Category Archives: Caribbean

A successful six-year, 10 million Canadian dollar project, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), has strengthened the quality and availability of impact-based forecasts and services to support communities in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

The project, which was launched in 2016 under the framework of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Initiative (CREWS), supported capacity building of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to provide more accurate and timely forecasts, including effective, risk-informed multi-hazard early warning services to vulnerable populations in 35 countries.

It fulfilled three key objectives:

Diane Campbell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Meteorological Service of Canada and Permanent Representative of Canada to WMO said, The objective of the Canada CREWS funding was to protect lives and property, by sponsoring capacity building activities in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and in South East Asia. We hope the results and lessons learned under the Canada-CREWS project can contribute to the work underway to respond to the UN Secretary-Generals recent call to action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within five years.

The Building Resilience to High-Impact Hydro-Meteorological Events Through Strengthening Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Small Island Developing States and Southeast Asia (Canada CREWS) was centred around strengthening and leveraging WMOs network of regional centres in order to downscale support to members at the national level and promote multilateral cooperation.

This was done by sponsoring WMOs flagship initiatives including the Severe Weather Forecasting Programme (SWFP) which makes available Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), using global data and models, the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS), which provides a series of products in near real-time in order to provide guidance on flash flood events, and the Coastal Inundation Forecasting Initiative (CIFI) which builds improved operational forecast and warning capability for coastal inundation from combined extreme waves, surges and river flooding events .

WMO Director of Member Services, Filipe Lcio indicated, Multilateral cooperation was prioritized as it was recognized that cooperation amongst member states is critical across the three regions. This is due to the transboundary nature of hazards. Enhanced cooperation and collaboration amongst member states was a significant achievement of the Project. This was made possible by leveraging WMOs network of regional centres and the transboundary nature of the programmes being implemented through the Project including SWFP and FFGS.

Main achievements of the project include:

To formally close the project, WMO staff joined regional representatives from Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam from 28 - 29 June at Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration headquarters in Hanoi, Viet Nam, for at workshop.

The event provided a platform to highlight achievements and lessons learnt from the project, discuss sustainability of project outcomes and future activities and formally close the project. It also saw the official launch of the Southeast Asia Flash Flood Guidance System, which has now transitioned into an operational phase.

"The Viet Nam Meteorology and Hydrology Administration is honored to be selected as the Regional Center for the SEAFFGS through the support of WMO, member countries and the Canada CREWS Project. This will support capacity building in flash flood warning in Southeast Asia with advance technology, integrating multiple data sources from member countries, including nowcasting data, automatic real-time observationcalculation of flash flood threshold index in 6 hours, warning of flash flood risk in 36 hours, landslides threshold in 24 hours, contributing to mitigating damage caused by flash floods and landslides in member countries, said its administrator, Prof Tran Hong Thai.

The way forward

Activities to improve warnings of severe weather, flash floods and coastal inundation will continue beyond the lifetime of the Canada CREWS project as WMO continues to engage with the benefitting NMHSs. To further ensure the sustainability of actions, the forecasting capacities and national Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems of countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific were fully assessed and long terms strategies and action plans for the NMHSs were developed.

These plans are already being put into action through new initiatives like the CREWS Cambodia and Laos Peoples Democratic Republic project, which not only sustains and but also enhances action taken through the Canada CREWS project.

By implementing activities under this new project, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology can upgrade and strengthen many functions such as equipment, weather analysis and forecasting tools, and capacity building. As a result, the trust of our citizens and authorities will increase, said Lao Peoples Democratic Republic representative Bounteum.

For more information on the Canada CREWS project:Project Webpage

ECCCEnvironment and Climate Change Canada is the lead federal department for a wide range of environmental issues. (Link)

CREWSThe CREWS initiative is an international partnership that aims to strengthen risk information and access to early warning systems in vulnerable countries, and to leverage financing to protect populations exposed to extreme climate events. (Link).

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Improving early warnings in the Caribbean, Pacific and Southeast Asia - World - ReliefWeb

Carnival Corporation CCL and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd RCL reached new 52-week lows on Thursday after plunging 13% and 10%, respectively on Wednesday in response to a series of analysts weighing in on the stocks.

Morgan Stanley analyst Jamie Rollo maintained Underweight on Carnival and lowered the price target from $13 to $7. Barclays analyst Brandt Montour initiated coverage on the stock with an Overweight rating and announced a price target of $14.

Montour also weighed in on Royal Caribbean, initiating coverage with an Overweight rating and announcing a $56 price target.

Montours new price targets for Carnival and Royal Caribbean suggest about a 60% increase, each, from the stocks current share price.

Despite their most recent plunge, Carnival and Royal Caribbean both look set to bounce higher over the coming days, due to bullish signals that have appeared on their daily charts. Carnival appears slightly stronger than Royal Caribbean due to the steep level of bullish divergence that developed on its chart.

It should be notedthat events affecting the general markets, negative or positive reactions to earnings prints and news headlines, can quickly invalidate patterns and breakouts. As the saying goes, "the trend is your friend until it isn't" and any trader in a position should have a clear stop set in place and manage their risk versus reward.

Want direct analysis? Find me in the BZ Pro lounge! Click here for a free trial.

The Carnival Chart: Carnival fell to a level on Thursday that the stock hasnt traded at since April 3, 2020.

Despite the steep drop, Carnivals relative strength index (RSI) has been making a series of higher lows since June 16, which indicates bullish momentum is increasing. In order for the bullish divergence to correct, the stock will either need to trade significantly higher in the near future or plummet low enough to drop the RSI back into oversold territory.

Carnival looks to be printing a long-legged doji or hammercandlestick, which could indicate higher prices are in the cards for Friday. The stock is trading in a confirmed downtrend and any bounce is likely to form another lower high.

Carnival has resistance above at $9.16 and $10 and support below at $8.53 and $7.80.

Also like Carnival, Royal Caribbean was working to print a long-legged doji or hammer candlestick on Thursday, which suggests higher prices are in the cards for Friday.

Royal Caribbean has resistance above at $40.35 and $47.42 and support below at $33.50 and $25.60.

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Between Carnival And Royal Caribbean Stocks Which Bounce Will Be Higher? - Benzinga - Benzinga

Attachments

REGIONAL: COVID-19

KEY FIGURES

79% LEARNING POVERTY ESTIMATED FOR REGION DUE TO EFFECTS OF COVID-19

Per the The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update report, a joint publication from the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, FCDO, USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Latin America and the Caribbean is likely to have suffered the largest increase in learning poverty during the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic (learning poverty refers to children whose learning foundation falls short of their current schooling year).

The report, which cites prolonged school closures, poor COVID-19 mitigation effectiveness and household income shocks as drivers behind the rise in learning poverty, predicts that 80 per cent of children at end-of-primary school age in the region are unable to understand a simple written text, up from 50 per cent prior to the pandemic.

With children missing out on in-person learning due to complete and partial school closures that reached as many as 225 days on average, Latin America and the Caribbean learning poverty will rise from 52 to an estimated 79 per cent, a 27-point increase that is well above the next leading region (South Asia with an 18 per cent increase to 78 per cent).

THE CARIBBEAN: HURRICANE SEASON

KEY FIGURES

90% CHANCE OF FORMATION FOR SYSTEM EAST-SOUTHEAST OF WINDWARD ISLANDS

The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on 27 June 2022 that a tropical wave some 900 miles east-southeast of the southern Windward Islands has a 90 per cent chance of formation through the next 5 days, citing environmental conditions conducive for further development. A tropical depression is likely to either form before reaching the Windward Islands on 28 June or possibly while moving on a westward track across the southern Caribbean Sea between 29 June and 1 July.

NHC indicates that countries and territories in the Windward Islands and northern coast of South America should continue monitoring progress of this system, which may prompt tropical storm watches or warnings. Regardless of formation, these areas are likely to experience local rainfalls within the next 48 hours. NHC also reports a tropical wave further out in the Atlantic with a 20 per cent chance of formation through the next 5 days.

See more here:

Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (20-27 June 2022) as of 27 June 2022 - World - ReliefWeb

The number of new coronavirus cases rose by 18 per cent in the last week, with more than 4.1 million cases reported globally, according to the World Health Organization.

The UN health agency said in its latest weekly report on the pandemic that the worldwide number of deaths remained relatively similar to the week before, at about 8,500. COVID-related deaths increased in three regions: the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Americas.

The biggest weekly rise in new COVID-19 cases was seen in the Middle East, where they increased by 47 per cent, according to the report released late Wednesday. Infections rose by about 32 per cent in Europe and Southeast Asia, and by about 14 per cent in the Americas, WHO said.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said cases were on the rise in 110 countries, mostly driven by the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.

"This pandemic is changing, but it's not over," Tedros said this week during a press briefing. He said the ability to track COVID-19's genetic evolution was "under threat" as countries relaxed surveillance and genetic sequencing efforts, warning that would make it more difficult to catch emerging and potentially dangerous new variants.

He called for countries to immunise their most vulnerable populations, including health workers and people over 60, saying that hundreds of millions remain unvaccinated and at risk of severe disease and death.

Tedros said that while more than 1.2 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered globally, the average immunisation rate in poor countries is about 13 per cent.

"If rich countries are vaccinating children from as young as 6 months old and planning to do further rounds of vaccination, it is incomprehensible to suggest that lower-income countries should not vaccinate and boost their most at risk (people)," he said.

According to figures compiled by Oxfam and the People's Vaccine Alliance, fewer than half of the 2.1 billion vaccines promised to poorer countries by the Group of Seven large economies have been delivered.

Earlier this month, the United States authorised COVID-19 vaccines for infants and preschoolers, rolling out a national immunisation plan targeting 18 million of the youngest children. American regulators also recommended that some adults get updated boosters in the fall that match the latest coronavirus variants.

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WHO: COVID-19 cases rising nearly everywhere in the world | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

Island hopping in Greece has always been a dream of mine, and today that dream became reality! Our second day of my 7-night Greek & Adriatic cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas brought us to our first port of call: Mykonos, Greece.

Mykonos is an island in the Aegean Sea, nearly halfway between Athens, Greece and Izmir, Turkey. Known for its party atmosphere, picture-perfect towns, fresh Greek food, and turquoise beaches, Mykonos is a bucket-list destination for those hoping to discover what makes Greece so special.

I usually don't have expectations for the ports I visit, but I was pretty worried Mykonos would feel extremely overhyped and overcrowded. After all, its one of the most popular islands to visit in Greece! The moment I arrived in Mykonos, though, I realized that it is absolutely worth the hype and I loved every second of my time on the island.

We sailed into Mykonos around 6:30AM. While Mykonos is the name of the island, cruises visit Mykonos Town, otherwise known as the town of Chora.

Mykonos is a tender port, so small boats take guests from ship to pier.Tender tickets were being distributed starting at 7AM. We received a note in our stateroom mentioning that peak time for tendering was estimated to start at 8AM. The idea of waiting in line to leave did not sound appealing, so we had a quick breakfast at the Windjammer and were off the ship by 7:35.

The ride to Mykonos lasted only a few minutes and was full of beautiful views of the island's iconic white buildings atop the mountainside. Because it was so early, Mykonos was relatively empty when we arrived.

Mykonos is a maze of bright white buildings with blue and red windows and doors, making it one of the most picturesque places I've ever seen. You can't help but wander around town taking photos and admiring the architecture.

Navigating the narrow streets and getting lost reminded me of Venice, Italy (although its lacking the canals and bridges, of course). You're also bound to run into plenty of cats calling Mykonos home!

Mykonos is known as The Island of the Winds because of the strong winds that tend to blow on the island. I can attest to this, as it was definitely quite windy today in port!

We stumbled upon the most famous set of windmills on the island, which have an unbeatable view of the port and town. These windmills were built in the 16th century to grind grain into flour, and are now one of the most iconic symbols of the island.

The view from the windmills is stunning, offering a panoramic view of the ocean, mountains, town, and cruise ships. Needing a break after walking around in the sun all morning, we relaxed on a rock overlooking the harbor to take in the views. We also had a brief photoshoot, as is mandatory with such incredible scenery.

Note: Go early to see the windmills before hoards of other tourists arrive. When we visited around 9AM we were among the only people there, but when we walked past the windmills just an hour or two later it was packed!

When it came time for lunch, we weren't expecting to find any type of "hole in the wall" spot near the Mykonos cruise port. The main area near the port is full of restaurants catered toward tourists, but we were hoping for something more off the beaten path.

We somehow stumbled upon Gioras Pastry Cafe, an unassuming bakery tucked into a side street in Mykonos that was formed in 1420. Yes, 1420! It is the oldest bakery on the island, and it was maybe the only place I encountered all day that seemed to exist without extensive marketing to tourists. I guess you dont need much marketing when youve been in operation for 602 years!

Located partly underground, the bakery has a selection of freshly baked pastries situated on baking trays placed atop a large table. In the bakery's cases are smaller sweets, from pistachio phyllo desserts to chocolate almond and sesame honey cookies.

We ordered spanakopita, a traditional spinach and feta pie, along with iced cappuccinos and a selection of baklava and cookies. It was absolutely delicious (especially the spanakopita), so much so that we went back for seconds!

The bakery workers spoke little English and were very friendly and welcoming, without any of the pressure you'll often find in touristy restaurants and businesses. My sister Lauren even called the bakery the highlight of her day despite being surrounded by gorgeous mountains and oceans all day! It really was that good.

Full and caffeinated, we continued walking around the charming streets of Mykonos with one goal in mind: the beach. There are a few beaches within walking distance of Mykonos Town, so taking a taxi or excursion to the beach is not entirely necessary.

We walked along a coastal road to Paralia Megali Ammos, a beach located only 15 minutes walking distance from the town center. With a nice strip of sand and refreshing clear water, it was the best mid-day break we could have asked for. There were also smaller beaches scattered along the coast, although this seemed to be the most spacious of them all.

When we left the beach and arrived back in the main part of town, we found the streets to be much more crowded than we had experienced earlier in the day. The crowds were not unmanageable or overwhelming, though, even with three ships in port.

We walked along the street surrounding the Mykonos port, which was filled with cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Theres also a small beach there, but it was really crowded, so I would recommend traveling a bit further from the cruise ships if youre interested in a beach day.

Gelato was calling our name, so we sat at DaVinci Gelato for a delicious cup of pistachio and vaniglia nera (Madagascar vanilla) gelato. It definitely hit the spot and was the perfect treat to enjoy before getting back onboard Rhapsody of the Seas.

We got back onboard around 3:30PM. Crowds (and the temperature) on the island were increasing rapidly as the afternoon went on, and we felt satisfied with our busy 8 hours in port. Our first stop once back onboard was the Solarium for a much-needed cool-off session after walking around port all day.

We had another nice dinner in the Main Dining Room tonight before relaxing outside to watch the ship set sail from Mykonos. While I am only two days into this cruise, I cannot believe how amazing the itinerary, weather, cuisine, and culture is on this sailing. Im happy the ports are all close to the main attraction, too, so I dont have to worry about spending hours in transit from the port to reach cities or landmarks.

We havent done much of anything onboard after dinner during this cruise so far. After long, busy port days, all weve wanted to do in the evenings is relax on the pool deck and watch the world go by. Thats exactly what we did this evening!

Tomorrow we are in our second port of call: Chania, Crete. Known as The Little Venice, I cannot wait to see what another day in Greece has in store.

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Rhapsody of the Seas Live Blog - Day 2 - Mykonos, Greece - Royal Caribbean Blog

The US Justice Department has launched a probe of the New York Police Department unit that investigates sex crimes following years of complaints about the way it treats crime victims.

The civil rights investigation announced Thursday will review the departments Special Victims Division to examine whether it engages in a pattern of gender-biased policing, officials said.

Survivors of sexual assault should expect effective, trauma-informed and victim-centred investigations by police departments, said Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. New York Citys two US attorneys joined her in announcing the probe.

The investigation of the police unit, portrayed in fictional form on TVs Law & Order: SVU, comes after a decade of complaints about staff being stretched too thin, and reports by some women that their sexual assault reports weren't thoroughly investigated.

In one 2019 lawsuit, a woman alleged detectives shrugged off her report of being raped by someone shed been involved with, logging it as a dispute instead of a sex crime. Another woman said in the suit that her account of being kidnapped and gang-raped was grossly mishandled by a detective for months before she was told the case was too complex to investigate.

After the lawsuit and a leadership shakeup, the NYPD pledged to change its ways. But victims say the promised reforms havent arrived.

We hope the Justice Departments investigation and our lawsuit will finally result in real change for victims and survivors of sexual assault in New York City, said the women's lawyer, Mariann Wang.

The NYPD said in a written statement that it welcomes the review and is committed to improving the quality of its investigations.

Our goal is for SVD to be the national model, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement. I believe any constructive review of our practices in the Special Victims Division will show that the NYPD has been evolving and improving in this area but we will be transparent and open to criticism as well as ideas in the process.

Justice Department officials said the probe will include a comprehensive review of the police departments policies, procedures and training for investigations of sexual assault crimes by the unit including how it interacts with survivors and witnesses, and how it collects evidence and completes investigations.

They said they also want to see what steps the police department has taken to address deficiencies in its handling of sexual assault crimes, including its staffing and the services and support it offers sexual assault survivors.

Breon Peace, the US attorney in Brooklyn, said the NYPD has already taken steps to address concerns, but authorities want to ensure sex assault victims are treated fairly in the future.

After the 2019 lawsuit, the NYPD appointed a woman, Judith Harrison, to lead the embattled division and shifted to what she called a victim-centred approach but she moved to a different position within two years.

In 2020, the department appointed Michael King, a veteran investigator and forensic nurse, to the post. But King was removed from the job in February, amid complaints about his leadership and the divisions continued mishandling of cases.

Last October, a woman who identified herself as Christine told a City Council hearing that detectives made fundamental mistakes in investigating her rape.

She said they failed to interview witnesses or collect security camera footage from the bar where shed been before the attack.

Instead, she said, they wanted to set up a traumatizing, controlled phone call with the man who raped me, failed to test for date-rape drugs and closed the case twice without telling her.

In another case, detailed in a 2020 article in The New York Times, a New York University student said a sex crimes detective openly doubted her allegation that she had been raped by a stranger in her apartment, talked her out of moving forward and shut down the case.

The suspected rapist, identified through fingerprints on a condom wrapper found at the apartment, was later jailed on burglary charges but ended up being released and assaulting three more women because the special victims' division never told prosecutors he was a rape suspect, the Times reported.

The special victims' division has also been under scrutiny, including from the NYPDs internal affairs bureau, for allegedly mishandling rape kits and investigators allegedly shortchanging the department on hours worked.

Damian Williams, the US attorney in Manhattan, said sex crimes victims deserve the same rigorous and unbiased investigations of their cases that the NYPD affords to other categories of crime.

Likewise, he added, relentless and effective pursuit of perpetrators of sexual violence, unburdened by gender stereotypes or differential treatment, is essential to public safety.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

Originally posted here:

Justice department to probe work of NYPD sex crimes unit | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

Southwest Airlines has relaunched another nonstop route to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, Caribbean Journal has confirmed.

The low-cost carrier has officially resumed nonstop service between Orlando International Airport and Arubas Queen Beatrix International Airport.

The relaunched service is now operating daily between Orlando and Aruba, according to Southwest Airlines.

It compliments existing service between Baltimore-Washington and Aruba; that service is currently operating once weekly on Saturdays.

Southwest Airlines route between Fort Lauderdale and Aruba has still not yet resumed, however. While Southwest was on a broad expansion push to the Caribbean before the onset of the pandemic, especially out of Florida, that growth seems to have slowed in the last two years as competing low-cost carriers, including Frontier Airlines, have massively ramped up their Caribbean networks.

The relaunch is a big boost for Aruba, one of the best performing destinations amid the pandemic. According to a recent report from ForwardKeys shared by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Aruba is among the most resilient destinations in the wider Caribbean, based on confirmed arrivals for the summer.

The new flight service on Southwest Airlines is also indicative of the growing importance to the Caribbean of Orlando, which continues to see more and more routes to the region on a number of carriers.

Aruba has seen particularly strong tourism numbers since the Dutch Caribbean island decided in March to remove all pandemic-era pre-travel testing requirements for travelers.

That means traveling to the island of Aruba is just like it was before the onset of the pandemic, with no negative test or proof of vaccination required.

The move mirrors similar moves by Dutch Caribbean destinations like Saba, Statia and Bonaire, among others.

For more, visit Southwest Airlines.

Original post:

Southwest Airlines Just Relaunched Another Route to Aruba - Caribbean Journal

Dianne Newcomer| Monroe News-Star

They call themselves TCI now. Located about 750 miles from the Florida coast and south of the Bahamas, a chain of40 little islands sit warming in the Caribbean sun. For most of my career as a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service, they were known as the Turks & Caicos, but, today, they are referred to as TCI.

Now, as much as I do like their new tourism slogan: TCI --Beautiful by Nature--it is still hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Yet, like my clients Sarah and Kyle Dennis, who have just returned from a vacation week in the islands, it seems old William Shakespeare got it right when, in "Romeo and Juliet," he proclaimed, " A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." No matter whether you say Turks & Caicos or TCI, thisisland paradise remains one of the Caribbean's best!

"Getting to TCI was so easy--flight connections from the Monroe Airport were excellent. We only needed to show proof of being fully vaccinated, " said Sarah Dennis, "and we were headed to the stunning villa you had reserved. About the only problem we encountered was that Kyle was a little challenged with the car rental at first. Driving an American car with the steering wheel on the left on the wrong side of the road took a little getting used to. Luckily, the roads are good and the traffic was light."

"The only place we had ever been in the Caribbean was St. Barth's and Grace Bay was definitely different. Palm trees sway in the breeze, waves crash on talcum white sand, and, the bluest of blue ocean makes it picture perfect for a family vacation, but the quiet was deafening. You get the feeling that TCI is the last outpost in the Caribbean, and it took a little getting used to a place not yet infected by tourism. We soon found the sense of peace and calm so very soul-soothing, not at all like the glitz and glamour of St. Barths!

Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the chic resorts that looked like they are right out of a design magazine as well as the beaches and nightlife of St. Barths. Its St. Tropez French Riviera vibe makes it a place where you go to see and be seen, but this is quite unlike Turks & Caicos. There is no doubt that TCI can hold its own as an elegant and exclusive Caribbean destination, but its laid back vibe has more of an R&R (rest and relaxation) feel to it. In other words, instead of star watching, our evenings were spent star-gazing the skies!"

We could have laid on the beaches of Grace Bay from sunrise to sunset, but when there is windsurfing, snorkeling, diving, strolling, fishing, surfing, tennis, shopping and dining to be done, beach life can get busy. For the first couple of days, we started with breakfast in the villa, but that was before we discovered several of the pedestrian-friendly breakfast spots on the main strip of Grace Bay. Lemon 2 Go with their Vanilla Latte soon became our morning ritual; we went so many times that we filled a punch card and enjoyed two free drinks!

Beach life quickly turned us into foodies. The kids loved the fried plantains from a food truck called Rooster TFC (btw, that stands for Turks Fried Chicken) but Da Conch Shack with their conch salad and rum punch should be on everyone's list for lunch! For dinner, we were spoiled a couple of nights with private chef dinners, but TCI has so many inviting little spots that we thought it fun to venture out and try them. For anyone who loved the Tamarin in St. Barths, OPUS is a must to tell your Monroe Travel Service travelers to enjoy.

Surprisingly, one of our favorite excursions was a guided eco-kayaking trip through the mangrove shallows. We spotted and, with the help of our guides, learned about lemon sharks, sea turtles and conch. In addition to teaching us about life in the deep, they also encouraged us to take in the local culture at the island's Thursday night Fish Fry.

The kids insisted we try it, so, if anyone is looking for a real taste of island life, then, I recommend this weekly event. Think of it as a nighttime farmer's market, but with food, music, and crafts set up in tents. Locals meet, dance, drink rum punch in cut-out pineapples and eat. The celebration ends with a junkanoo parade involving a whole lot of singing, dancing and a big drum blasting as everyone jumps and wiggles around. What a crazy night and another fun memory from our TCI vacation.

Definitely seems like a trip to TCI turned out to be a perfect family escape for the Dennis family of West Monroe. Instead of staying at BEACHES, the most deluxe all inclusive family vacation spot on the island, or at one of the many gorgeous resort properties on Grace Bay, we rented a 3 bedroom villa on Providenciales--or "Provo" as we in the travel business are encouraged to call it--which proved to be an excellent way for this family to vacation.

So, folks, if you are looking for a great toes-in-the-sand getaway, maybe the laid-back vibe of the Turks & Caicos/ TCI should to be on your travel radar. The islanders, who call themselves the "belongers," believe they are lucky to live in a place that time (and the crowds) has forgotten. Yet, as a travel agent, I would say we are the lucky ones. TCI is one of the few places so quiet and peaceful that we can go and forget time!

Dianne Newcomer is a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service. For help with your next vacation, whether a resort, cruise or tour, please call 318 323 3465 or email INFO@MONROETRAVEL.com and one of our travel experts will be happy to send you away!

Link:

Turks & Caicos (or TCI) remains one of the Caribbean's best - The News Star

Queen Elizabeth's empire is shrinking with more and more nations announcing to remove her as head of state.

The British monarch, who recently completed 75 years on the throne,will be removed as the head of state in Jamaica as the island nation has "formally commenced" its separation from the British monarchy, according to UK's Express News.

Marlene Malahoo Forte QC, a senior minister who leads the countrys Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, told the Kingston parliament the process would be completed in stages before the next election in 2025.

The publication reported that the separation process will involve several steps including a vote in the House and Senate of the Jamaican parliament and a referendum by the people

The report comes months after Prince William and Kate Middleton visited the Caribbean as part of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Their visit also sparked protests in several places.

Last year, Barbados stopped pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II as it shed another vestige of its colonial past and became a republic for the first time in history.

Several leaders, dignitaries and artists, including Prince Charles and singer Rihanna, attended the ceremony.

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Queen Elizabeth will cede territory in Caribbean - The News International

Caribbean:Weather Synopsis: A tropical wave will move across the island chain today, triggering cloudy skies and showers for the Windward Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago. Thunderstorms are also possible across Trinidad and Tobago.

Partly cloudy to sometimes cloudy skies with a moderate chance of showers are forecast for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as some moisture and weak instability moves through that area. Afternoon thunderstorms are also possible for Puerto Rico as a result of daytime heating. The rest of the area will see more settled conditions with just about a slight chance of showers anticipated.

Continue to monitor DMCA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media sites and their website http://dmca.gov.msfor daily weather updates, public advisories and warnings and information on the wide range of natural and man-made hazards that have the potential to impact Montserrat.

Disclaimer: The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) is the national body responsible for coordinating the management of emergencies and disasters in Montserrat, and is not an official Meteorological Agency. The Information disseminated by the Department is gathered from a number of professional sources utilized by the DMCA and the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, the agency responsible for aviation weather products and services for Montserrat.

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Read Weather Update: Eastern Caribbean to witness cloudy skies, thunderstorms - Associates Times