Category Archives: Caribbean

Five fishermen stranded in the Caribbean for hours after their boat sank Saturday thanked God for saving their lives.

Captain James Kirwan, Kyle Dyer, Azim Baksh, Keston Frederick, and Jerome Nicome jumped into the sea wearing life jackets as their boat sank off the coast of Tobago. The group was discovered by a Bahamian vessel two hours later, according to Newsday. The report noted that the men attributed their rescue to divine intervention.

"Thank God, all the honor and glory and praise. Anybody who is hearing me now, trust Christ," Nicome told the news outlet. "I'm telling you because He is the one that saved us. God allowed us to drift into the vessel that saved us. Nobody was seeing us out there."

MINNESOTA MAN BUYS BILLBOARD TO TRASH FISHING FRIEND

The Tobago Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post Sunday that it had been alerted to a 55-foot Trinidadian fishing vessel, the Crystal Eye, sinking around 12:25 a.m. and noted that the Bahamian vessel had saved the five fishermen.

"Thank you to the Siem Spearfish Crew and all rescue parties involved for their swift action and assistance to the fishermen," TEMA wrote in the post.

Before abandoning the sinking ship, the men had sent out a distress signal, which President Curtis Douglas of the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association said was difficult to make out.

"We couldn't get the exact information because our radio wasn't picking up too clear," Douglas told Newsday. "This was after midnight to 1 o'clock [Sunday morning]."

"The waters was rough real rough," Dyer said. "If [it] wasn't for God, we wouldn't be alive today."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

One of the men, Frederick, was suffering from hypothermia.

"He was quite OK after being treated on the vessel and checked by emergency medical services at the port," TEMA Director Allan Stewart told the outlet, adding that "none of the men needed to be taken to the hospital."

After spending the night in a guesthouse, the men were reunited with family members at the Port of Spain on Sunday evening, according to the report.

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'Thank God': Five fishermen turned to prayer when boat sank in Caribbean - Washington Examiner

Friday morning on Sunrise Barrington Lewis who owns Barringtons Jamaican Kitchen, joined us on set to show us how to make a traditional Caribbean black cake. The cake is the subject of a new book written by a former Bakersfield news anchor. Author Charmain Wilkerson talked about her new book with 17s Maddie Janssen.

Black Cake:

1 cup butter, softened1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar5 eggs1 tsp vanila1 tbsp baking powder1 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp nutmeg1/2 tsp allspice1/4 tsp salt2 cups flour2 tbsp browning sauce2 tbsp molasses1 1/2 cup port wine1 1/2 cup dark rum2 cups raisins1 cup dried cherries1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions:Combine fruit and alcohol and allow to soak for at least 7 days and up to several months. Add more wine and rum to cover fruit as needed.

Blend fruit and wine/rum mixture. Mix with all other ingredients until smooth. Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean. Soak with more port wine or rum/wine combo overnight.

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Making the traditional Caribbean dessert black cake - KGET 17

After being disappointed with the bland and low quality food at chain restaurants, I wanted to find some authentic Caribbean food in Walthamstow . I stumbled across the independently owned Rhythm Kitchen on Hoe Street, home to the biggest rum bar in East London and owned by the Jerk Father.

I went in with high hopes and I was not disappointed. When you walk in there is a homely vibe to the restaurant that made me feel like I was going to be served up one of my grandmas Sunday dinners. I sat down with my friend and we were given a huge menu with lots of options that included vegan and a cocktail list that, of course, I was very excited by.

We sadly just missed happy hour but I wasnt going to let that stop me from enjoying a cocktail. I went for a classic, Rum Punch, which is made using the Jerk Fathers own recipe, so I had to give it a go. It was delicious, super refreshing and not too sugary with the perfect rum to punch ratio. A proper taste of the Caribbean as one Tripadvisor user put it.

READ MORE: Secret Nigerian-Caribbean restaurant in Canning Town that people travel 90 minutes to eat at

As the restaurant is owned by the Jerk Father I knew I had to try something jerk flavoured, so I went for the obvious: Jerk Chicken which comes with two sides of your choice. I went for the Rice and Peas and Steamed Vegetables and as I love Mac & Cheese, added that to my list too. My friend ordered the braised oxtail which also came with two sides so she added rice and peas and fried plantain.

The Jerk Chicken was served with another pot of delicious jerk gravy and the sides came in separate bowls. The chicken was moist and full of flavour. It was sweet and spicy but not to a point where my mouth was on fire. I hadnt eaten all day so I was very pleased to see the hefty size of the chicken and thankfully I was wearing comfy clothes so was able to stuff my face without having to walk home with an undone belt.

The sides were amazing. The mac & cheese had the perfect amount of cheese and when dipped in the Jerk Gravy created the best combination of sweetness and cheesiness. The steamed vegetables had the right amount of crunch and juiciness that you would hope for, the best way to eat vegetables I think. The rice and peas were of course delicious. Buttery and full of kidney beans - just how I like it.

It was my friends first time trying oxtail and she was more than impressed. I was getting food envy so I had to try some for myself and I have eaten a lot of oxtail in my life, but this was one of the best I have ever tried. The perfect amount of spice and flavour and lots of meat with some bone to suck some extra juices out of.

The portions were so big and I was getting extremely full but the food was so good I couldnt stop eating. I really got my moneys worth as its all reasonably priced. If you do go, you will not be wasting your money. All in all, it was a worthy competitor of my grandmas cooking.

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I tried jerk chicken from East London's best Caribbean restaurant and by the end I was licking the plate' - My London

Outdoor dining at Miss Ollie's, located at 901 Washington St., Oakland.

Miss Ollies, a lively Afro Caribbean restaurant thats been a mainstay of Old Oakland for the past decade, is closing at the end of this month, KQED reported.

The news has been a long time coming back in December 2020, chef-owner Sarah Kirnon announced that Miss Ollies would be closing and transforming into a new nonprofit project called Sanctuary, according to Eater. The venture would host outdoor events with food, art and music to provide a platform for Oaklands Black creators.

As KQED reported, Kirnon ended up negotiating another year for the restaurant at its 901 Washington St. location. But now, Miss Ollies time has finally come to an end.

Or maybe not quite. Kirnon told KQED that she hopes to eventually reopen Miss Ollies somewhere else in Oakland as a takeout window and catering company. And her nonprofit, Sanctuary, is definitely still happening.

So for loyal patrons, its not goodbye but see you later for their favorite skillet fried chicken and buttermilk waffles, braised oxtails and jerk shrimp salad.

It was Oakland at its finest, Kirnon reminisced to KQED. Black and brown, people of color, queer folks, elders we were cross-generational. And Ive seen kids go off to college. Weve done funerals. We were a neighborhood restaurant.

Miss Ollies is not the first restaurant in the Old Oakland neighborhood to close over the course of the pandemic in March 2021, popular Mexican cafe Cosecha left the historical Swans Market. B-Dama and Rosamunde Sausage Grill also closed their Swans Market locations in the past two years.

Madeline Wells is a reporter for SFGATE covering food and drink in the Bay Area. She grew up in the Seattle area and received her B.A. in English and Media Studies from UC Berkeley. Prior to SFGATE, she was an associate editor at East Bay Express and freelance writer covering the Bay Area music scene. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com

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'Oakland at its finest': Oakland Afro Caribbean restaurant to close after 10 years - SF Gate

AS THE Caribbean faces the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, three islands and two regional entities have been given a leg up, thanks to 3 million in grants that were recently awarded through the European Union-funded RESEMBID programme.

RESEMBID Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity is being implemented by Expertise France, the development cooperation agency of the government of France. The programme supports sustainable human development efforts in 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

The recent grants were awarded to three of the 12 OCTs supported by the programme (Cayman Islands, Anguilla and Saint Maarten) as well as the regional bodies Caribbean Electric Utilities Corporation (CARILEC) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), under the themes of resilience, sustainable energy and marine biodiversity.

The three million euros have been allocated to the seven projects as follows:

1. The ACS received 269,402 to undertake a sustainable energy project around advancing collaboration as a strategy for building tourism crisis resilience in OCTs of the Greater Caribbean.

2. CARILEC received 467,715 for its sustainable energy project, titled Overcoming Disruptions in times of Crisis - Weathering the Social and Financial Impact of COVID-19 on the Electricity Sector.

3. The VNG International, with support from the government of St Maarten, has received 1,000,390 to implement a project focused on crisis management and building resilience.

4. The Anguilla National Trust has received a budget of 587,024 to implement a project that will work on the transformation of Anguillas marine parks through institutionalising sustainable and collaborative management solutions that support long-term management plan implementation. This is for the benefit of Anguillas marine biodiversity, coastal resiliency, and its people.

5. The Cayman Islands received three grants. The first was 432,210, which was awarded to the University College of the Cayman Islands to implement a renewable energy and sustainable development training programme for the college.

6. The second Cayman Islands grant of 203,384.00 was awarded to the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) for its project on adapting to COVID-19 to ensure project continuity, and providing technical assistance to support CCMIs capacity to be an OCT regional leader in protecting marine biodiversity and improving resilience.

7. Last, the CCMI will also implement a project focused on increasing coral reef resilience with a budget of 257,950. This project will build research capacity at the CCMI, provide expertise to conduct thermal tolerance experiments, and improve restoration strategies.

For the last three years, the RESEMBID team has worked quietly and diligently with applicants in the 12 Caribbean OCT islands to ensure their project ideas are developed into full-fledged projects, noted Fabian McKinnon, programme director for RESEMBID.

We could not be prouder of the owners of these projects, and are happy to be part of their journey to bring these sustainable ideas in resilience, sustainable energy and marine biodiversity to life. We look forward to supporting the OCTs in quickly rolling out many more in the weeks and months to come, he added.

RESEMBID commenced in January 2019 and is financed under the 11th European Development Fund Caribbean OCT Regional Programme. In addition to the recently contracted projects, RESEMBID has over 40 additional projects and concept notes approved or under review for funding. Its other OCTs are Aruba, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaao, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Eustatius, Saint Barthlemy, and Turks and Caicos.

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Earth Today | Caribbean islands awarded EU grants to address sustainable energy, marine biodiversity - Jamaica Gleaner

In Trinidad, the Queens Park Hotel was busy entertaining visitors from around the globe and quenching their thirst with their own signature serve called a swizzle. A swizzle by definition is generally a mix of rum, water, and aromatics and inspired the name of the stirring tool, a swizzle stick, which helps to aerate a cocktail and bring out its flavors. There is no clear recorded attribution to the drinks creator, but it is not a stretch of the imagination that this particular cocktailwith its muddled mint and limetakes some cues from the mojito.

The major difference here, of course, is the use of dark rumsome recipes call for Guyana rum, which is dark and earthy, others call for Angostura 7-Year, which is Trinidadian, but was not created until the 1990s. The moral of the story: Use the rum that you enjoy the most and take it from there. I recommend Ten To One Dark, as it is a blend of Caribbean rums from Trinidad, Barbados, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.

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Make These Famous Caribbean Hotel Drinks to Pretend Youre on Vacation - Thrillist

What happened

Cruise tourism stocks Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ( NCLH -6.30% ) and Carnival Corporation ( CCL -5.69% ) ( CUK -6.32% ) are tumbling on anticipated higher fuel costs today, down 4.5% each as of 10:15 a.m. ET.

Rival Royal Caribbean ( RCL -3.13% ) isn't getting hit as hard, but it's still down a sizable 4%.

Image source: Getty Images.

A note from investment bank Macquarie Group out this morning highlighted the problem, as TheFly.com just reported. Cutting its price target on Norwegian Cruise Line stock by 23% to $23 per share, Macquarie warned that although demand for cruising still looks good, fuel prices are rising, and this is going to cut into the company's profitability.

How bad have fuel prices gotten lately? For the first time in history, the average price of a gallon of gas in some Californian cities has hit $5, and the "pain at the pump" could spread to other cities in coming weeks, according ABC and CBS News. And it turns out car drivers aren't the only ones hurting.

US Gulf Coast Ultra-Low Sulfur No 2 Diesel Spot Price data by YCharts.

As you can see in the above chart, the price of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, used to power cruise ships, is also skyrocketing -- up roughly 50% over just the past three months.

That's going to pinch cruise line profits the longer these high costs continue. According to data from Statista.com, fuel costs for a cruise company like Carnival can range from as low as 12% of total operating costs (about $1.6 billion) in a cheap year like 2019, to as much as 19.5% of operating costs ($2 billion) in a more expensive year like 2014. And these higher operating costs will mean lower operating profit margins -- and lower profits overall.

How bad will things get? Right now, with the spot price on low-sulfur diesel approaching $3, we're looking at a situation much closer to 2014 prices than to 2019 prices, and cruise line investors can expect fuel costs to represent as much as $1 out of every $5 of operating costs at the major cruise line stocks.

No wonder investors are worried.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis even one of our own helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Why Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean Stocks Are Out of Gas Today - The Motley Fool

The title of "Best Cruise Ship" remains subjective. You might consider the ship with the best selection of restaurants or the longest list of amenities the "best," while someone else might prize elegance, the pool deck, cabins, or something else entirely.

Royal Caribbean (RCL) - Get Royal Caribbean Group Report, Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) - Get Carnival Corporation Report, and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Get Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Report, constantly battle for the title of "Best Cruise Ship," or at least best cruise ship among the players battling for family passengers.

Walt Disney (DIS) - Get Walt Disney Company Report, of course, might have a thing or two to say about those claims, but Disney's pricing -- generally much higher than that of its three rivals for family passengers -- sort of makes it a class of its own.

In the battle among Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, it's an endless sea of oneupmanship and innovation. Carnival has an onboard roller coaster on its latest ship. the Mardi Gras, while Royal Caribbean offers FlowRider surf simulators, simulated sky diving, laser tag, and waterslides that rival what's available on land.

It's an arms race that won't have a real winner because "best" means so many things to so many people. Royal Caribbean, however, has a new ship -- the Wonder of the Seas -- and while you can argue about whether it might be best in class, what you can't argue about is that the new ship, which has its first sailing March 4, can lay claim to being the biggest cruise ship in the world.

Image source: Royal Caribbean.

Wonder of the Seas becomes the latest in Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class. Coming in at 236,857 gross tons with 18 decks and accommodations for 5,734 guests at double occupancy (nearly 7,000 at full capacity), the ship wrests the "Biggest Cruise Ship" title from its sister ship, Symphony of the Seas.

The new ship also offers up a number of firsts, including having Royal Caribbean's only suites-only neighborhood. This new area contains a pool, the Coastal Kitchen restaurant (which appears on other ships to serve only suite guests), and a dedicated sundeck area for suite passengers.

Wonder also offers a new restaurant concept, Mason Jar, which offers southern staples like biscuits and fried chicken, along with a special drinks menu, for brunch, dinner, and late-night dining. In addition, the new ship offers "Wonder Playscape, an all-new interactive outdoor play area," according to the company.

The new largest cruise ship in the world also offers a number of Oasis-class favorites including the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; the FlowRider surf simulator; rock-climbing walls; and the Central Park neighborhood lined with more than 20,000 real plants.

Along with taking the revolutionary Oasis Class ships to a new level of wonder, innovation and adventure, Wonder sets the stage for the spring and summer vacations families and all travelers alike are looking forward to in the new year," Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley said in a news release.

"The combination of brand-new features and favorites that span thrills, entertainment, dining and nightlife is unparalleled, and its what will make our latest and most innovative ship the worlds newest wonder and the ultimate vacation in the Caribbean and Europe.

Royal Caribbean also competes with Carnival and Norwegian when it comes to onboard entertainment. The company offers ice skating shows and a water-based "Aqua Theater" show on some ships, while featuring Broadway musicals including "Grease" and "Mamma Mia" on others.

Wonder of the Seas will feature its own unique lineup of shows.

"Befitting of the worlds newest wonder, adventure and innovation will come to life across the cruise lines four signature and high-tech 'stages,' air, ice, stage, and water, with four new productions: 'inTENse,' performed by the first all-woman cast in the open-air AquaTheater; '365: The Seasons on Ice' at the iconic ice skating rink, Studio B; 'The Effectors II: Crash n Burn'; and 'Voices: An Intimate Performance on a Grand Scale' in the Royal Theater," the company said in a news release.

The ship will also offer country music in Mason Jar, live performances, and karaoke in its Music Hall venue, a "stowaway piano player popping up around the ship, a Latin band playing in Boleros as well as the cruise line's signature acoustic pub guitarist and Schooner Bar piano entertainer.

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Royal Caribbean Has a New Weapon In Its War With Carnival, Norwegian - TheStreet

MIAMI (CBSMiami) Worldwide sanctions that have crippled Russias air travel industry have also stranded thousands of Russian tourists in the Caribbean.

Aeroflot, the Russian State Airline, has seen all flights canceled out of South Florida and the cancelations have stretched right into South Floridas backyard.

As of Thursday, there were thousands of Russian tourists stranded and struggling to fly home from the Dominican Republic and from Cuba.

Zach Griff, an air travel expert and senior reporter for The Points Guy travel website said, They cant find a way back because of the air space restrictions and all the different sanctions imposed on Russia.

Russians tourists flock to Cuba and the DR to escape the cold winters.

The Dominican Republic received almost 184,000Russian tourists and nearly 86,000 Ukrainians in 2021, so it is not a surprise that reports are that 15,000 Russians have been stranded.

There are reports that there are 3,000 Ukrainians in the Dominican Republic.

The tourist could take a flight from the Caribbean to maybe London or something like that and then connect to Istanbul or Dubai and make their way back to Russia, Griff told CBS News Miami.

Dominican Republic officials say they had reached a deal with hotel chains to guarantee the tourists accommodation until such time as a solution is found.

But there is more to it than just airline flights suspended.

This is going to be a very hard process for them. Their currency has been devalued and they will have to pay out of pocket for the cost for tickets back home.

But there is a lucky break for some of the stranded Russians, Aeroflotsaid they plan to carry out and will be allowed evacuation flights from the Dominican Republic through March 10th.

No word on those tourists who arrived on the various other Russian charter airlines that serve the Caribbean.

Hardest hit, Aeroflot already heavily sanctioned but now, Just today, we learned that SABR which provides the ticket selling process for Aeroflot will stop supporting them.

Getting Russians home will not be any easy task, said Griff.

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Sanctions Strand Thousands Of Russian Tourists In The Caribbean - CBS Miami

The Dupr companies started the projects as the island was dealing with new concerns about sustainability. A 2016 Wildlife Conservation Society report stated that the islands environment is rapidly degrading because of land-based pollution draining into the sea and destroying marine habitats, urbanization and overfishing. A year later, Hurricane Irma devastated the island, worsening an already dire housing shortage for workers.

That tension may explain some of the animosity toward Ms. Dupr and her husband, Mark Nunnelly (a former managing partner at Bain Capital, former chief executive of Dominos Pizza and an investor in an outsourcing concern, a call center and other ventures). Someone scrawled Get Out Dupr Pig in red on the white construction wall a highly unusual act of vandalism on the mostly crime-free island. One of the English-language island online forums has a chat titled Death to Dominos Pizza in reference to the hotel project.

In one corner you have this billionaire business firm and in the other a bunch of local people saying please dont damage our marine life, said a Youngstown, Ohio, attorney, Eddie Czopur, who has been staying on St. Jean Bay during the winter season for years. It was like a Rocky story, that the locals won.

But Ms. Dupr and Mr. Nunnelly are hardly the only superrich who have been accused of making plans that seem to ignore island scale or Caribbean aesthetic. Islanders have watched as tycoons have increasingly competed to see who can anchor the biggest yacht in the harbor, or build the biggest villa.

Looking ahead. As governments across the world loosen coronavirus restrictions, the travel industry hopes this will be the year that travel comes roaring back. Here is what to expect:

Lodging. During the pandemic, many travelers discovered the privacy offered by rental residences. Hotels hope to competeagain by offeringstylish extended-stay properties, sustainable options, rooftop bars and co-workingspaces.

Rental cars. Travelers can expect higher prices, and older carswith high mileage, since companies still havent been able to expand their fleets. Seeking an alternative? Car-sharing platforms might be a more affordable option.

Cruises. Despite a bumpy start to the year, thanks to Omicrons surge, demand for cruises remains high. Luxury expedition voyages are particularly appealing right now, because they typically sail on smaller ships and steer away from crowded destinations.

Destinations. Cities are officially back: Travelers are eager to dive into the sights, bites and soundsof a metropolis like Parisor New York. For a more relaxing time, some resorts in the U.S. are pioneering an almost all-inclusive model that takes the guesswork out of planning a vacation.

Experiences. Travel options centered around sexual wellness (think couples retreats and beachfront sessions with intimacy coaches) are growing popular. Trips with an educational bent, meanwhile, are increasingly sought after by families with children.

The local government recently restricted the size of new villas to under 150 square meters (a little over 1,600 square feet). But at least 50 previously issued construction permits are still in the pipeline meaning new mega mansions will surely be erected. The once- crystalline waters around the island have turned cloudy as construction-runoff sediment damages reefs and drives off sea animals. One marine biologist who works on the island told me she cried after returning to a diving site once teeming with turtles and sharks and finding it barren.

Ms. Dupr and her husband declined to comment for this article, referring questions to Mr. Stanton, a spokesman for Ms. Dupr and her company, SAS St. Jean Beach Real Estate. He said the company will appeal the ruling against the LEtoile permit to a higher court in France in March, but that adjudication will take at least 15 months. Ms. Dupr still hopes to build a hotel, but will fill in the hole as ordered once the collectivit grants permission, he said.

She has a deep background in hotel management, and Denise and the family have had a special affection for the island for more than 20 years, Mr. Stanton said. She and the St. Barts team she worked with feel they were very attentive to bringing a peaceful, beautiful thing to this beach, and will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the community about the project.

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Billionaires Battle Over a Hotel and Quality of Life on St. Barts - The New York Times