Category Archives: Caribbean

A few days before the start of the Easter holiday season, one of the most important tourist areas in Mexico, the coasts of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexican Caribbean, face the massive sargassum runoff, affected mainly beaches of the Riviera Maya, Mahahual, Xcalak, Tulum and some of the Cancun hotel zone.

State authorities pointed out that just last weekend, 3,300 tons of sargassum were collected in the resort of Playa del Carmen.

The director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council, Daro Flota Ocampo, told the media that during the Easter holiday period, from April 11 to 24, hotel occupancy will be at 90% in most of the state, especially in the north, where destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, and Holbox are located.

In Cancun, through the official pages of social networks of the direction of the Federal Maritime Land Zone (Zofemat), the publication of a sargassum traffic light for certified beaches was implemented, which establishes that for beaches such as Marlin, Ballenas and Delfines present moderate flow of sargassum and in Playa Coral it is abundant.

Another of the traffic lights available so that tourists and the general population can consult which are the most affected beaches is the one prepared by the Sargassum Monitoring Network on the Facebook social network, which includes the entire state.

For the cleaning of certified beaches, in the resort of Cancun, there are crews with more than 100 workers. So far this year, 1,965 tons of sargassum have already been removed from Del Nio, Las Perlas, Coral, Marln, Ballenas, Delfines and Chac Mool beaches.

Recently, the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) reported that to attend to this seaweed landing season, they have 11 coastal sargassum vessels that will be distributed in the areas with the highest landfall.

So far, 300 anchors have been placed for the installation of barriers in Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Mahahual, where only 480 meters of barriers have been installed.

As part of the operation, Semar carried out the maintenance of tractor vehicles with sweepers, which will be delivered to the municipalities of Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, and Othn P. Blanco.

Esteban Amaro, director of the Sargassum Monitoring Network, considered that eight years after the massive landing of sargassum began on the coasts of Quintana Roo, the need to change the strategy is becoming more and more evident because what has been done so far didnt work

Amaro highlighted that the methodology used until now, which consists of collecting sargassum on the beach, in addition to being expensive, it is insufficient due to the thousands of tons that arrive on the busiest days.

The University of South Florida noted in a report that the amount of sargassum doubled from January to February.

Amaro explained that the current weather conditions, which favor strong winds from the southeast, are throwing the sargassum towards the beaches because as spring entered the winds began to change, the sea currents began to change, and at this time one to two degrees more are registered in sea temperature, which favors the reproduction of sargassum.

Amaro, a hydrobiologist by profession, anticipated that the massive sargassum spills will continue until May and there will be a small break between June and July, but it will return with more force between August and September.

Sargassum originates from the Sargasso Sea, located in the Atlantic Ocean, between the coasts of the United States and Europe.

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However, since 2014 a large portion of it has broken off and settled between the coasts of Africa and Brazil, from where sea currents move it towards the Caribbean Sea.

According to scientific research, it is deduced that the causes of the increase may be the increase in temperature in marine waters and the discharge of organic matter waste into rivers in Central American countries, which accelerates the life cycle and reproduction of the algae.

The algae is currently capable of doubling its biomass in 11 days, whereas before it took 50.

Read more:

Should have gone to Puerto Vallarta; Mexico's Caribbean inundated with seaweed this Easter holiday - Puerto Vallarta Daily News

Royal Caribbean has always been known to be a company that doesnt wait around creating more and bigger experiences for its guests. It certainly shows that with launching four of the largest cruise ships in the world in the next four years.

The cruise line plans to add more than 20,000 lower berth beds in the next four years, a massive amount, and those beds will be on only four ships.

The sixth Oasis-class vessel, slated for delivery in 2024, and three Icon-Class vessels, the newest class of ships for Royal Caribbean, are scheduled for delivery in 2023, 2025, and 2026.

Royal Caribbean is taking a new approach with both classes of ships, ensuring the environmental effects are drastically reduced while also reviving the onboard experience for guests.

She might be part of the Oasis-class of ships, but she is much more than that in reality. According to various reports, the first ship in class to be powered by LNG will also be the biggest cruise ship in the world by some margin. One source says she could be up to 250,000 gross tons due to the addition of the LNG equipment.

There will be more differences between the latest Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas, mainly to do with the construction issues that come with building LNG tanks into a vessel designed for using oil.

Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de lAtlantique: The main problem is that LNG tanks take up more space than diesel or fuel oil tanks. We have lost space for other things, mainly crew cabins located above the technical rooms. We had to find more space in the whole ship. For example, passenger cabins became crew cabins.

Read Also: Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic A Giant Comparison

According to Florence Mauduit, Business Manager for the shipyard, the vessel will lose about 70 crew and 50 guest cabins. Still, there will be space for 6,000 passengers on board the 362-meter ship.

The transformation from oil to gas also means that Utopia will have a slightly different silhouette; the mast is placed more towards the middle of the ship, making space for the gas exhaust column.

Although the cutting of the first steel has just been completed, Utopia of the Seas outlines will be visible starting this summer:

We build with two gantries. The Very Large Crane is used to assemble the blocks, while the Very High Crane is used to install the panels on the blocks and the upper parts of the ship. Utopia of the Seas will be visible starting this summer when we begin to assemble the first part of the hold, said Jean-Yves Jaouen, Operations Manager for the shipyard.

Utopia of the Seas will likely float for the first time in September 2023, with the launch scheduled for 2024. What and if new venues are planned for the latest ship is unclear at this time.

Still, with the innovations already designed and made public, it would be surprising if Royal Caribbean didnt have some exciting surprises in mind for Utopia of the Seas.

The Icon-class of ships is the next class addition for Royal Caribbean, which has many cruise fans and ship enthusiasts excited. It will be the first new class of cruise ships to be released since the Quantum class nine years ago.

Built at the Meyer Turku yard in Finland, Icon of the Seas is reported to be 200,000 gross tonnes, making her one of the most giant cruise ships in the world.

Powered by LNG to provide propulsion and fuel cell technology to provide electrical power to the vessel, she will be one of the cleanest cruise ships at sea. Besides the gross tonnage and the expected passenger numbers, little else is known about the Icon-class of ships.

Worth Reading: What Is a Royal Caribbean Quantum-Ultra Class Cruise Ship?

Michael Bayley, the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, said the following about the Icon-class of ships last year:We made our commitment to making clean power at sea a reality and soon the norm when Icon Class was first announced in 2016, and were excited to see construction underway on what will truly be a ship unlike any other.

Our decades of work in ocean conservation, energy efficiency and continuous improvement will be evident all throughout Icon. We look forward to revealing more of the game-changing features our guests and crew have in store as she begins to take shape.

Besides Icon of the Seas, which is scheduled for launch in 2023, two more Icon-class ships are on order from the shipyard. Hull number NB-1401, as she is known, will be launched in 2025, and the third ship will be launched in 2026.

All together, Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and the two so-far unknown Icon-class ships represent an increase of more than 20,000 berths for Royal Caribbean. The company has a little over 88,000 berths available in 2021, according to Statista.

It would mean that the addition of the four ships represents an increase of more than 22% for the company. It will also ensure the companys fleet of ships is one of the youngest in the industry, and it keeps on track with the competition, such as Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line, which are also not sitting still.

More here:

Royal Caribbean to Add 20,000 Berths in the Next Four Years - Cruise Hive

BARBADOS, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Following the successful launch of its Optimal Recruitment Advertising Campaignsand Recruitment Partner Programmes, the team at Caribbean Employment Services is introducing a new initiative to help the clients it works with support a sustainable approachto business in the Caribbean.

As a business based in the Barbados, Caribbean Employment Servicesis increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability in protecting the beautiful Islands and supportive of the focus that Governments, organisations and companies are placing on sustainability and its importance to everyone's future.

Keen to work with businesses and organisations that recognise the importance of economic, social and environmental sustainability, both in the Caribbean and globally, the team at Caribbean Employment Services has developed a new initiative to help their clients reaches a wider audience who share the same ethos and ambitions.

Through their Recruitment Partner Programme,clients can communicate their commitment to sustainability, the programmes they're running, initiatives they've launched and their contribution to the Islands. This ensures a consistent message that attracts talent who have the same vision on sustainability and want to work for a company that recognises the importance of its contribution to preserving the ecosystem, improving the quality of lives and safeguarding natural resources.

Employers on the Recruitment Partner Programmebenefit from publication in Caribbean Employment Services' widely distributed and popular news articles, as well as press releases written and distributed through their PR team, ensuring even wider exposure for their recruitment campaigns and sustainability initiatives.

Joseph Boll, CEO at Caribbean Employment Services, said "We're proud to work with businesses in the hospitality and tourism industries who are committed to reducing their impact on the environment and protect our beautiful Islands and those who live, work and visit them. Using our experience, we're delighted to have the opportunity to launch this initiative, developed to help our clients reach potential candidates and a wider audience who share the same vision and ambitions for sustainability."

SOURCE Caribbean Employment Services

Originally posted here:

Caribbean Employment Services Introduce New Initiative to Help to Support a Sustainable Approach to Business in the Caribbean - PR Newswire

ECUADOR: EARTHQUAKE

KEY FIGURES

2.5K PEOPLE AFFECTED BY EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH-WESTERN ECUADOR

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the north-western province of Esmeraldas on 26 March, leaving damage in many communities affected by the April 2016 earthquake that left 350,000 people in need. Per the National Risk and Emergency Management Service (SNGRE), the earthquake affected more than 2,500 people and 3,500 homes.

These numbers may potentially grow as response teams are still conducting evaluations amid access constraints linked to growing insecurity, a recent vulnerability that was not a factor during the 2016 earthquake response. More than half the population lives in poverty, often in homes that do not meet regulatory standards.

The provincial Emergency Operations Committee (COE) in Esmeraldas is active, with SNGRE responding to identified needs related to shelter, WASH, food security, protection and logistics. While UN teams in Ecuador are on the ground supporting the response, a request for international assistance is not expected.

CENTRAL AMERICA: FOOD INSECURITY

KEY FIGURES

5.8M PEOPLE IN EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA & HONDURAS IN CRISIS LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY

Per the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net), El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua could potentially experience further increases in food prices over the next eight months due to the increase in fuel and grain prices resulting from the current situation in Ukraine.

Additionally, annual inflation in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua continues to rise, with year-on-year variations of 6.5, 6.2, and 7.7 per cent, respectively. Inflation in the food sector in these countries rose by 9.0, 7.5, and 10.3 per cent, respectively, between January 2021 to January 2022, making it the sector with the largest increases.

FEWS Nets food security outlook for February to September 2022 currently expects Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes for the poorest households in the Honduran and Guatemalan Dry Corridor and poor households still grappling with the effects of hurricanes Eta and Iota.

Read the original post:

Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (28 March - 3 April 2022) As of 4 April 2022 - Ecuador - ReliefWeb

Last week, Kate Middleton and Prince William embarked on their tour of Central America and the Caribbean. The eight-day tour featured stops in the Commonwealth nations of Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. For the royal excursion, the Duchess of Cambridge showed off 17 different looks, boasting an array of colors that mimicked the bright palettes of each countrys respective flags and tropical surroundings. While Kate sported some of her go-to favorite brands, from her classic white Superga sneakers to Alexander McQueen trousers and a glittering Vampires Wife gown, the royal mom of three also mixed up her island-inspired looks with vintage pieces and an array of bold accessories. And in classic Kate Effect fashion, a lot of the duchesss tour pieces sold out almost instantly after she was stepped out in a certain look. But lucky for you whether you're a fashion-obsessed Kate fan or looking to gift a special person in your life who loves Kates signature royal style there are still some royal tour pieces available to snag. Below, weve gathered a selection of pieces from Kates tour ensembles that you can shop now but dont wait too long for the "Kate Effect" to take hold on these items as well.

All products featured on Vanity Fair are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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17 Items Kate Middleton Wore on the Royal Caribbean Tour That You Can Shop Now - Vanity Fair

The tamal has many different faces across Colombia, with distinct parts of the country incorporating particular starches, proteins, vegetables, and seasonings into their renditions of the leaf-wrapped dish. Chef Alejandra Cubillos Gonzlez, who was born and raised in Bogot, grew up eating tamal santafereo, a variety typical of the capital region that usually includes pork, chicken, peas, carrots, and cornmeal, all bound up tightly in wrapped banana leaves. Every year at Christmas and the New Year, her grandmother, who ran a restaurant and cooked all her life, would prepare the dish for the whole family, with relatives helping assemble and wrap each tamal.

After Gonzlez became a chef herself and began developing recipes for the menu at Baha Restaurant in Isla Bar, a former peninsula accessible from the port city of Cartagena, she wanted to represent her native countrys knack for cooking foods wrapped in natural fibers. She also wanted to highlight the local cuisine, which was so different from that of the capital, thanks to the coastal climate and Caribbean influencesnamely, the bounty of fresh fish.

It was in Cartagena that Gonzlez first began to cook fish regularly, especially locally abundant varieties such as horse mackerel and various snappers she had rarely encountered before. Being close to the sea, I can be more connected with local fishermen, learn from them, and discover other types of food, she says. They advised me in the best method of cooking for each varietyfried, roasted, or with some sauce.

To encapsulate some of her new home citys quintessential foodways in a single dish, Gonzlez decided that a tamal-inspired parcel might be a great vehicle for allowing a delicate cut of local corvina to shine. Further drawing on the coastal regions specialties, she dreamed up a tomato-and-coconut-milk-based saucesomewhat reminiscent of cazuela de mariscos, or seafood stew, one of Cartagenas representative dishesto pour over the fish. A common ingredient in Colombias coastal regions because of how plentiful it is, coconut gives us flavor, moisture, and natural fat that lends texture and aroma, Gonzlez explains, while also balancing out the acidity of the tomatoes.

She wraps the fish and sauce in plantain leaves to protect the ingredients we have chosen, noting that the natural fibers concentrate the flavors within and preserve the integrity of the fillings as the dish steams. The leaves also impart their own subtly herbaceous and mildly bitter fragrance into the fixings. Gonzlez further ups the aroma by heating the leaves over hot coals prior to wrapping, which infuses them with smoky flavor and also improves their pliability.

Wrapping dishes in banana leaves was a tradition of our ancestors, she explains. (The whole reason for wrapping food, of course, originates in the need to transport it, according to Mariana Velasquez, author of the cookbook Colombiana: A Rediscovery of Recipes and Rituals from the Soul of Colombia. In these little packets, you have a full meal.) Traditional tamal recipes generally include starches like rice, and meats like chicken or pork, but Gonzlez believed in the versatility of the cooking method. To bring it into the present, we decided to apply this wrapping technique to the fish.

In the kitchen at Baha Restaurant, Gonzlez opens up the leaves slightly before serving, so that the fillings peek out and aromatic steam billows from the unwrapped foliage; diners can dig in right awayno unpacking required. Cartagenas penchant for coconut appears again in a bowl of fragrant coconut rice, served alongside the leaf-cradled tamal. And leaves arent the only part of the banana on the tableeveryone also gets a helping of plantain chips to nibble on as they look out over Bars white-sand shoreline. In many ways, this coastal-inspired meal captures the surroundings perfectly.

Though Gonzlezs tamal may differ from traditional recipes, she considers her interpretation both a celebration of Colombias tradition of expertly wrapping foods, and also a representation of Cartagenas culinary specialties. Through this dish, we pay homage to our traditions and to our ingredients, she says. The person who tastes this fish can take a trip through their palate.

Read the original:

One Chefs Spin on the Colombian TamalInspired by the Caribbean Coast - Saveur

The town of Oak Bluffs is home to gingerbread houses, Caribbean-inspired food, and live music

Shayna Seymour visits the town of Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, where she tours a gingerbread house and warms up with a bowl of conch chowder

Updated: 8:10 PM EDT Apr 4, 2022

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>> THIS LITTLE VILLAGE IN SHADES OF RAINBOW CANDY IS A VINEYARD MUST SEE .THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES IN OAK BLUFFS ARE NOT INHABITED BY GNOMES AND FAIRIES. REAL PEOPLE LIVE HERE INCLUDING RICHARD ANDEN JNIFER MICHAELSON WHO DISCOVERED THIS COMMUNITYN I THE 1970'S >> I TOLD JEIFERNN SOMEDAY I WILL BUY YOU ONE OF THESE LITTLE COTTESAG AND ICAM THROUGH ON MY PROMISE. >> TT HASWA IN 2008 TODAY, THERE ARE 960 SQREUA FOOT COTTAGE IS A COZY GETAWAY. I>> WASNE O OF THE FEWO T WINTERIZE ALTHOUGH WE WERE MOSTLY HERE IN THE SUMMER OR THE SPRING. >> THE MICHELSONS ALSO LIVE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE JENNIFER IS A YOGA TEACHER AND INTERFAITH MINISTER. RICHARD IS AN AWARD-WINNING POET AND WRITER OF CHILDRENS BOOKS. MANY OF THEM ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE. >> THIS HAS BEEN A GRE PATLACE FOR ME TO COME AND GET AWAY. I DO A LOT OF WRITING WHILE I AM HERE. >> JUST WALK INTO HERE AND THERE IS A SSE OENF PEACE A QUIETNESS AND ENERGY THAT IS RELYAL LOVELY. >> THE CAMPGROUND AS THE CUTE IT CAEDLL AGAIN IN THE 1830S AS A RELIGIOUS RETREAT FOR METHODISTS. MEMBERS PITCHED TENTS ON THE PROPERTY. >> SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 1870'S THEY STARTED TO BUILD THESE GINGERBREAD COTTAGESN I THE CARPENTER GOTHIC STYLE. >> THE MICHELSONS BELIE EVTHIS PHOTO SHOWS MEMBERS OF A MUSICAL TROUPE AT THEIR COTTA. >> WE BELIEVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE STAYING HERE.>> TODAY, 10% ARE OCCUPIED YEAR ROUND. A PERFORMANCE HALL IS AN ISLDAN WEDNESDAY. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, THE UPKEEP. >> IT IS PRETTCONSY TANT UPKEEP. >> OAK BLUFFS IS ALSO HOME TO A CHEF WHO WHIPS UP A FEASTT ATHE LOCAL VFW. NEW YORK TRAINED YOUNG THOMAS HAS HIS OWN RESTAURANTS ON MARTHAS VINEYARD. ONE WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE. SHI OTHER RESTAURANTS ON THE CARIBBNEA ISLAND WHERE HE GREW UP WERE LOST TO HURRICANES. >> I WAS A CHEF WITHOUT A HOME SO I CAME TO THE VFW. IT HAS BEEN 11 YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE. >> CHEF DION KEPT HISOO DRS OPEN FOR TAKE THROUGH COVID-19. HIS DISHES ARE PACKED WITH CARIBBEANLA FVOR. >> IF YOU WANT SOMETHING FROM TRINIDAD OR HAITI OR BARBADOS, JAMAICA, I CAN MAKE IT. >> LOCAL SEAFOOD IS ALSO A SPECIALTY. IN PARTICULAR, CHANNEL WELCOME. IT CAN TASTE LIKE SCALLOPSF I COOKED CORRECTLY. >> I STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH IT AND THAT LED ME TO WRITING A BOOK. TO THISAY D IM THE ONLY PERSON SERVING IT IN THE RESTAURAN.TS >> CAN I POUND ONE? >> CERTAINLY. >> ON THE NUME TODAY, CCHON FRITTERS AND CHOWD.ER >> THIS IS HOW WE MAKE IT IN THE CARIBBEAN. IT IS GLUTEN-FREE AND I USE ORGANIC VEGETABLES. >> IM GOING TO MASSAGE IT. CONCH CAN ALSO BE GRILLED. IT IS GOING TO BGOE OD. JERK CHICKEN WITH FRIED PLAN TAINTS IS ANOTHER CLASSIC. >> WE DO A TABLESPOON OF JERK SAUCE TO A POUND OF CHICKEN. GOINING AT 350. 25 MINUTES. THE CHICKEN WILL BE READY. >> CHEF DION ALSO HAS A CATERING BUSINESS WORKING ALONE IN THE OFF-SEASON. HIS CUSTOMERS ARE LOYAL AND APPRECIATIVE. >> I NEVER SHUT THE DOOR. PEOPLE REMEMBER. >> MAYBE YOUR FRUIT IS GOOD. >> MAYBE THE FOOD IS GOO--D MAYBE YOUR FOOD IS GOOD. >> MAYBE THE FOOD IS GOOD. >>AK O BLUSFF SHOPPING SCENE IS STARTING TO HEAT UP. >> IT HAS A HEARTBEAT OF ITS OWN. >> THE RITZ HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 14.94 ONCE A GRIZZLED DIVE B,AR IT IS NOW A PREMIER VENUE FOR LIVE MUSIC. >> THE LIVE MUSIC IS LIKE NO OTHER. COLLECTS THE OWNS --ER> > THE OWNERS SHOULD NOTE HERE THEY HAIL FROM TEXAS WHERE THEY OWN SEVERAL BARS AND RESTAURANTS. >> WE HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE ISLAND SINCE 1997. WE ALWAYS CAME FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY. THERE WAS A FOR SALE SIGN IN THE WINDOW. >> SHE SAYS THIS SUMMER WILLE B A TRUE TEST FOR BUSINESSES NEEDING A POST-PANDEMIC BOOM.

The town of Oak Bluffs is home to gingerbread houses, Caribbean-inspired food, and live music

Shayna Seymour visits the town of Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, where she tours a gingerbread house and warms up with a bowl of conch chowder

Updated: 8:10 PM EDT Apr 4, 2022

The owner of a gingerbread house in Oak Bluffs lets us take a peek inside his writers retreat: Richard Michelson Poet and Children's Book AuthorA New York-trained chef from Anguilla is cooking up a storm at the VFW in Oak Bluffs: Chef Deon. Owner Jackie Stallings is hoping the summer is going to be hopping at her historic bar: HOME | Mysite (theritzmv.com)

The owner of a gingerbread house in Oak Bluffs lets us take a peek inside his writers retreat: Richard Michelson Poet and Children's Book Author

A New York-trained chef from Anguilla is cooking up a storm at the VFW in Oak Bluffs: Chef Deon.

Owner Jackie Stallings is hoping the summer is going to be hopping at her historic bar: HOME | Mysite (theritzmv.com)

See the rest here:

The town of Oak Bluffs is home to Gingerbread houses Caribbean inspired food and live music - WCVB Boston

Talk therapy has its place.

There is no question that therapy in its many forms - from virtual online sessions to text-based therapy via online messaging to traditional sessions of seeing a professional in-person or through group support - plays an important role in healing.

Talk therapy has saved more lives than we can capture through statistics.For, it provides a space for us to process difficult emotions, navigate life transitions, heal deep-rooted emotional wounds and develop coping strategies.

But as effective as it is, talk therapy or psychotherapy is not the only cure-all for persons who are struggling with their mental health.

Healing Alternatives

Tracey Wattley, owner of Island Therapy on the island of St Kitts has realised that there is not any one treatment that fits all and individuals can use a combination of treatments to get the help that is needed.

Many persons who participate in therapy receive strength and recovery through individual or group services. However, psychotherapy is just one technique in treating mental health. There are other things like medication, case management, hospitalisation, support groups, self-help plan, peer support, that can complement the work of psychotherapy and are effective, Tracey Wattley, Psychotherapist, Island Therapy.

Community Healing

We cannot ignore the role of community in our healing experience.

On the practical level though in the Caribbean, we have always been a close-knitted society, and to some extent, our lives are enmeshed on a community level so being our brothers keeper goes a long way in looking out for each other. Learning how to hold space for each other by being observant of whats happening and practising effective listening is powerful, Tracey Wattley.

Our community might be our religious church group, or it may be our chosen friend circle or people in a community group who are passionate about the things that we care deeply about. Or, our community might look like reasoning with the elders around us from time to time.

Whatever form your community might take lean into that.

For, it is in a community that we are given a space to get together, voice our concerns and develop personally or spiritually and become psychologically strong.

On an individual level practising mindfulness works. Mindfulness is tapping into our human ability to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we are doing daily. Knowing whats affecting us, accessing our state of mind by acknowledging our thoughts and emotions and in general of well-being is a skill that can help us remain mental well.

Outdoor Therapy

Traceys private practice, Island Therapy, utilises the persons-centered approach and she addresses, challenges like substance use, anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, stress and anger management, gender identity/sexual orientation, grief, and complex trauma. What is unique about her practice is that it is not confined to a room, but her sessions involve being outdoors too.

Nature gives us a full mind-body recharge and reset. And, most times it is free.

Regardless of what island you find yourself on, going to the beach or spending time in nature is a sure way to boost your mood.

Whether it is the crisp breeze, the sound of the roaring ocean or the sand under our feet, or it is soaking in the sun or hearing the cocks crow and birds chirp, we dont need a science-backed list of why nature generates a feel-good emotional response in us. We know this from experience. By simply stepping outside.

Our Culture is Our Medicine

Healing can also include cultural traditions, practices, and preferences that we hold close to our hearts.

Music, painting, and fetes make up the fabric of who we are and offer us a mental rest that can help us disconnect, and release stress and anxiety.

How? They produce those feel-good hormones oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, and dopamine that rush through our bodies. Feeling low mood? Consider stepping outside and focusing on the sounds and visuals in nature. Or take deep, belly full breaths for three minutes to calm the mind. Or turn on aDJ Puffymix to wake your happy hormones.

Yoga and Breathwork

Dale Amory the owner of Imagine Yoga on St Kitts has witnessed firsthand the healing power of yoga and movement. She has seen how practices in yoga and breathwork have helped people to release trauma that may have taken root in their minds and body.

"'Yoga - living within is the only way out. All life happens within you and once you understand that, you become the captain of your healing journey, Dale Amory, Owner, Imagine Yoga.

Dale was instrumental in bringing one of the first yoga retreats to St Kitts and has hosted numerous weekend retreats. If you visit one of her sessions, it is clear that her passion is teaching, but her impact is healing.

On the connection of yoga and mental health, Dale shares that Yoga has many tools to help us remain in the present moment, and it helps us to become calm and relaxed in all situations. Our breath being our most valuable tool.

In October 2018, Dale became a certified Hatha Yoga teacher. She has completed a Gong Mastery course at Hawkwood College and recently completed a second course in Sound Therapy for Groups with the Sound Healing Academy.

All of her experience and training is centered on healing from the inside out and it is an experience that many locals participate in as an alternative to talk therapy.

Yoga is a way of life. It goes way beyond what happens on the mat. It Is the union of our entire being; our body, mind, energies, and emotions. Our goal is to teach everyone how to use our most powerful tool, our breath, which is always a part of us, at any time to help calm their body, mind, energies, and emotions. It is so important to understand that what happens in one aspect of our life, affects all aspects, Dale Amory, Owner, Imagine Yoga.

The Mind-Gut Connection

As we contemplate healing, holistically, we have to pay attention to the direct link between what we eat and what we feel.

Whether it is a fresh bowl of greens with plantains, bush tea, or sweet drinks and burger and fries, what we eat may trigger emotional shifts in us a dynamic that doctors call the mind-gut connection, and the reason scientists call the gut, our second brain.

But we dont have to run off to try the latest diets pushed by wellness influencers, we can start cultivating a healthy gut by eatingcruciferous vegetablesand coloured vegetables that are plentiful in our markets and backyards.

Start Healing with What Resonates with You

Accessing help practically means taking a look at different factors like what type of help is available and also considering if one can afford the help financially, the level of help that is required among other factors, Tracey Wattley, Psychotherapist, Island Therapy.

We couldnt agree more.

There are different ways to heal with professionals. Figuring out what to try starts with doing what you are drawn to and honouring your cultural roots. All the while being open to exploring other ways of healing.

Continue reading here:

Healing beyond the couch: There's no one way to heal | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

A lot has been happening in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), involving Caricom countries, which, except for a few articles, have mostly gone under the radar in the Region.

Dubai 2020 Expo

Dubai has been hosting a world exposition from October 1, 2021, which ended last Thursday. World expositions are large scale universal fairs covering a variety of themes. These fairs are sanctioned by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). It was agreed from 2013 that Dubai would host this exposition in 2020. Due to the Covid-19 virus, however, this first world exposition to be held in the Middle East, was postponed to 2021.

These world fairs are seen as opportunities to showcase the participating countries in individual pavilions. They are also opportunities to make contacts, forge partnerships, deepen relations, explore investment opportunities, cooperate on various projects, and exchange information and experiences. The Caricom Member States have participated in several of these expositions over the years either collectively or as individual countries.

This 2020 Dubai exposition was held under the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future with sub-themes, opportunity, mobility and sustainability. Topics highlighted during the expo included climate and biodiversity, urban and rural development, travel and connectivity and food, agriculture and livelihoods.

One hundred and ninety-two countries have been participating, including from Caricom, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts/Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and T&T.

The Expo has provided an opportunity to host various trade and economic events in Dubai. Thus, Caricom government officials have visited their pavilions on their national days and participated in the various spin-off events. Jamaicas Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, visited in February, along with Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, for Jamaicas National Day on February 18.

Up to the end of February, it was reported that over 14 million people had visited this expo.

Caribbean Investment Forum

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), in association with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) hosted the Caribbean Export Forum in Dubai on March 22. This high level event aimed to present a variety of investment opportunities in the Caribbean in agricultural technology, hotel and resort development, logistics and transportation, and financial technology.

The Forum had sessions on doing business in the Caribbean and investment opportunities, as well as providing time for networking. The Forum was showcasing the Caribbean in the UAE and to others in that region. It was attended by over 250 participants. With business meetings taking place over three days. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, president of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. Ali, pointed to the Caribbean as a region built on resilience and diversity which will allow investment to thrive even though its population is small. He said: Once you have the capital, the foresight, access to technology, then the Caribbean Region is a destination you should be looking at. It is a destination that offers you an opportunity to build a complex, multifaceted investment platform. And its a region that is looking at being self-sufficient in many areas.

Ali highlighted the regions economic potential and spoke extensively about opportunities also in environmental services, the blue economy, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, tourism and other areas of potential and predicted growth.

He pointed to the Regions location with its direct access to South, Central and North America and its investment and trade arrangements. Countries in the region, he said, are aiming to transform their infrastructure, and are looking at building infrastructure that will support regional development.

The president also spoke of Guyanas great potential as an investment destination given its natural resources. The region is seeking investments from the Middle East where capital is available.

Caricom countries have made other efforts to court investments in the Middle East. I hope that participation in the Dubai 2020 Expo, which closes this week, will be successful in generating new investment flows into the region to aid the effort to build back better post-Covid.

*Elizabeth Morgan, who writes for CMC, is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics.

Read more:

Dubai Expo and the Caribbean Investment Forum - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers

You're spoilt for choice when looking for new cuisine to try on Clare Road in Grangetown. Stores and restaurants all along the road, which cuts through the centre of the Cardiff suburb, celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism of the area with all corners of the world represented.

Last month, the hugely popular Cardiff pop-up and ramen kit producer Matsudai Ramen announced it was taking over the former site of Natwest Bank on the road, its first permanent restaurant after being founded a little over two years ago. It takes its place alongside restaurants plating up dishes from all over the world, including Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East. You can read our review of the restaurant serving the best Yemeni food in Cardiff here.

But there is now another new restaurant to shout about. Having been based in a portacabin on Dumballs Road in Butetown for the past two years, The Caribbean Way has a new location on Clare Road, on the former site of Wild Thing cafe. Established in 2014, the Caribbean restaurant and takeaway has won a legion of fans, including rappers, footballers and reality stars, and their announcement last month that they were moving to Grangetown has got a lot of Cardiff foodies feeling excited.

Read more:Coffi Co reveal plans to open third dog-friendly coffee shop in Cardiff

After hearing only good things about both the food and customer service, I decided to go and try Grangetown's newest restaurant for myself. I went down to Clare Road on a Tuesday lunchtime armed with a healthy appetite and high expectations. To read more of the latest food and drink news and reviews sign up for our weekly Food & Drink newsletter here.

Sandwiched between Blend coffee shop and Al Miro's barbers, there was not too much space in the unit for the restaurant to work with. However, it feels snug rather than cramped thanks to a smart layout which includes a large service counter and food preparation area and a few tables along the wall and by the window. Another benefit is the smell of the rich jerk seasoning that wafts around the restaurant as the food is prepared.

I had a tough time choosing what I wanted due to the number of mouth-watering options on offer. While I was still in time for the breakfast menu - which runs until 1pm and includes a Jamaican special of ackee and saltfish with plantain and fried dumplings - I was drawn to their wide selection of jerk dishes. I admit I was also tempted by traditional Caribbean dishes of curry goat and oxtail, but in the end, I opted for a 1/4 jerk chicken with a side of seasoned fries and rice and peas, which came to 10. For my drink, I couldn't resist adding the bottle of luminous red fruit punch (3) from the top shelf of the fridge to my order.

I had arrived at the restaurant just after midday and was initially surprised to find that I was only one of two customers there. However, within around 15 minutes of my arrival, the lunchtime rush was in full swing, with co-workers and families all popping in for a sit-down meal or to pick up a takeaway.

After a very short wait, my food arrived, and I was taken aback by how colourful the plate was a hefty piece of sticky, jerk-drizzled chicken lay on a healthy bed of rice and was paired with creamy-looking coleslaw and a huge basket of fries. It looked incredibly tempting and comforting and I couldn't wait to tuck in.

It only took a couple of bites to realise this dish was not just full of colour, but full of flavour too. The jerk marinade that coated the chicken was big and punchy, fragrantly spiced and bringing a good amount of heat, while the meat itself was tender and juicy and took very little work to be taken off the bone. While I'd opted for chicken on this occasion, the big flavours of the marinade made me also want to try the whole range of jerk dishes, which include lamb chops, salmon and prawns.

The chicken was the undisputed star of the show, but the dish was really brought together by the accompanying sides. The rice and peas were light and soaked up the drizzle nicely, while also carrying a hint of coconut which helped to give it a bit of edge against the overwhelming jerk flavour. The coleslaw was sweet and citrusy, with this fruity freshness providing a nice contrast to the rest of the meal.

There was no danger of me going hungry thanks to the generous portion of fries I was served. These were well cooked and had a good crunch to them, although I was hoping for a stronger kick from the seasoning given the substantial dusting they had clearly been given. An incredibly minor grievance from me, however, as this meal was certainly not lacking in flavour.

The homemade fruit punch, labelled with the funky Caribbean Way logo, was also a nice surprise. It is hugely sweet and even flirts with sickliness, but never quite crosses that line. It gives you all of the immediate satisfaction that comes from eating a big bag of sweets, without the unfortunate comedown.

By the point I'd finished my meal, it was standing room only at the Clare Road restaurant, with staff impressively managing to remain attentive to those enjoying their food while dealing with a huge wave of new orders. Having only opened last week, it is clear that word has already spread around Grangetown, with this only set to increase over the coming months.

All in all, I couldn't really fault it. I had enjoyed a lunch full of vibrant, interesting flavours that had clearly been lovingly and expertly prepared, and had only cost me 13 in total. My only regret was not picking up a slice of the sprinkle sponge cake that was being batched up in my eye line during my meal. I guess I'll have to come back again for that!

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We tried the tiny new restaurant bringing a taste of the Caribbean to Grangetown - Wales Online