Things to consider when choosing a medical school in the Caribbean

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Caribbean Medical Schools - StudentDoc

Fresh from their summer tour, Dead & Company announces Playing in the Sand, a Caribbean concert vacation in partnership with CID Presents. The event, which takes place February 15-18, 2018, features three nights of Dead & Company playing on an intimate, white sandy beach in Mexico beside the Caribbean Sea.

The band features original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart alongside singer/guitarist John Mayer, Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge and Fare Thee Well and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. A press release promises, without providing details: Continuing in the tradition of the Grateful Dead, the group is taking the iconic music catalogue to new heights.

In addition to the Dead & Companys three concerts, Playing in the Sand offers guests all-inclusive food and drink, premium hotel accommodations, shuttle service to and from Cancun International Airport, 24-hour concierge service and other assorted goodies. There will also be on-site activities such as yoga, tequila tasting, bowling and surfing, as well as off-site adventures.

Guests have a choice of five hand-picked tropical resorts including the host property, The Barcel Maya, as well as The Hard Rock Hotel, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Dreams Tulum and Rosewood Mayakoba.

Dead & Company is inviting fans to sign up for presale access via a special link on the bands and individual band members email and social media channels. This presale will begin Tuesday, August 1 at 1pm E.T. All-inclusive packages will be available to the public on Thursday, August 3rd at 1PM E.T. For complete details visit http://www.playinginthesand.co/2018.

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Dead & Company Announce Caribbean Concert Vacation | Variety - Variety