Markets

Guatemala to Help Barbados Restructure Sugar Cane Industry

IMF: Trinidad Economy “Poised for Modest Recovery” in 2013

Above: Port of Spain (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The economy of Trinidad and Tobago is “poised for a modest recovery” in 2013, according to the International Monetary Fund. The IMF’s Executive Board recently concluded its Article IV …

Grenada Parliament Passes Citizenship By Investment Act

Above: Grenada By the Caribbean Journal staff Grenada’s Parliament has passed the Grenada Citizen by Investment Act 2013, the government announced. The act, which passed last week, would make Grenada one of an increasing number of Caribbean countries offering passports …

Can Caribbean Trade Help Tackle Hemispheric Challenges?

Above: OAS ASG Albert Ramdin (OAS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Can increased trade within the Latin America and the Caribbean help the region reach its economic potential? That was the idea put forth by Assistant Secretary General of …

Is Business Confidence Up in Jamaica?

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Business confidence is rising in Jamaica. At least that’s the verdict from Jamaican Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips. The Minister, who was speaking at a Chamber of Commerce forum in Mandeville …

A Caribbean Free of Roaming Charges?

Above: St George’s (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff What if you could travel from island to island in the Caribbean, without being charged a roaming fee on your mobile phone? That’s the idea recently put forth by Grenada …

The Return of Caribbean Island Hopping?

Above: Dominica (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff It’s a romantic notion of Caribbean travel — arrive in one destination, then travel to another two or three islands by sea or small plane. And the OECS regional subgrouping wants …

Aruba Continues Push For 100 Percent Green Energy By 2020

Above: Aruba By the Caribbean Journal staff Aruba’s government is continuing its push to achieve energy independence by the year 2020. The government announced Tuesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with BYD Company Limited on a zero-carbon …

British Virgin Islands Planning to Open Representative Office in Hong Kong

Above: Hong Kong By the Caribbean Journal staff The British Virgin Islands plans to open a representative office in Hong Kong, Premier Dr Orlando Smith announced this week. The office would be part of the territory’s strategy to improve ties …

JetBlue to Launch Service to Haiti

Above: a JetBlue plane By Alexander Britell Continuing its Caribbean expansion, New York City-based air carrier JetBlue announced Thursday that it would begin service to Haiti’s Port-au-Prince. The flights, which will include one daily nonstop flight between New York’s John …

Barbados Plans “Hotel Innovation Fund”

Above: Bridgetown (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Barbados is planning to create a “Hotel Innovation Fund” that would provide low-cost financing to hoteliers and other tourism providers. The government is currently meeting with tourism stakeholders to design the …

PetroCaribe Member States Agree to Establish “Economic Zone”

Above: the summit in Caracas By the Caribbean Journal staff The seventh PetroCaribe summit in Caracas concluded this weekend with an agreement by member countries to establish a PetroCaribe “economic zone.” The move would expand the PetroCaribe oil agreement, which …

Antigua, China Talk Tourism

Above: Tourism Minister John Maginley and Ambassador Ren Gongping By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister John Maginley met with newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Antigua Ren Gongping during a courtesy call on Thursday. Maginley, who will speak …

Expedia: Travel Demand For Jamaica Rising, Particularly From Brazil

Above: the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall in Jamaica By Alexander Britell Travel demand for Jamaica is on the rise, according to the latest report from Expedia. More than 230,000 room nights in the country were booked through Expedia’s platforms in 2012, …

Trinidad’s Stephen Cadiz Suggests Regional Forum on Tourism

Above: Port of Spain (CJ Photo) By Alexander Britell PORT OF SPAIN — Echoing the recent call of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz suggested Thursday that the Caribbean’s political leadership hold a …

Moody’s Upgrades Belize Credit Rating, Warns of “Debt Overhang”

Above: Parliament in Belmopan By the Caribbean Journal staff New York-based Moody’s has upgraded the credit rating on Belize’s government bonds, the firm announced Monday. The rating has been lifted to Caa2 from Ca, with a “stable” outlook. The move …