Markets

Israel Looks to Help Jamaica on Energy

New IMF Regional Head to Visit Jamaica

Luis Breuer, the new Caribbean Regional Director of the International Monetary Fund, is due to visit Jamica on Wednesday to discuss outstanding issues considered by the IMF’s board for its quarterly reviews. This will be Breuer’s first visit to Jamaica …

Green Building Council Heads to Cayman

The Sailfish Estate in Sunrise Landing on Grand Cayman is the first LEED-certified private residential home built outside of the United States. LEED is the certification system of the United States Green Buildings Council, which rates the energy efficiency and …

Gonsalves: Need for Calm on REDjet

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has called for moderation in the debate over new low-cost air carrier REDjet. According to Gonsalves, who said he had been following the public debate over the company, he had …

A CARICOM Television Station?

Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo has called for CARICOM leaders to establish a regional television station to counteract what he called a “bombardment of North American culture.” Jagdeo was speaking at the closing ceremony of the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting …

Pondering Caribbean Agriculture’s Future

Above: Bahamian IICA representative Dr Markis Alvarez visits the Bahamas last month (BIS Photo/Gladstone Thurston) Given the growth prospects of agriculture and an abundance of plant-friendly weather, why doesn’t the Caribbean as a region invest more in the industry? That …

St Vincent’s Gonsalves: CARICOM “Big Four” Countries Must Lead

By the Caribbean Journal staff St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said the “Big Four” founding members of CARICOM, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, need to provide leadership in the integration movement. Notwithstanding the …

CARICOM, EU Strengthen Ties

Above: Andris Piebalgs By the Caribbean Journal staff CARICOM Heads of Government met with Andris Piebalgs, European Union Commissioner for Development, in special session in Basseterre this weekend to discuss political and cooperation issues. The meeting was part of a …

Bahamas Continues Solar Push

After a series of blackouts from electrical load shedding, the Bahamian government is working to implement its National Energy Policy with the installation of solar panels. “The majority or the largest consumer of petroleum products in the Bahamas is BEC …

REDjet Licence Controversy Continues between Barbados, Trinidad

The failure of new low-cost air carrier REDjet to obtain a licence to fly from Barbados to Trinidad continues to stoke tensions between the two countries, with Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart yesterday claiming that Trinidad was “second-guessing” his government’s …

St Vincent’s Gonsalves: Time for New CARICOM Secretary-General

By the Caribbean Journal staff St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves told the assembled Heads of Government this weekend that it was time for a new, permanent secretary-general of CARICOM to replace acting Secretary-General Lolita Applewhaite. …

Jamaica Eyes Smart Grid

Above: the Wigton wind farm Jamaica is considering the feasibility of introducing a smart grid to the island’s electrical distribution network, Minister of State for Energy and Mining, Laurence Broderick, announced yesterday. “We are looking at [a smart grid],” he …

Heads of Government Meet in St. Kitts

Above: CARICOM officials and media representatives ahead of the conference By the Caribbean Journal staff CARICOM is convening its Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community today in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis. The conference began last night …

Barbados Plans $102M Sugar Project

The government of Barbados is planning a $102 million (USD) project to diversify the sugar industry in the country with bagasse, ethanol, special sugars and molasses, Senator Darcy Boyce announced yesterday. The project initially cost approximately $200 million, but has …

Mark Jones and the Secret of Jamaica’s Unknown Market

Global Gateway Chairman Mark Jones, left, and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda What began with a single visit to Jamaica in 2007 for Mark Jones has turned into a group of investments employing 1,000 Jamaicans in real estate, financial services and …

Bahamas Looks to Solar Power

Above: Solar panels in Andros, Bahamas The Bahamas is starting a large-scale initiative to install solar water heaters across the country, as part of the country’s National Energy Policy. The turn to solar power is part of an effort to …

IICA Presents Caribbean Agriculture Plan

Above: CARICOM leaders hear the IICA plan (OAS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Director-General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Victor M. Villalobos, presented the institution’s three year plan for CARICOM countries yesterday at a meeting …

Bahamas Telecom Extends Cable to Haiti

Above: an undersea cable Bahamas Telecom Company will be extending its U.S.-Caribbean cable to improve connectivity in Haiti. “We are going to make a significant investment into expanding the capacity of the Miami cable,” said BTC CEO Geoff Houston in …

Jamaica Begins Disaster Study

Flooding from Tropical Storm Nicole (JIS Photo) Following the effects of five major hurricanes since 2004, along with two significant tropical storms, the Jamaican government is spearheading a study of coastal hazards and vulnerability. The study will be performed through …