Pulse of the Caribbean

#94 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 3 Week of August 11

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Weather alerts, financial news, and infrastructure updates provide a comprehensive view of current affairs impacting Caribbean nations and territories. Here’s a look at what’s making Caribbean headlines.

  • Tropical Storm Erin intensifying and expected to become a hurricane by Thursday/Friday
  • Authorities uncover Dominican Republic fraudulent call center targeting elderly Americans through the "grandparent scams" 
  • Trinidad and Tobago signs major exploration agreement with ExxonMobil worth up to $21.7 billion
  • Puerto Rico receives $1.19 million and US Virgin Islands gets $1.06 million from US Federal Highway Administration's Ferry Boat Program
  • Barbados announces education structure reform to align with international standards
  • Kingston, Jamaica to host first Caribbean Youth Environment and Climate Change Conference in September 2025
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 Runwalk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Accommodations are now available. Register at VictoryRunwalkVIcom for the 5K, 10 and half marathon. Labor day weekend, august 30th. St thomas, us virgin islands and diamond key, marina, yosvendike, british virgin islands, home of foxy's and gateway to the bubbly pool.

Speaker 2:

A Caribbean News Roundup, episode 3, for the week of August 11th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report with a look at regional weather. Tropical Storm Erin is being closely monitored throughout the region. According to the National Hurricane Center's most recent advisory, tropical Storm Erin is moving fast to the west and is anticipated to strengthen today, wednesday, august 13th. Forecasters are now urging residents of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and northern leeward islands to closely monitor Erin, which is forecast to strengthen today. Erin is projected to become a hurricane late Thursday, august 14th or early Friday, august 15th, and then intensify into a major storm during the next 96 hours. Listeners in the region should pay special attention to your local weather forecast. It is hurricane season, so now is the time to prepare for potential storm-related impacts.

Speaker 2:

Now on to the Dominican Republic. Dominicans running a call center in the Dominican Republic were arrested for stealing millions from elderly Americans for stealing millions from elderly Americans With an average age of 84, these scammers stole over five million US dollars from hundreds of victims using a grandparent scam. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dominican National Police Special Division for the Investigation of International Organized Crime conducted simultaneous searches in California, new York, florida, maryland and Missouri. Call center operators pretended to be distressed grandchildren seeking immediate cash. In the grandparent scam, a second accomplice would act as a lawyer and seek legal fees to help the grandchild. Laundering and wiring the stolen money to the Dominican Republic followed. According to US investigators, oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia led the operation by managing the call center where English-speaking accomplices made fraudulent calls. The coordinated investigation led to 13 indictments made fraudulent calls. The coordinated investigation led to 13 indictments. Four suspects are awaiting extradition to the United States to face mail and wire fraud and money laundering allegations.

Speaker 2:

Now on to Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, kamala, brassad by Cesar, anticipates a new exploration pack with ExxonMobil, to be the first of many. On August 12th, the 100th day of the new government, prasad Bisesar made the statement at the signing ceremony for ExxonMobil Trinidad and Tobago Deepwater Limited production sharing contract for Ultra Deep One at the Prime Minister's Residence and Diplomatic Center in St Anne's. Some estimate place one-third of the world's undiscovered conventional oil and gas in deep water basins. In the first phase, exxonmobil will spend $42.5 million US dollars and the expected development will cost $16.4 billion to $21.7 billion US dollars. Dr Rudal Munalal, trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, said the agreement followed successful direct negotiations approved in December 2024.

Speaker 2:

Next we head to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico will get $1,191,331 and the US Virgin Islands will receive $1,062,796 under the US Federal Highway Administration's Ferry Boat Program for fiscal year 2025, part of the $175 million awarded to 35 states, puerto Rico, american Samoa and Guam. On Tuesday, us Transportation Secretary Sean P Duffy announced a funding to improve ferry service and make travel more affordable for towns that use ferries for commuting, tourism and commerce. The ferry boat program funds the building and operation of vehicle and passenger and passenger-only ferry boat terminals and maintenance facilities. Where a bridge or tunnel is not possible, ferry operators get funds from the US State Department of Transportation for vessel acquisition, terminal modification, operational expenditures and, if eligible, new ferry service planning and construction.

Speaker 2:

Next up, barbados set to change education structure after this. St Thomas Virgin Islands. Victory Run 2025 accommodations are now available After race registration. Book your stay and be the first occupants to stay at the Hamptons by Hilton, directly located at the start and finish line of Victory Run 2025. While around the bend and at the beach shore is the beautiful Westin Resort and connecting waterfront villas of the Bowie House. Both locations are family friendly and here to accommodate you with special rates, making your stay a breeze by classes in primary and forms in secondary education. Blackman told Barbados Parliament, the reform will improve consistency, clarity and alignment with international and regional educational standards. He said the Barbadian school system has traditionally used classes at elementary level and forms at secondary level. Blackman said the grading system will improve Caribbean and global education comparisons, especially for purposes such as data reporting, student mobility, curriculum mapping and program design. And here's our final note From September 9 to 12, 2025, kingston, jamaica, will host a first Caribbean Youth Environment and Climate Change Conference, organized by the Caribbean Ute Climate Council.

Speaker 2:

The Council announced in a press release that the landmark gathering will bring together Ute representatives, government officials, environmental experts and development partners to share knowledge, improve skills and collaborate on the region's climate and environmental issues. The Caribbean Ute Climate Council plans to empower Ute, advocate for environmental causes, build collaborations and explore policy conservation, biodiversity preservation, climate finance, renewable energy, climate smart farming and environmental justice will be discussed. Attendees will also have the opportunity to propose and present local and Caribbean relevant topics. This podcast has been brought to you by Victory Runwalk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Accommodations are now available. Register at VictoryRunWalkVIcom for the 5K, 10k and Half Marathon.

Speaker 2:

Labor Day weekend, august 30th, 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 and news releases to news at pulseofthecaribbeancom. If you have an interest in sponsoring our podcast, email us at biz B-I-Z at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 3 for the week of August 11th. Here's a shout out to our listeners in Belize, arizona and Germany. 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:

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.