Category Archives: Caribbean

Melanie Reffes, Special for USA TODAY 1:09 p.m. ET April 14, 2017

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At Sandals Royal Caribbean, villas built over the water come with butlers.(Photo: Sandals Resorts)

All travelers dream big, but only a handful can truly afford a six-figure vacation. With its world-class beaches, resorts and villas that exude exclusivity, the Caribbean is the primo perch for one-percenters who pay top dollar for privacy, plenty of space and top-shelf spoil-you-rotten amenities. Check out our big-bucks bucket list.

Posh pedigree

Its not that easy to get to and can be pricey once you arrive, but the allure of Nevis is worth the effort. Skip the hordes on some of the other islands and head instead to the sombrero-shaped isle across the channel from St. Kitts. Anchored by a volcanic mountain, the petite enclave 7 miles by 6 miles is where jet-setting urban dwellers shell out big bucks to lie low in the lap of luxury. The birthplace of Alexander Hamilton also lures the moneyed like Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah.Start with a grand entrance at the Yu Lounge at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts, where for $200 you are picked up on the tarmac, expedited through immigration, poured a glass of chilled bubbly and driven to the pier for the short boat ride to Nevis. The top pick of the wealthiest one percent, AAA Five Diamond Four Seasons Nevis is swank-central with suites, villas and Beach Houses that are really houses on the beach, although no overnighting allowed (yes, naps are encouraged). The cabanas fronting Pinneys Beach have Wi-Fi, televisions, power outlets, servers delivering $20 Volcano Burgers with crispy hot peppers and $36 pitchers of pomegranate margaritas. Daily rates run $550, more than double during the December holidays. Go the distance with a Four Hands Massage ($320 for 80 minutes) and dinner at Coral Gardens, where South African chef Jason Baker raises the stakes with a 32-ounce $100 Porterhouse and a side mac and cheese gussied up with truffle oil. The priciest villa at the resort is also the priciest stay on the island. Packed with panache, the five-bedroom , five-bathroom 3,400-square-foot Monkey Business Villa is designed with funky animal-themed dcor, palatial pool, elegant dining area, a massive wraparound terrace and telescope to zoom in on the fabulous views of Nevis Peak.It also comes with a chef, and a Villa Ambassador (aka butler). Spoiler alert: Nightly rates run $14,000 with no seasonal adjustment.

A few minutes from the Four Seasons and with a name that says it all, Paradise Villas on Paradise Beach are a manicured collection of seven multi-bedroom villas each with pools and mesmerizing views. The four-bedroom stunner goes for $2,800 nightly.$950 buys a day on a sloop named Feisty with Captain Miles Denne at the helm. With pick-up at Oualie Beach and the pier at the Four Seasons, sunset sails priced at $550 are a big hit with newlyweds. Couples register for a cruise which is a far more appreciated wedding gift than a tea kettle, says Captain Miles.

Skys the limit

All you need is five days away from the office, 10 pals and $250,000 (yes, thats a quarter of a million dollars) to live like royalty in the Blue Diamond Villa at Altamer on the southwest tip of Anguilla. A super villa designed by architect Myron Goldfinger, whose work has been exhibited in New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, the 13,000-square-foot five-bedroom villa is the newest of three Altamer villas, all striking with a geometric, stark white exterior. Designed to look like a flower, creature comforts include meditation and massage rooms and a big outdoor tub that can host the whole gang at once.Upping the ante, theres a pool, butler and yacht sails to St. Barts to sun on Nikki Beach.The outdoorsy play golf and tennis and for gamblers, staff set up a casino night. Perfect the fine art of chilling out with massages, breakfast in bed and cooking lessons with the chef.

If a resort stay is more your speed, check into a Beachfront Junior Suite at The Reef on Merrywing Bay Beach. Nightly rates start at $1,800 through April and $750 during the less-busy months.For a large brood, Beachfront Family suites at $1,500 nightly fit the bill. Rates include breakfast made healthy with the herbs and vegetables from the hydroponic garden at the next-door sister property CuisinArt Resort & Spa. Splurge for a Couples Rendezvous massage at the Venus Spa for $480 and a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and tuna poke at Breezes Beachfront Restaurant.

Also on the moneyed radar, Jonquil Suite at Cap Juluca goes for $5,865 per night through April, $3,285 in May and $2,620 during the summer, and comes with an oceanfront dining terrace, freshwater pool and marble Jacuzzi. Treat yourself to a $2,700 bottle of 1994 Ptrus (French red considered by many as the best in the world), dinner on the beach ($150 pour deux), Green Tea and Ginger Sea Enzyme Wrap ($205) and a half-day on the Juluca Pride yacht ($700 for four guests).Partnered with many of the islands high-end resorts and villas, Tradewind flies from the U.S. in light jets that comfortably seat four to six big spenders. One-way fares from New York start at $25,000.

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Princely and pricey

The holy grail of extravagance, Jamaicas Round Hill is where Prince Harry and his regal entourage camped out in March to celebrate a friends wedding. Eight miles west ofMontego Bay, the storied hotel was built in 1953 and has long hosted discerning guests like John F. Kennedy, who penned his famous "ask not what you can do for your country" inauguration address in Villa 25. Spy novel writer Ian Fleming preferred Villa 3, and superstars Beyonc , Sir Paul McCartney and other A-list names have checked into the posh retreat. Smartly designed by Ralph Lauren, who owns two of the 27 villas, the top of the line is Villa 20 with six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and two pools. Nightly rates for the Instagram-ready lodging start at$8,539 through April 15, and $4,569 from April 16 - October. The natural setting on a private peninsula allows for exquisite privacy, said Josef Forstmayr, Round Hills managing director.

At Sandals Royal Caribbean, villas built over the water come with butlers and nightly rates starting at $2,870. Add another $400for a Sweet Ginger Couples massage in the Red Lane Spa.For adventurers staying in Ocho Rios, Island Routes offers private cocktail and canape tours onboard a comfy yacht for $1,800.

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Hey big spender

There are no shortage of champagne wishesandcaviar dreams in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Away from the fray on the more popular Grace Bay beach, The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach is the newest resort to join the Hartling Group that also includes The Sands at Grace Bay and The Palms Turks & Caicos. Topping the live-rich list in Providenciales, the three-bedroom penthouse is 3,500 square feet with a wraparound oceanfront balcony, hot tub and an on-call chef and sommelier. Nightly rates through June start at $5,250, and should a splurge be in the cards for the December holidays, nightly stays jump to $11,000.

For high rollers in a villa or resort, Eden Charters offers day trips aboard a 60-foot yacht.From $5,500 for a full day, the all-inclusive sail includes scuba diving, deep sea fishing andstops at the bird sanctuary called French Cay and Little Water Cay, home to the indigenous rock iguana. Options include an overnight on the boat and dawn dives and champagne breakfasts. Day trip options in Turks & Caicos include excursions to Parrot Cay for head-to-foot pampering in the Japanese baths at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, where you might run into Donna Karan, Bruce Willis and Keith Richards, who own multi-million-dollar beachfront homes on the cay. To snap the sunset, $1,200 buys two hours aboard the Atabeyra schooner named for the mythical goddess of the Lucayan Indians who arrived 500 years before Columbus. The Sun Charters tour starts at the Blue Haven Resorts VIP dock and although the boat fits up to 50, sunset cruises are a favorite of honeymooning twosomes.If a yacht is more your style, book a day on the Sea Ray or Sea Dancer for $2700 or a sail on the Island Routes catamaran that goes for $3,500 for up to 25 of your best friends.

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Luxury retreats

A week at Jade Mountain in St. Lucia is an Olympian-sized treat that comes with a you-deserve-it price tag.Designed by owner and architect Nick Troubetzkoy, the showpiece sanctuaries are grand sweeping spaces with nighttime illuminating floating platforms that are called mere infinity pools at other resorts, unapologetically sinful bathrooms and the signature fourth wall that opens to a commanding landscape. Start with a helicopter ride from the Hewanorra Airport for $530 per person, one way. Check into to the 2,000-square-foot Galaxy Sanctuary the resorts largest and kick-start a seven-day Tropical Tranquility package that goes for $28,232 per couple, through the middle of April ($25,208 through the end of May and $23,612 from June-October). Gratis options include spa treatments and champagne at sunset, plush bathrobes and your own comfy beach chairs on Anse Mamin Beach.A few extra shekels will buy an en-suite chef and sommelier who work their magic pairing fine wines with dry aged filet mignon and foie gras.

Overlooking what author James Michener called the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean, Capella Marigot Bay is ultra-chic in rooms, suites and the three-bedroom penthouse for $2,770 per night through Easter. Perched on a leafy hillside with views of Marigot Bay, the majestic 3,200-square-footer is super-comfy with a four-poster bed and high beamed ceilings, hot tub and big kitchen. Mix and match with massages at the Auriga Spa, sails on mega-yachts that dock at the marina, farm-to-fork dining and a nightcap at the Rum Cave. For $1,050 per couple, youll get a land and sea tour and for $895;adventuresome twosomes hike the Gros Piton at 2,619 feet above sea level.

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Cost no object: Caribbean vacations for the one percent - USA Today - USA TODAY

Whether you're ready to party this year or planning for next, this is the guide you need in your life.

Bacchanal Jamaica (Jamaica Carnival), Jamaica The electricity of Bacchanal is like none other. As one of the biggest cultural celebrations of Jamaica, the period features a number of high-energy, fun filled events, from beach parties to breakfast fetes, weekly mas camps to jouvert and finally colorful street parades of costumed revelers and pulsating music. The series kicked off on January 2 and culminates with the usual Road March on April 23. Some of the highlights of the season include: Beach Jouvert (April 15th), Reveller's Fete (April 19th) and Bacchanal Jouvert & Road March (April 21st).

Cayman Carnival Batabano, Cayman Islands Known for having some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands celebrates its culture and heritage each year with Batabano. The Cayman Islands' National Carnival, which launched in 1983, has since been held annually every May. The weekend-long event begins Saturday, May 6, 2017 with the Cayman adult parade beginning on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach and concluding at Harbour Drive. If you're new to Batabano and don't know what to do, just "jump" - as Caymanians say - down the Streets of Grand Cayman in a spectacular arrangement of neon costumes and joyful Soca music. The parade continues with a street party featuring music by local artists and visiting bands.

RELATED: Body Confidence and Carnival is the New Addition to #Squadgoals

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, Bahamas They say "it's better in the Bahamas" and they are absolutely right. New to the carnival family tradition, Bahamas' Junkanoo Carnival has increasingly grown as one of the biggest fetes in the Caribbean. And the best part about it? It incorporates its Junkanoo culture, which is unique to just the culture of the Bahamas. The perfect dose of culture can be found in Da Cultural Village, which is the epicenter of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival weekend. It is here that the best in Bahamian culture is put on display for the world to experience. The Grand Bahama Carnival Kick Off will take place on April 14-15, 2017 at Taino Beach, Grand Bahama, and the main event for May 4-6, 2017 at Da Cultural Village in Nassau.

RELATED: Going to a Carnival in Germany Immersed Me in a New Culture

Vincy Mas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Not familiar with Vincy Mas? Well, it's time to get familiar. St. Vincent's Carnival kicks off with an official launch in May, with carnival celebrations stretch all the way through to July. A mix between J'Ouvert and Mardi Gras, there is something for every party-goer at Vincy Mas. In addition to the street parties, there's also a wide range of events that are family friendly, such as the Miss SVG competition, the Soca Monarch Competition, Miss Carival, the Junior Pan Fest and so much more. Band of The Year is a much sought after prize by those competing and partying during the Mardi Gras Parade of Bands, a fabulously colorful bonanza of costumes, music and dance.

Bermuda Heroes Weekend, Bermuda If you weren't already sold by the pink-sand beaches of Bermuda, than you have one more reason to plan your visit this summer. One of the island's biggest summer celebrations, Bermuda Heroes Weekend (6/16-6/19) is a Carnival-style lineup that includes Friday's opening night extravaganza on Front Street, the all-night J'Ouvert Celebration, Raft Up, the Parade of Bands, Promoters Day events and Race Day Raft Up on Monday, National Heroes Day. The beautiful part about Bermuda Heroes Weekend is that it is a party with a purpose. The celebration is all about Bermudian heroes - those who are "admired and acknowledged for their courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities."

Caribana, Toronto, Canada What has long been known as Caribana, is now referred to as the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival. At the center of Toronto's melting pot, Caribbean descendants and enthusiasts hits the streets and stages for what's known as one of the biggest island-style celebrations in North America. This summer will mark the 47th year of the festival which features events that celebrate the music, cuisine and arts of the Caribbean region. Some of the highlights include the Caribana Grand Parade, Annual Gala and the tent villages. Known for drawing close to a million spectators in past years, the Caribbean Carnival is the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America.

Crop Over, Barbados Rihanna isn't the only good thing to come out of Barbados. Its signature Crop Over Festival has made its mark on the Caribbean, and some say, even rivals that of the legendary Trinidad Carnival. The festival, which ends with the spectacular Carnival/Kadooment Parade, is the season used to celebrate the ending of the local Sugar Cane harvest. This in itself makes it distinctly unique from the Carnival festivities in other Caribbean countries. Additionally, local cultural characters mix with modern additions to give this festival a character unlike any other. While you may love to party and "jump the line," Crop Over gives you the opportunity to learn all aspects of Barbadian culture. A mixture of African survival heritage and Western modern culture is displayed through exhibitions of art, craft, music, and dance. Barbados' Crop Over events are varied with plenty of things to do for everyone's taste.

Spice Mas, Grenada If you haven't been to Grenada, you need to add it to your list and soon. Affectionately known as the "Spice Island," it's only right that their annual carnival would be known as "Spice Mas." The most anticipated event of the year for locals and tourists alike, Spice Mas transforms the island of Grenada into a celebration like none other. Jab Jabs, which are unique to Grenadian culture, walk and dance through the streets wearing a horned headpiece covered in black oil to mark the celebration of Spice Mas. This masquerade takes place early Monday morning and goes through to Monday Night Mas where party goers in bright t-shirts wave light sticks and dance through the streets well into the night. The week climaxes with parades of the explosively colorful mas bands, calypso and soca competitions along with a frenzy of steel pan music. Want to feel the energy of Grenadian culture? At Spice Mas you'll feel it running through your veins.

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Whine It Gal: 8 Caribbean Carnivals and Festivals You Can Still Make It To This Year - Essence.com

Wichita Eagle

Kansas justice invokes 'Pirates of the Caribbean' in legal dissent Wichita Eagle A Kansas Supreme Court justice invoked material from a Pirates of the Caribbean film in a case that began with a wreck on Bill Snyder Highway. The case stems from a Riley County car accident in October 2009. After a few beers one night, an 18-year ...

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Kansas justice invokes 'Pirates of the Caribbean' in legal dissent - Wichita Eagle

This sublime beauty could almost be called a hidden treasure in the West Indies, where celebrities, from Princess Diana to Anna Wintour, have vacationed to avoid the spotlight.

Nevis doesn't need to shout for visitors to see that it's bubbling with charms aplenty.

A postcard-perfect conical volcano is visible from most anywhere on the island.

But, even in ideal weather, the summit of 3,232-foot Nevis Peak is often sheathed in a blanket of puffy clouds -- so much so that Christopher Columbus mistook the cloud-covered peak as coated with snow and named it Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, aka Our Lady of the Snows.

From the top, whenever the clouds part, Antigua, Montserrat and other islands can be spotted across the azure waters. With slopes of ferns, trumpet bush trees and other verdant foliage punctuated by cascading waters, scampering vervet monkeys and wandering wild goats, a hike up the volcano is rewarding, though not for the faint of heart.

It's an arduous climb that's best done with a guide to avoid getting lost on the poorly defined trails. Slippery, steep and muddy, the five-hour, round-trip path eventually threads along precipitous sections that require scrambling over sheer rocks and grabbing exposed roots and a rope attached to the slope.

Spend the night in a converted stone sugar mill or any of the other seven cottages surrounded by a wild expanse of gardens, and the only sound will be the chorus of tree frogs. During the day, it's the twittering of birds and the tinkling of waters flowing down a stone channel, pooling in a tiny grotto.

This foliage-draped Eden with unexpected places to sit and relax was landscaped by renowned designer Raymond Jungles. Those who wander the network of fieldstone and grassy paths rimmed by tall foliage will discover a pair of lime green chairs in the shade of a ficus tree, and, beside the ruins of the Great House, a picnic table under a broad orange umbrella.

Footbridges and winding paths course past water lily ponds where birds cluster, a many hued orchid collection (considered one of the largest in the Caribbean), and a tropical fruit garden growing everything from passion fruit to tamarind.

Hummingbirds hover above the blossoms draping the arbors of the vine garden that's bedecked with bougainvillea, philodendron and colorful cascades of other flowers, including the butterfly pea blooms used by the on-site Oasis in the Gardens Restaurant to create an icy, antioxidant-laden, purple-hued beverage. Built in the style of a Nevisian Great House, this eatery has a scenic veranda from which to enjoy a view of St. Kitts.

Hiking with Earla, a guide and herbalist with Earla's Eco Tours, provides a window into how Nevisians have long used botanicals in their daily lives. A one-mile, mostly rainforest trail is replete with lessons in how the locals value plants for more than just their aesthetic beauty.

Vines that can be fashioned into jump ropes dangle above the trail like a veil. Tall cedar trees cluster beside the path, their wood hewn for fences and furniture. The broad leaves of the sea grape can be rolled into a funnel to hold drinking water, or to carry fruits.

And the bark of the acacia tree can be used to make charcoal to start a fire for cooking. Among the many plants with medicinal qualities, a tea made from the leaves of the shrub cattle tongue is considered a cure for the common cold, while sage tea is a well-known flatulence remedy. The bitter oranges growing on several nearby trees are much loved by monkeys, while locals make a tasty marmalade from this fruit.

The island's bucolic setting belies a painful history. Nevis' sugar-based economy depended on slaves working the land. (They were finally emancipated in 1834.) But it wasn't until the mid-20th century that some of the expansive plantations were given a new life, as atmospheric accommodations.

Fifteen lemon yellow-tinted cottages with light roofs -- each named for local villages -- pepper the landscape, with some providing direct views of the sea, especially from the porch. The Sea Breeze Beach Bar is an ideal al fresco locale to enjoy a Carib beer and a spiny lobster sandwich. Adjacent, Coconuts Restaurant is especially favored for its Thursday night beach barbecue.

Guests who relax beside the 60-foot blue mosaic swimming pool have views of Nevis Peak. An intact 300-year-old stone sugar mill has been converted into an intimate dining venue, and an outdoor spa surrounded by tropical gardens offers ginger lemongrass warm stone massages and other treatments.

Constructed of ultra-strong lignum vitae timber, this building was the original Great House of the small plantation that grew cotton, spices and tobacco, and, eventually, sugar.

Now it's a cozy lounge with exposed-beam ceilings, furnished and decorated with period pieces and memorabilia from the Lupinacci family's decades in the Caribbean.

Here, guests can enjoy afternoon tea with a slice of homemade carrot cake, or a glass of rum punch made from a centuries-old recipe. In the adjacent kitchen, each Wednesday, a West Indian buffet features suckling pig, as well as other much-loved local dishes that are served in traditional clay vessels.

Those who venture to Indian Castle Beach on the island's southern coast -- down bumpy roads that require a four-wheel drive -- will find a desolate landscape with some surprising elements.

Along the sands of this windward coast are featherweight light pumice stones -- remnants from the 1995 eruption of Montserrat's volcano that floated to the island. Large coral specimens are scattered, an indication that this land, once submerged, uplifted from the sea.

There are also vestiges of the island's original inhabitants: the Carib and Arawak Indians. Pieces of their clay pottery sprinkle the sand, as do numerous conch and whelk shells, evidence of their diet.

Most people today associate Alexander Hamilton's life first and foremost with the hit Broadway hip-hop musical. But a more intimate experience can be had on Nevis, where this United States founding father lived until he was nine.

The museum itself, a two-story restored stone building, may have been where the Hamilton family lived. Inside, recreated artifacts represent his legacy, including a writing desk with a feather pen.

A self-guided walking tour follows the route that young Hamilton would have taken from his home to the Jewish school he attended, passing the ruins of the slave market and following a narrow path referred to as Jew's Alley.

Nevis' booming sugar-based economy attracted immigrants in the 17th century, including a small Jewish population of merchants who built a synagogue and a cemetery. When the economy collapsed in the 18th century, their numbers dramatically declined. Yet, numerous, often-overlooked ruins remain as a testament to their life on this island.

Jeanine Barone is a New York City-based writer who specializes in travel.

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Nevis -- 8 reasons to visit this Caribbean island - CNN.com - CNN

The future of U.S. and Caribbean relations was the main topic at hand in Washington, D.C. on March 26 when an alliance of the Caribbean diaspora community met with Trump administration officials.

Religious and business leaders were assembled by the Institute of Caribbean Studies for a follow-up meeting, which was held in February, to continue the discussion between the diaspora and administration on the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 signed last December by President Obama.

The act provides for the identification and implementation of specific initiatives and programs to enhance Americas relations with the Caribbean at both the multilateral and bilateral levels, according to the press release.

The diaspora submitted a white paper to the State Department, which addresses nine issues they want to discuss.

Vishnu Mahadeo, of the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council, who is Guyanese, was in attendance representing the Queens Caribbean community and said the large topics at hand were trade, immigration and overall foreign relations. We just want the administration to be aware that our programs are beneficial to the U.S., Mahadeo said in a Tuesday interview.

One of the more important questions was that of the need for the U.S. to start cooperating and educating the Caribbean countries, especially Guyana, in terms of its requirement to be able to export fruits and veggies into the U.S. market, he said.

That is actually a question I brought up to the economic chair because as you are aware we have a high concentration of Guyana and Caribbean people in Richmond Hill, an area where none of the fruits and veggies come from Guyana.

Mahadeo believes theres an imbalance between the Caribbean and other countries that the U.S. can address.

The Caribbean is more an importer than exporter, and in Guyanas case they have discovered significant amounts of oil, some of the largest deposits in world right now, he said, inferring this can possibly bring in more revenue.

Third world countries get peanuts off of their resources and were hoping theyll be able to do some infrastructure development for the communities as a whole, he added.

Deportation was another topic Mahadeo spoke on. He finds it unfair to deport people who were born outside the U.S. but spent the majority of their life in the U.S. because they are not accustomed to that countrys society, essentially saying they have no real chance at progressing for themselves.

They are not connected to the society and they have no roots to connect them, so they are left on their own and not in the correct society, he said.

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Caribbean diaspora makes way to D.C. - Queens Chronicle

Dr Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, is dismayed by the lack of crowds at matches in the West Indies

Cricket in the Caribbean has been "hijacked by a small clique" of people. That is the assertion of Dr Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, who is part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that has been highly critical of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The CARICOM has blamed the WICB for West Indies' slump in the ICC's Test and ODI rankings for more than a decade.

The CARICOM's opposition to the WICB coincided with the rise of Dave Cameron, who was unanimously re-elected for a third successive term as board president. Last year Cameron rejected the CARICOM cricket review panel's recommendation to dissolve the WICB. According to Cameron the CARICOM panel had ignored the "sweeping" changes brought in by the WICB since 2002 in its governance structure and had also failed to consult territorial boards and WICB directors before listing its findings.

The defiant attitude of Cameron and the WICB, according to Rowley, had only distracted from the real question of who owns Caribbean cricket. The CARICOM, he said, believes cricket is a public product that belongs to the people and not to the WICB.

"Caribbean cricket has been hijacked by a small clique of people who are hell bent on destroying Caribbean cricket," Rowley told the Trinidad-based TV station CNC3 TV on Wednesday. "And this is my position that unless the question is answered as to who owns that asset we spinning top in mud."

The WICB, Rowley said, had told him the board was not accountable to the CARICOM any more, considering it was now a business entity and had become West Indies Inc.

In the media release it sent out following Cameron's re-election, the WICB had spoken of its efforts to rebrand itself.

"In moving forward, the President and the team will have the new strategic plan which will facilitate improved performances at the regional and international level and explore a more robust governance system," the WICB said. "The strategy revolves around the rebranding of Cricket West Indies; the development of our commercial arm - Windies Inc; and the creation of a development foundation to finance cricket development in the region".

Rowley has questioned the basis for the change.

"I was told to my face, me and my colleague the Prime Minister of Grenada, that you all have no say in this. This is West Indies Cricket Inc. West Indies Cricket Incorporated. And it is their shareholders that they have to please. I don't know who the shareholders are, but what I do know [is] unless there are drastic changes to the current arrangements West Indies cricket will never get back to where it is expected to be."

For Rowley, in addition to the decline in West Indies cricket, the most "painful" thing was the fans moving away from the game. He gave the example of driving past Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain and being bewildered by the silence inside when a match was on.

"You know how painful it is for me. In this country lining up outside the [Queen's Park] Oval from 6'0 clock in the morning to get in. That's how cricket used to be. Barbados is playing Trinidad & Tobago and the Oval is full because you got to beat them Bajans, ha! And now, you are passing outside the Oval and you ask, "what's happening in there?" You know how painful that is."

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'Caribbean cricket hijacked by small clique' - ESPN

With summer fast approaching, chances are you're starting to fantasize about a vacation. Maybe you love the Caribbean, but you've visited some of the usual spots such as Negril in Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and you're craving a still-undiscovered destination with fewer crowds. If you're looking to pinpoint a hidden gem in the Caribbean, pack your bags for these enticing retreats.

[See: The 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean.]

Port Antonio, Jamaica

Drive 2 hours north of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, and you'll discover Port Antonio, with its jungle landscape, golden beaches and unique quality that helps it earns its nickname as "the Jamaican Riviera." In the '50s and '60s, Port Antonio was a hideaway for Hollywood A-listers such as Errol Flynn, Elizabeth Taylor and members of the Rat Pack. For a bit of Hollywood glamour, check out the Geejam Hotel, which boasts well-appointed suites, a private villa collection and a state-of-the-art recording studio, where legendary musicians, including John Legend and Alicia Keys, have recorded tracks. Enjoy authentic Jamaican cuisine and ocean views from the Bushbar. Alternatively, the Trident Hotel offers 13 oceanfront villas, the Veranda restaurant and Mike's Supper Club, which features Japanese- and Jamaican-inspired cuisine. You won't find heavy tourist crowds in Port Antonio, but rather unspoiled waters for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking, along with attractions and points of interest such as the Blue Lagoon, the Rio Grande River and Somerset and Ranch waterfalls.

Eleuthera, Bahamas

You've likely never heard of Eleuthera, but there's a reason its earned critical acclaim as a top-secret island. This secluded retreat is touted as the "Pineapple Capital of the World" and is home to the Glass Window Bridge, where you can take in contrasting views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Visit pineapple farms and historic sites like the Haynes Library during your visit. As for lodging, consider The Cove, which offers 57 rooms spread over 40 lush acres, as well as private beaches. Afterward, savor a Pineapple Smash cocktail at The Point Bar as the sun sets. Another option: the French Leave Resort, which boasts 12 oceanfront boutique villas.

Saba

This tiny island in the northeast Caribbean near St. Maarten boasts four main villages, has a population of just over 1,800 residents and delivers plenty of fun. Hike the island's original stone paths through the rainforest. It's worth it to make it to the top of Mount Scenery, the highest peak on the island. Explore the tide pools and historic ruins along the way. Saba is also known for its excellent scuba diving, hiking, deep- sea fishing and snorkeling. It's also a top destination for serenity-seekers with accommodations that range from intimate boutique hotels and eco-lodges to cottages to luxury villas. What's more, you won't find traffic lights or chains like McDonald's or Starbucks in Saba. Plus, Saba's lobster is legendary. You also won't want to miss sampling Saban Lace or Saban Spice, rum-based liquors found only on the island.

[See: 9 Secluded Beaches to Visit This Summer.]

The Abaco Islands, Bahamas

The Abacos comprise a group of islands and cays that form a 120-mile-long chain that extends over 650 square miles. The Abacos are renowned for boating, sailing and fishing. Powdery, white-sand beaches are inviting as are the turquoise waters. Kayak, enjoy parasailing, snorkeling, lobster diving or simply relaxing along the beach. Stay at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, for first-class pampering in a relaxed environment. You'll never forget the sunset from the pool deck at The Cliff House restaurant. Plus, golfers will delight in the club's renowned courses. If you're a lighthouse enthusiast, visit Hope Town, which boasts Elbow Cay Lighthouse, one of the last manually operated lighthouses in the world.

Nevis

You might have heard of Nevis's sister island, St. Kitts. But Nevis is just as alluring. Part of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, Nevis is just 36 square miles long and is home to some 12,000 residents. Mount Nevis, a 3,232-foot high dormant volcano, is an attention-grabber and is consistently surrounded by mist. The antithesis to big-city life, Nevis features rolling countrysides peppered with wild donkeys, goats, chickens, cows and even green vervet monkeys. Here, the vibe is mellow and the beaches abundant. Surf, jet ski, fish, enjoy a sunset cruise, horseback ride on Pinney's Beach or stroll along the shore. Hikers and outdoorsy types will also love climbing to the peak of Mount Nevis. On the waterfront, near the heart of Charlestown, the nation's capital that was founded in 1600, sits Hamilton House, a Georgian-style building that is the site where Alexander Hamilton was born and raised, and today contains the Alexander Hamilton Museum. After touring the museum, stop at Sunshine's Beach Bar & Grill, which is famous for its Killer Bee cocktail. As for accommodations, choose among historic inns, villas, the island's five-star Four Seasons outpost and the award-winning Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, the only historic inn on the shore.

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Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe a picturesque tropical retreat, features two isles: Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Pointe--Pitre is Guadeloupe's largest city, with more than 130,000 residents, and is filled with a lively marketplace brimming with stalls, along with ornate French architecture. If you're looking for a place to lay down your towel, make your way to Basse-Terre's La Grand- Anse, the longest beach in Guadeloupe that's also touted as one of its best. Meanwhile, at the Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, there's an array of water lilies and unique local flowers.

[See: 10 Lesser-Known Destinations to Visit This Summer.]

Guadeloupe is also at the forefront of ecotourism. The Tendacayou Ecolodge & Spa sits in the protected wilderness of the Morne Bois d'Inde rainforest, and offers panoramic sea views. During your visit, check out the spa, which offers a pool and waterfall. If you want more activity, scuba dive, snorkel, cruise, surf, take the kids to the aquarium or go whale watching. Another option: La Creole Beach Hotel & Spa in Grosier, Guadeloupe, which sits in the heart of a tropical garden, among palms, hibiscus trees and bougainvillea near the beach. At the hotel, you can enjoy nightly music and a special jazz session once a month, where some of the best talent on the island comes together to perform.

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6 Under-the-Radar Caribbean Destinations to Visit This Summer - Yahoo Finance

The disparity has always been huge in how Latin American leaders stand up for their diaspora versus their Caribbean counterparts. Its almost like Jesus and the moneychangers.

Latin American leaders recognize the importance of their diaspora and have always recognized immigration as important to these masses. As such, they have used every opportunitywhether its meeting with a sitting U.S. president, others in the administration or Congressto speak up and speak out on this hot button issue.

Contrast that with Caribbean leaders, who recognize their diaspora when it is convenient and have rarely spoken up on the issue of immigration that affects many of their nationals in the U.S.

That attitude continues even as the Donald Trump administration moves to deport more and more Caribbean and Latin American immigrants from the U.S.

In January, during the annual Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit in the Dominican Republic, Latin American leaders slammed Trump while their Caribbean Community counterparts stayed silent.

We have to protect ourselves from the aggressive policy of persecuting migrants, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said as he arrived in Punta Cana.

His comments were echoed by many others in Latin America and even from Cuba and the Dominican Republic, but none from CARICOM.

The silence continues as thousands of Caribbean immigrantsundocumented and green card holders who have committed petty crimescower in fear of being arrested, detained in a detention center far from their family and then deported. Some are reluctant to go to work, go to a restaurant, go to a store or even go to a social gathering for fear that U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents will nab them, ship them off to a detention center and then deport them.

Some Caribbean leaders, who have little if any interaction with these migrants they are paid tax payer dollars to represent, have decided its better to brown-nose with the Trump administration rather than speak up for the issues of real importance to their nationals and the Caribbean immigrant diaspora.

April 10, 2017, I came across a headline from a regional Caribbean news site that declared, Trump reinforces bond between Jamaica and the United States.

In the article, the writer, Derrick Scott, claimed that Trump told Jamaicas ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, at the White House that he looks forward to working with the Jamaican government administration on bilateral and regional issues.

No details on what these bilateral and regional issues are were given, but the article added that Trump and the ambassador in their exchange underscored the strong bond of friendship that has existed over the years between the people of Jamaica and the United States, noting the contribution of Jamaica in many spheres of American life.

The article also nauseatingly mentions that the envoy took the opportunity to invite Trump to visit Jamaica. I am not sure what the reaction of many Jamaicans to that invitation will be, but thats another story for another day.

Of concern to this writer was that not once in the entire article was the issue of immigration or the concerns of Jamaicans in the diaspora mentioned, including the threat of deportation hanging over their heads.

More:

Caribbean leaders brown-nose while Latin American leaders slam ... - Amsterdam News

The Student Organization of Caribbean Alliance (SOCA) held their first meeting in Oscar Ritchie hall Wednesday.

SOCAs goal is to encourage awareness of the diversity of Caribbean cultures and traditions. It hopes to unite Caribbean students, as well as others, who share an interest in the Caribbean.

The organization was started by Kareem Rogers, a junior aviation management major. Rogers said when he first came to Kent State, there were no organizations for people who were similar to him.

I came from the Caribbean straight to Kent State University and it was hard to get adjusted at first, Rogers said. I wanted to meet people and have conversations with people whose background is similar to mine."

Amy-Rose Forbes-Erickson, a Pan-African studies assistant professor, serves as one of the faculty advisors for the organization. Forbes-Erickson was born in Jamaica and said she intends to help and support the students with whatever they would like to achieve with the organization.

Having had the experience of being a Caribbean student in the U.S., it was not really hard to want to participate in this organization," Forbes-Erickson said. I want to contribute in any way to help offer support to the students here at Kent State."

Students who attended the meeting represented different parts of the Caribbean. Around the room, students voluntarily stood and shared where they were from. Although a lot of the people who attended the meeting were not born in the Caribbean, they had some type of connection.

Vice President Janelle Hamilton, who also has a Caribbean background, spoke about what students can expect when they attend SOCAs meetings and what topics they will discuss. The organization plans to educate and introduce members to the Caribbean culture and clear up any stereotypes about the people.

A lot of students such as myself have Caribbean backgrounds and grew up around that culture our entire lives, and coming to Kent we want to have something that were used to," Hamilton said. I think it is good to be around people who have the same interests as you and who can relate to you on a different level."

Olivia Williams is the African-American student life reporter, contact her atowillia8@kent.edu.

Link:

New Caribbean Alliance student organization hopes to raise cultural awareness - Kentwired

Patrick Gudauskas is one-third of the most stoked pro surfer brother trio the world has ever known. He has a panache for traveling and cutting some rug on the dance floors.

Recently, he gifted the surf world with Fever Island that saw him and filmer Dave Malcolm spend 10 days in the Caribbean maximizing swell, taking in the culture, enjoying all foods they came across and, of course, dancing.

As a well-traveled surfer who draws on the experience of the Down Days travel series the brothers Gudauskas did with Vans a couple years ago, we thought wed get Pats thoughts on how to do the Caribbean properly whether youre going there to surf or just have a good time.

Heres what Pat had to say:

From our experiences, I tend to go a similar season to Hawaii. They almost do have a parallel weather and wave pattern. January, February, we always end up going early season of a year.

Number one thing is sunscreen. Ive gotten so much sun in the Caribbean that any sun protective stuff is needed. Big hats, long sleeve rash guards.

I also like to travel through a more major island to grab a lot of snacks in case some of the islands we end up at are pretty rustic, because there may not be food available at different times.

The ability to be mobile is important, too: Small board bag, small bags and gear, keeping it simple.

Most of my trips have been specific to an island. So this was the first time I was able to hop around and really put all the travel on Dylan Graves. Hes pretty much our little guru, hes really sharp on swell.

They really enjoy getting a charter boat, fly in, and you can island hop on one of those. We were flying around on all the different swells in a timely manner so we could get there on time for the waves.

I love the food down there. Over the years weve become so passionate about trying new things with foods and drinks. Dylan and those guys keyed us in to the inside track of their style of food, the mofongos and everything they have down there. It transcended to all the different islands weve traveled to down there over the years.

I really like the rum, which is not really eating, but I just like rum. The plantains. Im pretty psyched on those wherever I go. They all have their different styles of cooking the bananas. The barbecue too has all been amazing, and the fired foods.

Over the years Ive gone to a wide variety of the islands, and weve been lucky enough to take Spanish in school. Not smooth, but we could roll with the punches on our feet in Spanish-speaking areas. My wife is French, so Ive been trying to get into that a little, too.

For me, I like keeping it local, jumping into a town setting, walk around and ask people questions about places to eat, whats good and where to go.

Thats a big part of the Caribbean. The first time we went to Puerto Rico, we went into San Juan and there were all these clubs, and they were doing these very specific dances. Me and Dane were like Whoa this is sick. Ok youve got to make sure you dance right.

A few years later we went back and did the Down Days show with Vans and we actually took these classes that were really intense. Its a nice way to engage in the culture down in the Caribbean. Down there, they all have happy feet and its in their spirit. Its a fun excuse to have a couple drinks and cut loose.

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Tips from pro surfer Pat Gudauskas on traveling to the Caribbean - GrindTV