Pulse of the Caribbean

#63 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 4 Week of June 16

• Pulse of the Caribbean

Share episode

The Netherlands releases €200 million from its established enslavement fund to former colonies while Caribbean nations forge paths in biotechnology, sports development, and international travel.

  • The Dutch government allocates €200 million in reparations to former Caribbean colonies 
  • Antigua and Barbuda launches initiatives to develop stem cell production to grow its wellness tourism sector
  • Barbados invests nearly $30 million in new sports facilities benefiting nine national sports bodies
  • St. Kitts and Nevis wins the prestigious Best New Passport Award for 2025 
  • The Dominican Republic celebrates Arajet’s expansion of new flights to major US Cities 

Subscribe to Pulse of the Caribbean for weekly insights into the economic, political, and social developments reshaping the region. What Caribbean story interests you most? Please share your thoughts and join our growing community of listeners passionate about the Caribbean's future.

 Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen online at www.pulseofthecaribbean.com or your favorite streaming platform.

Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribean.com. If you have an interest in sponsoring our podcast, email us at  biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

Speaker 1:

This is the Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup. Now today's Caribbean News Headlines.

Speaker 2:

This podcast is brought to you by Victory Run Walk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Register now for the 5K, 10k and Half. Mar, labor Day weekend, st Thomas, us Virgin Islands, and Diamond Key. Marina, yosvendike, british Virgin Islands. Home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode four for the week of June 16th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report with a look at African slavery in the Caribbean and the Americas. Today is Juneteenth.

Speaker 2:

The United States celebrates Juneteenth National Independence Day Annually on June 19th. It commemorates the end of US slavery, first used in the 1890s. The holiday's name is a combination of June and 19th. On June 19th 1865, major General Gordon Granger authorized the complete enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States in Texas, bringing an end to slavery across the entire United States. During the Civil War, slavery ended at different times in many US regions. Juneteenth celebration began in 1866 in Texas, around church centered celebrations. The Juneteenth National Independence holiday was declared a federal holiday in 2021 in the United States by the 117th United States Congress and US President Joe Biden. Lectures and displays on African American culture are common on Juneteenth. Picnics, street fairs, cookouts, park gatherings and historical reenactments are other celebrations held on this day. African descendants across the United States happy Juneteenth. Africans across the diaspora celebrate with you.

Speaker 2:

In related news from the Caribbean, the Netherlands is releasing 200 million euros, or 230 million US dollars, from its established enslavement fund. Half of the money goes to programs that raise awareness, heal and address the effects of slavery, and half to policy ideas. The former Netherland Antilles, curacao, Bonaire, st Eustatius, ceiba, st Martin and Aruba will receive funds. Funds are also available to former Dutch colony Suriname. Starting mid-August 2025, groups in the Caribbean, european, netherlands and Suriname regions can apply for support from the Slavery Fund. The formal application criteria will be announced on July 1st, the day the Dutch kingdom abolished slavery in 1863. After apologizing for slavery in 2022, the Dutch government launched the Slavery Fund as a part of its reconciliation and historical justice efforts. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized to enslaved people worldwide in 2022, as well as to their daughters and sons and all their descendants up to this present day. Besides financing made available through the Enslavement Fund, the Dutch government has committed to help build national slavery museums and knowledge centers in each jurisdiction.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop is Antigua and Barbuda. As a part of its long-term plan to grow its wellness tourism sector, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has decided to start the process of making stem cells in the country. Antigua and Barbuda's Attorney General has been given the job of looking at and suggesting laws that will make it easier for this new biotechnology sector to grow. The Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet made it clear that any stem cell production in Antigua and Barbuda will only be done in a moral and humanitarian way, specifically using umbilical cord blood stem cells. The cabinet also noted that more and more people are coming to Antigua and Barbuda for stem cell treatment. The cabinet has committed to support this new sector strictly within the confines of its national law.

Speaker 2:

Now on to Barbados. The Barbados National Sports Council Capital Projects Plan is giving nine national sports bodies a big boost by building new facilities. Building new facilities the current renovation and building of training and competition grounds at three places on the island will aid athletics, cricket, netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, squash, beach volleyball and beach wrestling. The total cost is a little under 30 million dollars. Barbados' Minister of Youth, sports and Community Empowerment, charles Griffith, talked about the completion dates and times for five sports locations during a media tour. Wiley will be the home to a multi-purpose beach sports facility, multi-purpose badminton and squash courts and the highly praised athletics track. The beach sports facility, which is almost finished, will be located behind the gym's main parking lot and diagonally across from the Wiley Tennis Center. It will have room for about 500 people to watch beach volleyball and beach wrestling. Next up Sink, it's N Nevis wins the Best New Passport Award for 2025. After this, get ready for Victory Run Walk 2025. Registration is open for the Virgin Islands 5K, 10k and half marathon. Register at VictoryRunWalkVIcom.

Speaker 2:

Whether you're a Caribbean national or just want to learn more about the Caribbean, you've got the right podcast. In our newest feature, the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast interview segment, episode number 50, meet Israel Peterson, culture bearer and teacher, as he shares the rich tradition of Mukajumbi stilt dancing and its deep cultural significance in the US Virgin Islands. His passion for preserving this African heritage shines through as he recounts his personal journey from childhood fascination to becoming a master practitioner. Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Listen online on our website pulseofthegribean. Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Listen online on our website, pulseofthecaribbeancom or your favorite streaming platform. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 4, for the week of June 16th.

Speaker 2:

The Sinkits Nevis Ministry of National Security, citizenship and Immigration is happy to share that the Twin Islands State of Sinkits and Nevis has won the Best New Passport Award for 2025 at the High Security Printing Latin America Conference. The award was given in the Regional ID Document of the Year category. Last week in Rio de Janeiro, brazil, the prize was given out. High Security Printing Latin America is an annual international conference that focuses on new technologies connected to government-issued money, ids and travel documents. Sinkits Ineva started using its new e-passport in November 2024. It is the first OECS country to earn the High Security Printing Award. The Canadian bank Note Company Limited made the e-passport and made sure it met international civil aviation organizations' criteria for global interoperability. Sinkits and Nevis is working to improve its border security and compliance system to meet international standards and best practices. The award comes at a time when this is happening, and here's our final note.

Speaker 2:

The Dominican Republic's Council General in New York, jesus Vasquez Martinez, said that the start of Aerojet flights to New York was a big step forward for the Dominican Republic's population in the United States. He stressed that the new route gives Dominicans living abroad more inexpensive and dignified ways to travel. Our jet's growth improves air travel and helps establish links between Dominicans living abroad and their home country. Vasquez thanked Dominican Republic's President, luis Abinader, and Dominican Republic's Tourism Minister, david Collado, for helping this happen through the Open Skies Agreement with the United States, which lets Dominican Airlines reach more people. Our jet is the Dominican Republic's flag carrier and biggest airline, based in Santo Domingo, dominican Republic. The airline offers cheap flights to places in North, central and South America.

Speaker 2:

This podcast is brought to you by Victory Run Walk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Register now for the 5K, 10k and Half Marathon. Labor Day weekend St Thomas, us Virgin Islands, and Diamond Key, marina, yosvendike, british Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Have news and information you'd like to share with us. Send news releases to news at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode four for the week of June 16th. Here's a shout out to our listeners in the Dominican Republic. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share this podcast across the region and the diaspora. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

Speaker 1:

For more Caribbean news stories and information, visit us online at pulseofthecaribbeancom. If you found value in this podcast, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and thank you in advance for choosing Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your source for Caribbean-centered news.