Panama

Santo Domingo, DR.
According to a study recently carried out by the Central American Consumer Protection Council (Concadeco), an organization that belongs to the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Dominican Republic is one of the countries with the cheapest basic food basket,

The president of the regional body, the Honduran Mario Castejon, said in a press release that the country has the staple products with the lowest prices than Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, and other Caribbean countries.

by Marlon Madden

Destination Barbados is expected to get a boost this summer from Latin America and its connecting markets with the return of Copa Airlines as of this month.

Starting June 15, with two weekly flights through its hub in Panama, Copa Airlines will return to Bridgetown on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The airline, which was forced to suspend service in 2020 like other airlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, serves about 80 destinations in 33 countries.

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 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.

According to Travel + Leisure Magazine

The travel magazine Travel + Leisure published a list of the best destinations after retirement, considering factors such as the ease of obtaining residence, the health system, the climate, and the cost of living, among others.

As global travel has increased over the years, many seniors want to continue the adventure of exploring the world by retiring abroad. Others move to new places to stretch their retirement income or enjoy new experiences.

The region’s leading lending institution is cautioning Barbados and other borrowing member countries to be careful how they allocate and use their stock of debt.

The warning came from President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Dr Hyginus Gene Leon during the final episode of the Central Bank of Barbados’ 2021 Economic Forum on Thursday night.

German reggae artiste Gentleman has launched his own brand of rum called Superior.

The liquor, which hit the market three days ago and is available on the singer's website, is manufactured in Panama and takes its name from Gentleman's 2004 hit song of the same name.

The singer explained the process of creating his special brand of rum.

Vincentian cyclist Zefal Bailey is relishing the golden opportunity he got last week to compete in Panama, as part of a US team, Primal Audi Denver.

Bailey, thus was a member of the team that finished tenth in the six-stage championships, which ran from November 24 to 28.

Despite the grueling nature of the event, Bailey said that racking up over 300 miles in six days, packs on race mileage going into the new year.

“Covering 359 miles in six stages is good preparation for me for the 2022 season,” Bailey analysed.

At least half the households in the Caribbean and Latin American have not been able to recover income levels before the pandemic, leading to serious erosion in standards of education and health among other indicators, a survey released this week said.

First Things First...

Black British Lives Matter: A Clarion Call for Equality is more than a book; it is an incitement to change people's perceptions. In response to the international outcry at African-American George Floyd's death, prominent British television personalities and journalists Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder commissioned a collection of essays from black British figures to discuss how and why there is a need for black lives to matter - not just for black people but for society as a whole.