Pulse of the Caribbean

#139 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of November 10

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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From disaster response to long-term transformation, here are some of the stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • Regional and International  efforts continue to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Recovery 
  • Business Leaders In Jamaica Encouraged to Resume Operations
  • Guyana To Increase Forest Carbon Sales 
  • Amazon Bazaar App Launched in the Dominican Republic 
  • Flow and the Government of Grenada Renew JUMP Program to Increase Digital Access 
  • British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands Gear Up for UBER SOCA Cruise 
  • St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J Pierre Set General Election Date for St. Lucia in December

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SPEAKER_02:

This podcast is brought to you by The Tuck Shop, located in downtown St. Thomas, featuring the best of local island cuisine like no other, and Diamond Key Marina, Yostvendike, British Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's taboo and gateway to the bubbly pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. To reserve morings at Diamond Key, visit Botieball.com! Welcome to the pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 1 for the week of November 10th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start a report in Jamaica. Jamaica suffered major infrastructure, agriculture, and housing damage from Hurricane Melissa on October 28th. Regional and global recovery efforts continue. From Florida, Caribbean Strong and Global Empowerment Mission have been transporting vital supplies to hurricane ravaged Western Jamaica through coordinated relief operations with Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the NCB Foundation, and the American Friends of Jamaica, among others. In an interview with Jamaica Information System, Marlon Hill, Caribbean Strong's main mobilizer and Southern Florida attorney at law, said since Hurricane Melissa hit, 1,296 pallets containing approximately 4 million in relief materials, and over 850 volunteers have been sent to Jamaica, according to Mr. Hill. From Trinidad and Tobago, the Guardian Group Charitable Foundation has contributed$312,000 to help Jamaica rebuild after Hurricane Melissa. Guardian Group reported that the donation is one of Trinidad and Tobago's greatest single contributions to Jamaica's recovery drive. From the Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinadir ordered humanitarian relief delivery to Jamaica and Cuba under Operation Caribbean Solidarity, which the Dominican Republic government has completed. The Dominican Republic government's Air Force and Navy ships and planes delivered food, medicine, mattresses, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, and other necessities to local authorities in boat nations to be given to the most impacted communities. On the ground in Jamaica, Montego Bay St. James business leaders are encouraged to resume operations gradually. A stage reopening lets companies reestablish supply chain, workforce, and customer confidence without overspending. Jason Russell, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the owner of Pier 1 restaurant said, it doesn't have to be a perfect situation, but try to get those doors back open. Repairing commerce and putting workers back to work is a crucial first step to recovery. We must open enterprises. We must be confident and resilient, Mr. Russell said in the interview with the Jamaica Information System. Now on to Guyana. Guyana will increase forest carbon sales by promoting nature-based climate change solutions. In a COP30 interview in Bellum, Brazil, Guyana's president, Dr. Ifram Ali said, hopefully we will be able to announce before the end of this year some more agreements on forest carbon and to have more partners aligned with us. In Bell and Pará Brazil, COP30 will be the first global climate change summit in the Amazon region, which includes Guyana. Guyana has 86% tropical forests and the second highest forest cover on earth, and negligible deforestation. Forest traps over 153 million tons of carbon and hold 19.5 gigatons. Norway bought Guyana's forest carbon for 227 million under then President Baharat Jagdio in 2009 as a sustainable development strategy. Guyana's low carbon development strategy covered this agreement. It is a global initiative that seeks to incentivize governments to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, as well as restore forests and protect intact forests. Last year, Guyana sold credits to 20 airlines through the International Air Transport Association Corporation and to Apple Inc., which President Ali said illustrate the country's systems integrity and reputation to the world's most demanding buyers. President Ali said last Monday that 2025 carbon credit sales would earn about 200 million US dollars, raising the total to 400 million US dollars over three years under the amended low carbon development strategy 2030. Our next stop is the Dominican Republic. Amazon launched the Amazon Bazaar app in the Dominican Republic on Friday, November 7th, offering hundreds of thousands of ultra-low price fashion, home, and lifestyle products, following the positive response seen from customers who shop on Amazon Hall in the US, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Australia. And on Amazon Bazaar in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Amazon is expanding the popular shopping experience to more people worldwide. Amazon Bazaar is a new standalone shopping app offered in the Dominican Republic and 14 other countries, including Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Nigeria. Amazon Bazaar, part of Amazon Hall, offers a huge assortment of low-cost products. Shoppers can reach bilingual customer service representatives 24-7. Next, we head to Grenada. A corporative initiative to transform lives through technology will provide affordable and dependable connectivity, free digital literacy training, and free computers to 1,500 households in Grenada, Katacou, and Petite Martinique. Flo and the government of Grenada have renewed their Jump Program Corporation to increase digital access for marginalized communities and empower every Grenadian to engage in today's connected world. Friday's signing ceremony at the Grenada Trade Center Annex began a new two-year program phase. Flow country manager Lincoln Batisse and Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell signed the agreement. Founded in 2023 to bridge the digital divide, Jump has helped 652 families get affordable home internet and digital literacy training. Liberty Caribbean Foundation, Mona School of Business and Management, and one-on-one educational services provide specialized digital instruction through the curriculum. Over 154 families have enrolled and 106 courses finished. The combined goal is to enroll 1,500 homes in reliable home internet for$20 per month, free digital training skills, and free laptops for eligible families to support education and employment over the next two years. Next up, the British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands gear up for Uba Soka Cruise economic activity after this. Experience the best of the island flavor at the Tug Shop, located downtown St. Thomas, where every Sunday features a local all-you-can-eat brunch buffet that captures the true taste of the Virgin Islands. Call 340-779-9900 to reserve your table today. And treat yourself to a Sunday brunch experience like no other. Local entertainers, musicians, and vendors will line the port front, turning downtown St. Thomas into a Virgin Islands-inspired festival of sights, sounds, and sensations. The festival is projected to boost the economy, aiding local vendors, artists, and small companies and bolster the Virgin Islands' cultural status in the Caribbean. And here's our final note. On November 9th, St. Lucia's Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, proclaimed Monday, December 1st, 2025 as General Election Day for St. Lucia. He also designated November 21st, 2025 as nomination day. The Prime Minister stated that he advised the Governor General to dissolve the Parliament today, Monday, November 10, 2025. Prime Minister Pierre, who led the St. Lucia Labor Party to a 13-4 victory in July 2021, general election, made the announcement on national radio and television. This podcast has been brought to you by The Talk Shop, located in downtown St. Thomas, featuring the best of local island cuisine like no other, and Diamond Key Marina, Yasvindike, British Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. To reserve moorings at Diamond Key, visit Bolte Ball.com. This has been your pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode one for the week of November 10th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Bonaire, Curacao, Massachusetts, New York, Canada, and Costa Rica. 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_00:

For more Caribbean news stories and information, visit us online at pulsofthecaribbean.com. 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.