Category Archives: Caribbean

Details Written by Ken Richards Category: Local Published: 03 April 2017 Hits: 299

St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): St Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean nations are getting some advice on measures that should be taken in their quest to strengthen their economies.

US Ambassador Linda Taglialatela, who heads the American Embassy in Bridgetown, says regional states are having a hard time like the rest of the world.

She is of the view however, that there are measures that can be taken to help islands she labels very proud Caribbean nations move forward economically despite existing hardships.

Each island needs to have a long term plan, I think first they need to not only look at building additional hotels and attracting more tourism but look at infrastructure. Work on their roads, work on their schools, look at ways to diversify out of the tourism sector. I realize thats probably the biggest and primary source of revenue but they need to look beyond that. I know that St Kitts and Nevis is looking at geothermal energy, I think they do need to diversify to get their energy costs down and they need to find ways to attract business, both private and foreign investors in their country. There are some issues with youth unemployment which leads to the risk of youths turning to crime, I think you need to address how were going to deal with it but I think on a whole, each of them has a plan its just a matter getting to the point of implementing.

Ambassador Taglialatela is expecting continued good relations between the Caribbean and the United States.

I think that the Caribbean has a lot to offer to the world and has a lot to offer the United States as far as a partnership goes. I think that we will continue to have a good relationship and I think that there has to be a good partnership and collaboration between the United States and the Caribbean. We have over 2 million Americans coming to the Caribbean every year and a number of dual citizens living both in the United States and here in the Caribbean and there will always be a close tie between the two areas.

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US Ambassador Offers Advice to Caribbean States - WINN FM

If only we could all quit our jobs to sail the Caribbean. Lucky for us, there are people like Catherine Marks and her husband Will Marks who take the plunge and bring us along via YouTube for some vicarious adventuring. The couple share their experiences on Monday Never, a blog that documents the time they spent sailing the ocean and also exploring the Bahamas and Europe.

But first, a bit of background: The Marks, previously a management consultant (Catherine) and an engineer (Will), met at Yacht Week in the British Virgin Islands back in 2011. (Sense a theme?) It was the very first time Catherine had sailed, according to the Monday Never blog. It was the beginning of the pair's relationship, which sent them to San Francisco.

They eventually decided to cut costs in a slightly unconventional way, by buying an old sailboat and sailing around the Caribbean for 10 months but saving some money wasn't the only benefit. In an interview with Islands.com, the couple talks about how much it ended up relieving stress: "It gave us a break from the stress of work and let us live a simpler life. We got to spend all of our days together, snorkeling and freediving the most beautiful water in the world."

Doesn't sound like the worst way to live.

While they're looking to take to the seas again, the couple also spent some time exploring Europe in a sidecar motorcycle. It may sound like a casual experience spending your days freediving and catching dinner but the couple saved a pretty penny for their 10-month adventure.

"We saved aggressively for several years to buy a 36-foot, 1989 CS Merlin sloop for $37,000, which we sold for close to that when our adventure was over," they shared with Islands.com. "We budgeted to spend $4,000 per month on expenses, emergencies, and boat repairs, but we rarely spent more than $3,000."

It's a dream for many, kicking conventional paychecks to the curb to instead see the world. But it's not impossible. Want to know more about the Marks and their extended vacation? Head on over to their YouTube account, Monday Never.

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This Couple Quit Their Jobs to Sail Around the Caribbean for 10 Months - Travel+Leisure

U.S. Ambassador Linda Taglialatela

Basseterre, St. Kitts The region can expect continued cooperation with the United States under the Trump administration in the area of security, Bridgetown-based U.S. Ambassador Linda Taglialatela says.

She was responding to questions about the likelihood of U.S. relations with the Caribbean changing because of the policies of President Donald Trump.

I think its been very clear that Mr. Trump and his administration have been highly supportive of security and because of the security ramifications with the Caribbean and the fact that we consider them our third border, there is always going to be an engagement with the Caribbean, Taglialatela said. There may be some shifts in some of the programs that we do here in the Caribbean, but for the most part, we will continue to maintain and sustain a relationship with the Caribbean nations.

On the issue of climate change and deportation, for example, WINN asked how much room is there for common ground on those and other differences?

I think that, in those cases, well have to see how the administration moves forward. Mr. Trump has talked about the fact that climate change is less important and it may impact on exactly what were doing in the Caribbean, but itll be something well continue to monitor and provide assistance as we can, the ambassador said.

Some of Trumps critics have suggested that his make America great again is a code for making America white again.

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Ambassador: Trump Policies Not Likely to Impact Caribbean-US Security Cooperation - Atlanta Black Star

Will Turner is back in the latest promo for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Returning to the franchise since the third film, At Worlds End, Orlando Bloom reprises his role as Captain of the Flying Dutchman. The last time audiences saw Turner was when his heart was carved out and placed in the Dead Mans Chest, forcing him to take over Davy Jones post as captain. The ship is only allowed toventure ashore once every ten years.

Dead Men Tell No Tales follows Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he searches to find the Trident of Poseidon, while Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) focuses on eliminating as many pirates as possible. Geoffrey Rush reprises his role as Captain Barbossa, Kevin McNally as Gibbs, and Stephen Graham as Scrum. Kaya Scodelario and Brenthon Thwaites also co-star.

The fifth installment of the Pirates franchise is co-directed by Joachim Rnning and Espen Sandberg, with Jerry Bruckheimer producing. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Joe Caracciolo, Jr. and Brigham Taylor. Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26. Check out the latest promo above.

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'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' Promo: Orlando Bloom Returns As Will Turner - Deadline

Central American and Caribbean filmmakers are coming into their own, despite the myriad obstacles they face.

Scant resources, infrastructure, and training are just some of the challenges in the region. However, film production has risen in some territories, especially in Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico where state-backed film funds are available.

Due to recession-related budget cuts, Trinidad & Tobagos already limited film fund has been dormant of late although state org FILM TT has been offering micro-grants towards marketing costs. In 2015, Costa Rica launched film and TV production fund El Fauno, valued at 250 million colons ($446,735), and has backed 17 projects so far.

The regions burgeoning cinema needs all the support it can get, said IFF Panama founder-director Pituka Ortega-Heilbron who has made it her life mission to support the arts and hopes that the festival will not only give the films a much-need platform but nurture new audiences.

The festivals Central American & Caribbean section and pix-in-post platform Primera Mirada showcase the growing sophistication of a budding film industry.

Heat, color and rhythm are recurring elements in these films, with the exception of Costa Rican drama The Sound of Things, which has a more austere look to it, said artistic director Diana Sanchez.

Despite external influences, whether from their studies abroad, theres an honesty and visceral quality to these filmmakers work, said Ortega-Heilbron.

I believe there is a tendency ever more pronounced for the region to produce two kinds of films: Those that are more complex, with profound themes, and the more commercial audience-friendly films, said Habanero Films Alfredo Calvino who brings Cubas controversial Santa y Andres by Carlos Lechuga to IFF Panama. Banned in Cuba, Santa & Andres has been making the round of festivals worldwide. Habanero Films is also handling Costa Rican Hilda Hidalgos (Del Amor y Otros Demonios) latest film, still in post, Violeta al fin.

For the first time ever, IFF Panama is closing with a Caribbean film, Carpinteros (Woodpeckers) by Jose Maria Cabral of the Dominican Republic. Carpinteros was also the first Dominican film to compete at the Sundance Film Fest. Inspired by real-life detainees at the Dominican Republic Najayo prison, the pic centers on a romance that blooms between two inmates in neighboring prisons where they learn to communicate via a sign language. Female lead Judith Rodriguez Perez also plays a key role in Primera Mirada entry, Cocote by DRs Nelson Carlos de los Santos. Carpinteros Dominican-Haitian lead Jean Jean also has a documentary he directed competing at IFF Panama, Si Dios Quiere, Yuli, (God Willing, Yuli), which turns on the injustices Haitians suffer in the Dominican Republic where they are treated like second-class citizens.

Some of last years Primera Mirada entries are in this years Central America & Caribbean selection, led by Costa Rican Jurgen Urenas Abrazame como Antes (Embrace Me Like Before) which centers on a transsexual prostitutes bid to create a family. Dominican Yanillys Perezs debut feature Jeffrey, winner of Torontos Dropbox Discovery Film Award, is another 2016 Primera Mirada alum playing at IFF Panama.

Julio Hernandez Cordon, who won the Primera Mirada Grand Prize in 2015 with I Promise You Anarchy, is back with his sixth feature film Atras hay relampagos (Behind, Theres Lightning), which premiered at Rotterdam. Bikes, instead of Anarchys skateboards, are key elements in Hernandezs latest drama about the travails of two young women. The story stems from two friends who have a falling out, said Hernandez. I wanted to make a movie where vintage cars, bicycles and lush vegetation were present, he added.

An animated feature made the cut this year: Martiniques Alain Bidard, Battledream Chronicle, a dystopian thriller with videogame aesthetics about slaves revolting against tyranny. Given the Caribbeans slave history, the film has a decidedly political undertone.

Panamas La Matamoros, Delfina Vidals account about Panamas first feminist, is among the noteworthy documentaries coming from the region where the non-fiction genre is prevalent due to its relatively low production costs. Another Panamanian entry, docu Cimarronaje en Panama by Toshi Sakai, explores the history of the rebel slaves in colonial-era Panama.

I would like to think that a new wave of talent will enrich film production in Central America, said Hernandez. Now that theyve managed the nuts and bolts of making a film, they need to polish their content, and find or decide on an aesthetic that is uniquely Central American; for that, we need more productions, he said.

The 6th IFF Panama runs from March 30 to April 5.

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Overview of Filmmaking in Central America, Caribbean | Variety - Variety

Jennifer Schmeer 6:00 a.m. CT April 1, 2017

A view of The Alexandra Resort from the ocean.(Photo: Courtesy Alexandra Resort)

Arriving at the Alexandra Resort, I had one thing on my mind Grace Bay.

I could not wait to walk on the white sand and immerse myself in the Caribbean waters. Alexandra Resort is part of the Turks & Caicos Collection on the famous Grace Bay. The resort is just sixmiles from the airport. As we had been staying at Blue Haven Resort, we convenientlytook the free resort shuttle from Blue Haven to the doorsteps of Alexandra Resort.

We checked into our spacious, deluxe two-bedroom, beachfront king suite with the most beautiful view of Grace Bay. The large balcony overlooking the ocean has several loungers and a long, wooden table with chairs perfect for outdoor dining. I am impressed with the contemporary dcor and the size of the unit. It is easy to make ourselves at home in our suite with its highceilings, fully equipped kitchen, washer & dryer and my favorite deep, soaking tub.

TURKS & CAICOS: Exploring the luminous, turquoise waters ofMy Blue Haven

The lush grounds hold tennis courts, a lagoon-style pool with swim-up bar, Elevate Spa and an oceanfront restaurant called Asu on the Beach. It is decorated with radiant, hanging lanterns that light your way in the evenings. The beach at Alexandra Resort has everything you need. It islined with kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, hobie catsand the sought after water trampoline.

The beach at Alexandra Resort in Turks & Caicos.(Photo: Jennifer Schmeer)

Our first stop is Grace Bay, and we were greeted by attendees who assisted us with towels and finding the perfect spot on the beach. Relaxing on Grace Bay is the ideal way to start your day. Asu on the Beach is just a few steps away where you can enjoy a refreshing drink or appetizer. After a swim in the ocean, we migrate to the lagoon-styled pool with a swim-up bar. Someone is standing there by the pool to escort us to our next spot; loungers with umbrellas along side the pool. Tough life.

After a dip in the pool, we decide to get in a quick game of tennis before heading to dinner. My daughter reminds me to let go of my dream of her becoming a tennis pro and we have a fun game under the trees that surround the courts. I am completely relaxed and my travel crew is having a great time. The resort layout makes you feel like you have it to yourself and everything is just a few steps away.

The salmon sashimi at Asu on the Beach at the Alexandra Resort in Turks & Caicos.(Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Schmeer)

I love dining right on the beach while you experience the ocean and the Caribbean breeze that gently touches your skin. Asu on the Beach offers all of these sensations as it is located on an oceanfront deck with the ideal view of Grace Bay.

For starters, we enjoy the salmon sashimi moving on to the NY strip steak for myself while my daughter enjoys the local spiny lobster. My mom decides on the organic roasted chicken that she thoroughly enjoys. The menu offers a varietyof impressive dishes. At the end, we try out the dessert taster that includes mango cheesecake, banana spring roll, chocolate cake, passion fruit sorbet and rum ice cream. There is something everyone with the dessert taster.

After dinner, the radiant,hanging lanterns guides us back to our spacious suite. Time to sit on the balcony overlookingGraceBay and ponder how we will spend our next day. Our first day at AlexandraResort was excellent and so relaxing with stimulating views.

Asu on the Beach at the Alexandra Resort offers oceanfront dining.(Photo: Courtesy Alexandra Resort)

The next day, we awake rested and ready for an adventure. We first decide to have breakfast at Asu on the Beach allowing us once again to experience oceanfront dining.

My mom and daughter enjoy sampling the local teas and the expansive breakfast buffet where someone is standing by to create your perfect omelet. I order from the menu the French toast, and it was magnificent. It was actually the best French toast I had ever experienced. A perfect way to start the day; a delicious breakfast with ocean front views.

The staff at Alexandra graciously assist us with our adventure for the day as they arrange for a day excursion with Caicos Dream Tours. From the lobby of the Alexandra, it is just a couple of steps on to the beach where a boat awaits to take us on this excursion.

Cruising out to the third largest reef system in the world, I am ecstatic. My daughter and I love to snorkel, and my mom has not been snorkeling in over 25 years. The crew on the boat are lively and fun offering everyone rum punch and seaworthy attitudes. As we make our way to the openocean, a dolphin isspotted. The dolphin swims around the boat giving everyone the perfect visual. My daughter is elated.

Snorkeling is a blast as we see tons ofcolorful fish and the reef is stunning. I am the only one that goes in without fins and enjoy a little free diving while everyone snorkels above me. After snorkeling, we head to our next stop; a wonderful, uninhabited island called Half Moon Bay that was created by a hurricane. A small island with iguanas and gorgeous views. It is the perfect spot.

The view of the ocean from the Alexandra Resort.(Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Schmeer)

A crew member makes his way to the beach and begins to crack open conch shells in order to provide fresh conch for our salad. He hands my daughter a shell that she will bring back home with her as a souvenir. While we wade in the water close to shore, a baby lemon shark swims right by us several times. It was thrilling and it is such a beautiful marine fish with distinctive yellow colors.

Lunch is served on the beach with gourmet sandwiches and fresh conch salad. After lunch, we explore the island taking in the iguanas and enjoy the privacy of feeling like we are the only ones on this small island. Paradise found. Returning to the beach, we take a swim near the boat keeping an eye out for more lemon sharks.

The boat is two-stories with a slide on the top deck and my daughter talked my mom into giving it a whirl. It was so much fun watching my mom slide into the ocean. She had not been on a slide since she was a young girl. I know this is a vacation that she will never forget and so grateful for the staff at Alexandra Resort for lining up such a great day for us.

After a full day of adventure, we gather back onto the boat to head back to Providenciales. While out in the open ocean, we were fortunate to see a whale. This was the first time my mom and daughter had witnessed a whale. Dolphins, lemon sharks and now a whale; a memorable day that will last a lifetime.

With my daughter carrying her conch shell, we return to our comfortable suite to relax. Sitting on the loungers on the balcony with my family, I am grateful.

Dinner under the lanterns at the Alexandra Resort in Turks & Caicos.(Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Schmeer)

For the evening, we decide tovisit the stone oven pizza deck and sample their pizza selection. It's easy and simple with an ocean view. The perfect spot for adults and kids alike. You are able to create your own pizza with a multiple of toppings to choose from and pizza has such a better taste when placed in a stone pizza oven.

Another beautiful night under the radiant lanterns, we walk back to our suite as a small crab walks beside my daughter on the pathway. Another new friend found in the Caribbean.

The next day will be filled with a bike ride in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon. But before we tackle the day, we enjoy another breakfast at Azu on the Beach. I tasted the "Mexican" dish which is two fried eggs, spicy salsa, pepper jack cheese on corn tortillas. The perfect way to start your day. My daughter sampled the fresh fruit while my mom sipped the local tea.

Take in a flick while feeling the ocean breeze under the stars at Beach House.(Photo: Beach House)

In the evening, we find out that the sister property, Beach House will be showing a movie on the beach. We take the free resort shuttle and find ourselves back at the glamorous Beach House. I have always wanted to experience a movie on the beach, and the "Mod Squad" was the perfect one to take in while feeling the ocean breeze under the stars. With popcorn and a full bar, we were comfortable and the movie was fun. Beach House intrigued me.I love the design of this resort. I look forward to returning to Beach House to experience its full flavor.

After the movie, we take the free shuttle back to Alexandra Resort for another peaceful evening. My daughter enjoys a bubble bath in the deep tub while my mom and I sip on cocktails on the balcony. I share the idea of venturing back to Beach House to indulge in their full experience.

The next morning, we plan our next location in the Turks & Caicos Collection adventure.

Alexandra Resort

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Immerse yourself in Caribbean waters - The News Star - Monroe News Star

Washington, DC An alliance of the Caribbean Diaspora community, religious and business leaders assembled by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) will meet with Trump administration officials this week to provide input into the construct of future US/Caribbean relations and the role of the Diaspora in contributing to the process.

These consultations follow up on meetings held last month (February 2017) to identify a mechanism to provide for ongoing consultations between the Administration and the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States.

At the center of the discussions is the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 which was signed last December by President Obama and which 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.

The Act identifies nine broad areas which the US State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are mandated to address and to provide recommendations and a proposed plan of action to the US Congress by June this year.

The Caribbean Diaspora Alliance has prepared a white paper which it submitted to the State Department Friday and which is expected to form the basis for Wednesdays (March 29th) consultations.

The paper addresses the nine issues and received input from diaspora leaders across the United States representing organizations whose membership are made up of Caribbean Americans from every Caribbean nation.

Input for the white paper was also garnered from consultations with organizations in the Caribbean region including private sector organizations and the CARICOM Secretariat.

Wesley Kirton

Wednesdays consultations will address issues under three broad themes-diplomacy and security; economic development; and education and health. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State will lead the US discussion with an overview of current US Engagement with the Caribbean while Guyanas Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Riyad Insanally, who is also the current chair of the Caribbean Caucus of Ambassadors will deliver opening remarks.

The diaspora discussion on diplomacy and security will be led by Wesley Kirton and Herbert Nelson; economic development by Alland Leandre and Oscar Spencer and education and health by Eric Walcott and Roxanne Valies.

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Caribbean Diaspora Meets With Trump Administration - South Florida Caribbean News

Geologists have discovered evidence that unusual seas detached living corals from a Caribbean reef and scattered them far inland, as boulders, during the last centuries before Columbus arrived. The new findings will reinforce precautions against coastal hazards, Caribbean tsunami specialists said.

The coral boulders were found in the British Virgin Islands at Anegadaa low-lying island named by Columbus in 1493 and located behind a coral reef that faces the Puerto Rico Trench. One of the geologists, Brian Atwater of the U.S. Geological Survey said, We were astonished to find over 200 coral boulders scattered as much as one-third of a mile inland from the islands trenchward shore.

He added, Some are entire colonies of brain coral a few feet in diameter. All were likely emplaced during a sea flood sometime between the years 1200 and 1480.

The geologists blame either a rare tsunami or an unusual hurricane. They point to dormant tsunami sources in the Puerto Rico Trench, where tectonic plates meet 100 miles north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. But they also note that a tropical cyclone can produce tsunami-like surges, as happened in the Philippines in 2013.

The findings on Anegada bring scientists a step closer to discovering whether faults in the Puerto Rico Trench produce large earthquakes and associated tsunamis. Tsunamis generated along smaller faults took lives in the Virgin Islands in 1867 and in Puerto Rico in 1918. No tsunami from the trench itself is known from written records going back to 1530.

Sharleen DaBreo, the Director of the Department of Disaster Management in the British Virgin Islands, said the findings support the BVIs public education and outreach efforts. She said that with regards to the possibility of a Puerto Rico Trench tsunami, The more evidence we have of tsunamis in the region, the easier it will be to boost public awareness. As it stands, Caribbean tsunamis are so rare that some people may downplay tsunami hazards, even on low-lying shores that face the Puerto Rico Trench.

For Elizabeth Vanacore of the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, the findings serve as a reminder to use a felt earthquake as a timely cue to evacuate coastal areas. A tsunami generated during an earthquake in the Puerto Rico Trench would reach our nearest shores in less than 30 minutes, Dr. Vanacore said, For many years we have advised people along the coast to respond immediately upon feeling a strong or long-lasting earthquake, by going to high ground or at least inland.

Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, who leads the Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, added that a Puerto Rico Trench tsunami could spread into much of the Caribbean and could reach the U.S. Atlantic seaboard as well. Tsunami warning centers are continuously monitoring earthquakes throughout the Caribbean, she said. The centers would alert government officials and the public in the case of any tsunami event.

The geologists compared the coral boulders of 1200 to 1480 with traces of other unusual seas at Anegada, including modern hurricanes up to category 4, and a tsunami that crossed the Atlantic in 1755. They concluded that whether from tsunami or storm, the waves that deposited those corals far outran any others at Anegada in the past 2,000 years or more.

Ms. von Hillebrandt-Andrade related this extended history to a recent lesson from Japan. When anticipating natural hazards, she said, its important to know what happened many centuries into the past. The 2011 tsunami was probably bigger than any other Japanese tsunami since the year 869.

The research paper, Extreme waves in the British Virgin Islands during the last centuries before 1500 CE, was published today in Geosphere, a peer-reviewed journal of the Geological Society of America. The paper contains 45 pages of color photographs and maps. It is available online without charge.

USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and other social media channels.

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Enormous Caribbean Waves Before 1492 - Hernando Sun

by Lisa A. Grimaldi | April 01, 2017

SUNNY NEWS Opening this summer is the 134-room Park Hyatt St. Kitts.The property, in Christophe Harbour's Banana Bay, will include a spa, a fitness center and more than 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

The 589-room Barcelo Bavaro Beachin the Dominican Republic was recently renovated. The all-inclusive resort has a convention center that offers nearly 38,000 square feet of meeting space.

SADDLE UP The Equestrian Center at the Dominican Republic's 185-room Casa de Campo Resort & Villas offers horseback-riding lessons. Groups can arrange for private guided rides at the resort's cattle ranches.

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Local Update

Southwest Airlines has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to serve Owen Roberts International Airporton Grand Cayman daily from Fort Lauderdale beginning this June.

The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spahas unveiled the first phase of a $50 million renovation. The lobby and its Catboat bar have been revamped, while the freshwater pool and swim-up bar have been expanded. The new Cayman Coffee Exchange offers light snacks and refreshments, and the fitness center and retail outlets have been enhanced with modern design. Phase two of the project will feature a redesign of all 343 guest rooms and suites, to be unveiled this August. The resort has more than 9,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 40,000 square feet of outdoor event space, along with a spa and dining outlets that include the new Beach House, an AAA Four Diamond restaurant; Ferdinand's for traditional Caribbean dishes, and the Tortuga Beach Grill and Bar.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' first Caribbean property, the 266-room Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa,opened along the Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach late last year. Highlights include three restaurants: the signature Ave; the casual beach bar Coccoloba; and Avecita, which features a nine-seat chefs' bar serving seasonal dishes prepared around a wood-fired grill. In addition, Seafire's two pool bars specialize in creative cocktails and light bites. Among the resort's meeting spaces both indoor and out are the 7,076-square-foot Aurea Ballroom, the 10th-floor Presidential Suite and the Seabridge Green event lawn. For downtime, the 8,500-square-foot Spa at Seafire has seven treatment rooms. Guests also enjoy a lovely 500-foot strip of Seven Mile Beach.

Also perched along Seven Mile Beach, the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman,has unveiled the largest penthouse in the Caribbean, spanning some 19,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The 375-room upscale resort offers approximately 36,000 square feet for meetings and events.

On the neighboring Island of Cayman Brac (a 30-minute flight from Grand Cayman), the cozy Le Soleil d'Orhas opened, offering four suites and four private residences.

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Caribbean: Meetings & Conventions - Meetings & Conventions

The responsibility of being the first Caribbean artist to be commissioned by the British Museum (BM) is weighing heavily on Zak Ov. Imagine representing the whole of the Caribbean in one moment? he asks. I have to get this right, otherwise Ill never hear the end of it.

Ov was speaking at the unveiling of his Moko Jumbie sculptures in the BMs Africa Galleries on 30 March. The towering figures were installed in the museums Great Court in 2015 and have now become part of the permanent collection, displayed opposite a cabinet of masks made by, among others, the Yoruba and Igbo people of Nigeria, the Songye, Pende and Lega of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Bamileke of Cameroon.

Its a homecoming. [My sculptures] are the children returning to their parents, says Ov, who was born in London to an Irish mother and Trinidadian father.

Moko Jumbies, a termderived from a combination of African and Creole languages, are stilt-walkers who represent West African deities or spirits. With the shipping of slaves, the ritual was brought to the Americas where it was disguised in masquerade and incorporated into carnival celebrations.

The layered identities of the Moko Jumbie also appealed to Ov, who says he grew up feeling like I was neither one thing nor the other. Ov says his sculptures, which are made from found, cast and recycled materials, refer to the multitude of heritages found in Trinidadamong them Irish, Syrian and Chinese.

Its about bringing new world materials into dialogue with old world stories, and keeping that ancestry alive, the artist says. Its also important to continue the conversation about the hundreds of millions of people living in the African diaspora. What does it mean to be an African abroad?

Before becoming an artist, Ov made videos for musicians including Chaka Demus & Pliers, Lee Scratch Perry and PM Dawn. It was a natural fit for Ov, whose father Horace was the first black British film-maker to direct a feature-length film, Pressure, in 1975.

Like his father, Ov is blazing a trail, but one that feels long overdue. You have to ask: why has it taken so long [to commission a Caribbean artist], he says. If it wasnt for slavery and the sugar trade, we wouldnt have some of the art institutions we have in London today.

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British Museum permanently installs first Caribbean art commission - Art Newspaper