Pulse of the Caribbean

#112 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 3 Week of September 15

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The Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup delivers critical updates on regional developments, including US drug transit country designations, Venezuela-Guyana tensions, and a major UN-EU disaster preparedness initiative for the Caribbean. These among the headlines on today’s Episode. Here are other stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • British Virgin Islands implementing significant immigration fee increases starting October 1st
  • Renowned chess grandmaster Nigel Short to visit Dominica later this month 
  • Antiguan Model Samory Christopher carving out a name for himself in the global fashion industry 

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Listen and subscribe to the  Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Round Up for news you need to know. 

Send news releases and information to news@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 Diamond Key, marina Yosvendak, british Virgin Islands. Home of Fox, east Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode two for the week of September 15th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report today at the US White House, us President Donald Trump's determination on major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries for fiscal year 2026 to Congress list five Caribbean nations. Trump lists the Bahamas, belize, haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica as major transits or illicit drug producers. In the document, afghanistan, bolivia, burma, people's Republic of China, colombia, costa Rica, ecuador, el Salvador, guatemala, honduras, india, laos, mexico, nicaragua, pakistan, panama, peru and Venezuela are also listed. Trump stated that the country's listing is not necessarily a reflection of its government's counter-drug efforts or level of cooperation with the United States. According to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the reason countries are placed on the list is a combination of geographic, commercial and economic factors, even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control and law enforcement measures. Afghanistan, bolivia, burma, colombia and Venezuela have failed to comply with international counter-narcotics according to the US Foreign Assistance Act requirements in the past years. He added Transnational organized crime. Trafficking of fentanyl and other lethal illicit substances into the United States has produced a national emergency, including a public health crisis. That remains the leading cause of death of Americans age 18 to 44, trump told Congress. He stated over 40 percent of Americans know someone who died from an opioid overdose and in 2024, illegal drug deaths average over 200 per day. Trump outlined his administration efforts to combat drug traffickers, utilizing law enforcement and military resources. Now we head to Guyana.

Speaker 2:

After a second US strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in international waters, off the South American nation, president Dr Ifram Ali stressed that this region must remain peaceful. However, he said transnational crimes in the region, including using our land and sea for criminality, must be handled. On Monday, president Donald Trump said a second US assault on a Venezuelan drug boat killed three individuals. Trump said earlier this month that a boat strike killed 11 people. Venezuelan Minister of Defense, valdemar Padrino Lopez, recently threatened Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago that Venezuela would respond to any attack on its land, he said to those who sent a written statement from the United States. I'm referring to the governments of the Corporative Republic of Guyana and the government of Trinidad and Tobago who have played along. I say to you well, if they attack from your territory, you will also receive a response, and that is legitimate defense. President Ali said our sovereignty is our sovereignty and what we do in relation to our sovereignty is our sovereignty, and what we do in relation to our sovereignty is our business. In his first press conference of his second term on Tuesday, he stressed that our priority as a government is maintaining peace in this region. Our next stop is the United Nations.

Speaker 2:

Due to the Caribbean's growing vulnerability to hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the United Nations and European Union are funding a $1.26 million US dollar initiative to close disaster preparedness gaps, protect displaced families and ensure no one is left behind. The United Nations, international Organization for Migration and the EU launch fostering collaborative approaches to disaster preparedness in the Caribbean as part of the Resilient Caribbean Project. The EU humanitarian aid operation will fund the $1.26 million plan. Will fund the $1.26 million plan to address human mobility difficulties in line with a disaster management strategy. The 24-month project will address critical gaps in disaster preparedness and cross-line border mobility with a strong, people-centered approach. Incorporating displacement and human mobility into regional disaster management mechanism, including cross-border evacuation protocols. Strengthening data systems for evidence-based preparedness by building the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and national authorities' capacity to collect, analyze and share reliable displacement and risk data, and establishing a Caribbean shelter and disaster response mechanism to bolster local and regional capacity.

Speaker 2:

Mandela Christian, the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency's Program Manager for Preparedness and Response and response, mentioned the mass displacements in St Vincent and the Grenadines during the 2021 volcanic eruption and Grenada after Hurricane Beryl. Now more than ever, with the geopolitical shifts in foreign aid from major donors and development partners, we must pool our resources to optimize outputs and ensure efficient use of the limited resources available to us, christian said. Patrice Quesada, international Organization for Migration Caribbean Coordinator, said it's thanks to this partnership that we'll be able to contribute to ongoing efforts to have, for instance, better data, have, for instance, better data, but also to continue to explore what we see as the next frontier, with safe evacuations where no child, no elder, no person with a disability should ever be left behind Due to changing needs. Quesada said the new hub will deliver supplies for quick response and in weeks after disaster. Now we head to the British Virgin Islands.

Speaker 2:

A new British Virgin Islands Department of Immigration charge structure will raise Virgin Islands immigration fees sharply. Beginning October 1st, the Immigration and Passport Amendment Regulation of 2025, dated June 30th, will apply to applications received after next month. All applications received after this date will be subject to the revised fees officials stated in a public announcement. According to the amendment schedule, belonger status certificates will now cost $2,500 and resident status certificates will cost $1,500. Belonger and resident statuses previous free categories now cost $250. Other new fees include a $100 resident request conditional permit, $50 duplicate entry permit form, $100 for business visitor permit and $75 for work permit cards. The Immigration Appeal Board will now charge $850. Due to vessel and aircraft size, clearance services outside usual hours will cost more. Remote clearances will cost $2,000 for parties up to 10 people, with higher per passenger fees for larger groups. The British Virgin Islands has changed residency and belongership laws and discuss a residency by investment scheme as an income stream.

Speaker 2:

Next up a renowned chess grandmaster to visit 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 3, for the week of september 15. Later this month, dominica will host nigel short, a famous chess grandmaster. The Dominica Chess Federation announced his September 20-23, 2025 trip in a news release. Short, a world-renowned chess player, comes to Dominica to inspire local players and advance the game. He started his amazing career at age six when he played a simultaneous exhibition versus world champion Anatoly Karpov. According to the Dominica Chess Federation, he became Grandmaster in 1984 after winning the British Chess Championship an unusual achievement at that time. And here's her final note.

Speaker 2:

Grenadian-born author Jillian Joseph is excited to release her debut children's book, tyree and the Not-So-Green Monkeys, internationally on October 7, 2025. This lively picture book has fun, learning and adventure in a tropical setting that honors Caribbean storytelling for children ages 2 to 5. Tyree and a Not-So-Green Monkey follows young Tyree, a dedicated adventurer, searching for the green monkeys. Children discover sandy beaches, lush gardens and unexpected encounters, making every page a fun way to count, spot colors and learn. Joseph, who moved from Grenada to the United States at age 16, earned her master's degree, authored the book as a part of her Jillian Journal series, which encourages inquiry, cultural pride and study. Tyree and the Not-So-Green Monkey will be sold in print globally and in hardcover at wwwjillianjournalcom. That's G-I-L-L-I-A-N journal dot com.

Speaker 2:

This podcast has been brought to you by 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. Send news releases to news at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 3, for the week of September 15th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Curacao, massachusetts and Australia. Reading going out to our listeners in Curacao, massachusetts and Australia. 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.