Category Archives: Caribbean

NEW YORK, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Join us for a forward-looking discussion into the Caribbean's recovery and the region's economic outlook post-Covid-19. This forum features a panel of high-profile government officials and investors on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 starting at 11:00 AM EDT.

Panel 1 - "The Path to Recovery in the Caribbean" will focus on the region's economic future, highlighting investment opportunities, how the region is addressing climate change and renewable energy, as well as the revival of the tourism industry.

Moderated by: Shery Ahn, Senior Anchor for Bloomberg TV

Panel 2 - "The Path to Recovery in the Caribbean: the investors view"will gather leaders in the asset management and research industry to discuss the road to recovery of the region, as part of their emerging markets strategy.

Moderated by: Juan Pablo Spinetto, Managing Editor for Economics & Government in Latin America, Bloomberg L.P.

This discussion is one of Bloomberg's Emerging + Frontier Forum series held by the Bloomberg Professional Service team.

Media RSVPs are required and can be made bycontacting: Pam Snook - [emailprotected] Burson Cohn & Wolfe for Bloomberg [emailprotected]

About Bloomberg Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company's strength delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately is at the core of the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg's enterprise solutions build on the company's core strength: leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. For more information, visitBloomberg.com/companyorrequest a demo.

SOURCE Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com

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The Path to Recovery in the Caribbean - PRNewswire - PRNewswire

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Intellia Therapeutics Intellia shares surged 50% after the company announced positive results from a phase one study, along with partner Regeneron, of a gene-editing treatment. The treatment is the first time gene-editing technique CRISPR has been delivered systemically as a medicine to the human body. Other companies involved with CRISPR also saw their shares rally, with CRISPR Therapeutics' stock soaring 6.4% andEditas Medicine's stock jumping 5%.

Boeing Shares fell 3.4% after the Federal Aviation Administration said in a letter to the aircraft maker that its 777X long-range aircraft likely won't beapproved to fly until mid- to late-2023at the earliest. The FAA's letter to Boeing, which was obtained by CNBC, said there were numerous technical issues that needed to be resolved.

Cruise stocks Cruises may be back, but cruise line stocks are falling after two teenage guests on one of Royal Caribbean's ships tested positive for Covid-19.Royal Caribbeantraded 6.4% lower Monday, whileCarnival fell 7% andNorwegian Cruisedropped 6%.

Oil stocks Oil names fell as West Texas Intermediatecrude oil futures dipped Monday after gaining more than 10% in June. Occidental Petroleum erased 5%, Marathon Oil dropped 4.8%, Devon Energy shed 4.5% and Chevron fell 3% lower.

Tesla Shares gained 2.5% after Wedbush said the company faces a "moment of truth" following an autopilot software recall in China. The firm maintained its outperform rating on the electric vehicle maker despite the negative headlines.

Nvidia The semiconductor maker saw its equity jump 5% after it received support for its planned $40 billion takeover of U.K.-based chip designer Arm, according to a report in the Sunday Times of London. The public display of support comes from Broadcom, Marvell and MediaTek, all of which are customers of Arm.

NRG Energy The utility stock jumped more than 6% after Goldman Sachs added NRG Energy to its conviction list. The firm said in a note to clients that NRG's strong cash flow profile could enable the company to buy back nearly a quarter of its shares.

Perion Network Shares jumped 17% after the Israel-based ad-tech company reported better-than-expected preliminary second-quarter results. The company reported preliminary second-quarter revenue of $105 million, compared with analysts' projection of $95.9 million, according to FactSet.

Bed Bath & Beyond The retailer's stock traded more than 5.9% higher after CFRA Research upgraded it to a buy rating from hold. CFRA said it's maintaining a $40 price target, implying almost 40% upside.

CNBC's Jesse Pound, Tom Franck and Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting

Become a smarter investor withCNBC Pro.Get stock picks, analyst calls, exclusive interviews and access to CNBC TV.Sign up to start afree trial today

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Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Boeing, Intellia Therapeutics, Royal Caribbean and more - CNBC

MIAMI There is a certain beauty to the portraiture of cinema, in being able to showcase the stories of individuals and places that arent often highlighted. For years now, Third Horizon Film Festival has offered these unique glimpses into communities across the Caribbean and their diaspora, through intimate and flat out fun social gatherings. This year, things look a little different, with a primarily virtual event for their fifth edition. As their mission statement notes, the decision was made in consideration of the precarious public health scenario across the Caribbean as well as in communities of color in the US, so overlooked in the recent tangle of pronouncements and new guidelines.

But the move from a public space to a digital realm is a welcome one, with the 2021 lineup of films becoming largely accessible to audiences all around the world (with a few exceptions geo-blocked to the US or Florida). This extends their reach beyond limited screenings within South Florida, providing anyone with a chance to experience the festivals offerings.

This years Third Horizons line-up offers yet another rewarding mix of features and short film programs; a beautiful collection of documents that showcase a variety of individuals reflecting on their past, present, and future. This is most evident in Sofa Gallis Murientes Celaje (Cloudscapes), one of the most experimental and intriguing of the bunch. By opening with a visual metaphor of rocks being worn down into soil and then cementing back into rock, the documentary smartly establishes itself as a piece about how our histories are cyclical.

Murientes film feels inspired by those of Chantal Akerman and has such a clear sense of mood; its visuals and music come together to create a haunting and sentimental piece of filmmaking. Celaje is as much about her grandmothers memories and reality as it is about Puerto Ricos history. The film, like the island itself, evolves constantly, circling its core themes: life and death, like beauty and disaster, are inextricably linked.

She-Paradise, Maya Coziers feature, is a simple and traditional film but no less interesting. This coming-of-age story is an intimately shot film. The way the camera gazes on bodies constantly in motion is both respectful and engaging, particularly in situations that many might perceive as overly sexual and demeaning. There is such an energy to the way lead actor Onessa Nestor embodies this young womans journey towards self-actualization, and whatever highs and lows may accompany it. Its a film that understands the language, spoken and unspoken, that exists between Black women in spaces of their own creation as well as in those where men seek to control them.

Just as rewarding as the features are some of the short films within Third Horizons line-up. Take Helen Peas When Angels Speak of Love, a portrait of Sheshebazzar Bayne, a Miami woman grieving the loss of her sister while also preparing for a new life. Its lovely to watch how Pea mixes in down-to-earth slices of life with flashes of heightened aesthetic, from discussions with her mother to the depiction of her as a mermaid.

By contrast, Cai Thomass Queenie is starkly realistic in how it explores the life of a 73-year-young Black lesbian seeking to apply for NYCs first LGBTQ elder affordable housing development. Disguised as a portrait, the short is a subtle but scathing indictment of housing inequality, and how even the most inclusive efforts still manage to exclude the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

History, sexuality, and spirituality all come together in the best short of the festival: Vashni Korins You Cant Stop Spirit. Centered around the Baby Doll Mardi Gras masking tradition, the short highlights a group of Black women as they dive into the traditions they hold dear. Beyond its compelling showcase of gorgeous outfits, umbrellas, and dances, the film is thoroughly moving in the way it allows these women to tell their stories. There is so much beauty in the rituals they practice, in the way theyve built their own community, and in the way they embrace their identities while acknowledging the rich histories that came before them. Its precisely this layered approach present in so many of the films this year that makes Third Horizon and their programming so necessary.

The 2021 Third Horizon Film Festival continues online and at various venues in Miami, Florida through July 1.

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At Third Horizon Film Festival, Caribbean Films Reflect on Layered Pasts, Presents, and Futures - Hyperallergic

For a region highly dependent upon tourism as the Caribbean, air connectivity between islands can still be very difficult, according to Trevor Sandler, CEO of Turks & Caicos-based InterCaribbean Airways. Speaking earlier this month at the 5th annual Caribavia Conference, Sandler noted that a trip on a legacy airline from Turks & Caicos to St. Maarten, such as he took to reach the conference, involved flying from Providenciales to Miami, and then on to Charlotte, in order to reach to St. Maarten. While airlines such as Jet Blue, Frontier, and Air Belgium have begunexpanding their service into the region, small regional carriers such as InterCaribbean and Winnair are working to bridge those gaps and eliminate the need for U.S. connections through interline agreements with major airlines. Sandler noted that when the airline began nearly three decades ago, it carried mainly Caribbean residents, but now given his companys exposure worldwide, tourists from as far away as Australia can account for half the passengers on a given flight.

Another hurdle faced by the region is in the patchwork of regulations and taxes imposed by the various island governments. A short connecting flight from the Dominican Republic to Jamaica via Turks and Caicos can add nearly $300 to the price of the trip in taxes and tariffs alone, aside from the cost of the ticket. Sandler noted that the distance of that trip was comparable to a flight from Miami to Orlando, which would result in approximately one-tenth of the tax add-ons. How do we develop greater airlift? asked Sandler. You make it affordable;but what is affordable if the customer sees only the bottom line of the price on the ticket? Those increases over the base ticket price have served to inhibit the growth of interisland air travel in a region that is overwhelmingly reliant on leisure travel, as the Covid pandemic starkly underlined. He noted that discussions over reducingdeparture taxes across the region have gone on for years, ebbing and flowing with the change of local governments. However,only a few countries including St. Vincent have followed through with meaningful reductions. Sandler is currently attempting to negotiate what he describes as stop-over fares with several countries to share the taxation between them on a multi-island itinerary and encourage interisland trips without having to pass along onerous taxes to the passengers. Meanwhile, having certain countries agree to no visa in transit policies allows for increased routing through connecting flights.

Sandler also addressed the economics of aircraft operations in the Caribbean. With a few exceptions, we dont have populations of millions across most of these islands, so it is that your available base of potential travelers is quite small, so the aircraft you operate across the region simply has to be able to meet the particular demand, he said. With that in mind, InterCaribbean flies a mixed fleet of EMB-120s (which will soon be supplanted by larger ATR-42s) and ERJ145s, along with Twin Otter turboprops. As we hear people trying to compare the aircraft we operate with how much the operating cost of a 737 or an A320 is, thats nonsense because we cant fill up 737s and A320s between most island points, insisted Sandler.

The upheaval in the commercial air passenger industry caused by the pandemic has been well documented, and Sandler told the audience that despite not having a single revenue flight between March28 and July 22 last year, which forced a 50 percent reduction in the companys payroll, the airline hasnot received one penny of support from any government. He said that in the companys home of Turks & Caicos, hotel workers laid off due to the tourism downturn received some short-term benefits, but if you were an airline or airport worker, nothing for you.

In terms of staffing, Sandler explained that pre-Covid, the airline engaged inperpetual hiring because pilots were constantly looking for their next opportunity. That changed after the pandemic, however, asmainline airliner pilots continue to search for jobs. The company also has an onboarding first officer program with a major airline, which gives them what he called vital, hands-on flying experience.

One new development that could aid aviation travel in the area is the "homeporting" of cruise ships at certain islands for the first time. While such ships typically had departed on their Caribbean circuits from Miami and other ports in Florida, due to the Covid pandemic and its resulting travel restrictions and regulationsseveral cruise lines have decided to base ships at Antigua, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and St. Maarten instead. While the cruise lines intend for the measure to last until the end of the summer vacation season, aviation stakeholders such as Sandler hope it will stick. For the first time, the Caribbean has the possibility of embarking cruise passengers without having to go to the U.S., he told the audience, adding that will enable further long-haul flying into those markets, where passengers could choose to extend their on-island stays around the cruise, and even take short flights to visit other nearby islands. I really see thats the most wonderful thing Covid has delivered for our region, Sandler said.

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Commercial Aviation in Caribbean Still Has Its Hurdles - Aviation International News

A boat was found drifting about a mile off Grand Turk island with 20 dead people on board, including two children, authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands said Sunday.

Officials said investigators had ruled out foul play but were still trying to determine what happened. The identities and origin of the dead were also under investigation.

Fishermen spotted the small boat Thursday morning and alerted the marine branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, which towed the vessel ashore.

The police communications officer, Takara Bain, said in a news release that investigators had discounted foul play and were looking at other possibilities, without giving any specifics.

Police Commissioner Trevor Botting said the boat appeared to have come from outside the Caribbean and authorities did not think it had the Turks and Caicos as its destination.

My investigators are working to establish their identities and how they met their death, Botting said.

The Turks and Caicos are often a magnet for desperate Haitians seeking to flee their poverty-stricken nation. The territory also has been used as a transshipment point by human traffickers.

In June 2020, Canadian citizen Srikajamukam Chelliah pleaded guilty to human-trafficking charges before a Turks and Caicos judge and was sentenced to 14 months in prison. He was extradited to Florida and sentenced Feb. 24 to 32 months in prison for conspiring to smuggle people into the United States.

The Sri Lanka-born Chelliah had been caught in August 2019 skippering a boat carrying 158 people, including 28 Sri Lankans. They told investigators they were bound for the U.S.

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20 people found dead on boat drifting in the Caribbean - Los Angeles Times

The ever-popular St John Celebration event is back this year, in a safe format amid the pandemic.

The US Virgin Islands Department of Tourisms Division of Festivals will hold two events for St John Celebration on July 3 and 4, respectively.

That will include the Love City Food Fair and Love Fete, both of which are being held to encourage visitors and residents to experience the festivities safety and to promote the Divisions Vaccinate to Party Safe initiative.

Public health safety and celebrating our culture can coexist, said Ian Turnbull, Director of the Division of Festivals.

The first event, the Love City Food Fair, will be held July from 11 AM to 4 PM, hosted by noted Virgin Islander Pamela Richards and Chef Guy Mitchell, former White House Chef.

It will include more than 30 vendors showcasing local food and arts and crafts, with entertainment by Pan Dragons and VerCtyle Band.

All vendors must be vaccinated, with mandatory mask wearing. Attendee capacity will be limited on an hourly basis.

The second event, Love Fete, will be held July 4 from 7 PM to 12 AM, with music performances by Virgin Islands bands Cool Session Brass and Spectrum Band, as well as local artists John Gotti, Rudy Live and Star Martin, headlined by Trinidadian soca artist Patrice Roberts.

It will accommodate 400 patrons, all of whom will be vaccinated, with health protocols like mask wearing and physical distancing.

IT will also be streamed life on the Division of Festivals online platforms.

We are thankful that more and more visitors and Virgin Islanders are getting vaccinated, said JosephBoschulte, Commissioner of Tourism, U.S. Virgin Islands. This allows us to add more events to our festivals calendar, and move to the full return of our annual celebrations, which highlight our vibrant cultural traditions.

CJ

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St John Celebration Is Back With a Pair of Events Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

JetBlue is kicking off a new route to Antigua and Barbuda next week, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The fast-expanding carrier is launching its first-ever service from Newark-Liberty International Airport to Antiguas VC Bird International Airport.

The new service, which begins July 3, will operate three times each week, with service on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

The addition complements JetBlues existing service out of the wider New York area, which already includes flights on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Its part of a broader Caribbean expansion first announced by JetBlue in February.

And its never been a better time to visit Antigua and Barbuda, which has seen a strong tourism rebound after being one of the first destinations to reopen amid the pandemic back in June 2020.

So what do travelers need to know?

In one of the simpler-to-execute entry protocols in the region, all travelers have to do is show proof of a negative PCR test taken and received within seven days of their flight to Antigua.

Children below the age of 12 dont need to take a test.

Visitors may be required to undergo testing on arrival or at their hotel or place of lodging as determined by health authorities.

And the wearing of face masks in public spaces is mandatory throughout Antigua and Barbuda, along with social distancing protocols.

All visitors need to complete a health declaration form on arrival.

So what will travelers find?

Theyll find a vibrant, open destination, home to some of the Caribbeans leading hotels and resorts (like the spectacular Hammock Cove). a vibrant dining scene (Sheer Rocks is a must) and the beginnings of a renaissance in Barbuda, where Robert De Niro just opened his first Caribbean restaurant.

For more, visit Antigua and Barbuda.

CJ

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JetBlue Is Launching New Nonstop Flights to Antigua Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

The third edition of the Caribbean Baseball Cup has got under way - after twice being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic - with Peru and Cuba picking up opening day wins.

Starting off the day, Peru defeated the United States Virgin Islands 13-3 in Willemstad in Curaao.

Juan Pedro Casas was the star performer for the winners, scoring four runs batted in (RBI).

Peru scored one run in the first inning before taking a commanding lead in the third by scoring another three.

Despite the US Virgin Islands bringing it back to 5-2 after the fourth inning, Peru put the game beyond doubt by scoring eight in the sixth.

In the late game, Cuba won 14-7 against the hosts Curaao.

Off the bat, Cuba were in control, scoring four in the first inning and another two in the second and third each respectively.

Curaao looked to remain in touch, having scored four in the second and another two in the fourth, with the game sitting at 8-6 before Cuba turned it up late thanks to Santiago Torre with two RBI and scoring three, thanks to a home run.

Initially, the Caribbean Baseball Cup was set to be held in April, but this was moved to May due to a surge of COVID-19 cases before being pushed back again to now.

This year's tournament is dedicated to the memory of the late President of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) Higinio Vlez Carrin, who died in mid-May at the age of 74 after complications related to COVID-19.

He had been in head of the FCB since 2008 until his death.

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Cuba and Peru win on opening day of postponed Caribbean Baseball Cup - Insidethegames.biz

Coconut slaw

Coconut is my favourite fruit in the world. I love it because its so versatile: from starter to dessert, the possibilities are endless, says author of Sunshine Kitchen: Delicious Creole Recipes From The Heart Of The Caribbean Vanessa Bolosier. I created this recipe because I love coconut souskay a traditional Martinique recipe but always felt it lacked something, a bit of a kick, creaminess, texture.

This recipe is one of my guests favourite, always on the request list for menus at my supper clubs.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 coconut

carrot, coarsely grated

1 small piece (about 3cm) fresh ginger, finely grated

Scotch bonnet chilli, very finely chopped (optional)

Salt

1 lime

4 tbsp coconut milk

Method

1. Break the husk of the coconut and scoop out the meat. Wash the meat and pat dry with paper towels. Coarsely grate the coconut meat into a mixing bowl.

2. Add the carrot, ginger and chilli and season with salt to taste.

3. Squeeze in the lime juice, add the coconut milk and stir to mix evenly. Cover with clingfilm and place in the refrigerator for one hour before serving.

Flambe bananas recipe

The most popular dessert in Guadeloupe and Martinique

(PA)

The most popular dessert in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Traditionally made with ordinary bananas, but we found them too soft and so my mum made a firmer version, using ripe plantains, explains Bolosier.

It became a family recipe. When my sister and I lived in Paris I would make these when I missed home and my sister couldnt get enough. When she makes them, she uses cane syrup instead of sugar and adds vanilla.

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 very ripe plantains

50g/4 tbsp butter

1 pinch grated cinnamon

1 pinch grated nutmeg

150g golden granulated sugar

Juice of 1 lime

3-4 tbsp white rum

Method

1. Peel the plantains and slice them in three lengthwise. Melt the butter in a frying pan (skillet) and fry the plantains on both sides, until golden.

2. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and lime juice. Pour the rum into the pan and standing well back as the flames leap up immediately either tilt the pan slightly so it touches the flame (if you have a gas hob) or hold a match near to the pan (on an electric hob) to flambe the bananas. Serve immediately.

Tip: Grate a little lime zest over the bananas before serving, and serve with coconut or vanilla ice cream.

Green banana and saltfish recipe

A rustic everyday meal, served in large portions

(PA)

I love the simplicity of this dish. In Guadeloupe, the people youll see ordering this for their lunch are often the big guys: truck drivers, builders, people with tough jobs working under the very hot Caribbean sun.

Ti punch is de rigueur with this dish. Its a rustic everyday meal, served in large portions one of my favourites.

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 thick salted cod cutlets (available in larger supermarkets and Caribbean stores)

2 green bananas per person

6 tbsp sunflower oil

2-3 garlic cloves, crushed

1 bay leaf

4 sprigs thyme

2 sprigs parsley, chopped

Juice of 1.5 limes

1 habanero chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

2 onions, sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 large cucumber, peeled, grated

1 large avocado

Method

1. Put the salted cod in a saucepan, add cold water to cover, bring to the boil and boil for five minutes. Drain off the water and repeat the process. Drain.

2. Wash the green bananas thoroughly. Cut off both ends and make a 1cm-deep slit lengthwise; once boiled, the skin will drop off easily. Boil the green bananas for 30 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat two tablespoons of oil in a wide, shallow pot over a medium heat. Add the cod and cook for about two minutes on each side. Add the garlic, bay leaf, thyme sprigs, chopped parsley, juice of one lime and half the chilli and cook for five minutes. Reduce the heat and add four tablespoons of water. Cook for five minutes over a low heat, then set aside.

4. In a frying pan (skillet), heat four tablespoons of oil over a medium heat, add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes, until they become translucent. Add a little salt to taste, a pinch of pepper and the remaining chilli. Tip the onions over the cod.

5. Squeeze the juice of half a lime over the cucumbers. Peel the avocado and cut into small cubes.

6. Drain the green bananas and serve on a plate with the cod, cucumber and avocado.

Tip: Traditionally, we like to have a habanero chilli and a lime wedge on the side to adjust the flavours to individual taste, and some sunflower oil to pour over the green bananas. We crush everything together, from the fish to the avocado, and although its a messy plate, the flavours combine perfectly.

Recipes extracted from Sunshine Kitchen: Delicious Creole Recipes From The Heart Of The Caribbean by Vanessa Bolosier (Pavilion Books, 12.99; photography by Clare Winfield).

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Three Creole recipes to give you a taste of the Caribbean - The Independent

The Dutch Caribbean island of Statia is officially reopening for tourism, Caribbean Journal has confirmed.

The island, located a short flight from St Maarten, will reopen its borders to tourists beginning Aug. 2, 2021.

During this new phase of the islands reopening, only fully vaccinated travelers can visit Statia.

Visitors from high-risk countries must adhere to certain measures for the first five days after arriving, including wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands frequently.

Vaccinated visitors from very high risk countries can come to Statia but most go into quarantine for a period of five days upon entry.

The Aug. 2 date is meant to coincide with a vaccination milestone when 50 of the islands adult population will be fully vaccinated.

The next phase would come into effect once 80 percent of residents in Statia are vaccinated. Once that milestone is hit, the island will be open to everyone, including unvaccinated visitors.

Statia has long been one of the Caribbeans eco-tourism gems, highlighted by its beautiful Quill, a tropical rainforest set on a dormant volcano.

Its also home to one of the hottest new hotels in the Dutch Caribbean, the Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort, set to open next month.

Earlier this year, the island also was in the news following the release of research showing that U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton and his family had spent extended time on the island.

For more, visit Statia Tourism.

CJ

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The Island of Statia Is Is Reopening to Vaccinated Travelers Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal