Category Archives: Caribbean

Posted on June 25, 2021

HMA Medway and RFA Wave Knight at sea. (GP)

The Royal Navy has formed a task force in the Caribbean to provide immediate assistance to the region throughout the 2021 Hurricane Season.

The RFA Wave Knight has joined the patrol ship HMS Medway to significantly enhance the assistance in the event of a natural disaster. The two ships arrived in Barbados . . . for a short visit. They will be working with authorities in Barbados and across the region in the coming weeks to plan, prepare and coordinate any response if needed.

HMS Medway provides the Royal Navys permanent presence in the Caribbean and is now into her second storm season. She has been joined by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary supportship Wave Knight, with a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter embarked alongside specialist personnel, equipment and supplies for disaster relief, including highlyskilled troops from 24 Commando, Royal Engineers.

Prepare for the worst

While we hope for the best, we must prepare for the worst. These ships are the first responders of the UKs plan for disaster relief in the Caribbean. We are all are proud to be working together with local authorities, helping people when they need it most.

We have worked hard over the last few months to get ready for this role, and we willkeep on training and preparing, learning from and cooperating with our partners in the Caribbean, said Task Group Commander, Brian Trim.

Earlier this month, RFA Wave Knight delivered an assortment of aid from the people of Barbados and the World Health Organisation to St Vincent.

Individually and together, the two ships provide support and reassurance to Britains Overseas Territories and to Commonwealth states in the region. The ships are making a brief visit here following two weeks of exercises at sea and with US, French, Dutch and Canadian ships, have participated in Exercise Tradewinds off Guyana.

Lieutenant SamStallard, HMS Medways navigator, said: Its been really great to work with our partners during Tradewinds. After two weeks of training together, it will be much easier to cooperate in the months ahead.(PR)

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Royal Navy ready to assist Caribbean during hurricane season - Nation News

The last day of our cruise brings us to a new cruise port, Freeport.

Freeport is on Grand Bahama Island, and this is the first time I've been able to explore this port of call.

There are not many choices for what to do, so I booked a visit to the Grand Lucayan resort.

The Grand Lucayan is a famous resort on the island that Royal Caribbean is likely purchasing to transform as part of a new redevelopment project. I thought it might be nice to see what there is to do now, and how it looks like.

Our times in port were 7:00am to 3:30pm, so it made for limited hours on shore since nothing in any Caribbean port opens before 9am.

We walked through the port area, which had shops and bars. These were all closed, although some opened later in the day.

We took a taxi to the hotel (~$35 each way) to the hotel. Our taxi driver said we were his first fare in a year and a half.

Once we got to the hotel, we checked in at the front desk.

There are two resorts: The Grand Lucayan and Lighthouse Pointe. The Grand Lucayan is closed, but Lighthouse Pointe is open.

We arrived right around 9am, and I actually booked a hotel room on an all-inclusive rate. At the time of booking, the hotel was not taking day passes, but they are doing that now.

The day pass rate is $75 per adult, and $65 for kids.

With the all inclusive option, you get food and drinks at all the restaurants at Lighthouse Pointe, house wines by the glass, local beers, and bottled beers and some premium liquors.

Perrier Water, Vitamin water, Gatorade, Wine by the bottle, and top shelf brands are not included.

We immediately headed to the pool and beach.

There is an infinity pool and lap pool available, along with a hot tub. Both looked great, and there is chairs and umbrellas you can sit at.

The beach was really nice, and the sand was powdery soft. If it had not been mostly overcast, it would have been really pretty.

There was no waiter service, but the nearby beach bar was just steps away from the pool and beach. They opened at 11am and served drinks and lunch.

You can tell the resort is in need of some upgrade work, but for a day guest it was fine.

What stood out the most to me was the fact there were barely any other guests. For the first hour or two, we did not see anyone else at the beach or pool.

By the time we left, we saw perhaps 10 other guests in total. It was strange.

We had lunch from the pool bar, and they had a nice selection of food choices. Burgers, wings, fish and more. Pretty good quality and fresh cooked.

We had a nice time enjoying the infinity pool to ourselves. Being an all-inclusive, I'm certain we did not get our moneys worth in terms of food and drink, but it was interesting to see this resort in person.

Would I go back? I am debating that right now for our next sailing. It sounds like a lot of other cruisers did not enjoy their tours, so we may just stay onboard the ship next time.

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Adventure of the Seas Live Blog - Day 7 - Freeport - Royal Caribbean Blog

Two Australian survivors of the White Island volcanic eruption in New Zealand will be allowed to sue Royal Caribbean in the US after the cruise line failed in its bid to stop the lawsuit.

Marie and Stephanie Browitt lost family members in the December 2019 eruption, which also severely injured Stephanie. They were on a day trip to the island organised by Royal Caribbean.

The eruption killed 22 people and injured another 25. The Browitts are suing the company in Florida, where it is headquartered.

In December, the company took them, and an American couple who had also launched legal action in the US, to Australias federal court, claiming terms in their ticket agreement meant any disputes could only be litigated in New South Wales.

Royal Caribbean dropped its case against the American couple, Ivy and Paul Reed, earlier this month, but continued its action against the Browitts.

On Friday, the federal court justice Angus Stewart said a term in the ticket contract requiring the Browitts to sue in NSW did not stop them suing Royal Caribbean in Miami.

This was because it was not clear which of several conflicting sets of terms of conditions applied to the ticket and because the company the Browitts are suing, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, which is registered in Liberia, was not a party to the ticket agreement, Stewart said.

The Browitts solicitor, Peter Gordon of Gordon Legal, said he was very pleased with the result, which followed a three-day trial that took place during Melbournes recent Covid lockdown.

It was a really hard-fought piece of litigation, made harder because of the fact we had to run it from Melbourne and Marie was cross-examined by Royal Caribbeans lawyer from the study of my home, which was distressing for her, he said.

It was the most complex of cases. It really was one of the bigger fights of my 40-year legal career.

Marie Browitt, her husband, Paul, and their daughters, Stephanie and Krystal, took the cruise to celebrate Krystals 21st birthday.

Paul, Stephanie and Krystal were on the island when it erupted but Marie did not go on the day trip.

Paul and Krystal were killed by molten ash and rock from the volcano and Stephanie suffered third-degree burns to more than 70% of her body. Doctors have amputated all her fingers. Marie is now her full-time carer.

Stewart said she had suffered unbearable loss and psychological injury.

This explained not only her weak memory of the events of the booking but also the frustration that she evidently experienced with the fine detail of some of the questioning, he said.

He said there were advantages to the Browitts if they were able to sue in Florida, including that the damages likely to be recovered in the Florida proceeding are significantly higher than could be expected to be awarded by an Australian court.

He said that the UK company through which Royal Caribbean acts in Australia, Royal Caribbean Limited, was bound by the ticket agreement.

However, it was not clear from the Royal Caribbean website which of several sets of terms and conditions applied to the Browitts booking.

One set, entitled Cruise Contract, even specified that legal action should be brought in Florida.

Even an experienced contract lawyer would have difficulty identifying which terms and conditions that were accessible by link on the website were applicable, Stewart said.

Royal Caribbean in a statement said it launched the Australian action because we believed matters would be more appropriately determined in New South Wales as we believed the contracts between the parties were under NSW law.

We will examine the judgment, the company said. This does not change the heartfelt empathy we feel for all those impacted by this tragedy.

Originally posted here:

Royal Caribbean fails to stop US lawsuit by Australian survivors of White Island volcano - The Guardian

UPDATED: Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones are finally coming to Sea of Thieves.

On Sunday, during Microsofts E3 showcase, developer Rare announced that it had officially partnered with Disney for a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed expansion, A Pirates Life, a free update hitting the multiplayer game on June 22. It is, as Rare executive producer Joe Neate tells it, the ultimate pirate crossover.

Speaking toVariety just a couple of days before the reveal and showing off footage and details for the first time, Neate, Rare creative director Mike Chapman and vice president of Disney and Pixar Games Luigi Priore are nearly giddy, and its easy to see why. Chapman has previously said Pirates of the Caribbean was one of the works the Sea of Thieves team drew on for inspiration during development, and he describes actually getting to work with Disney on it as one of the proper pinch-me moments.

According to Neate, Chapman and Priore, its a secret that theyve keep under their hats since E3 2019, when Rare first brought their idea to Disney. The trio says it very quickly became clear how the two properties would be a natural fit, and Priore remembers that Chapman was a walking encyclopedia of Pirates of the Caribbean knowledge, coming to the table with an idea that would tie together the worlds of both IPs.

That first meeting, Mike and I walked out and literally, when we got around the corner we made sure we were out of eyeshot we literally put our arms around each other and said, were gonna do something special here, just from spending 45 minutes in a room with the team at Disney, Neate recalls.

Once the partnership was officially a go, when it came down to the nitty-gritty, Chapman says one of the greatest priorities was authenticity not only to the world of Pirates of the Caribbean, but to that of Sea of Thieves, and the lore thats been built around the game since its launch in 2018.

The thing that we very quickly grasped onto was the idea that if the world of Pirates of the Caribbean is going to come to Sea of Thieves, it needed to be something fundamental in terms of how those two worlds cross over, he says. Not a bunch of side stories, take it or leave it, sort of parallel quests. It needed to be something that fundamentally moved the Sea of Thieves world forward.

With that in mind, the team began to dive into the mythos behind Sea of Thieves and Pirates of the Caribbean and saw some very fitting connections. One, Chapman explains, started with The Ferryman, a character well known to players of the game as the captain of the Ferry of the Damned who brings dead pirates back to the Sea of Thieves. Pirates of the Caribbeans main antagonist, Davy Jones, plays a similar role in the series, traveling between the worlds of the living and the dead. Both play with the idea of the pirates life being eternal.

Were delving into the idea of the deeper meaning of pirate freedom, or what it means to be a pirate, Chapman says. Jack has that awesome line that I love from the first movie around what a ship really is, is freedom. So the idea that the Sea of Thieves is positioned as this place that the pirates life lives forever that kind of narrative idea that Jack would want to be in the Sea of Thieves and he would see it like a legend, the legend of the fountain of youth the positioning of the two worlds made a lot of sense.

As Sparrow eventually becomes a crew mate for the player on their adventure, Rare went above and beyond to make sure his portrayal would seem genuine to Pirates of the Caribbean fans. Chapman says they had one of Johnny Depps stunt doubles visit the team to make sure they could answer questions like if Jack was gonna say this, what would he be doing with his hands? How would he carry himself? What would his posture be like?

Depp and Bill Nighy, who played Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbbean movies, are not features in A Pirates Life however, that doesnt mean some voices from the films arent back. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, For the main characters featured in the announce trailer such as Jack Sparrow & Davy Jones, the original cast arent featured, but the keener eared amongst you will have recognized Kevin McNally reprising his role as Gibbs. Rare have worked closely with the team at Disney Character Voices to ensure the characters you know and love sound as authentic as possible, and we look forward to players discovering more about the story and characters featured.

That effort for authenticity extends not only to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but the Disneyland attraction. In fact, one of the glimpses thatVariety got to view was a location directly inspired by the ride, and Chapman says they used audio that comes from the 1967 attraction in the game. As players journey in the grottos, theyll hear the chanting of Dead Men Tell No Tales echoing throughout, just as those on the ride at Disneyland have for decades.

But the team isnt just taking cues from the Pirates of the Caribbean world its building on them. Chapman points to the Sea of the Damned in Sea of Thieves as an example, a place where pirates dreams and nightmares become reality.

If Jack Sparrow is lost in the Sea of the Damned, you get to explore some of the moments from his life, he says. So it allows us to bring these fantastical takes on moments you remember from the movies or moments you remember from the attraction to life in a way that makes absolute sense in the narrative that were telling.

Sea of Thieves: A Pirates Life doesnt mark the first time Pirates of the Caribbean has gotten the video game treatment, although it hasnt gotten a full game to itself since 2011 (aside from a 2017 mobile game). So if Disney wanted to return to Jack Sparrow and co. in video game form, why not just make a new game?

As Priore tells it, the answer to that question is pretty simple: the best pirate video game already exists. Why not jump on the ship thats already sailing?

Its hard to make a game from scratch, he says. And if youre thinking about pirates and youre thinking about whats the best pirate game out there, probably ever made, its Sea of Thieves. Why would you try to beat something thats the best out there? Why not build something together?

To say that its a collaboration that fans have been waiting for would be an understatement. Fans use Jack Sparrow gifs while tweeting about the game, streamers cosplay as the famous character while playing Sea of Thieves, and many have even asked the team at Rare directly if itll ever be a possibility (one tweet from 2018, before the partnership was born, even has the studio saying that there wouldnt be other IPs in the game).

As Chapman puts it, If you did a Venn Diagram of fans of Sea of Thieves and fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, it would just be a circle.

For our fans, the Sea of Thieves fans as well as Pirates of the Caribbean fans, I think theyre almost gonna be as emotional as us, says Neate. Its a genuine dream come true for everyone.

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How Sea of Thieves Brought Pirates of the Caribbean to Its World in New Expansion (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety

KEY FIGURES

1.04M NEW COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN FROM 7-13 JUNE 2021

197.5M COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

HONDURAS

Of Honduras' 460,200 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, or about 4.5 doses per every 100 people, more than half have been administered in the past two weeks. The country is approaching a milestone in their vaccination efforts as healthcare personnel who received their first doses in late April are now receiving their second doses. Medical workers associations report that colleagues are no longer occupying intensive care units (ICUs) and that there have been no deaths among healthcare workers in more than 50 days.

The Government announced that they are expecting more vaccines by the end of June with the arrival of more than 644,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses comprised of shipments from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V, including 187,200 doses made available through the COVAX Facility.

PERU

The Government confirmed Perus first case of the B.1.617.2 variant of SARSCoV-2, commonly referred to as the Delta variant of concern first identified in India. Authorities identified the case in the southern area of Arequipa, the only area in Peru where cases are beginning to climb again amid a nineweek long decrease in cases and sevenweek long decrease in deaths across the country. The Ministry of Health indicates that it is the only confirmed Delta variant case identified so far and that they cannot attribute the current case growth in Arequipa to this variant.Authorities have placed high-risk areas of Arequipa under a state of alert, including the departmental capital of Arequipa, Perus second largest city.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

With cases declining after reaching record high daily case counts in May, the Government announced that Trinidad and Tobago will soon reopen their borders and end travel restrictions imposed more than 14 months ago as part of the countrys initial effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Government also announced a weekend curfew and the order of 800,000 Johnson & Johnson singledose vaccines from the African Medical Supply Platform. Trinidad and Tobago have administered 151,659 vaccines, or about 10.64 doses for every 100 people. Vaccination efforts are ramping up, as a third of the doses administered so far have come since the beginning of June. The Ministry of Health indicates that the Governments vaccination efforts will include the migrant population, regardless of their status.

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Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (7-13 June 2021), as of 14 June 2021 - Honduras - ReliefWeb

Story Highlights

COVID-19 not only changed the workplace, but it also changed the world.

Gallup's most recent data show that the coronavirus situation affected 80% of people's lives globally at least "somewhat," with 45% saying it affected their lives "a lot." A great deal of the impact of COVID-19 was economic: Whereas 32% of people who were working at the time of the pandemic say they lost their job or business as a result of the pandemic, 50% claim to have received less money than usual from their employer or business because of COVID.

In this respect, Latin America and the Caribbean are no exception to the global trend. According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2021 Report, 45% of adults in the region say their lives have been affected a lot by the pandemic, and the percentage of workers who have lost a job or business (31%) mirrors the global average. Over half of those working at the time of the pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean have lost pay (57%) and worked fewer hours (57%), while 58% say they temporarily stopped working.

Not only did COVID-19 put a strain on the region's formal economy, but it also put the informal sector -- which accounts for about half of all jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean -- against the ropes. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, estimations for real GDP contraction centered around 8.1%, higher than any other region in the world. But unlike other economic regions, the limited growth projections for 2020, coupled with the economic and social hardships brought about by the pandemic, created a perfect storm in the area.

Custom graphic. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 57% of employees say they have received less money than usual from their employer because of the pandemic, and 57% say they have lost a job or their business.

As the economy shrank, employee engagement declined by seven percentage points -- all the way back to 2015 levels -- to 24%. From Mexico to Argentina, almost every country in the region -- with some exceptions in Central America and the Caribbean -- saw the world's worst setbacks in employee engagement.

Custom graphic. 24% of employees in Latin America and the Caribbean are engaged. This latest reading shows that engagement has declined to 2015 levels.

One possible explanation may be the sudden shift to a work-from-home arrangement. Many leaders were not equipped to manage their teams remotely; failed to provide the necessary materials, support and expectations; and lacked the skills to effectively deal with the complexity of juggling their personal work-life balance, as well as that of their employees. In other cases, the infrastructure to effectively implement remote working was not there, such as proper internet connection, platforms and other IT requirements. Alternatively, it may also be a reflection of overall misery. Gallup found that in Latin America and the Caribbean, 61% of employees are categorized as struggling or suffering in their daily lives.

It may be no surprise, therefore, that workers in Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest rates of worry in the world -- 55%, compared with the global average of 41%.

What may come as a surprise, however, is that younger workers are far more optimistic than older workers.

This is surprising because younger workers in Latin America and the Caribbean report a heavier burden of economic concerns. Though younger adults were about equally affected by the coronavirus situation (46% of those aged 40 and older said their lives were affected a lot, as did 45% of those younger than 40) and were equally likely to say they'd lost pay (57% of both age groups did), employees younger than 40:

So, although Gallup finds that employees' overall life evaluation in the region is down seven percentage points from 2019, it's somewhat promising that younger workers are thriving at a much higher rate than older ones (43%, vs. 34% of those aged 40 and older) and suffering at a much lower rate (3%, compared with 10% of those aged 40 and older).

Though the rate of suffering among older generations is alarming, younger workers' experience should be read as auspicious. Never in its recorded history has Latin America and the Caribbean had such a large proportion of young people -- the region's median age is 31, which means the millennial and Gen Z age cohorts have enormous influence over their companies just from sheer size.

Although Gallup finds that employees' overall life evaluation in the region is down seven percentage points from 2019, it's somewhat promising that younger workers are thriving at a much higher rate than older ones.

The fact that younger Latin Americans -- who are beginning or in the thick of their professional lives -- have so much hope has the potential to change the shape of the region's future. And there's much leaders can do to help.

In hard-hit Latin America and the Caribbean, leaders may not be able to bolster workers' hope with higher pay or advancement, but our research shows that leaders who clearly communicate their plans and strategies strongly affect employees' perceptions about the future. But nothing improves workers' outlook like being engaged.

The most important factor behind employee engagement is the manager. But most managers aren't prepared to see to the 12 elements necessary for engagement -- the managerial approach in Latin America and the Caribbean tends toward paternalistic or command-and-control leadership -- nor to develop workers properly. Shifting from a figure of "boss" to a role of "coach" is a culture change that often requires a mandate from leadership. Regardless of the circumstances, this shift is possible.

The fact that younger Latin Americans -- who are beginning or in the thick of their professional lives -- have so much hope has the potential to change the shape of the region's future.

Where to start: Gallup's first recommendation is to change the paradigm of how businesses -- and, consequently, people -- strive for excellence, starting with using and developing talent. A new focus on strengths fundamentally changes how people interact with each other and provides the right conditions for collaboration, even in a remote setting. Developing talent may be a culture change, but it pays off.

Given the regional wellbeing picture -- where 61% of employees are categorized as struggling or suffering in their daily lives -- helping each person discover what they are naturally good at and positioning them to apply those talents productively will bring a positive impact at the micro and macro levels.

Next step: Gallup's second recommendation is to increase not only the quantity but also the quality of conversations between managers and employees. The topics will vary, but managers should always set expectations, clear obstacles, create accountability and demonstrate caring.

A manager's regular, meaningful feedback has a measurable effect on engagement and performance. But in this economic downturn, in which managers face increased pressure to hit their objectives, command-and-control management will further damage engagement and undermine people's sense of hope for the future.

A manager's regular, meaningful feedback has a measurable effect on engagement and performance.

Even before the pandemic, employees (particularly the younger generations) demanded development from their immediate supervisors -- not employee manuals -- and a clear set of expectations. These conversations must help employees feel inspired and motivated to do better work.

This is the motivation that the people of Latin America and the Caribbean need to set them up for success both inside and outside the workplace and to fuel their sense of hope.

And being hopeful is a very good attitude to have. Hope builds resiliency and is the wellspring of innovation. Gallup finds that employees who strongly agree that their leader makes them feel enthusiastic about the future (Gallup's measure of hope in the workplace) are 69 times more likely to be engaged in their work compared with employees who don't feel hopeful. Hope builds strong and prosperous organizations.

This time of economic hardship is, ironically, the perfect time to invest in employees' hope. Economists predict economic growth in Latin America in the near future and greater international competitiveness, especially in professional services, IT and risk management. Though the "blue economy" -- the sustainable use of ocean resources -- is a smart bet for economic diversification and growth in the Caribbean, many nations in the region are already broadening their economic base beyond tourism.

Inevitably, this will exert pressure on the demand for better managers. Young people have been leading that charge since before the pandemic -- and they're starting to move into leadership roles. Their numbers and the region's economic decline make younger workers' call for better, more modern management increasingly justified.

And as Gallup studies show that engaged workers are 18% more productive and 23% more profitable than less engaged workers, anything a business can do to support young workers' engagement affects their bottom line. But giving them a reason to hope will shape the future of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Hugo Ledesma is Regional Manager for Gallup in Latin America.

Jennifer Robison contributed to this article.

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Young Workers Optimistic in Latin America and the Caribbean - Gallup

Saturday, June 19, 2021 ((rezonodwes.com)) The current economic crisis affecting Latin America and the Caribbean is having long-term effects on the employment structure, with the risk of permanently excluding many workers from the formal economy, a new World Bank report says.

The COVID-19 epidemic is hitting low-skilled workers hard and increasing already significant inequalities in the region, the report said. Employment in Crisis: A Post Covid 19 Path to Better Jobs in Latin America. Low-skilled workers are often forced to accept lower wages for ten years after the crisis, while the situation of skilled workers is rapidly recovering. Therefore, employment policies should aim at providing social security nets and reuse opportunities, while at the same time improving the large economic and business environment to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The idea that jobs will be restored with economic recovery is often unrealistic, but it is not inevitable. Note Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, Vice President of the World Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean. With the right policies, we can control the impact of employment crises and encourage the creation of more jobs when recovery begins.

As we have seen at the end of the major shocks that have rocked the region in recent decades, the effects of the crises in Latin America and the Caribbean are long lasting and leave deep scores in the employment sector. For example, employment data for the pre- and post-debt crisis period in Brazil, the effects of the Asian financial crisis in Chile, and the impact of the 2008-2009 global crisis in Mexico show that recovery is not fast. In all three cases, the employment curve grew very positively as a result of these crises, and the observed negative gap, far from closing, widened over time.

Typically, three years after a major crisis, a net loss of 1.5 million jobs is seen, with a 3% job shrinkage in the formal sector and an increase in informal employment. The current crisis could have even more serious consequences and reduce the number of jobs in the formal economy by 4%.

Low-skilled workers are hard hit by the crisis, which exacerbates persistent inequalities in the region. They can be affected by the aftermath of these crises for up to ten years, during which time their incomes fall and their vulnerability increases. In addition, two-thirds of countries in the region have no national unemployment insurance plans or assistance for job losers. To mitigate these long-term consequences, public authorities must take action to support a sustainable economic recovery and aid job recovery.

We must use this opportunity to better rebuild, Highlight Jonah Silva, senior economist at the World Bank and editor-in-chief of the report. We need to strengthen our labor markets to deal with the impact of future shocks and eliminate them quickly.

The important first step is to put in place a strong prudent macroeconomic management framework and automated stabilizers to protect labor markets from potential crises. Adherence to better monetary and monetary policies can protect economic and economic stability and avoid financial stress in the event of a shock. Public finance reforms are the first line, including the adoption of less distorted taxation, the pursuit of more efficient public spending, the establishment of financially viable retirement plans and the creation of clearly defined financial rules. Protection against crises.

Counter-cycle income support schemes, including unemployment insurance systems and other transfer mechanisms for homes in the downward stages of the cycle, control the damage caused by contractions and help with economic recovery. However, one of the challenges facing the region is that large sections of the workforce continue to operate in the informal sector and cannot benefit from traditional unemployment insurance schemes.

It is also necessary to increase the scope of social security measures and labor policies in the region; To this end, it is important to integrate them into income-supporting organizations and provide them with re-training and re-employment assistance by preparing workers for new training. Immediate steps taken by public authorities to expand certain social security and employment programs due to epidemics will lead to the establishment of better and better integrated social records. Progress can be made in this area in the short term, thus improving access to these projects.

However, strengthening large economic stabilizers and continuous reforms of social security and employment systems are not enough. It is also important to initiate recovery in this area by supporting the effort to create a serious employment. This requires overcoming structural challenges in key areas such as competition policy, regional policies and labor regulation. Until nations overcome these fundamental problems, their recovery will be marked by anemic employment.

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Latin America and the Caribbean: The economic crisis is pushing many workers into the informal sector - The Press Stories

(12:45 p.m. EDT) -- Construction of Royal Caribbean's first Icon Class cruise ship is now officially underway at the Meyer Turku shipyards in Finland.

The first steel was cut for Icon of the Seas, the line's first ship to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, on June 14.

Icon of the Seas -- the first of three planned Icon Class newbuilds -- will debut in fall 2023. It will be the first entirely new class of ship built for Royal Caribbean since the Quantum Class debuted in 2014.

Liquefied Natural Gas, or LNG, is cleaner-burning than traditional marine diesel oil. So far, only a few cruise ships have been powered by LNG technology, including Carnival's Mardi Gras and Costa's Costa Smeralda. More vessels, however, are planned to be operated with LNG in the future.

"We made our commitment to making clean power at sea a reality -- and soon the norm -- when Icon Class was first announced in 2016, and were excited to see construction underway on what will truly be a ship unlike any other, said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. Our decades of work in ocean conservation, energy efficiency and continuous improvement will be evident all throughout Icon. We look forward to revealing more of the game-changing features our guests and crew have in store as she begins to take shape."

Bayley, Chairman and CEO Richard Fain, and Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku, were present for the steel-cutting ceremony on Monday.

Little is currently known about the Icon Class ships -- not even a rough rendering of the vessel has been released. They will, however, be around 200,000 gross tons, and will carry roughly 5,600 passengers when they debut.

The Icon Class vessels will be the second-largest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, coming in just slightly smaller than the company's Oasis Class ships.

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Construction Begins on Royal Caribbean's First Icon Class Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic

Private yacht charters spell travel freedom. You can use them to explore many islands or to have maximum time on the water (helpful if borders suddenly close). You can be as active (mountain biking) or laidback (onboard spa treatments) as you like. You can leave an anchorage earlier than planned, or linger. And let's not forget water toys--most vessels come with a full array of them, motorized and not. So consider this Leeward Islands itinerary one excellent example of what is possible. When can you go? Now, but you may need to adjust some ports of call if protocols changeno big deal. For details, see "How to Book It" at the end of this article.

Daisuke KishiGetty Images

Where Antigua. Why The largest of the English-speaking Leewards has plenty of secluded anchorages and beaches, and a major historic site: Nelsons Dockyard, the British Royal Navys 18th-century Caribbean base and now home to Antiguas sailing and yachting events. How A private car will whisk you from the airport to the yacht, where the crew awaits. Laze aboard, visit the dockyard, or take a tender to swim and snorkel. Cocktails and dinner are onboard, and the yacht relocates in the morning to either Green Island (private, lots of reef fish) or Five Island Harbor and its beautiful coves.

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Where Nevis (daytrip). Cruise time from Antigua 4.5 hours. Why Its small and scenic (dominated by the Nevis Peak volcano) and untouched by mass tourism. Its also the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton. How Your captain will choose the best location for swimming and water sports (theres diving at Monkey Shoal), as well as for rum punches and live reggae. Theres a beautiful botanical garden, and the golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II at the Four Seasons is tops in the Caribbean; tee times can be reserved.

Andreas Pietsch / EyeEmGetty Images

Where St. Kitts (which is part of the same country as Nevis). Cruise time from Nevis 1 hour. Why Its one of the most unspoiled, tranquil, and beautiful islands in the Caribbean, much of it national parks with rainforests and mountain ranges. How After picking an anchorage, you can go hard (hiking the Liamuiga volcano) or easy (exploring on a 4X4flowers, birds, and waterfallsan onboard fitness class, or a tour of the colorful town of Basseterre).

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Where Saba (daytrip). Cruise time from St. Kitts 3.5 hours. Why Its just 5 square miles, most of it occupied by the dormant volcano Mount Scenery, and a wonderland both above water and below. How After anchoring, experienced divers have Saba National Marine Park to play in: coral formations, underwater mountains, sharks, turtles, dolphins. Non-divers can hike, snorkel, or play with the water toyswakeboards, water skis, kayaks, Seabobsyou name it. (Inflatable slide, anyone?)

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Where St. Barts. Cruise time from Saba 2.5 hours. Why Need you ask? The fun part of arriving at St. Barts by yacht is that youre immediately smack in the middle of the action. How Youll wake up in the port of Gustavia and have two full days. When youre not trying to guess which yacht is whose, you can beach-, restaurant-, and spa-hop; you can also shop till you drop. And, yes, theres all that other stuff: hiking, diving, and water sports, including deep sea fishing and a tour in a little yellow submarine. Et voil.

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Where Anguilla. Cruise time from St. Barts 2 hours. Why We have the flat little islands coral base to thank for its superb beaches: blinding white sand, turquoise waterthe best. And hardly any people on them. How Picking beachesthere are 33is serious business on Anguilla, as all have their special aura (and some have restaurants). Your captain will go over the charts with you to assist in the wrenching choicesRendezvous Bay Beach, Meads Bay, Maundays Bay, Little Bay, Shoal Bay East, Shoal Bay West, Long Bay, Barnes Bay, Cove Bay, Crocus Bay, Captain's Bay, Junk's Hole Bay.... You get the idea.

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Where The British Virgin Islands. Cruise time from Anguilla 7.5 hours. Why Its multitude of green isles, some uninhabited, is a yachting paradise. How Youll clear into the BVI in Tortola (from which, on day 15, youll also depart for home) and have four days to explore. In your sights: Peter Island, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda, Great Camanoe, Little Camanoe, Guano Island, Jost Van Dyke, and Norman Islandwhich inspired Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island. Castaway picnics will be provided, and the mothershipheres the beauty of itis always standing by.

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2 Week Boating Itinerary in the Caribbean - 14 Day Yacht Trip in the Caribbean - TownandCountrymag.com

The last year has brought challenges and changes to the travel landscape, particularly luxury, but the concerted efforts and solution-oriented approach that the Caribbean region executed has been incredibly impactful and dynamic as we look ahead, together.

While each island nation has developed unique protocols and strategies to help maintain a healthy and safe lifestyle, the collective region has had a consistency in messaging that can and should be directly linked back to the recent growth in inquiries, web visits and bookings. At The Hartling Group, we already have seen a number of sold out weeks in 2021 and a promising forecast for the summer and fall ahead, a welcome change from 2020 and a positive outlook in travel trends moving forward.

What the Caribbean offers is a diverse collection of exceptionally private escapes that are easily accessible from the U.S., which in the current travel climate, has been highly sought after and in line with what the high net worth traveler is looking for. Travel Age West reported that an American Express survey found 44 percentwere willing to pay more for a hotel where they could easily socially distance and 80 percent of respondents indicated that they were more likely to book a vacation to an uncrowded area or one offering private accommodations. Searches and bookings for private islands and private flights follow this same pattern.

Here are the Caribbean luxury gems that are offering the ultimate in privacy, service and experiences:

The Shore Club Turks & Caicos is the only resort on Long Bay Beach, Providenciales most pristine stretch of oceanfront real estatea less crowded and more discreet location to spend vacation or extended time away. Alongside the 106 guest rooms and suites, four pools, four dining venues, a wellness center and Dune Spa, the six private estate villas are the standout accommodations for exclusive escapes. With private plunge pools, personal beach access, stocked kitchens and even underground tunnel access, the stand-alone villas embody the best of indoor-outdoor living. They are the most sought after in the Caribbean and have hosted celebrities like actress Chrissy Metz and comedian Tracy Morgan. The resort itself offers direct access to the beach and a variety of activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and boat excursions.

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Jade Mountain in St. Lucia is known for its three-walled, open-air sanctuaries that are accessible by private bridges that extend from the main resort. The oversized suites feature private infinity pools, sweeping views of the twin Piton mountains and Caribbean Sea and 24/7 butler service. The resort offers private experiences geared towards relaxation, adventure and cultural exploration, from en suite spa treatments and learning to make signature sweets at the onsite Chocolate Lab to organic farm tours, world-class snorkeling and scuba diving to hiking the Gros Piton with a personal hiking butler who comes equipped with gourmet canaps and cold towels.

Necker Island, located in the British Virgin Islands, has reopened following a two-year closure after its destruction by Hurricane Irma. Stays on Necker Island generally require a full buy-out, which means guests have the entire place to themselves. Guests visiting in 2021 will be among the first to experience the new island following its restoration, including the brand new Bali Hi complex featuring an extended pool and outdoor lounges, as well as private pools in the individual Bali villas. Travelers to Necker get to interact with local wildlife, like lemurs, and can enjoy an abundance of water sports, like snorkeling off the shore.

Eden Roc Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic is a Relais & Chteaux property, located in the high-end gated community of Cap Cana for next level privacy. Perched on a private beach, the property offers travelers an ultra-luxe boutique Caribbean experience. The 30,000-acre luxury resort is home to luxury accommodations (from multi-bed villas with private pools to beachfront suites), several dining destinations that celebrate regional produce, a brand-new spa and wellness experience and family-friendly programming.

The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, located on Paradise Island, Bahamas, is the ultimate destination for those seeking an ultra-luxe and private retreat. Some of the most sought after accommodations include the three- and four-bedroom beachfront villa residences that offer the glamour and luxury for which the resort is known. For an extended stay option, the new Home by The Ocean Club is a home-away-from-home concept designed to embody all the aspects of a luxury home with personalized pre-arrival designs (including family picture frames and decor).

Karen S. Whitt is the VP of Marketing for The Hartling Group (which owns and operates three Turks & Caicos luxury properties). She is also a longtime board member for the Caribbean Travel + Hotel Association and an award-winning former GM.

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Privacy Is the New Luxury: 5 Caribbean Destinations Offering Ultra-Luxe Experiences - Yahoo Finance