Category Archives: Caribbean

Strong international numbers, especially in China, have powered Disneys Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales past the $500 million at the global box office.

The fifth installment in the franchise opened at No. 1 at the domestic box office during what was the slowest Memorial Day Weekend in nearly two decades. In two weekends domestically, the movie has earned $114.6 million. That leaves the remaining $386.6 million to overseas earnings to reach its current worldwide sum, $501.2 million.

In China alone Pirates 5 has made $142.6 million. Russia is the movies second highest grossing overseas territory with $30.5 million. Korea is in third with $17.9 million, while the U.K. and France round out the top five with $16.7 million and $15.2 million respectively.

The movies massive earnings have pushed Disney past $2 billion in international grosses for the year.

Johnny Depp returns to play Jack Sparrow, the role that earned him an Oscar nomination with the franchises first installment. Joachim Rnning and Espen Sandberg co-directed the movie that also stars Javier Bardem. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley both returned to the franchise after skipping out on the fourth installment.

This weekend at the domestic box office Pirates 5 landed in third with $21.6 million, behind newcomers Wonder Woman and Captain Underpants.

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'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' Crosses $500 Million at Global Box Office - Variety

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E. Wayne McDonald, director of Caribbean Cultural Theatre has announced an impressive list of Caribbean authors who will headline their works, that the artists said would take patrons on a Journey of (Re)Discovery into Caribbean Literary Classics Old and New, during WorldFest, an afternoon-long literary event on Sunday 11, from 12 noon to 7 pm, at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton St., Brooklyn, New York.

One of the nations youngest writers, nine-year-old Anaya Lee of Guyanese heritage, will be among greats like, Commonwealth Prize winning novelist, Robert Antoni, Forward Prize winning poet, Tiphanie Yanique, bestselling author, Nicle Dennis Benn, Winter Olympian bobsledder and childrens book author, Devon Harris, and Guyanese-born, Derrick J. Jeffrey, author of East River New York, a non-fiction that takes place in the United Nations.

According to McDonald, this coming together of authors, readers and literary curious is produced by the Caribbean Cultural Theatre, as part of its Poets & Passion A Caribbean Literary Lime, is being presented in partnership with Restoration ARTS, and will celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month.

The star-studded celebration of the frequently overlooked literary legacy of the Caribbeans cultural milieu consists of workshops and panel discussions, storytelling and open mic sessions, author presentations for adult and younger readers, book exhibits, and spoken word performances will celebrate the past and future of Caribbean literature.

The festival will begin with a Moko Jumbies (stilt walkers), presentation by the acclaimed Brooklyn-based Tropicalfete on the Young Readers stage with multi-talented author, Opal Palmer Adisa, for a reading of her childrens book, Look! Moko Jumbie. Former bobsledder, Devon Harris will be joined by members of the Jamaica Bobsled team to the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games for a reading of Yes; I Can, courtesy of Tower Isles Foods and Blue Mango, LLC.

The festival is part of the 10th anniversary season of Poets & Passion - A Caribbean Literary Lime, a project of the Caribbean Cultural Theatre, WORD! - in partnership with RestorationART and made possible, in part, with funds from Humanities New York, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs including partnerships with the City Council, Poets & Writers, Inc., and Friends of the Caribbean Cultural Theatre.

Committed to highlighting the diversity of expressions within the Caribbean literary experience WordFest will also feature artist-led round table conversations aimed at the professional development of emerging writers and positioning their work as part of a larger conversation on culture and society.

For further information, contact 718-783-8345 or 718-270-6218 or info@caribbeantheatre.org.

Posted 12:00 am, June 5, 2017

2017 Community News Group

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Caribbean Cultural Theatre to present WordFest - Caribbean Life

The United States will pause for a moment on August 21, head out its door, and look to the sky.

A total solar eclipse is set to become one of the summers most memorable moments, and many will ask, Where were you?

Well, Royal Caribbean has announced that it will offer a special set of events to coincide with the eclipse on a journey dubbed theTotal Eclipse Cruise.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, explained via press release, Were set to take vacationers on an unprecedented experience that is nearly a century in the making,

NASArecently explained that the upcoming Great American Eclipse will start in Oregon and make its way, like a beam of darkness, across the continental United States en route to South Carolina.

Bayley continues, A total solar eclipse hasnt crossed the entire U.S. since 1918, and with many of our ships sailing the Caribbean along the projected path, the stars aligned. Oasis of the Seas will have the vantage point of the century and an unforgettable celebration out at sea that adventurers wont want to miss.

Starting at $818 per person, you can enjoy anitinerarythat promises a galactically awesome cruise adventure.

Things kick off in Orlando at Port Canaveral, which means you and the family can enjoy places like the Kennedy Space Center beforehand.

Day 2 of your trip on the Caribbean is when the sun goes hiding for a few moments; you will have an amazing vantage aboard the Oasis of the Seas. Besides seeing a once-in-a-lifetime event, you also get to enjoy calls at Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The ship itself will resemble a modern eclipse party, with fare such as Cosmic Cosmos, Planetary Punch and Moon Pies adorning tables. Royal Caribbean also promises eclipse-themed parties, trivia, lectures, and activities for children and the adults.

The real draw here, obviously, is the eclipse.Space.comquotes Rick Fienberg, spokesperson for the American Astronomical Society (AAS): It brings people to tears; It makes people's jaw drop.

As for what you can expect to see, Space.com explains: During a total solar eclipse, the disk of the moon blocks out the last sliver of light from the sun, and the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. The corona is far from an indistinct haze; skywatchers report seeing great jets and ribbons of light, twisting and curling out into the sky.

For those who are landlocked, theLos Angeles Timeshad somesuggestionson where to enjoy this rare treat.

Still, nothing likely beats watching the sun take a momentary exit on the open seas. Royal Caribbean is now taking orders on a unique opportunity you dont want to miss.

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See summer's total eclipse on the open seas with Royal Caribbean cruise package - Fox News

June 4th, 2017 11 comments

Heat waves will be a feature of the 2017 rainy season in Caribbean islands, especially those in the South.

Thats the word from Doctor Simon Mason of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH).

Aheat waveis defined as a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity.

The projection is for as much as one third of the total days for the rainy season will be warmer than normal so the advice is for people to be ready for the heat, Mason was quoted by CMC as saying.

The CIMH official said that with the elderly being particular vulnerable, steps must be taken in advance to assist them to cope with the effects.

He pointed out that in the United States of America heatwaves kill more people than tornadoes while in 2003 heatwaves killed 30,000 in France.

The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on Thursday, but the CIMH is predicting less rain and hotter days for islands of the South Caribbean.

Nevertheless, the organization is not projecting drought conditions for the region because the overall outlook is for above average rain for the entire rainy or hurricane season which officially ends on November 30.

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Heat waves predicted for Caribbean Islands - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)

MIRAMAR With the backing of City of Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, The Taste the Islands Experience, an evening of fine Caribbean cuisine, attracted hundreds of South Floridas most fabulous.

On Thursday, June 1, to kick off Caribbean American Heritage Month in high style, guests arrived early for the sold out affair and enjoyed an array of gourmet appetizers by celebrity chefs Jamaican Hugh Chef Irie Sinclair, Haitian Cynthia Chef Thia Verna and Barbadian Barbara Brathwaite.

The event celebrated the launch of Taste the Islands Season II, a Caribbean culinary and travel series airing on Create TV and public television stations nationwide.

The evening started with a welcome hour, and pageant queens as well as costumed Barbados Crop Over players dancing to the music of a steel drum.

Guests perused a selection of silent auction items, raising money for Jamaican and Haitian causes through non-profit event partner Food for the Poor, whose Executive Director Angel Aloma spoke passionately about the organizations mission later in the evening.

Guests received welcome drinks and were ushered into a lavish room appointed with tropical plants, elegant cocktail tables and intricately carved signage, compliments of luxury interior designer Marsha McDonald of Seacrest Designs and Decor.

The appetizers on display were so enticing that attendees anxiously awaiting, intercepted servers as they entered the room.

Inside the Sandals sponsored VIP area, guests enjoyed a selection of premium appetizers, complimentary cocktails and lounge seating, as well as massages by Goldson Spine. A whos who of dignitaries were in attendance including Jamaican Consul General Franz Hall, Haitian Consul General Gandy Thomas, Haiti Tourism Minister Jessy Menos and Barbadian Consul Joseph Hunte.

L-R: Haitian Consul General Gandy Thomas, Guest, Haiti Minister of Tourism Jessy Menos, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam Photo: Gregory Reed

The evenings live program included speeches by dignitaries, Mayor Wayne Messam, Jeneissy Azcuy of presenting station South Florida PBS, and series and event producer Calibe Thompson, who also unveiled the production teams first issue of the highly anticipated Island Origins Magazine, as well as a preview of Taste the Islands Season II, and a live cooking demonstration by the shows celebrity chefs.

L-R: Event Producer David I. Muir, Rory Lee, Host Lisa Lee Arneaud, Show and Event Producer Calibe Thompson, Chef Cynthia Verna, Mayor Wayne Messam, Chef Hugh Sinclair, Adam Heim, Tyler Council, Allison Hunte and Associate Show Producer Lukkee Chong Photo: Gregory Reed

Guests received swag bags including sponsor products and the new Island Origins Magazine, available free at South Florida events and retail locations throughout the month of June.

Taste the Islands is a half-hour cooking series featuring Caribbean-themed recipes and travel segments. The family friendly program presents an opportunity for viewers to learn about the fascinating food and culture of the Caribbean.

Viewers around the country can watch the second season premiere on Sunday, June 11 at 7:00PM EST on Create TV, and can find their local channel number by visiting Create TV.

Funding for Taste the Islands season two is provided by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, Grace Foods and Lakay Food. It is distributed nationwide by American Public Television.

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Caribbean Culinary Affair Attracts South Florida's Most Fabulous - South Florida Caribbean News

TEPIC, MEXICO

High levels of violence and inequality complicate the challenge of managing humanitarian risks in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that is not investing enough in keeping its people safe, said a top Red Cross official.

As the Caribbean hurricane season approaches, Walter Cotte, Americas director for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said the region was making use of early warning systems and was better positioned to deal with the wrath of huge storms, but still needed to spend more on preparing for natural disasters.

We are advancing enough in response, the problem is were not advancing enough in prevention, Cotte said on the sidelines of a recent U.N. disasters conference in Cancun. This is a gap, and were condemned to pay for response instead of investing in prevention.

Many issues, but violence is No. 1

He listed tackling violence as the top priority in a region where gangs rule the streets of many towns and cities, and murder rates have been on the rise.

Latin America also needs to combat high rates of road accidents, hydro-meteorological problems like water shortages, and unhealthy lifestyles, whose effects such as obesity are proving expensive to tackle in the worlds most unequal region.

Honduras, which is struggling to contain drug-fueled gang violence and organized crime, is one country where the Red Cross is helping thousands of people who are fleeing, and is even working with gangs such as the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) to try to reduce violence, Cotte said.

We are focused on resilience, and this long-term approach is really creating a new way to offer solutions to communities, he said.

Caribbean making progress

While low-lying Caribbean islands, among the most exposed to rising sea levels and other climate change impacts, are making progress in adapting, more resources are needed to improve technology and coordinate fragmented disaster response, Cotte said.

Comparing the impact of last years Hurricane Matthew on Haiti where up to 1,000 were killed while mass evacuations in Cuba avoided deaths, Cotte said greater cooperation between governments, business and aid agencies in the region was key.

Now the hurricane season is stronger and more frequent. ... The impacts are very big, and if youre not yet at the level of preparation required, (it) will be worse for your population, he said.

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Red Cross: Social Ills Make Disasters Worse in Latin America, Caribbean - Voice of America

For some reason, Samsung is releasing a Pirates of The Caribbean-themed Galaxy S8. Spec-wise, the phone isnt any different than the standard Galaxy S8, save for a fancy box, some wallpaper, and a case. But when Disney is trying to make a film with a $230 million budget a success... well, this is what you get.

The phone, which is currently on sale at JD.com, only comes in the 4GB of RAM + 64GB of storage version, and retails for $880. It also comes with a special phone ring holder.

Honestly, theres no reason to buy this. But if you are a huge Johnny Depp fan (or, more likely, Johnny Depp himself) your dreams of a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed cellphone case and wallpaper can be fulfilled. Or you could just go to the flea market, buy a knockoff case, and wait until someone uploads the wallpaper to Reddit and save approximately $870.

Your call.

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Samsung is releasing a Pirates of the Caribbean themed Galaxy S8 that comes in a booty chest - The Verge

Ive found that the Pirates of the Caribbean movies benefit from low expectations.Take the original, Curse of the Black Pearl from 2003. At first, it seemed like a bad idea to invest so heavily in a pirate movie (two words: Cutthroat Island) based on a Disney theme park ride (three words: The Country Bears). But the movie pulled a huge upset and proved the naysayers wrong: it was funny, it was exciting, Johnny Depp got an Oscar nomination for playing the mischievous Captain Jack Sparrow, and it made a ton of money. Then came three sequels that were maybe good for a handful of chuckles and one or two decent action sequences apiece. The franchise got old and wore out its welcome. Early word on Dead Men Tell No Tales was that it was a pathetic, desperate attempt to extend the series. Its not that bad. Its on the same level as the first three sequels. Its nowhere near as good as the first film, but its better than what I expected.

The plot is convoluted and messy, but basically everybody is racing to acquire the Trident of Poseidon, a mythical wish-granting device. It can be used to collect treasure, destroy enemies, or in the case of Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), get his father (Orlando Bloom) out of the commitment to the Flying Dutchman thats kept him away from his family for the past 20 years. Out of desperation, Henry enlists the help of Sparrow and amateur astronomer Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) whos been sentenced to death because shes a woman who practices science, and therefore a witch. Also in pursuit of the trident is Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), an old enemy of Sparrow whos been stuck as a decomposing ghost for decades. He wants to rid the sea of all pirates, but is supposedly willing to spare Captain Hector Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush) if he helps him reach the trident first. Sparrow, Henry, Carina, Salazar and Barbosa all bounce off each other as they use various strategies to manipulate and outmaneuver the others.

The film has all the failings of the later Pirates movies. The second and third acts are overstuffed with poor lighting, confusing action, magical mumbo-jumbo, and bad CGI. I thought based on the trailers that I wouldnt be able to get over the unworkable dead-skinned face on Bardem, but whats even worse is the way the effects team cant render simple things like water, metal chains, and wooden planks. You know your movie is doing something wrong when Im dwelling on how lousy the wood looks. As for characters, Henry and Carina have nowhere near the charisma as original Pirates power couple Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley. Speaking of Carina, maybe the fifth movie in the series is not the time to introduce a science-minded character who is shocked to learn that pirate magic exists - weve been through this before. As for the humor, this movie hopes you like snickering at the word horologist, because that joke keeps coming up as if it never gets old.

So what saves Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales? Theres a nice little subplot for Barbosa; Geoffrey Rush steals the ending of this movie the way Michael Rooker steals the latest Guardians of the Galaxy. But Im mostly referring to two imaginative action sequences at the beginning. One sees Jack and his crew steal a bank (the omission of the word from is no accident) and the other is a botched double execution. Its nice to see Jack Sparrow back to his old tricks, simultaneously experiencing the best and worst luck a pirate can have. The film cant keep up the energy of these early scenes, but its nice to know the franchise isnt entirely creatively bankrupt. This movie is by no means redemption for Pirates of the Caribbean, but its not dead in the water either.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is rated PG-13 for sequences of adventure violence and some suggestive content. Its running time is 129 minutes.

Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

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Movie Review: 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" - hngnews.com

Dallas Business Journal

Southwest Airlines adds Cincinnati, Caribbean hot spots in schedule shifts Sunday Dallas Business Journal Those are among the scheduling changes that take effect Sunday for Dallas-based discount carrier Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV). Also on Sunday, Southwest is launching four flights from Fort Lauderdale to Caribbean destinations. They are: Montego Bay, ... Southwest Airlines announces details of new Caribbean serviceCaribbean News Now (press release) (blog) all 12 news articles »

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Southwest Airlines adds Cincinnati, Caribbean hot spots in schedule shifts Sunday - Dallas Business Journal

Environment | News releases | Research | Science | Technology

June 1, 2017

The showy lionfish, a predator with venomous spines that has invaded Caribbean coral reefs, has found a new market to exploit: the twilight zone, an area of ocean that lies below traditional SCUBA diving depths, where little is known about the reefs or the species that inhabit them.

Researchers from the University of Washington and Smithsonian Institution have reported the first observed case of lionfish preying upon a fish species that had not yet been named. Their results, published May 25 in PLOS ONE, may indicate an uncertain future for other fish found in the largely unexplored deep-ocean coral reefs.

Lionfish arent going anywhere, and we are faced with the fact that they are permanent residents on Caribbean reefs, said lead author Luke Tornabene, curator of fishes at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle and an assistant professor at the UWs School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.

The hope is that the learning curve is quick and other fish realize lionfish are predators. Right now, studies have shown some prey species to be pretty nave.

The new species, Ember goby, seen in an aquarium.Barry Brown

The scientists discovered the new fish, which they named Palatogobius indendius (Ember goby), while on several submarine dives off the coasts of Curacao and Dominica. The new species described in the paper has a bright orange stripe down its spine and schools together in masses of about 100 fish starkly different behavior from most gobies that hide as individuals in holes or cracks in the reef, making the new species an easy target for lionfish attacks.

From a submarine, they recorded footage of a lionfish cornering, attacking and eating this new species. Lionfish employ hunting tactics that are unfamiliar to native reef-dwelling fish, such as using their long fins to slowly stalk and push prey into a corner. They also shoot jets of water out of their mouths to disorient their prey, and scientists have even recorded lionfish making a roaring sound to communicate and potentially ward off would-be predators.

The scientists are concerned that lionfish are now swimming to deeper reefs down to nearly 250 meters (about 800 feet) below the surface off Curacao and likely eating fish that live in those largely unexplored parts of the ocean.

Once we discovered invasive lionfish sometimes in huge numbers inhabiting barely explored deep reefs, our concern was that these voracious predators might be gobbling up biodiversity before scientists even know it exists. This study suggests that they are doing just that, said co-author Carole Baldwin, curator of fishes at the National Museum of Natural History.

The good news is the goby species being eaten by the lionfish appears to be abundant throughout the Caribbean. The researchers have observed it in large numbers on many submarine trips around the region. But almost a third of the fish species along deep reefs havent yet been named, and they could be at risk if lionfish continue to raid the area.

The other species still undescribed on these reefs are very rare and occur in lower abundances than our new species. If they are getting eaten by lionfish, they may be in more trouble than the Ember goby, Tornabene said.

There are still many coral reef fish species that are waiting to be described and some of them will inevitably end up in the guts of lionfish.

A school of Ember gobies seen off the coast of Curacao.Carole Baldwin/Smithsonian Institution

As coral reef ecosystems around the world decline because of climate change, pollution, disease, coastal development and overfishing, the deep-water reefs hold a promise of refuge for species that are able to survive in deeper water. The presence of an invasive predator like the lionfish, which likely came to the Caribbean from an aquarium release off Florida in the early 1990s, could be devastating if they are eating native fish and exploiting the ecosystem with no known predators to keep them in check.

The researchers are one of only three teams of biologists in the world collecting specimens in the twilight zone parts of the ocean, and this team is the only one using a submarine to catch and study fish. They have taken about 150 dives to Caribbean reefs using a 6.5-ton submersible with two robot arms that stuns fish for capture by spraying water or anesthetic, then catches them using a vacuum hose.

From inside a submarine, its really hard to catch a small fish that is swimming, and it requires incredibly skilled pilots and scientists and a lot of patience, Tornabene said. Weve been able to do it with such success that we have come back from each trip with thousands of specimens.

The submarine begins its descent to 800 feet in the Caribbean.University of Washington

This summer, they will test a different submarine that can go to depths of more than 800 meters (about 2,700 feet) off the coast of Honduras.

The researchers plan to look inside the stomachs of lionfish captured in deep water to see what, in fact, they are eating. Its possible they may find other new species, Tornabene said, and probably more of the new goby they recently discovered. They also are analyzing the genetics of this new fish from different parts of the Caribbean to see how connected different deep-reef systems are to one another.

The research was funded by a number of Smithsonian Institution grants and awards, and by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

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For more information, contact Tornabene at ltorna1@uw.edu and Baldwin at baldwinc@si.edu.

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Video shows invasive lionfish feasting on new Caribbean fish species - UW Today