St Lucia Native Eyes "Top Chef" Title

Hotels

15 Resorts in Cancun for a Mexican Caribbean Beach Escape

 cancun resorts best

Cancun has always been a magnet for travelers, but this moment feels different. Just beyond the bustle of the Hotel Zone, the coastline around Cancun, Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres is quickly becoming a new luxury frontier — a quieter, sleeker version of the region’s signature energy. Major brands are opening properties that feel more […]

Another Earthquake Causes Shaking in Cuba, Florida Keys

Above: a map of the quake (graphic: United States Geological Survey) By the Caribbean Journal staff Another earthquake has caused shaking in Cuba and the Florida Keys, according to the United States Geological Survey. The 4.3-magnitude quake occurred at around 10:19 PM local time, with an epicentre around 26 kilometres north-northeast of Marti Cuba, and […]

Puerto Rico Rating Downgraded to Junk Status By Standard and Poor's

Above: San Juan (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s has lowered its rating on the government of Puerto Rico’s general obligation debt to junk status, the New York-based ratings firm announced Tuesday. The firm lowered Puerto Rico’s debt to “BB+” from “BBB-“, also downgrading Puerto Rico’s appropriation secured debt and employee […]

Sandals Barbados Closing to Begin $65 Million Renovation

Above: Sandals Barbados By the Caribbean Journal staff The Sandals Barbados resort is set to temporarily close to begin a planned $65 million renovation project, Sandals Resorts International has announced. The property will begin “wide-ranging” renovations starting April 1. The renovations will include seven new restaurants (for a total of 10), a total refurbishment of […]

Puerto Rico Rating Downgraded to Junk Status By Standard and Poor's

 IN AN increasingly connected world, having Wi-Fi in a hotel room has become as obligatory as running water. But at hotels around the world, Wi-Fi isn’t always accessible — or free. Sometimes there’s a daily charge, or a multiple-day fee. Other times, Wi-Fi is free, with restrictions: from expiring codes to cumbersome passwords. And, frequently, if […]

Hurricane-Resistant Caribbean Farming?

Above: a traditional farm in the Caribbean (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Could Jeffery Bruney save Caribbean agriculture? Cornell University graduate and Dominican farmer Jeffery Bruney has big plans: to modernize Dominica’s agriculture with what he’s calling a “hurricane resistant farming model.” “What really makes this system hurricane resistant is two things: number […]

Cayman Islands Inviting Cruise Lines For Talks on George Town Berth

Above: George Town (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The government of the Cayman Islands says it is inviting each of the major cruise lines to engage in “bilateral discussions” on the development of the proposed cruise berthing facility in George Town. The British Overseas Territory’s Cabinet approved the Outline Business Case for the […]

St Vincent and the Grenadines to Place "Major Emphasis" on Infrastructure

 Above: St Vincent (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines will place “major emphasis” on infrastructural development this year, Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne said in his recent Throne Speech. Sir Frederick said that, despite the crippling December storms that caused “significant damage” in the country, the […]

St Kitts and Nevis, Indonesia Establish Diplomatic Relations

 Above: Jakarta By the Caribbean Journal staff St Kitts and Nevis has officially established diplomatic relations with Indonesia. The two sides signed a joint communique to that effect in New York last week, with Ambassador Delano Bart QC and His Excellency Desra Percaya signing on behalf of St Kitts and Nevis and Indonesia, respectively. In […]

Trinidad's Energy Sector Rebounds

 Above: Port of Spain (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The energy sector in Trinidad returned to positive growth in the last quarter of 2013, according to data from the country’s Central Bank. The bank said the growth came following the September completion of “significant, coordinated maintenance works by the two major natural gas […]

US State Department Advisor Visits Haiti For Talks on Adoption Issues

Above: US State Department Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs By the Caribbean Journal staff US State Department Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs began a visit to Haiti on Monday. The four-day visit is focusing on the future of intercountry adoptions following Haiti’s ratification of the Hague Adoption Convention. Jacobs […]

CARICOM SG: "Change Is Underway"

Above: CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque By the Caribbean Journal staff The CARICOM Secretariat has begun the process of restructuring, according to Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. The reforms have already been instituted in corporate areas, human resource management, finance and the way projects are managed, he said this week. “There is still some […]