Pulse of the Caribbean

#106 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of September 8

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Caribbean tensions rise as Venezuela deploys 25,000 troops along coastal states amid confrontations with US Navy ships in the southern Caribbean. Regional politics shift with Dr. Irfaan Ali sworn in for a second term as Guyana's president and Prime Minister Andrew Holness securing a third term in Jamaica's parliamentary elections. Here are other stories making Caribbean headlines. 

  •  Grenada's Prime Minister Mitchell calls for economic development for Africa and its diaspora at Fort Intra-African Trade Fair
  • Dominican Republic's mining sector drives economic recovery with 21% growth and $1.07 billion in exports
  • First drone taxi launches in Dominican Republic, offering electric aerial transportation connecting major tourist destinations
  • CaribNog30 technology conference to be held in Dominica focusing on "Engineering the Future of the Caribbean Internet"
  • China-backed agricultural program to teach Antigua and Barbuda farmers advanced irrigation practices

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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 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 1 for the week of September 8th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report in Venezuela. Venezuela will increase military deployments in coastal and border states amid US-Venezuela tensions. Washington sent six warships to the southern Caribbean last month to fight drug traffickers. On Sunday, venezuela Defense Minister, valdemar Padrino Lopez, claimed that the president of Venezuela, nicolas Maduro, has ordered all available troops and equipment to Zulia Falcon, nueva Esparta, sucre and Delta Amacuro. He said Caracas will deploy 25,000 troops since the area is a quote-unquote drug trafficking route. Padrino stated in a social media video no one is going to step on this land and do what we're supposed to do. The US Navy sunk a Venezuela cocaine boat last week, killing 11 passengers. Navy sunk a Venezuela cocaine boat last week, killing 11 passengers. After the incident, two Venezuelan jets flew above a US cruiser. President Donald Trump has threatened to shoot down Venezuela planes that threaten American ships. Our next stop is Guyana. Dr Ifram Ali was sworn in as Guyana's ninth executive president for a second five-year term. On Sunday, president Ali congratulated all Guyanese who voted in the general elections on September 1st 2025, and promised to speed progress in his inaugural address. President Ali's first five years began August 2, 2020. His re-election gave the People, progressive Party, civic and unprecedented 36 National Assembly seats. Dr Ali pledged to represent all Guyanese in his inaugural speech. After being sworn in for a second term, the president promised to improve the lives and neighborhoods of those who did not vote for him. One Guyana is a lifestyle, not a slogan. Each of us is equal in dignity, opportunity and respect. He promised I am your president, even if you didn't support me in his speech that a dedicated anti-corruption unit will eliminate corruption from institutions and hold public and private officials to the greatest ethical standards. The president stated that all officials must account for their personal holdings or face legal consequences. He promised to prosecute the corrupted and the corruptors without impunity. In other regional election news, early returns from Jamaica's parliamentary election show Prime Minister Andrew Holness won a third term. Early Thursday indications stated Holness. Jamaica's Labour Party won at least 34 seats. In the previous day's votes, 29 of 63 parliamentary seats went to the People's National Party, the main opposition. Now on to Grenada On Friday, september 5, 2025, grenada's Prime Minister, the Honorable Dickon Mitchell, called for economic development for Africa and its diaspora At the Fort Intra-African Trade Fair.

Speaker 2:

He spoke on Global African Diaspora Day, demonstrating Africa's expanding significance in global trade. The Fort Intra-African trade fair in Algeria brought together leaders and stakeholders from 130 nations, with 1,600 exhibitors and over 35,000 guests. The fair produced roughly $44 billion in trade and investment. Premier Mitchell paid tribute to African leaders and stressed the diaspora's importance to Africa's progress in the trade and investment sector. In his presentation, he said no continent, race, culture or civilization will do for Africa and Africans what Africans must do for themselves. Mitchell supported the Global Africa Commission proposed by the Afromix Bank President Benedict Orama and former Nigerian President Obasanjo to boost African ownership in major businesses. He also thanked Algeria for hosting such a crucial continental summit, recognizing its leadership in furthering Africa's goals.

Speaker 2:

Now we head to the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic's mining and petroleum chamber credited the mining sector's good performance for economic recovery. The central bank said that the national economy rose 2.9 percent in July, while the mining industry climbed 21 percent, amassing 5.1 percent growth from January to July. Driven by gold and silver production, mining experts grew 39.1% to $1.07 billion in June 2025, while fiscal contributions rose 158.9% to $7.597 billion. After tourism and remittances, the sector is the country's third largest foreign currency generator, attracting $175 million in foreign direct investments in the first quarter of 2025, up 390 percent from 2024.

Speaker 2:

In other news from the Dominican Republic, kareem Abu-Naba, an entrepreneur, invented the first drone taxi in the Dominican Republic to modernize tourism and minimize traffic. The initiative arose after he saw similar models in South Korea and the United States, but none were more satisfying than those in China, on the Asian continent. He also said he wants 12 of the same models, despite owning only one. This aims to increase air travel across the country, as reported by Liston Diario. As reported by Liston Diario, the route starts in several sites across the country, such as Semana, bahia de la Aguilas, montecristi, punta Cana, santiago, puerto Plata, perimelales and the National District. After implementation, all 32 provinces will be covered.

Speaker 2:

The unmanned aerial vehicle operates like a commercial flight. Its unique features include seating two people. The pilot and co-pilot control the drone from the ground unit until it reaches its destination. The businessman said an online app called Fleur is the transportation software created for the service, which starts at $100. At Emato's, the flying taxi pilot said the drones run on electricity, not liquefied petroleum gas. They have 16 propellers and can fly 30 kilometers in 30 minutes. The pilot uses two computers connected to Chinese satellites on the ground. He said two persons from the Dominican Republic spent 45 days in China preparing to fly the drone.

Speaker 2:

Next up Caribbean Network Operators Group to host Carabinog 30 conference in Dominica. After this, for Pulse of the Caribbean podcast advertising or marketplace feature opportunities, email biz B-I-Z at pulseofthecaribbeancom. Get your ads in front of our ever-expanding Caribbean and diaspora community. Contact us at biz B-I-Z at pulseofthecaribbeancom. Engage in networking and advertising with Pulse of the Caribbean. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 1, for the week of September 8.

Speaker 2:

Caribnog30, a milestone event for the Caribbean Network Operators Group, will bring together technology experts, innovators, policymakers and stakeholders in Dominica to create a resilient and inclusive digital future for the Caribbean. The Fort Young Hotel in Roseau will host a conference September 18-19, 2025, with the theme Engineering the Future of the Caribbean Internet. Caribnog30 is a collaborative platform where forward-thinking ideas meet practical implementation. According to the business, the event is about bringing together the region's brightest minds to design, secure and scale the digital infrastructure needed for Caribbean progress. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Dominica is proud to host, underlining the country's commitment to regional digital projects and Caribbean viewpoints on the global Internet, CaribNog 30. Attendees can expect a variety of activities, including as technical sessions on network design, cybersecurity, internet routing and hands-on training, policy and governance, in-depth discussions on digital sovereignty, data privacy and internet governance changes, collaborations for networking, exchanging solutions, troubleshooting ideas and issues and co-creating regional digital resilience strategies. Karabnog said the event attracts Internet service provider operators, government officials, cybersecurity experts, academics and Caribbean digital transformation enthusiasts. Visit wwwkarabnogorg for free registration and information. And here's our final note A China-backed program will teach Antigua and Barbuda farmers advanced irrigation practices.

Speaker 2:

Three weeks training at Villa Polyclinic, from October 16 to November 5, will focus on water-saving strategies to increase drought-prone crop production. The Chinese embassy, yonglong Pinghai Tech Agriculture Company and Antigua and Barbuda's Ministry of Agriculture are working together to run the program as a part of the China aid effort. Are working together to run the program as a part of the China Aid effort. According to Antigua and Barbuda's chief extension officer, the training will make food security stronger. Farmers can sign up through the Agricultural Extension Division. This podcast has been brought to you by 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 1, for the week of September 8. Here's a special hello going out to our listeners in Guyana, mississippi 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.