CJ Interviews
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These 20 Caribbean Resorts Define the Barefoot Caribbean Vacation

barefoot caribbean resorts

Barefoot travel isn’t about the dress code. It’s a state of mind, and you usually feel it before you see it. It arrives in small, telling moments: the decision not to unpack fully because you won’t need much, the realization that your shoes are still by the door two days in, the way your schedule […]

CJ Interviews

Growing the “Guadeloupe Islands” Brand

Above: Gosier, Guadeloupe (All photos by CJ) By Alexander Britell Despite its proximity to the United States, the French department of Guadeloupe remains under the radar for most American travelers. That’s starting to change, however. In November, Guadeloupe opened a tourist office in Manhattan. But more importantly, in April, the first-ever direct flight from the […]

CJ Interviews

Talking Real Estate in St Barth With Sibarth's Christian Wattiau

Above: a home in St Barth (Photo: Jean-Philippe Piter) By Alexander Britell Just like the rest of the Caribbean, tiny St Barth’s real estate market was impacted by the downturn that began in 2008. But the eight-square-mile island in the French West Indies is beginning to rebound, particularly at the high end, as North American […]

CJ Interviews

Interview with Haiti PM Laurent Lamothe

Above: Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (UN Photo/ J Carrier)   By Alexander Britell Haiti is trying to move the process of reconstruction into a higher gear. While the country’s GDP has been growing at a strong pace, natural disasters and the lingering effects of the earthquake continue to present roadblocks. Laurent Lamothe, a former […]


Talking Real Estate in St Barth With Sibarth's Christian Wattiau

Above: Former Canadian Governor General and UNESCO Special Envoy to Haiti Michaelle Jean (UN Photo/Mark Garten)   By Alexander Britell CURRENT UNESCO SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HAITI Michaëlle Jean recently concluded a trip to Haiti during which she led a 20-member delegation. Jean, a native of Jacmel, Haiti who came to Canada as a refugee in […]

Interview with Grenada Minister of Tourism Dr George Vincent

By Alexander Britell ST KITTS — As the Caribbean seeks to diversify its “sun, sand and sea” tourism product, Grenada, the “Spice Isle,” is taking a unique approach, looking at “community tourism,” in which the government aims both to foster local development and improve interaction between guests and locals. But that’s not to say Grenada […]

Talking Caribbean Travel With Expedia’s Marco Tagliatti

Above: Luperón in the Dominican Republic (Photo: GDR) By Alexander Britell Despite its traditional allure as a vacation destination, the Caribbean is finding itself in an increasingly competitive global travel marketplace. But while the onset of the global financial crisis has led to several lean years, the Caribbean seems to be showing more tourism growth […]

Interview with Barbados Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy

Above: Tourism Minister Richard Sealy (CJ Photo) By Alexander Britell The Caribbean tourism sector is in a period of change, as the region seeks to emerge from the global downturn. As Caribbean nations like Barbados look to move beyond the traditional “sun, sand and sea” attraction, they are increasingly moving to diversify their tourism product […]

Interview With Jimmy Cliff

By Alexander Britell Jimmy Cliff, one of the titans of reggae, had gone seven years without an album until releasing “Rebirth” earlier this year. The crisply-made work, created in collaboration with veteran punk-music producer Tim Armstrong, represents a rebirth, not just of Cliff’s sound, but of the roots reggae music which he helped bring to […]

Talking Caribbean Real Estate With Coldwell Banker's Jim Reed

Above: the “Happy Ours” home on Harbour Island in the Bahamas (Listing: Coldwell Banker) While the Caribbean real estate market was impacted by the recession, it is beginning to show signs of growth. And at the centre of the regional market is Coldwell Banker Island Affiliates, the Caribbean master franchiser for global brokerage Coldwell Banker, […]

Cayman and the US Campaign: An Interview with Richard Coles

Above: Georgetown, Grand Cayman By Alexander Britell While places like Virginia and Florida will mean the most to the upcoming presidential election in the United States, another location has been popping up disproportionately during the campaign: the Cayman Islands. Since the Republican primary season, Cayman has been at the centre of US media coverage of […]

Interview with Bahamas Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder

Above: Nassau (CJ Photo) By Alexander Britell Ryan Pinder was appointed as the Bahamas’ Minister of Financial Services following the Progressive Liberal Party’s return to power in May 2012. Pinder, an attorney by trade, heads a Ministry dealing with the second-largest economic sector in the Bahamas — along with the portfolios of trade and industry. […]