Month: October 2011

S&P Lowers Bahamas Sovereign Rating

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s today lowered the Bahamas’ sovereign credit rating from BBB+/A-2 to BBB/A-3, calling the country’s outlook “stable.” The ratings agency cited economic vulnerabilities given a dependence on tourism and on the US market, …

A Tourism Boom for Jamaica?

 Above: the Ritz-Carlton Montego Bay By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s tourism industry could see as many as 20,000 new jobs, along with 15,825 new rooms completed by 2013, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Holness was speaking at the …

Interview with Jamaican Parliamentary Candidate Damion Crawford

 By Alexander Britell Damion Crawford, People’s National Party candidate for the East Rural St Andrew seat in Jamaica’s Parliament, attended Kingston College, and then went to the University of the West Indies, where he received a master’s degree in tourism …

LATEST NEWS

 By the Caribbean Journal The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation needs to “deepen the partnership” with member states to help transform education, according to Grenadian Prime Minister Denzil Douglas. Thomas, who was speaking at the Leaders Forum of …

 In a short time, Jamaica’s Dubtonic Kru have made their mark on reggae, topped by winning the Global Battle of the Bands competition in Malaysia in February, taking home the title of best new band in the world. Dubtonic Kru’s …

 Above: Finance Minister Audley Shaw (JIS Photo) Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank have discussed structural benchmarks identified by the country’s government to strengthen the economy and increase competitiveness. These areas include tax, pension and public sector wage reforms, according …

 Above: MINUSTAH Chief Mariano Fernandez (UN Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The top United Nations envoy to Haiti said he was concerned over the political tension arising from the arrest of Haitian Member of Parliament Arnel Belizaire. Belizaire was …

 Born in Jamaica, New York-based Chef Nigel Spence has in a short time become one of the leading Caribbean chefs in the United States. From defeating celebrity chef Bobby Flay on the latter’s show, “Throwdown,” to helming a successful restaurant, …

 Above: Charlestown, Nevis (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The United States and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States have formally established diplomatic relations. OECS Director General Dr Len Ishmael called it “the beginning of a new chapter in …

 Barbados and Costa Rica are continuing to look toward expanding ties, from economic to environmental, and both countries are determined to build stronger relationships on those fronts, according to Barbados Industry Minister Denis Kellman. “We are also hoping to create …

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Grenada will receive a $7.1 million grant from the German government, as part of bilateral support for climate change adaptation projects. Environmental specialists from Germany were in Grenada Tuesday to meet with Environment Minister Joseph …

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica is prioritizing the expansion of its seaports, according to Works Minister Mike Henry. The country is aiming to capitalize on the country’s location in relation to other countries in the hemisphere, especially given the …

 Above: the Takutu river bridge linking Guyana and Brazil (Photo: GINA) By Alexander Britell Guyana, which is one of three non-island members of CARICOM, has seen strong economic growth of late as it works to pull out from the downturn. …

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Georgette Jean-Louis, the Chief Operating Officer of Fonkoze, a Haitian microfinance institution, has been named to the board of the country’s central bank, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti. Jean-Louis, who has worked in …

 Above: the Chinese embassy in Kingston By Alexander Britell China’s involvement – and influence – in the Caribbean region has grown rapidly over the last several years – from the construction of new national sports stadiums to large-scale infrastructure projects. …

 By the Caribbean Journal staff St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas got his first look at a proposed Agro-Tourism project in St Kitts Sir Gilles area, a 20-acre farm which would incorporate green agriculture, green energy and green …

 Above: Jamaica’s new cabinet (not pictured: Arthur Williams, Horace Chang) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has named his new cabinet, preserving much of his predecessor’s group but making some changes of his own. The full …

 Above: Anna Maria Horsford By the Caribbean Journal staff Award-winning actress Anna Maria Horsford, who was born in New York to Antiguan parents, will be Antigua’s newest tourism ambassador. The position was created by Antigua’s Ministry of Tourism in 2007. …

 

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