Pulse of the Caribbean

#79 Caribbean Pulse: Regional Business Expansion & Innovation

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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The Caribbean is witnessing a remarkable surge in technological advancement and economic development, as highlighted in the latest Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup

  • Suncash, a Bahamas-based financial technology company, expanding to Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados.
  • Caribbean Investment Forum 2025 in Jamaica to focus on sustainable agriculture, green economy, digital transformation, and logistics
  • Antigua farmers using agricultural drones for climate-resilient agriculture
  • US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort providing free healthcare to 1,200 Dominican Republic residents

These headlines are among the headlines on this episode.  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.

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This is the Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup. Now today's Caribbean News Headlines. This podcast is brought to you by Varlic Ventures for convenient airport transfers and ferry service in the US Virgin Islands and Diamond Key, marina, yosemite, 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 4 for the week of July 14th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start a report in the Bahamas. The Bahamas-based Suncash, a financial payment and transfers technology company, is expanding to Jamaica, trinidad and Tobago, barbados and the English-speaking Caribbean. In a report in the NASA Guardian Business, sean Smith, suncash's business development manager, said that the company is applying its success with the sand dollar in the Bahamas, particularly with its ATMs, to underserved Caribbean communities. Jamaica, trinidad, barbados are on Suncash's first three Caribbean destinations. Trinidad Barbados are on Suncash's first three Caribbean destinations. Suncash has attracted over 85,000 Bahamas users since December 2019 and has ATMs on every major island. Suncash delivers services to Bahamas consumers under license and regulations from the Central Bank of the Bahamas and the Securities Commission. According to their website, the company aims to be the Caribbean and Latin America's largest and most trusted payment for mobile money, company Local and international money transfers, mastercard and Visa, physical and virtual cards accounts, bill pay and loans are among Suncash's payment and money services. According to Smith, Suncash will spend a little north of $3 million on a soft launch into three countries by early 2026, with Jamaica and Trinidad slated to happen this year.

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In other regional investment news this month in Kingston, jamaica, the Caribbean Investment Forum 2025 debuted as the venue for connecting international capital with high-potential, investment-ready Caribbean businesses. The forum will be held July 29 to July 31, 2025 in Montego Bay under the theme Smart Green Connected. The Caribbean Export Development Agency, jamaica, the EU and the CARICOM Secretariat are hosting the Caribbean Investment Forum 2025, a strategic shift in worldwide marketing for the region. It emphasizes the Caribbean's natural resources and untapped potential in key growth industries. Over 500 international investors, government leaders, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs and diaspora groups are expected to attend the Caribbean Investment Forum 2025. Over three days, guests will participate in pitch sessions, policy discussions, sector-specific roundtables and deal-making. This year's forum, under the theme Smart Green Connected, will focus on major investment sectors to include sustainable agriculture, green economy transitions, digital transformation and logistics and transportation. Visit wwwcaribbeaninvestmentforumcom or email info at caribexportcom for details.

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Our next stop is Antigua. Simon's Pepper Farm and the Rastafari Food for Life community in Antigua are using DJI Agris T40 agricultural drones from the GEF-funded PATH to 2020 project, which is helping local farmers in Antigua and Barbuda. The pilot blended finance program for farmers advances sustainable, climate resilient agriculture with cutting-edge drones technology, the GEF-funded path to 2020 project, antigua and Barbuda's Department of Environment and the Sustainable Island Resource Framework Fund. Members visited Simon's Pepper Farm in Antigua and Barbuda to see drone technology in action. The group applauded Antigua and Barbuda's community-led climate adaptation plans. Antigua's Department of Environment and SIRF Fund's blended finance strategy relies on concessional financing and technical support to enable farmers to embrace sophisticated technology that would otherwise be unaffordable. Information and precision are essential to modern agriculture, and drone technology is being used in agriculture to help farmers manage farm operations by monitoring plant health, irrigation, crop spraying and livestock.

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Now on to the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands Premier, dr Natalia Whitley, is impressed with Jamaica's crime-fighting capacity and wants to work with the country to implement some of its techniques. According to bvinewscom, the Jamaican government attributes a 37 percent drop in homicides to improve policies and increase national security investments. Premier Whitley said he was impressed by Jamaica's crime-fighting resources at the recent CARICOM summit and that the BVI may follow suit. The Premier said we look to the UK for assistance in many ways, but I was pleasantly surprised by the resources available right here in Jamaica. The advanced technology and training, he said, is amazing. The BVI premier said that he plans to speak to the BVI's National Security Council and the police to explore how the relationship between the BVI and Jamaica may strengthen the BVI's law enforcement capacity.

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Next up US Navy hospital ship, usns Comfort, is on a medical mission in the region. After this, visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike. Charlotte Molly to Cruise Bay Ferry Service is now available at the Edward Wilmot Blyden Ferry Terminal located on the waterfront in downtown St Thomas, the fastest and most affordable way to travel when exiting the St Thomas Airport. Purchase your downtown ferry tickets and see departure times for Cruise Bay and downtown St Thomas on our website. Stjohnticketingcom. Safe, fast and affordable is the way to go. Designated taxi and transportation services are also available to pick you up from the airport and take you to the downtown ferry terminal. And on your trip back from the downtown ferry terminal to the St Thomas Cyril E King Airport, visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike.

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This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 4, for the week of July 14th. The US Navy hospital ship, the USNS Comfort program, will give free health care to 1,200 local residents in the Dominican Republic. The US Embassy reports that the Dominican Republic and American medical professionals would provide daily consultations at the Javier Martinez Arias Polytechnic, treating up to 400 patients from 8 am to 5 pm. General pediatrics, women's dermatology, nutrition, optometry, physical therapy, dentistry and more are being offered. The USNS Comfort will perform surgeries on the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Public Health and National Health Services selected patients. Over 300 doctors, nurses and support staff work on the ship, which has surgery rooms, intensive care units and 1,000 hospital beds. In addition to the Dominican Republic, the USNS Comfort's regional mission includes Grenada, panama, ecuador, costa Rica and Colombia.

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And here's our final note. Grenada has a new law recognizing August 1st as its Emancipation Day, and the Grenada Cultural Foundation is planning a historic and culturally rich celebration that will combine education, tradition and community spirit 1st respectively, moving the holiday from the first Monday of August to August 1st to commemorate Grenada's and the British Empire's 1838 abolition of slavery. The Grenada Cultural Foundation, grenada's National Repatriation Commission, national Celebrations Committee and other stakeholders organized the Emancipation Committee to provide a lively two-day education and cultural expression event. A series of Did you Know? Information from the Emancipation Committee will educate the public about slavery in Grenada and emphasize significant historical events elements.

Speaker 1:

This podcast is brought to you by Varlik Ventures for convenient airport transfers and ferry service in the US Virgin Islands and Diamond Key Marina, yosemite, 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 and news releases to news at pulseofthecaribbeancom. If you have an interest in advertising in our podcast, email us at biz at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup, episode 4 for the week of July 14th. Here's a shout out to our listeners in the Bahamas and in the state of Illinois. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

Speaker 1:

Visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike. Charlotte and Molly to Cruise Bay Ferry Service is now available at the Edward Wilmot Blyden Ferry Terminal located on the waterfront in downtown St Thomas. The fastest and most affordable way to travel when exiting the St Thomas Airport. Purchase your downtown ferry tickets and see departure times for Cruise Bay and downtown St Thomas on our website. Stjohnticketingcom. Safe, fast and affordable is the way to go. Designated taxi and transportation services are also available to pick you up from the airport and take you to the downtown ferry terminal. And on your trip back from the downtown ferry terminal to the St Thomas Cyril E King Airport, visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike. Music.