Category Archives: Caribbean

Jacksonville, Fl. The Buresh Bottom Line: Always be prepared!.....First Alert Hurricane Survival Guide... City of Jacksonville Preparedness Guide... Georgia Hurricane Guide.

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The last name on this seasons Atlantic list has been used. A combination of a bunch of short term storms this year (8 were alive for less than 48 hours) + better detection methods (satellite & radar) + less conventional (quick to pull the trigger, in other words) manner in which NHC now names storms has led to the 3rd year (in addition to 2005 & 2020) in which all names have been used up (naming storms became a thing in the 1950s).

Thunderstorms have been rather persistent over the W/NW Caribbean in association with an upper level trough. Shear is strong & no tropical development is expected.

It seems an autumn upper level weather pattern is becoming well established across the N. Hemisphere & Atlantic Basin with a parade of cold fronts marching across the Atlantic penetrating deep into the Gulf & sometimes into the Caribbean.

The result is that the Atlantic tropical season is essentially over. If there is any new tropical development, systems will likely be more out to sea over the broad Atlantic with a tendency to move east & northeast away from the U.S. One area to watch for Nov. development would be the Caribbean but even there, any developing system will most likely move east &/or northeast - & nothing is indicated at the moment.

Saharan dust. Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink. Widespread dust is indicative of dry air that can impede the development of tropical cyclones. However, sometimes wanna be waves will just wait until they get to the other side of the plume then try to develop if everything else happens to be favorable. In my personal opinion, way too much is made about the presence of Saharan dust & how it relates to tropical cyclones.

2021 names..... Wanda was the last name on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years... historic storms are retired [Florence & Michael in 18... Dorian in 19 & Laura, Eta & Iota in 20]). Adria is next. Last year - 2020 - had a record 30 named storms. The WMO decided - beginning this year - that the Greek alphabet will be no longer used & instead there will be a supplemental list of names if the first list is exhausted (has only happened three times - 2005 & 2020 & 2021). The naming of tropical cyclones began on a consistent basis in 1953. More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.

East Atlantic:

Mid & upper level wind shear (enemy of tropical cyclones) analysis (CIMMS). The red lines indicate strong shear:

Water vapor imagery (dark blue indicates dry air):

Deep oceanic heat content over the Gulf, Caribbean & deep tropical Atlantic & remains pretty impressive late in the season from the Central/NW Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico:

Sea surface temp. anomalies:

SE U.S. surface map:

Surface analysis centered on the tropical Atlantic:

Surface analysis of the Gulf:

Caribbean:

GFS wave forecast at 48 & 72 hours (2 & 3 days):

Atlantic Basin wave period forecast for 24, 48 & 72 hours respectively:

The East Pacific:

West Pacific IR satellite:

Global tropical activity:

Cox Media Group

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Talking the Tropics With Mike: Weak disturbance over the Caribbean - WOKV

Water remembers. And at Pen + Brush, water is everywhere. The exhibited works evoke eroding shorelines and the winds of tropical depressions strong enough to deposit chunks from the Great Salt Pond in Dutch Sint Maarten to the French half of the islanddebunking drawn borders and territories. Water becomes an abstracted wave along which to traverse the artists oeuvre, rife with other reappearing symbols. In Foremothers (2002), for example, a series of shadow boxes slowly reveal a portrait of Jacks paternal grandmother behind thick hunks of salt. In Standing (2014), a young girl bathed in light is photographed holding sanguine flamboyant flowers, which are always in bloom in front of Jacks lens. The diasporic flamboyant tree, also known as royal poinciana, is native to Madagascar and was transported to the Caribbean around the 1800s. For me, [the flower] is another form of memorial; it blooms for a very limited amount of time, Jack said. How does nature make space for memory? To see flamboyant trees flourishing is to recall the last time one watched them grow. Jacks poetic lexicon refers to the cultural memory of Sint Maarten and the broader Caribbeana history written in the land.

Reflecting on the hidden poems line about shifting cities and rains, Jack asked, Why isnt [the hurricane] a form of remembrance? Water is being displaced in a hurricane, too, twirled around, moving through the ocean. Isnt that energy? Isnt that a memory, also?

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Deborah Jacks Poetic Work Draws Parallels between Hurricanes and Caribbean History - Artsy

MIAMI - Richard Fain, whose innovations during more than 33 years as Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Caribbean Group helped shape the modern cruise industry, has decided to step down as CEO on January 3, 2022, the company announced. Chief Financial Officer Jason Liberty will succeed him as CEO and join the Board of Directors. Fain will remain as Chair of the Board of Directors.

The third-longest serving CEO among current S&P 500 leaders, Fain's storied career is defined by the innovations he championed involving every aspect of cruising from revolutionary ship design to major sustainability efforts to the technologies and ground-breaking features that enriched the onboard experience for millions of guests.

Under Fain's leadership, the Royal Caribbean Group introduced new and distinctive ship categories, with a diverse range of amenities and experiences that transformed the nature of cruising. These transformational ships include Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign, Voyager, and Oasis classes; Celebrity Cruises' Solstice and Edge classes; the highly anticipated Royal Caribbean International Icon class to be introduced in 2023; and Silversea Cruises' "Project Evolution" that will become the industry's first hybrid powered ship when introduced in 2023. Fain, working with Liberty, will continue his involvement in the Group's ship construction program.

Liberty joined the Royal Caribbean Group in 2005 and served in several financial, strategic and operational roles before becoming CFO in 2013. His operational duties have expanded over the years and gone well beyond the responsibilities normally associated with a CFO. Liberty is also responsible for Silversea Cruises, the Group's joint ventures with TUI Cruises and Hapag Lloyd Cruises, as well as the Royal Caribbean Group's strategy, technology, supply chain, port operations and legal functions.

The company also announced that Naftali Holtz will become CFO when Liberty assumes the CEO role. Holtz is currently senior vice president of finance for the Royal Caribbean Group, responsible for corporate, capital and revenue planning and analysis, deployment planning, risk management and treasury.

Fain has steered the company through the global pandemic, and he was a driving force behind the creation of the Healthy Sail Panel, a group of renowned health experts who established safety and wellness protocols to restore confidence in cruising safety.

"Richard has been a visionary leader, who has made innumerable and remarkable contributions to our company and our industry," said Bill Kimsey, lead director of the Board. "Most recently, his stewardship during the COVID pandemic marks him as one of the great CEOs of his generation. The cruising community and all of us in the company owe him a debt of gratitude."

Fain said that he and RCG's Board of Directors had developed a careful succession planning process for when he decided the time was right to step down.

"There are no words to express my admiration and appreciation to the people of the Royal Caribbean Group, who have been the real drivers of our success; and my profound appreciation for the support and guidance of the Board of Directors during good times and bad throughout this long period of sustained growth."

Fain said that with most of the Group's ships operating, a full return to cruising approaching, and the Group's brands under the leadership of exceptional CEOs, it was the right time to step down.

"Given the great depth and breadth of our leadership, and the positive outlook for our business, this is the appropriate time to step aside and have Jason take over," Fain said. "He is a highly versatile and strategic leader, who has been integral to all aspects of the company's accomplishments and performance."

Fain also said that Liberty and Holtz "have done an exceptional job organizing over $12 billion of financing during this challenging period. They did so in a remarkably careful and methodical manner, which will serve us well in the years to come."

"Our success as a business has relied heavily on our culture and on the values we hold dear," said Fain. "Jason epitomizes those values, and I know he will work to build on them in this everchanging world. I couldn't be happier to have such a superbly qualified and principled leader succeed me as CEO. Jason will lead the Group to new heights."

Kimsey noted that Liberty has played "a significant part in every major initiative the company has undertaken for many years, and he was instrumental in helping manage through the pandemic. The Board enthusiastically and unanimously chose him to be the Royal Caribbean Group's next CEO."

Liberty said he was honored and humbled to become CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group. "Our incredible people and culture, combined with our leading brands and the most innovative fleet in the world are what make our organization so successful. I'm grateful to both the board for selecting me, and to Richard, for his friendship, mentoring and guidance. I look forward to building upon the company's remarkable record in the years ahead."

Liberty continued, "Naftali has demonstrated his ability to lead the finance organization and is well prepared to take on the important CFO role."

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Richard Fain stepping down as CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, Jason Liberty named to succeed him - Travel Daily News International

One of the Caribbeans leading small-ship cruise lines is going all-inclusive.

In a nod to the surging segment in the Caribbean travel space, Windstar announced it will be adding an all-inclusive option to its voyages.

The all-inclusive program will include unlimited wine, beer and cocktails; Wi-Fi, all gratuities; and the cruise fare.

In an effort to be more in line with other luxury offerings in the cruise industry, particularly with the rollout of our newly transformed all-suite Star Plus Class yachts, were now giving the option of an all-inclusive price for all of our sailings, said Windstar President Christopher Prelog. We didnt want to take away the la carte option from guests who enjoy going that way. We want our guests to have the choice based on their preference, what they need on board, and their general vacation philosophy.

The plan was initially meant to be rolled out exclusively on Windstars new Star Plus Class Yachts, according to Prelog.

After talking to guests and travel advisors, however, the company decided to retain the option of an a la carte fare.

After discussing internally, we all came to the same conclusion why not offer both on all our yachts? We offer a choice between sailing yachts and all-suite yachts, and now a la carte or all-inclusive, he said. That seems to fit the Windstar brand.

For more, visit Windstar.

CJ

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Windstar Cruises Is Adding an All-Inclusive Option Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

Vice President of Latin America and Caribbean, World Bank

Felipe oversees the Banks relations with 31 countries and a portfolio of ongoing projects, technical assistance and grants of almost US$32 billion. Under his leadership, the Banks operations in the region focus on fueling growth, reducing poverty, supporting equality and protecting the environment. Jaramillo was previously the World Bank country director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda, based in Nairobi. There he managed an operational portfolio of more than 80 projects representing a total investment of more than US$12 billion to help countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face. Prior to his role in Africa, Jaramillo was the senior director of the World Bank Groups Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice (MTI), where he led a global team of more than 450 economists. Since joining the World Bank in 2002, he has also served two terms as country director in the Latin America and Caribbean Region.

Julie is a Senior Economist in the office of the Regional Director for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. She is the lead author of 360o Resilience: A guide to Prepare the Caribbean to a New Generation of Shocks which provides a diagnostic and a roadmap for building resilience to climate change in 17 Caribbean countries. In her current position, she focuses on the link between development policy and climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, working with countries on building more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive growth trajectories. She coordinates new World Bank core diagnostics on development and climate change in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, and Peru. In previous positions, she contributed to World Bank flagship reports on climate change (Shockwaves, Decarbonizing Development, The Adaptation Principles) and co-led two major reports on infrastructure: Beyond the Gap: how countries can afford the infrastructure they need while protecting the planet and Lifelines: the resilient infrastructure opportunity. Julie is the author of dozens of research papers, an editor for Wires Climate Change, and a member of the leadership committee of the Society for Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty. Julie holds an engineering degree from ENSTA ParisTech and a PhD in economics from EHESS in Paris.

Head of Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, and CARICOM/ CARIFORUM, European Union

Before her current position, Ambassasdor Wasilewska served as Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cayman Islands and prior to that, Head of Division for Conflict Prevention, Peace Building and Mediation at the Security Policy Directorate of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels. Previously, she was Head of Division for Elections and Democracy Support in the EEAS at the Directorate General for External Relations of the European Commission. She has managed Electoral Observation Missions of the EU to countries around the world. Before joining the European Union, Ms Wasilewska worked as a senior specialist on issues of organizational governance and strategic planning at Amnesty International and Saferworld, both at the national and global level. Her main areas of specialization were organizational transition and growth, human rights, conflict sensitive development, post-conflict democracy building and non-proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Executive Director, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

Ms. Riley has over 20 years experience in the area of disaster management at the regional and international levels in various capacities. As Deputy, she held overall responsibility for the Agencys technical programming and provided strategic guidance in the areas of Preparedness and Response, Mitigation, Recovery, Education and Training and Information Management. At the operational level, Ms Riley has played a leadership role in the coordination of regional responses to Hurricanes Ivan (2004), the Haiti Earthquake (2010); Tropical Storm Erika (2015), Hurricanes Joaquin (2015), Matthew (2016), Irma (2017), Maria (2017) and Dorian (2019). Her field experience includes the leadership of CDEMA deployment teams in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma (2017) and Dorian (2019). Ms. Riley is currently playing a leadership role in the coordination of the regions response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Joseph Cox

Assistant Secretary-General of Trade and Economic Integration, CARICOM

An Applied Economics Consultant and Advocate with a career spanning 30 years, Joseph Cox is currently the Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana. A Jamaican national, he holds both a Bachelor and a Masters degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies.

His contribution to Regional Development has included the recent authoring of a book entitled The New Normal A Post-COVID Primer for Business; conceptualised and received the unanimous approval from the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) of the Made in CARICOM initiative; development and successful execution through the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) of a Project Preparation Facility; development and implementation of a Regional Strategic Intervention Framework, dubbed the Programme of Technical Assistance to CARICOM Territories (PACT) - The programme boasts short, medium and long term intervention strategies designed to optimize economic impact in CARICOM Member States coupled with a robust monitoring and evaluation system. He also developed and received approval from the COTED for the strategy to re-open the Regions economies during the COVID-19 pandemic and has authored several peer reviewed periodic papers including Utility of Vat Holidays developed in November 2020. He also authors and publishes CARICOM Business a weekly Regional business newsletter which is circulated both Regionally and Internationally, to acclaim, have been published.

Prior to his CARICOM Secretariat posting, he was the Managing Partner for the Centre for Growth and Development in Jamaica, doubled as the Executive Director, Growth Secretariat, at the Planning Institute of Jamaica and provided oversight for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) / Government of Jamaica (GOJ) Competitiveness Enhancement Programme. Mr. Coxs contribution to Jamaicas national development has manifested itself, in part, through the establishment of three (3) Financial Institutions and includes the preparation of the Taxation for Growth Strategy for Jamaica, Municipal Finance Reform Strategy and an intervention strategy entitled Towards a Modern Development Approvals Mechanism which was to overhaul the construction permitting system in Jamaica.

He was also engaged in advocacy of a myriad of social and economic policy issues. In October 2014, Mr. Cox conceptualised and led a demand side access to finance intervention entitled the Financial Information and Real-time Matchmaking (FIRM) initiative, in which some J$1.9B (US$174.0m) in financing was obtained for the Jamaican business community. Mr. Cox has also distinguished himself in the International Development Partner Community, having successfully completed diverse assignments for the IDB and World Bank. He is also the recipient of the Prime Ministers Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica.

Sustainable Tourism Specialist, Caribbean Tourism Organization

Amanda Charles is the Sustainable Tourism Specialist at the Caribbean Tourism Organization, with responsibility to coordinate implementation of the CTOs Sustainable Tourism Programme, aimed at enhancing the development, growth, competitiveness and sustainability of Caribbean tourism.

A Tourism professional with extensive public and private sector experience spanning over 15 years, at the regional and international levels, Ms Charles previously functioned as the Adviser to the Directorate of Sustainable Tourism at the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and as Tourism Consultant at the Organization of American States (OAS). She has also worked at several international NGOs and non-profit organizations, including the United Nations Foundation.

Ms Charles holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management with minors in Business Management and French from the State University of New York (SUNY), Plattsburgh. She also holds the Master of Tourism Administration Degree with a concentration in Sustainable Destination Management, from The George Washington University, School of Business, Washington DC, USA.

Ms. Charles is from the Caribbean island of Dominica.

Youth Activist and Lecturer

As the disaster preparedness Desk Officer for SVG through the World Bank and CDEM and lecturer in Green Engineering at the SVG Community College Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies Ms. Aria Laidlow is diligent and committed to the sustainable development of St Vincent and the Grenadines and region. In various capacities Aria has worked and researched in the fields of climate and disaster risk financing, disaster preparedness and response and environmental management for over five (5) years, with an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a BSc with Majors in Environmental Natural Resource Management and Geography (first-class honours) from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine. Ms Laidlows experience spans from local to international platforms having worked as a CCRIF regional intern with CDEMA in the department of preparedness and response where she worked in the Regional Coordination Center in response to Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and also volunteers with CDEMAs RCC in response to the eruptions of La Soufriere in SVG. As a climate change and sustainability researcher with the UK Met Office Aria developed project outlines and conducted research on climate information services provided in developing countries and has also conducted research and consultancies for regional and international institutions in the field of disaster response, environmental project management and climate and disaster risk financing instruments (CDRFI) with a most recent report published by the Caribbean Policy Development Center (CPDC) on Recommendations for encouraging CDRFI uptake among micro, small and medium,-sized enterprises in Barbados. Ms. Laidlow has been involved in various youth led initiatives such as holding the position of past Director of Programme Development for the Commonwealth Youth Council responsible for climate change and National Youth Councils and currently sits as Vice Chair for women and minorities for the Caribbean Young Democrat Union. She was also chosen as a global talent to represent the University of Oxford at the UNDPs UNLEASH SDG lab held in Singapore in 2018 and past Ambassador of the OECS sustainable development movement (SDM) Summit 2021.

Country Director, Caribbean Countries

Ms. Burunciuc is responsible for maintaining a solid partnership with the countries to address their development challenges. Since joining the World Bank in 1996, she held a range of increasingly challenging positions: Director for Central Asia; Manager in Operations Policy and Country Services; Country Manager for Macedonia; Country Program Coordinator for Southern Africa and Central Asia; Senior Country Officer for Ukraine and Belarus. She has strong and diversified World Bank experience in leading teams and complex operational and corporate assignments such as regional and country strategies, World Banks operations simplification and coding reform. She has extensive experience on leading policy dialogue with governments on various aspects of development. She led the preparation of the first World Bank regional strategy for Central Asia. Prior to joining the Bank, Ms. Burunciuc was a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (Moldovas central bank). In that capacity she worked on the establishment of a regulatory framework for the foreign exchange market, reform of banking supervision and bank restructuring.

Caribbean Journalism

Mr. Gibbings is a freelance journalist, newspaper columnist, television presenter

and media trainer. He has been in the media business for close to 40 years, has trained journalists throughout the Caribbean and authored/co-authored a number of training manuals for use by Caribbean journalists. He has worked as a journalism lecturer at CARIMAC, UWI, Mona, and in 2014 served as elections training coordinator for the Media Development Authority of Fiji. Gibbings currently serves as Vice President of the Jamaica-based Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC), is an executive member of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), and was recently elected to the governing Council of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). He has written extensively on Caribbean media affairs and has presented papers on a wide range of subjects related to press freedom and media development at conferences and seminars all over the world. His work has been published in a number of books and academic journals. In 2017, Gibbings was recognised for his journalism and press freedom activism by the US National Association of Black Journalists and received the organisations Foreign Journalist Award. He is also a published poet with five collectio

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360 Resilience: A Guide to Prepare the Caribbean for a New Generation of Shocks - World Bank Group

consent not to be a single being: Worlding Through the CaribbeanDecember 13, 2021

consent not to be a single being: Worlding Through the Caribbeantakes the Caribbean and Caribbean thought as a starting point to reconsider global histories of art and contemporary public cultures. As a region wrought by the transhistorical forces of enslavement, colonialism, resource extraction and industrialisation, Caribbean modernity allows us to theorise larger patterns about forms of global modernities. Drawing on the foundational work of Caribbean thinkers douard Glissant, Stuart Hall and Sylvia Wynter, the symposium explores their impact on our understanding of the material, epistemological and ontological repercussions of these histories.

The symposium highlights how these thinkers contributions continue to act as generative frameworks for imagining new ways of being in the world, particularly within our current context of a global pandemic, planetary environmental precarity and transnational migration. In particular, it asks how their ideas could enable new worldings, new decolonial and reparative modes of understanding global art histories, artistic practices and public cultures more generally. Addressing the contested spaces of universities, museums, and cultural institutions, this symposium thinks with and through Glissant, Hall, and Wynter to radically transform our ways of relating to the world around us.

The symposiumwill include a keynote lecture by scholar Katherine McKittrick, as well as five panels. It will bring together an international group of scholars and artists whose contributions will explore these thinkers lasting influence on our understanding of public culture, education, counter-histories, colonialism, world-making and the environment.

This event is part ofWorlding Public Cultures: The Arts and Social Innovation, a transnational collaborative project that seeks to shape public narratives from multiple regional perspectives about our globally entangled world. In addition to this online program, WPCs London academy will include a curated online audio and film programme.

Organised byHyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational, in collaboration with UALs TrAIN Research Centre (Transnational Art Identity Nation) and the TrACE network (Transnational and Transcultural Art Culture Exchange).

Excerpt from:

consent not to be a single being: Worlding Through the Caribbean - Announcements - E-Flux

The pandemic hasnt been easy for the precarious profession of travel writing. But as the world slowly loosens its shackles after 20 months of canceled contracts and frustrating false-starts, Ive made it my job as Lonely Planet writer to get back on the road in search of spontaneity, inspiration and a good story. My latest stop: the Dominican Republic.

My choice of destination wasnt all chance and serendipity. Throughout the course of the pandemic the Dominican Republic (DR), along with Mexico, has been one of least restrictive nations in the world for travelers to enter and exit. However, unlike Mexico where total deaths are edging toward 300,000, the Dominican Republic has navigated the vicissitudes of COVID-19 relatively smoothly. Entry requirements are relatively straightforward, in-country rules sensible without being over-zealous and, at the time of travel, active cases were low. However, as we know by now the coronavirus situation can change very quickly, and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) announced that new COVID-19 cases in the Dominican Republic has increased by over 40% in recent weeks.

As a travel writer, the Dominican Republic tempted me with plenty of things to write about. In the lead up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, I was looking for interesting eco-projects to lure travelers out of the mega-resorts. Fortuitously, the north coast of the possessed a slew of innovative ventures. But first I had more prosaic matters to deal with.

If theres one thing Ive learned about travel in the time of coronavirus, its check, double-check, and check again. Rules change frequently, cases can surge and nuances differ from country to country. Back in the good old days, all you needed to go on holiday was a passport and a boarding pass. In 2021, rule-weary travelers must decipher complex paperwork, expensive COVID tests, and long-winded travel apps to allow them to get home.

Employing an attention to detail thats second nature to a guidebook writer, I prepped for my DR trip from my home in Canada by phoning the Dominican Embassy in Ottawa, the Dominican tourist board in Toronto, and the perennially overwhelmed offices of Air Canada to ensure I hadnt missed any hidden pitfalls.

With no pre-trip COVID test necessary for residents of Canada, the paperwork ultimately came down to just two forms: a copy of a Dominican eticket (available online) to get me through customs in the DR, and printed proof that I had been fully vaccinated to show to my Canadian airline before boarding the plane.

Then there was the small matter of insurance. Some holiday companies include special COVID insurance in their packages. However, as I was traveling independently, I paid C$40 for trip interruption on top of my personal policy in case I had to quarantine in the destination.

Having flown in the early days of the pandemic on planes that were three-quarters empty, I was surprised to find that both my Vancouver-Montreal and Montreal-Puerto Plata flights were almost full. But with the government of Canada mandating that all air passengers be masked and fully vaccinated, I shrugged off any lingering paranoia as our Airbus 321 cruised smoothly above the US eastern seaboard before descending into Gregorio Lupern International Airport on the DRs north coast. Dominican customs was a formality. With my passport stamped and bags scanned, I dashed eagerly into the arrivals hall where cheering airport staff danced dexterously to a merengue backbeat. After nearly two years with practically no tourists, they were obviously pleased to see us.

Id organized a taxi for the 20-minute ride to my pre-booked accommodation at the Tubagua Eco-lodge, a rustic collection of chalets and huts perched on the cusp of the Septentrional Mountains.

Built out of palm thatch and local wood in the style of an indigenous village, the lodge is renowned for its spectacular home-cooked food and equally spectacular views. With just eight simple rooms that utilize mountain breezes rather than air-con, masks were barely necessary, especially as there were only two other guests: a Swiss couple touring the country in a rental car.

Lodge owner, Tim Hall generously hooked me up with a local guide called Juann who ferried me around a network of nascent community tourism projects on the back of his motorbike. Riding pillion like Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider along the undulating Ruta Panormica, I dropped into a rehabilitated coffee plantation, a tiny shovel-and-pick amber mine, and a dusty roadside workshop where an ingenious Dominican seor was turning old car tires into artistic flower baskets.

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After Tubagua I gravitated toward the coast where Id reserved cheap lodgings in the easygoing kite-surfing mecca of Cabarete. Staying in the proximity of a town for the first time meant I had to keep my mask closer to hand.

In the DR, face-masks are mandatory in shops and public buildings. However, as life in the Caribbean is lived mostly outside, regulations arent always religiously enforced. On one occasion I was asked to show my proof of vaccination to enter a bank but, more commonly, I was allowed to sit in semi-deserted alfresco restaurants where the nearest customer sat several tables away.

I spent my final four days visiting an innovative aquaponics farm, exploring Cabaretes abundant network of caves, and watching masterful kite-surfers fly gracefully over white-capped waves. While tourists are trickling back to the DR post-Covid, theres no deluge as yet. Crowds remain thin and the resulting tranquility is therapeutic.

One of the nagging irritations of pandemic travel is the way stringent re-entry regulations eat into your vacation time. Some countries only require easy-to-procure rapid antigen tests to get home but, as a resident of Canada, I had to cough up for a slower, more expensive PCR test. As I wasnt staying in a resort (which often organize tests onsite), I had to sort out the logistics myself.

Keen to lighten the bureaucracy for tourists, the Dominican Republic has made COVID testing relatively easy. The nearest clinic to my Cabarete lodging was 10km away in Sosa and offered tests for US$72 with results back in 24 hours. The only caveatI had to return to the clinic the following day to pick them up.

It wasnt as bad as it sounded. Though with less to offer than Cabarete, Sosa has a lovely beach and an interesting history: it was founded by Jewish refugees on the run from the Nazis in 1940. A small museum and synagogue testify their fascinating story.

The Dominican Republic proved to be the most easygoing and bureaucracy-free of the five countries Ive visited since the world reopened. Flying out of Gregorio Lupern airport the next day, I arrived carrying an armful of admin: negative PCR test, proof of vaccination certificate, DR exit eticket, ArriveCAN app (required to get back into Canada), passport, boarding pass and Canadian residence card. Notwithstanding, after navigating an obstacle course of security checks and a chorus of cheery hasta luegos, I found myself sitting in the departure lounge nursing a Bohemia beer and reflecting fondly on a constructive trip.

The best of Caribbean islands

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Caribbean travel during COVID-19: What I learned from an easy-going trip to the Dominican Republic - Lonely Planet Travel News

HOUSTON andNAPLES, Fla. andORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The Giant Armadillo Conservation Program (GACP), a collaboration between the Houston Zoo, Naples Zoo, and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment (NYSE: SEAS), received the 2021 William G. Conway International Conservation Award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).The award recognizes exceptional efforts by AZA Institution, Related Facility, or Conservation Partner members toward habitat preservation, species restoration, and support of biodiversity in the wild. The giant armadillo is found across South America and has been deemed vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.Giant armadillos were declared one of five indicator species for the creation of protected areas in 2014 in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, thanks to the GACP efforts.

"With species disappearing at alarming and increasing rates, conservation leadership has never mattered more. The commitment of these well-respected zoological organizations Houston Zoo, Naples Zoo, and SeaWorld is increasing understanding and protection of the giant armadillo. Their collective efforts to save the giant armadillo from extinction is reason for hope, for this species and many others," said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 12 other countries.All three of the GACP institutions are accredited by the AZA.

The giant armadillo is an engendered species and the largest armadillo species in the world, with a wide distribution throughout Southern American habitats. However, they are always naturally rare throughout their range, often experiencing local extinctions such as in Uruguay and elsewhere. While habitat destruction, poisoning, and hunting pose major threats to remaining populations, much about this species remains unknown.

"Without the support of AZA zoos, we would never have been able to start or continue the giant armadillo Conservation Program," said Dr. Arnaud Desbiez, head of the Giant Armadillo Conservation Project. "Even though there are no giant armadillos in AZA collections, zoos have worked together to fund, create new field techniques, build the capacity of the team, and create such a strong partnership that our collective effort now spans FOUR biomes SIXconservation initiatives."

GACP Identifies the Giant Armadillo as an Ecosystem Engineer as Abandoned Burrows Provide Shelter for 70 Species of Wildlife

In 2011, GACP established the first long-term ecological study of giant armadillos in Brazil. It identified the species as ecosystem engineers whose empty burrows become a shelter from predators and temperature extremes for over 70 species of wildlife from lizards and snakes to ocelots, peccaries, and anteaters, to tamandua and puma. GACP is pioneering methodologies to investigate giant armadillo ecology and biology, promoting conservation awareness through environmental education and outreach, and has become one of the leading capacity-building projects for aspiring conservationists with over 85 Brazilian biologists and veterinarians trained since its inception. Its goal continues to be to use field data to inform conservation outreach and planning and make giant armadillos a flagship species for biodiversity conservation to safeguard remaining native habitats and wildlife. AZA institutions have been instrumental every step of the way for the past 11 years.

Lee Ehmke, President & CEO of Houston Zoo stated, "Our partnership with the Giant Armadillo Conservation Program inspired us to open South America's Pantanal in 2020. The lush habitat highlights animals we are protecting in the wild, including giant anteaters, tapirs, and more, with conservation partners including GACP. With this new exhibit, the Zoo offers visitors the chance to see these animals in an immersive and engaging trail and strengthens our zoo's conservation commitment to this unique and threatened ecosystem."

"Wildlife doesn't stop at the borders of protected areas, so neither can conservation," explains Tim Tetzlaff, Naples Zoo's Director of Conservation. "Large rural landowners can support tremendous amounts of wildlife on their private lands. Understanding their perspective and truly collaborating with these key stakeholders is critical for wildlife species to remain abundant enough to fill their place in the ecosystem, including giant armadillos' role in aiding dozens of other rare species. Naples Zoo greatly values the GACP's efforts in listening to diverse audiences to address the needs of people, animals, and the land a pattern we follow in regional work with Florida panthers."

Dr. Chris Dold, Chief Zoological Officer for SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment added, "The conservation of animal species is central to our purpose and extends to every corner of the world. Through funding by the Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, we have supplied funds, staffing, and field support since the projects beginningand are honored to play a part in preserving this elusive, but critical, species."

Education programs at all three institutions highlight the project to guests in both programming and interpretative messaging.

About Houston ZooThe Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife. Established in 1922, today the Zoo is a leading conservation and education nonprofit organization providing care to thousands of animals. All while remaining a cherished destination for fun, family, and inspiration for all of Houston's diverse communities. The Houston Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.

About Naples Zoo and Caribbean GardensNaples Zoo and Caribbean Gardens is a nonprofit charitable organization caring for rare species both in and outside the wild through conservation and education programs that create a better future for both people and wildlife. With the support of visitors, members, and donors, Naples Zoo has investedover 2.4million dollarssaving plants and animals in the wild since 2014. The Zoo funds the annual salaries of 10field staff in Brazil, Uganda, and Madagascar including biologists, researchers, village games scouts, and two wildlife veterinarians including the head veterinarian of the Giant Armadillo Conservation Program. With a firm belief that what is best for people and wildlife is the same thing in the long run, Naples Zoo strives to support conservation efforts that reflect this mutual benefit.

About SeaWorld Parks & EntertainmentSeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The Company is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training,husbandry,and veterinary care. The Company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The Company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured,orphaned,or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorldrescue team has helped more than 39,000 animals in need over the Company's history. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, Sesame Placeand Sea Rescue. Over its more than 60-year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The Company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.

Media Contacts:

Houston ZooJackie Wallace[emailprotected]

Naples ZooTim Tetzlaff[emailprotected]

SeaWorld Parks & EntertainmentLisa Cradit[emailprotected]

SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

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AZA Gives Conservation Award Top Honor to Houston Zoo, Naples Zoo and Caribbean Gardens, and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Collaboration -...

One big change that Royal Caribbean has implemented this year is Muster 2.0. Otherwise known as eMuster, this is a streamlined and digital upgrade to the traditional muster drill.

The muster drill is a mandatory safety briefing during which passengers learn where to go and what to do in case of an emergency onboard. The drill must be completed by all passengers on the first day of a cruise before the ship can depart.

Prior to the cruise shutdown, the muster drill was an activity many passengers disliked. Passengers had to gather at their muster station at the same time as everyone else in their group. This often led to large crowds and a lot of waiting around outside in uncomfortable temperatures.

Muster 2.0 is a new and improved hybrid model, completed partly on the Royal Caribbean app (or stateroom television) and partly in-person at your designated assembly station. It is a quick, flexible, and stress-free experience.

If you havent been on a cruise yet this year, its important to know when and how to complete the new emuster drill. After all, you dont want to be that one passenger who is delaying the ships departure!

Heres what you can expect when doing the emuster drill on your next cruise.

The first step to completing Muster 2.0 is to make sure you have the Royal Caribbean app downloaded on your smartphone. Royal Caribbeans app is free and is available on both iOS and Android devices.

After the app is downloaded, login to your Royal Caribbean account. You should see your next sailing appear on the app. Once on the main page, select the safety button in the bottom left corner. This will take you to the page where you can begin the emuster drill.

If you do not have a smartphone, you can complete all necessary Muster 2.0 steps on the television in your stateroom once you get onboard.

Keep in mind that you could download the Royal Caribbean app on a tablet as well.

On the safety page within the app, you will see three steps that you must complete. Next to each step, you will see a box that says incomplete. As you complete each step, each box will change from incomplete to complete.

The first step on the emuster drill is to watch a short, animated safety video demonstrating how to properly put on a lifejacket. At the end, you click on a checkbox next to your name to confirm that you have watched the video.

If there is an emergency onboard, you will hear a very loud, high-pitched beeping sound. The emergency horn on Royal Caribbean ships consists of seven short beeping noises followed by one long noise. It is important to know what the horn sounds like so that you are aware of an emergency should the horn blast through the cruise ships speakers.

To complete this step, simply press the blue play button in the Emergency horn box. Make sure your phones audio levels arent up all the way as the emergency horn can be quite loud.

Step three of the emuster drill differs from the first two steps in that it requires going to your assembly station onboard the ship.

After youve listened to the emergency horn, scroll down to the box that says Visit Assembly Station and click Find on deck. A deck plan of the ship will pop up showing you exactly where your assembly station is located.

With your phone in hand (or SeaPass card if you do not have a smartphone), go to your assembly station. If you need help locating your assembly station, simply ask one of the crew members.

Once you arrive at the assembly station, a crew member will give you a very brief safety demonstration. After this is done, they will scan your SeaPass, indicating that you have completed the emuster drill.

Its a good idea to double check that all steps on the apps safety page have been marked as complete. Once you see a green complete box next to each step, you have successfully completed the emuster drill.

Children also have to complete the emuster drill, although the process is a little different for them. When an adult in the cabin watches the safety video and listens to the emergency horn, the children in that cabin are automatically considered to have completed those steps too.

Children must also accompany the adults in their cabin to the assembly station to have their SeaPass cards scanned, indicating that they have completed the emuster drill.

Royal Caribbean also has a safety section for children located at the bottom of the safety page on the app or on the stateroom television. It is called Learn about safety with Lulu & Mika and goes over the safety information in a fun, cartoon-style video.

The video is not mandatory to watch, but may be helpful to give children a better idea of what to expect in an emergency situation.

In the weeks leading up to your cruise, you may be eager to get everything done ahead of time. You can watch the safety video and listen to the emergency horn at any time on the app, but unless you see the Incomplete box next to each step, the muster drill has not officially opened for your sailing yet.

You will receive a notification on your phone when you can start working on the steps of the emuster drill. If you dont receive a notification, simply check the day before your sailing to see if the emuster drill is available.

A good idea is to complete the first two steps of the emuster drill the night before your cruise so that all you have to do once onboard is go to your assembly station. You can even choose to do this immediately after boarding so that you are done with the emuster drill within the first few minutes of being on the ship.

Whatever you do, dont forget to do the emuster drill! Some passengers may be so excited to explore the ship or grab a drink by the pool that they completely forget about it. The ship will not leave port until all passengers have completed every step.

Royal Caribbean is constantly working to improve the cruise experience for its guests, and Muster 2.0 is no exception. What used to be an experience many passengers disliked doing on the first day of a cruise is now an easy, straightforward process that will allow your vacation to begin without any hassle.

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What to expect with Royal Caribbean's new virtual safety drill - Royal Caribbean Blog

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In the Mexican Caribbean, you will find paradisiacal beaches, grand hotels, and gourmet food. When you think of this destination, mass tourism also comes to mind since its one of the top tourist destinations in the world. However, in this area of Mexico, there is a little-known and wonderful site, Contoy Island, located 19 miles from Isla Mujeres.

Contoy is one of the most beautiful islands in Mexico. The white sand and turquoise waters will leave you breathless. Once you reach its beaches, you can enjoy unique landscapes. According to archaeological evidence, it was first visited in the third century B.C., although its believed that it was never permanently inhabited due to the lack of freshwater. In 1998 it was declared a Protected National Park and is highly surveilled. The usual inhabitants consist of researchers and biologists, and theres a limit of 200 visitors per day. This destination captivated the French biologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau for its diversity, and to this day, it preserves its natural beauty.

There are protected species of flora and fauna in its 230 hectares of paradise, which shelter magnificent natural wonders, such as the second-largest reef in the world: Ixlach. To preserve its semi-virgin beaches, this site does not have hotels or places to stay. You can only visit on a day tour, which is plenty of time to enjoy it and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city and daily routine. If you want to know more about the history and pre-Hispanic legacy of the island, visit the local museum, where you will also learn more about the unique flora and fauna of the island.

To reach this hidden gem, you can do it from Cancun, Isla Mujeres, or Puerto Morelos. These sites have tour operators that offer a day trip to the paradisiacal Isla Contoy. Just make sure that theyre certified by the Protected Area Authorities. Otherwise, if your boat is inspected, you may not be allowed to enter the island. Most tours to Isla Contoy depart from Cancun and make a one-hour stop at Isla Mujeres.

You can also travel to Isla Mujeres on a ferry and set sail to Isla Contoy on a separate tour. With this option, you could take the opportunity to stay a night in Isla Mujeres to enjoy this vibrant tourist spot too. There is no way to get to the island independently. Try to book in advance, as only 200 travelers per day are allowed to enter IslaContoy.

Contoy Island is also known as Isla de los Pjaros or Bird Island due to the great diversity of birds that inhabit and take refuge there. In this park, you will find a sanctuary of protected species. During your visit to IslaContoy, you can do various activities. Snorkeling is one of the main attractions, as you will be able to observe the coral reef and all the diversity of marine life.

Isla Contoy is a paradise destination, ideal for those looking for virgin beaches since this site is practically uninhabited. Another top attraction is to swim with the largest fish in the ocean: the whale shark, a species that can measure up to 60 feet in length, and here you will find the largest concentration of these animals. Be careful where you step because there are a lot of crabs. Visit the lighthouse for a stunning panoramic view, and the best thing is that the entrance is free.

There are several tours to the island, which include round-trip sea transportation and snorkeling equipment. The price will depend on the place from where you depart. For example, tours departing from Cancun cost approximately $90 for adults and $70 for children. Some packages include insurance, a light breakfast, lunch, drinks, and even cocktails. Always do your research and search for reputable tour operators to make the most out of your day trip.

The mysteries of the Mexican Caribbean await discovery, venture to Contoy Island, one of the best-kept secrets of this region. This vacation experience in the state of Quintana Roo will be one youll never forget.

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The Complete Guide to Visiting Contoy Island in the Mexican Caribbean - Travel Off Path