Jamaica

‘From Hustle to Enterprise’ - INDIGGO Conference goes virtual for 2020 staging

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 17:30:01 +0000

‘From Hustle to Enterprise’ - INDIGGO Conference goes virtual for 2020 staging admin Sun, 10/25/2020 - 17:30

Sunday, October 25, 2020

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‘From Hustle to Enterprise’ - INDIGGO Conference goes virtual for 2020 staging

With no set timetable of when live shows and festivals will be resumed, the organisers of the annual INDIGGO Conference are determined not to allow the year to pass without another landmark staging. The three-year-old conference will go live via...

Jamaica

Caribbean

Entertainment

Celebration of life ceremony held for Feluke

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:01 +0000

Celebration of life ceremony held for Feluke admin Mon, 10/12/2020 - 13:00

Monday, October 12, 2020

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Entertainment

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Celebration of life ceremony held for Feluke

On Saturday, Denver ‘Feluke’ Smith’s friends, family and colleagues, at least those that could be present, gathered in the historic town of Port Royal, and over 1,000 persons joined in virtually, to remember the talented musician’s life and say...

Jamaica

Caribbean

Entertainment

CCRIF 2023 Scholarship and Internship Programmes for Caribbean Nationals

admin — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:01 +0000

CCRIF 2023 Scholarship and Internship Programmes for Caribbean Nationals

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admin Tue, 06/06/2023 - 05:00

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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NOW Grenada

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CCRIF 2023 Scholarship and Internship Programmes for Caribbean Nationals

CCRIF invites Caribbean nationals to apply for its scholarship and internship programmes for 2023 (https://www.ccrif.org/scholarship and https://www.ccrif.org/ccrif –uwi –scholarships for scholarships and https://www.ccrif.org/regional internship –programme for internships).

Since 2010, CCRIF has been providing undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to Caribbean nationals in areas related to disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, meteorology, environmental management, and civil engineering among others. In 2015, the Facility launched its flagship internship programme for Caribbean nationals by partnering with regional organisations and governments to host these interns and provide them with the opportunity to integrate their academic knowledge with the work environment.

In addition to being the world’s first risk pool providing parametric insurance to its 24 members, (19 Caribbean Governments, 3 Central American Governments and 2 Caribbean public utilities), CCRIF is also committed to building capacity and resilience in disaster risk management among its members. This is done through the CCRIF Technical Assistance

Programme, whereby support is provided to member countries and regional organisations in the development and implementation of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation projects and programmes. The CCRIF Scholarship and Internship Programmes are also part of the TA Programme. The CCRIF TA Programme operates as the Facility’s corporate social responsibility programme and consists of 4 components.

At the launch of this year’s scholarship and internship programmes, CCRIF CEO Isaac Anthony said, “As a development insurance company, CCRIF is committed to creating a more sustainable future for the region we call home. The scholarship and internship programmes were designed to build a cadre of professionals who can effectively contribute to comprehensive disaster risk management and reduce the vulnerabilities in the region, build resilience and fulfill the ambition of making the Caribbean the world’s first climate-resilient region in the world.”

Since the first scholarships and first internships were offered in 2010 and 2015 respectively, CCRIF has provided 165 scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate study totalling US$1.7 million and 152 internships totalling US$409,000.

For 2023, CCRIF will continue to provide 4 scholarships of US$8,000 each to UWI students for their second and final years of their undergraduate degree. At the postgraduate level, CCRIF will provide 6 scholarships of US$11,000 each to students at Caribbean universities, including The UWI (Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine campuses), University of Technology Jamaica, University of Guyana, and University of Trinidad and Tobago among others. Eligible areas of study include but are not limited to Geography/Geology, Disaster Risk Management, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, Civil Engineering, Meteorology and Land Management.

The deadline for 2023 applications to both scholarship programmes is 3 July 2023.

CCRIF’s Regional Internship Programme is designed to provide opportunities for recent university graduates who have degrees in the areas of disaster risk management, environmental management, actuarial science, geography, climate studies and other similar areas to be assigned to national and regional organisations in the Caribbean where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments.

Host organisations have included national disaster management and meteorology agencies as well as regional entities, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), Office of Disaster and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Jamaica, and departments and centres within The UWI, among many other organisations. CCRIF provides stipends to all its interns and accommodation allowances when interns are assigned to organisations outside of their home country.

The deadline for 2023 applications to the regional internship programme is 9 June 2023.

The CCRIF Internship Programme is one of the largest in the Caribbean Region for areas related to disaster risk management and is welcomed by both young graduates and host organisations. Kenneth Kerr, a former Climate Specialist at the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, had this to say after hosting interns for a few years: “The programme continues to grow the local scientific community footprint/talent in many ways and provides opportunities to foster relationships through mentorship and training. It allows for building a stream of young and qualified talents and offers them scope to try out different avenues along their career paths.”

Some of the benefits of the internship programme are:

Caribbean

News

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:50:01 +0000

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:50

Thursday, March 17, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

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Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

The Virgin Islands has been added to the European Union’s “grey list” along with nine other jurisdictions in the Caribbean and elsewhere, the EU Council announced after its meeting on Feb. 24.

Besides the VI, the EU added the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Israel, Montserrat, Russia, Tunisia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Vietnam, bringing the total list up to 25 jurisdictions.

Although the inclusion does not mean that any penalties or sanctions will be levied against the territory, according to the EU, the move represents a significant setback after the territory rushed through economic substance legislation at the end of 2019 in order to meet EU requirements on tax reform.

In a Feb. 24 press release, the EU Council said that the list reflects “ongoing EU cooperation with its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards.”

The countries on the grey list are working toward meeting the EU’s tax standards, the release stated.

According to the EU, criteria for the list cover tax transparency, fair taxation and preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting. The organisation called implementation of the list a “dynamic process,” and noted that the next revision is scheduled for October of this year.

Anguilla, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominica, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay were previously added and remain on the grey list.

The blacklist, which remained unchanged after last month’s announcement, currently includes American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States Virgin Islands, and Vanuatu.

VI response

At a press conference late last month, Premier Andrew Fahie urged onlookers not to view the move as a censure of the territory.

He said the grey-listing meant the VI has “substantially met all international tax standards set out by the EU, but that ongoing improvements are being made to implementing tax good governance.”

As a result, he said, it has been grey-listed while it implements policies and procedures in the territory’s Country-by-Country Reporting framework.

“No defensive measures flow from being on such list and the BVI is still a cooperative jurisdiction,” he said. “Once the BVI meets these commitments, it will be removed from the annex.”

He added that the territory “takes its international obligations seriously” and had already been finalising the necessary steps to ensure successful implementation of the recommendations.

This week, BVI Finance CEO Elise Donovan directed queries to the Premier’s Office. Director of Communications Dr. Arliene Penn said, “BVI’s addition to EU’s Annex II is a positive rating for us because it acknowledges that BVI is a cooperative jurisdiction that has implemented measures (in the case of the Country-by-Country Reporting) in accordance with the high international standards prescribed. The BVI remains highly committed to the transparency and international cooperation agenda.”

The EU has hinted for some time that it would seek to modify its requirements for the list, the latest iteration of which was announced last October.

In February 2021, the European parliament passed a resolution calling for a measure that would automatically blacklist British territories like the VI, the Cayman Islands and the Channel Islands that have a zero percent corporate tax rate — and that now have a weakened voice in the EU in the wake of the United Kingdom’s split from the organisation.

The resolution did not mention the VI at the time, but it came before the revelation that nearly two-thirds of companies named in the far-reaching Pandora Papers investigation last year were based in the VI.

Panama, which is already on the EU blacklist, was host to the second highest number.

World response

Meanwhile, the EU Observer reported late last month that tax-reform campaigners are already applauding the news.

Chiara Putaturo, a campaigner with the non-profit Oxfam, praised the move, but complained that the Cayman Islands was not included.

“If the [new] grey-listing … is confirmed, we will see some real tax havens finally at risk to be blacklisted [in the future],” she said. “However, there are still other tax havens that are left off the hook, … such as the Cayman Islands, because the criteria remain weak.”

History

As in other OTs, leaders in the VI have long criticised the EU’s blacklists as arbitrary and misleading, maintaining that the territory’s financial services industry is tightly regulated in keeping with international standards.

Nevertheless, the VI was grey-listed along with other jurisdictions in 2017. In March 2018, the EU concluded that the VI, the Bahamas and Cayman needed further technical guidance from the EU and had until the end of 2019 to adapt local legislation, which resulted in the Economic Substance Act being rushed through the House of Assembly in late 2018.

Thanks to this move, the VI was white-listed, alongside 16 other jurisdictions, in February 2020.

The post Territory added to EU ‘grey list’ first appeared on The BVI Beacon.

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One Mart continues expansion

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:50:01 +0000

One Mart continues expansion

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:50

Monday, March 21, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

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One Mart continues expansion

One Mart owner Mark Vanterpool thinks Virgin Islands residents should have more local places to shop.

And by that, he means they shouldn’t have to go more than a few blocks for high-quality goods, he said on Friday during the grand opening of a new 2,500-square-foot store in Baughers Bay.

“I heard some comments: ‘another store two feet from the one he has down the road,’” he said. “‘Another one 500 feet away. Why does he need to have that? Is that business sense?’ Every time it has to be only business sense? Sometimes it has to be common sense. Sense for the people of the area. And that’s not politically speaking.”

Mr. Vanterpool, who is an opposition member for the Fourth District in the House of Assembly, explained that One Mart came from “humble beginnings,” and had its genesis in the small neighbourhood shop he grew up with in Huntums Ghut. His goal, he said, is to give people in the area that same type of reliable place to shop, both on a daily basis and in the event of emergencies.

“We want to have a store in the communities so that the communities can own that store just like the ones in Huntums Ghut owned it,” he said. “The people of Baughers Bay, this will be your store.”

He added that recent events have illustrated the importance of such convenience.

“Your place where you can shop, your place where you can go to when a hurricane hits and there’s nowhere to go,” he said of the store. “The first place you can come to is One Mart. When a pandemic hits, you don’t have to go down the road running to five different places. One Mart will have what you want.”

The Baughers Bay store is one of three Mr. Vanterpool said he hopes to open in the coming year, including a 34,000-square-foot supermarket in Fat Hogs Bay, according to a statement released in January. The statement reported “record” first quarter earnings for OM Holdings, the publicly traded company that is affiliated with One Mart.

In a process that started in 2020, One Mart’s holding company, KMark Foods, was acquired by the publicly held Portage Resources Inc, a Nevada-incorporated firm that first had sold off all its assets and liabilities as part of a restructuring process, according to a press release announcing the reverse merger. Portage was renamed OMHI, and Mr. Vanterpool was appointed CEO and chairman.

Last month, OMHI’s subsidiary, Atlanta-based Rydeum, launched a mobile ridesharing and delivery app in Jamaica called DoGetGo, which was available for download on both Apple and Google app stores as of this week.

In July, Rydeum signed a contract to supply what it calls “Local On-Demand Technology” to the Jamaican Union of Travelers Association, which claims to be the largest taxicab company in Jamaica. The company has said it plans to expand the service to other countries in the Caribbean.

Revenue

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 — which encompassed September, October and November 2021 — the company reported that revenue increased 33.3 percent to $8,002,587, compared to $6,002,894 for the same quarter in the previous fiscal year.

“We had an excellent quarter,” Mr. Vanterpool said in the January statement. “With a break in the Covid lockdown and more people traveling, we saw an increase in revenue from food service thanks to the reopening of restaurants, and BVI residents continue to support our supermarkets. Our staff returned to a 40-hour week, and we made some additional hires for our new stores. We also saw an increase in deliveries even though the government lifted restrictions.”

He credited the post-pandemic bump in tourism for “increased assurance that this year will be another record one for our company.We also expect significant growthfrom the three new stores we willopen this year, as well as from thelaunch of our mobile app DoGetGo in Jamaica.”

Other remarks

At the Friday opening ceremony, Sixth District Representative Alvera Maduro-Cainescongratulated Mr. Vanterpool forbringing One Mart to the area.

“After the hurricane, manypeople ran to Baughers Bay andare living in this area,” she said.“So this supermarket is reallymuch needed here.”

Premier Andrew Fahie andCountry Head of FirstCaribbeanInternational Bank Amory Jervisboth were on hand to praise the storefor providing convenient shoppingand increased employment as theeconomy struggles to recover frompandemic-related slowdowns.

History

Mr. Vanterpool founded OneMart in 1986, and the chain nowclaims to now be the second-largest grocery store in the VI.

It has lately announced a series of ambitious expansion plans.OMHI acquired Rydeum in2019. Mr. Vanterpool also announced last year that he had acquired the VI’s iconic Pusser’sfood, beverage and clothingbrand from its founder.

OMHI has been vocal aboutits plans to expand to the UnitedStates VI and elsewhere in theregion.

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Sue over blacklist, says economist

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:40:01 +0000

Sue over blacklist, says economist

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:40

Thursday, April 28, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

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Sue over blacklist, says economist

Caribbean countries that live in fear of being blacklisted by the European Union should band together and take legal action, according to Barbados-based economist and Caribbean policy expert Marla Dukharan.

“I felt like there should be some legal recourse that should be pursued collectively,” Ms. Dukharan said on Feb. 23 on the regional livestreamed show “Territories Talk,” hosted by Shaina Smith-Archer, chairwoman of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.

The EU blacklist often comes under fire in the VI for being a moving target.

Ms. Dukharan said it is also unfair. EU member states such as the Netherlands and Ireland are “well known for their extensive money laundering and tax evading activities,” but have never been included on any EU blacklist, she said.

To her, this suggests Eurocentrism or even racism, and perhaps an effort to undermine countries that are “eating part of their pie,” she said of the EU.

Grey-listed

In February, the territory was added to the EU’s “grey list,” along with nine other jurisdictions in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Besides the VI, the EU added the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Israel, Montserrat, Russia, Tunisia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Vietnam, bringing the total on the list up to 25 jurisdictions.

Although the February inclusion does not mean that any penalties or sanctions will be levied against the territory, the move represents a significant setback after the VI rushed through economic substance legislation at the end of 2019 in order to meet EU requirements on tax reform.

The standards for inclusion on the EU lists have frequently changed, and Ms. Dukharan pointed out that the European Parliament itself has noted problems with the selection process.

In 2021, the legislative body proposed that the tax regimes of EU member states be scrutinised along with the rest of the world and subject to blacklisting if they don’t measure up.

“That tells you that you have a legal leg to stand on, because they, the policymakers, have acknowledged that we are not applying our own standards to our own member states, and that’s not fair,” she said. “Why is it that our countries have not come together, found a law firm that will represent us collectively, and taken them to court over this action?”

Fighting back

She added that even a statement from the Caribbean Community condemning the actions of the EU is simply “not strong enough.”

“I think if all of the countries came together from the Pacific and the Caribbean and agitated and protested, I think that there is a chance,” she said. “For example, if you appeal to the United Nations, you appeal to the World Trade Organisation, somebody is going to hear you. But when each individual little tiny micro state appeals individually, it is just white noise.”

She also recommended that countries that object to the blacklist expel EU ambassadors.

“The second thing I think we need to do is take diplomatic action,” she said.

With changing criteria, she noted, even countries that have satisfied the Financial Action Task Force and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development standards still run the risk of being blacklisted.

“But we don’t have the courage to do these things because we are small and we are insecure maybe,” she said.

Current list

In a Feb. 24 press release, the EU Council said that the grey list reflects “ongoing EU cooperation with its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards.”

The countries on the grey list are working toward meeting the EU’s tax standards, the release stated.

According to the EU, criteriafor the list cover tax transparency, fair taxation and preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting. The next revision is scheduled for October.

Anguilla, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominica, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay were previously added and remain on the grey list.

The blacklist for “non-cooperative” tax jurisdictions, which remained unchanged after the February announcement, currently includes American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States VI, and Vanuatu.

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Barbados Women knock Windward

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:20:01 +0000

Barbados Women knock Windward

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 15:20

Friday, June 17, 2022

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Barbados Today

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Barbados Women knock Windward

By Morissa Lindsay

It was an impressive start for defending champions Barbados in the Cricket West Indies CG Insurance Super 50 competition as they defeated Windward Islands women by 149 runs on the opening day of the competition at Providence Stadium in Guyana today.

Barbados led by Captain Hayley Matthews won the toss and posted 227 for two from their allotted 50 overs. The talented all-rounder Matthews led from the front with a magnificent 99. Matthews and fellow opener Kycia Knight who made 72 put on a first-wicket stand of 177.

In response to the target of 228 set to win, Windward Islands were dismissed for 78 all out in 23 overs against a solid Barbados bowling attack led by medium-pacer Shanika Bruce with four wickets for 48 runs from nine overs.

Bruce along with fast bowler Shamilia Connell with a fantastic three wickets for nine runs from five overs proved too much for the Windward Islands batters. All-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne also bowled well picking up two wickets for 14 runs from six overs.

It was a good display with the bat and ball from Barbados to open their title defence for the Super 50 Cup.

The Bajan ladies will hope to retain their Super 50 championship trophy this year for the fourth consecutive time having lost the just concluded T-20 Blaze title a few days ago to Jamaica.

It was a good first-wicket partnership to start off Barbados’ innings between Matthews and Knight. At one point, Barbados were batting along nicely with the score on 164 after 36 overs.

The partnership was eventually broken in the 38th over as Knight went caught by Qiana Joseph at cover off the bowling of Jannillea Glasgow in what was her ninth over at the time. Kyshona Knight, the twin of Kycia, joined Matthews at the crease with the score on 177 for one.

Windward Islands medium-pacer Pearl Etienne got the big wicket of Matthews trapped leg before wicket for 99 runs having faced 135 balls.

It was a bittersweet moment for Matthews having toiled for such a long time at the crease only to be given out when she came on the front foot to play a delivery that international umpire Nigel Duguid deemed out.

Etienne and Glasgow captured one wicket each from their allotted ten overs for the Windward Islands. Etienne and Glasgow also chipped in with the bat for the Windward Islands accounting for 16 and 11 runs respectively while Japhina Joseph registered a top score of 18.

Caribbean

News

Comissiong cops Presidents’ Award St Martin Book Fair

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

Comissiong cops Presidents’ Award St Martin Book Fair

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 17, 2022

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Barbados Today

Original Article

Comissiong cops Presidents’ Award St Martin Book Fair

MARIGOT, St. Martin — His Excellency David Comissiong, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, recently received The Presidents’ Award from the St. Martin Book Fair. The annual Award is the final highlight of the three-day St. Martin Literary Festival, said book fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.

“The Presidents’ Award is presented to individuals and institutions whose work is noted for its excellence and for combining literary, cultural, and liberation components in the service of progress, of their people or nation, and of humanity,” said Lasana M. Sekou, House of Nehesi Publishers’ consultant to the festival.

“This is an unexpected gift,” said Comissiong while accepting the ebony statute award before the 120 plus guests that filled the literary big tent.

The festival’s main book launch and closing ceremony — dedicated to noted Bajan novelist and political thinker George Lamming (8 June 1927 – 4 June 2022) — was held at the Port of Galis Bay, overlooking Marigot Harbour with the night lights of Anguilla in view across the channel.

The theme of book fair 2022, “The Rebirth” had already been elaborated on by Comissiong in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the festival in the garden of the Government administration building in Philipsburg.

Over the three book fest days, some 38 guest authors from Canada to Australia, the St. Martin public, and visitors to the island at book fair activities, had come to know David Comissiong as Barbados’ Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and to the Association of Caribbean States.

“Few knew that he was a former senator in the government of Barbados and that he was born in St. Vincent,” said Reiph. Comissiong is also a founder-member of the Caribbean Pan-African Network; the Clement Payne Movement of Barbados; the Caribbean Chapter of the International Network in Defence of Humanity; and the Global Afrikan Congress.

Comissiong was an architect and the first director of the Barbados Government’s Commission for Pan-African Affairs. He also represented the Caribbean region at the 7th Pan-African Congress in Uganda (1994).

Comissiong played a key role in the United Nations’ World Conference Against Racism in South Africa (2001) and has represented the Diaspora on the African Union’s Economic Social and Cultural Council.

Since 2012, the alumnus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) has served as a member of Barbados’ National Task Force on Reparations.

An attorney-at-Law since 1984, Comissiong is the author of The Wide Streets of Tomorrow: Essays and Speeches, It’s the Healing of the Nation: The Case for Reparations, The Pan-African Love Story of Arnold and Mignon Ford; and The Year 1953 and The Shaping of the Soul of Guyana (pamphlet, 2022).

Among past recipients of the St. Martin Book Fair Presidents Award are Edwidge Danticat (USA/Haiti), Computech (St. Martin), Benny Wenda (West Papua), Norman Girvan (Jamaica), Casa de las Americas (Cuba), George Lamming (Barbados), Quince Duncan (Costa Rica), Nicole Cage (Martinique), Kamau Brathwaite (Barbados), Will Johnson (Saba), Drisana Deborah Jack (St. Martin), and Derek Walcott (St. Lucia).

The Presidents’ Award is named after the presidents of Conscious Lyrics Foundation (CLF), House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP), and the University of St. Martin (USM), said Reiph. (PR)

Caribbean

News

Senator Cummins hints at more cave development

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:40:01 +0000

Senator Cummins hints at more cave development

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 14:40

Thursday, June 2, 2022

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Business Archives - Barbados Today

Original Article

Senator Cummins hints at more cave development

by Marlon Madden

Caves of Barbados could soon be exploring more opportunities for development of caves across the island as Government seeks to create more of that kind of experience for Barbadians and visitors.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins gave the hint recently while indicating that caves were very much part of the “development trajectory” for Barbados.

“As a government, the Prime Minister has made it clear that gullies and caves are very much a part of our patrimony and must be part of our development trajectory,” she said.

She was addressing a select group of tourism industry operators, media professionals, CHUKKA Caribbean officials and other partners at a recent tour of the redeveloped Harrison’s Cave Eco-Adventure Park.

Cummins said: “As we transition out from Harrison’s Cave, the management of Caves of Barbados Ltd, one of the mandates that has been given to the Board of Directors of Cave of Barbados Ltd, is the development and exploration of caves very similar to Harrison’s Cave to create the kind of iconic experiences that people have had for many years here in Harrison’s Cave”.

She opted not to give details then, but said it was something that was on the cards.

Harrison’s Cave Eco-Adventure Park, which is now being operated by CHUKKA Caribbean Adventures (Barbados) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Jamaica-based CHUKKA Caribbean Adventures, is in the process of carrying out an almost US$5 million (BDS$10 million) upgrade.

While that St Thomas attraction, previously operated by Caves of Barbados, is to have several new features starting June 15, the entire upgrade project is expected to last until about December 2023.

Once consisting of only a tour of the cave, the location is to start offering as of June 15, three different ziplines, a nature walk, a Mount Gay rum cellar and tasting room and the obstacle challenge course.

A Bajan chattel house themed video information room should be ready by July and the approximately 30-foot infinity pool is scheduled to be completed by October.

Meanwhile, an enhanced interpretation centre, a suspended bridge, a dry slide, additional gazebos, an aviary and a renewed retail centre are to also form part of the upgrades.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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Caribbean tourism now bouncing back

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:40:01 +0000

Caribbean tourism now bouncing back

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 14:40

Thursday, June 2, 2022

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Business Archives - Barbados Today

Original Article

Caribbean tourism now bouncing back

The Caribbean’s tourism renaissance is well underway, with some destinations approaching or exceeding record visitor arrival numbers.

Tourism officials cite pent-up traveller demand, the elimination or significant reduction in travel restrictions, the return of airlift, attractive deals and packages being offered by hotels, and a range of destination and hotel choices and upgrades that are now in place as key factors for the rebound.

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) President Nicola Madden-Greig applauded the region’s tourism, health and government leaders for their work over the past two years to position the region’s largest industry to recover from the pandemic.

Madden-Greig pointed to the announcement last month by the World Travel and Tourism Council at its global summit in Manila, recognising the Caribbean and Latin America as leading the global tourism recovery.

“Today’s traveller has many choices when planning a Caribbean getaway, thanks to the efforts of so many. Over the past decade we’ve seen an explosion of new and upgraded hotels and infrastructure improvements.

During the pandemic many hotels and attractions used the time to improve on their product and service offerings, also recognising the changing needs of the discerning traveller.

“We continue to offer accommodation experiences which appeal to the full range of traveller interests. Beyond our world-famous beaches and waters, travellers can experience our diverse cultural, culinary and historic treasures. And we’ve worked diligently to put in place health safety protocols which are effective and as nonintrusive as possible,” she stated.

Madden-Greig noted that on average, hotels and resorts in the Caribbean will approach close to 80 per cent of their record pre-pandemic performance this year, with some destinations setting all-time records.

Cruise ships are returning, which is especially important to attractions, transportation providers such as independent taxis, and small- and medium-sized vendors. In addition, investment in new and upgraded hotels and resorts has not slowed.

“These are all great indicators which point to traveller confidence and demand for the Caribbean. We are seeing the fruits of years of hard work by the industry and governments throughout the region to invest in our tourism product and our people, and to broaden our appeal as we find new ways to provide a diverse and exciting experience for our visitors,” said Madden-Greig.

“Travellers to the Caribbean can discover our diverse offerings by land or sea, by a cruise vacation, or a coveted, longer in-destination stay for a more immersive experience.

“It has never been easier to do the Caribbean ‘your way’ and there are options for every interest and every budget. From high-end luxury accommodations on land or on sea to cozy cottages and apartments,” she added.

CHTA’s Acting CEO and Director General Vanessa Ledesma echoed these thoughts recently at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS). Pointing to data from ForwardKeys, Ledesma highlighted the strong interest in the region for summer and fall travel.

“This is reflective of the travellers’ mindset with the accessibility of the region, brand identity and management of the pandemic being key elements that are driving demand,” she said.

ForwardKeys, CHTA’s data partner, recently reported that the Caribbean and Latin America were leading the summer outlook in terms of the return of leisure travel, noting that five destinations – Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and The Bahamas – were among the “most resilient” based on confirmed arrivals for the summer.

Developer confidence is also evident in STR’s most current pipeline report, with close to 30,000 rooms in development or under construction over the next five years.

Madden-Greig pointed to new challenges facing the industry, as inflation is resulting in higher operating and travel costs and the uncertainty in Eastern Europe impacts travel.

“While the cost of travel increases worldwide due to these and other factors, we will continue to focus on providing value and exceptional traveler experiences,” said the CHTA leader.

“This is particularly important in our highly competitive global marketplace. Despite these challenges, we anticipate over the coming weeks and months to see a proliferation of deals and special offers by the industry to continue to appeal to travellers’ desire to come to the Caribbean,” she said. (PR)

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