Caribbean Cruise

Cruise Season Begins in St. Maarten With Five-Ship Day

st maarten cruise season

The Caribbean cruise season is officially underway in St. Maarten. On Thursday, five cruise ships — Azamara Quest, Star Pride, Valiant Lady, Star of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas — docked at Port St. Maarten, bringing thousands of passengers and signaling the start of the 2025–2026 high season. “The port has done its […]

Jamaica Looking to Cut Energy Bill

Above: Jamaican Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell (JIS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica has begun implementing a $13.5 million USD programme aimed at reducing the government’s energy costs. Work has already started on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme, a two-year initiative led by project manager Richard Gordon. “First, we need to establish some […]

For Kirani James, a Hero's Welcome

Above (from left): Annie James, Governor General Sir Carlyle Glean, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and Kirani James By the Caribbean Journal staff Kirani James returned home to Grenada Thursday night as an Olympic champion and a national hero. James made his first visit to Grenada since besting the field at the men’s 400-metre race in […]

CARICOM's LaRocque: "Much for Trinidad and Tobago to Be Proud Of"

CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque congratulated Trinidad and Tobago on the 50th anniversary of its independence on Friday. The following is the text of LaRocque’s statement: On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it is my distinct pleasure to extend to you and to the People of Trinidad and Tobago, warmest congratulations on this momentous […]


For Kirani James, a Hero's Welcome

Above: Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Photo: OPM Trinidad) Trinidad and Tobago marked the 50th anniversary of its independence Friday. The country achieved its independence from the Great Britain on Aug. 31, 1962. The following is the text of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s address to the nation on the occasion of its […]

Haiti's Central Bank "Well-Capitalized"

Above: Plage de Morisseau in Haiti (Photo: MT Haiti) By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti’s Bank of the Republic of Haiti central bank is “well-capitalized,” the organization said in a release Thursday. The bank reported a positive balance of approximately $113.5 million USD (2.7 billion gourdes), according to Charles Castel, the bank’s governor. Overall, Haiti’s […]

Haiti's Agriculture Sector Suffered $242 Million in Damage From Storm: Report

Above: the meeting of the OAS’ Group of Friends of Haiti in Washington (OAS Photo/Maria Patricia Leiva) By the Caribbean Journal staff More than 81,000 hectares under cultivation in Haiti have reportedly been damaged by Tropical Storm Isaac, including bananas, coffee, avocado and citrus crops. That totaled approximately $242 million in damage to Haiti’s agriculture […]

Op-Ed: Cayman's Lionfisher Kings

By Jim Hart, Stacy Frank and Courtney Platt Op-Ed Contributors The lionfish’s day of reckoning may be at hand, however a modest reckoning it may be. These beautiful, voracious feeders, with a prodigious reproductive rate of up to 30,000 eggs every four days, and no natural predators, are an acknowledged threat to every aspect of […]

Haiti Presents Tourism Projects to Latin American, Caribbean Partners

Above: Haiti Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin (far right) with Haiti’s Latin American and Caribbean partners By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin met this week with representatives of 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to present on Haiti’s current tourism projects. Haiti, which has already signed a tourism agreement with […]

Series of Medium-Sized Earthquakes Off Coast of British Virgin Islands

Above: the epicentres of the quakes were around 50 miles north of Anegada (Photo: USGS) By the Caribbean Journal staff There were a series of earthquakes of at least 4.4-magnitude on the Richter scale Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quakes included tremors of 4.4-magnitude, 4.7-magnitude and 5.2-magnitude. A fourth earthquake of […]

Haiti's New Royal Oasis Hotel Set to Open in December in Petion-Ville

Above: the Royal Oasis By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti’s new Royal Oasis hotel will open its doors in Petion-Ville Dec. 12, according to Haiti Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin. The announcement followed a meeting between Villedrouin and Spanish hotel company Occidental Hotels & Resorts, which is managing the project. Occidental manages a group of hotels […]

Grenada's Thomas Addresses Nation After MP Files No-Confidence Motion

Above: Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas By the Caribbean Journal staff Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas addressed the country Tuesday night following another no-confidence motion filed against him in Parliament. This motion, which followed one filed in May, was filed by former Foreign Minister and current Member of Parliament Karl Hood, a remember of Thomas’ […]