Pulse of the Caribbean

#148 Caribbean News Roundup Episode 1 Week of December 15

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Regional news reveals: security pressures, economic pivots, and infrastructure bets that signal where the region is heading. Here’s a look at what’s making Caribbean headlines.

  • JetBlue flight and a U.S. military refueling tanker have near miss off the Venezuelan coast
  • Guyana and the US signed a military cooperation
  •  Venezuelan oil exports disrupted as US seize oil tanker off Venezuela coast
  • Antigua chairs CDCC with climate finance reform focus
  • UK commits to stronger crime response in Overseas Territories
  • Anguilla construction of it’s first superyacht marina underway
  • Dominican Republic cheese export demands grows in US, Mexico and Europe

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This podcast is brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yosvendike, British Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo, open daily for lunch and dinner, and your gateway to the bubbly pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. To reserve morings at Diamond Key, visit Botiball.com. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 1 for the week of December 15th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We saw a report in Curacao. Radio communications and flight monitoring data showed a passenger jet flight nearly colliding with a U.S. military aircraft near the Venezuelan coast on Friday, the Associated Press and New York Times reported. The event occurred amid a U.S. naval ship buildup in the Caribbean and U.S. President Donald Trump's statement about strikes on narco terrorists inside Venezuela. Between Curacao, an island off Venezuela's coast and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Jet Blue Flight 11-12 encountered a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker. The plane plummeted mid-flight 20 minutes after departure. We almost had a mid-air collision up there, the jet blue pilot said. They instantly crossed our flight pad. It's terrible that their transponder is off. On Sunday, JetBlue spokesperson said the airline reported the incident to authorities. Our next stop is Guyana. Guyana and the United States signed a military cooperation agreement. The two countries also signed a statement of intent to expand joint military cooperation with full respect for the sovereignty and laws of both countries, President Ifram Ali said after a meeting with the U.S. senior advisor to the Secretary of War, Patrick Weaver, and acting Assistant Secretary of War for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Joseph Humeyer. Ali called the treaty a defense and security relationship between Washington and its CARICOM allies. He said the United States government is launching the Southern Spear of Security, which involves developing a strategy for Western Hemisphere and investing more in CARICOM and the region, signaling their desire for more cooperation. He said the contract reinforces long-term training and collaboration under regimes like the Ship Rider Accord, which allows U.S. personnel to track, intercept, and board Guyanese drug ships. In response to whether the statement of intent will lead to a U.S. Guyana defense deal, President Ali replied, this is evolving. So the coming months there will be greater discussion on more levels of corporation and the integration of our work. President Ali reiterated Guyana's commitment to support peace, democracy, and the elimination of transnational crime in Guyana and the Caribbean with its international partners. Now on to Venezuela. Al Jazeera claimed that Venezuela's oil exports have fallen since the U.S. impounded an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast last week and placed fresh restrictions on shipping companies doing business with the Latin American nation. Al Jazeera's sources said oil tanker movements into and out of Venezuelan waterways had practically stopped after the U.S. said it will seize more boats as a part of its military pressure on Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro. The skipper tanker was the first U.S. interception of Venezuelan oil cargo since Washington sanctioned Caracas in 2019. It also coincides with the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean. According to Algiers sources, ships carrying 11 million barrels of oil and petrol are stranded in Venezuelan waters and afraid to move due to threats of future seizures. Reuters reported that only Chevron chartered tankers have left ports and proceeded into international waters carrying Venezuelan crude since the skippers' capture. Chevron can export oil from Venezuela to the U.S. through joint ventures with Petavista after U.S. government approval. Since the skippers' capture, Chevron has exported two cargoes of Venezuelan heavy crude to the United States without disruption and in full accordance with laws and regulations applicable, Chevron said. According to Algiers, Trump emphasized that the U.S. military will begin land strikes against Latin American drug traffickers as the skipper was transported to Houston, Texas on Friday to offload its petroleum cargo. In other news, Antigua and Barbuda is chairing the 31st session of the Caribbean Development and Corporation Committee for 2026 to 2028, a crucial moment for the nation as it leads the region's most pressing issues. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean established the Caribbean Development and Corporation Committee in 1975. The mandate was to promote regional economic and social development corporation. Today it advocates for Caribbean small island developing states, particularly issues including climate change, catastrophe resilience, sustainable financing, and South South Corporation. While in Trinidad for the formal handover, Antigua and Barbuda's permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Walter Webson said he plans to strengthen investment pipelines and reform Caribbean small island development states climate financing. He said the Caribbean Development and Corporation Committee under Antigua and Barbuda's leadership must continue to advocate for fairness, predictability, and resilience as pillars of a new financial architecture for island states. Ambassador Webson also thanked Trinidad and Tobago for their great leadership and dedication to Caribbean integration and development. Now on to the British Virgin Islands. At the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in London from November 24 to 27, the UK vowed to cooperate more closely with its territories to combat rising crime. After the Joint Ministerial Council, the UK pledged to work decisively with all territories affected by rising crime to uphold our responsibility to protect their people and to strengthen security and justice across the UK family. The UK said the challenge required holistic and multi-agency solutions through coordinated defense and operational support and reform across the security and criminal justice sectors. Regional corporation, an action which also addresses core societal problems and includes appropriate safeguarding measures. Leaders in the British Virgin Islands have repeatedly called for increased UK support as the BVI police have documented a spike in shootings, armed robberies, and gang-related occurrences. In the last two years, there have been many homicides, firearms seizures, and security requests for more resources and intelligence. The Communique stated that the UK would support security and judicial systems and promote regional collaborations. Ministers finished a discussion by saying the overseas territories are vital members of our global British family and that the alliance will evolve as both sides address common issues. Next up, construction advancing for Anguilla's first superyacht marina after this. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 1 for the week of December 15th. Port Nimara, Anguilla's first dedicated super yacht marina, is nearing completion and is expected to open in the first half of 2027. Basing evacuations and maritime infrastructure manufacturing are proceeding as the project grows from groundbreaking to completion. The Southwest Shore development in Anguilla between Belmont Cap, Joluca, and Alta Mere near Maudy's Bay began building in December 2023. Omega Yacht Marina anchors a mixed-use waterfront with hotel, residential, and retail amenities in the master plan. The marina basin is being excavated by Swedish maritime engineering firm SF Marina to make floating concrete pontoons for strong weather and super yacht loads. Consigli. Consigli construction and local subcontractors are building the marina. Phase one of Port Namara will have 118 spaces for yachts up to 240 plus feet and an on-site custom and immigration facilities. The plan includes a five-star hotel, 18 beach front villas, and 45 hillside houses to create a yachting hub and luxury resort. After the marina opens, the hotel and beachside villas will follow. And here's our final note. In 2025, according to Pro Dominica Reports. And here's our final note. Europe, the United States, Mexico are promising markets for the cheese market from the Dominican Republic. In 2025, according to Pro Dominica Reports. And here's our final note. Europe, the United States, and Mexico are promising markets for cheese from the Dominican Republic. In 2025, according to Pro Dominican records, the country exported$2.3 million worth of cheese, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.3%. Ten data reports collected by Pro Dominica's trade alerts indicate that the international cheese market continues to expand, driven by more s driven by more specialized consumption and the growing demand in high purchasing power destinations. It explains that this dynamicism positions cheese among the dairy products with the most significant global commercial traction. The Dominican diaspora has greatly increased sales as well, with a 21% increase and imported value of 1,132 million US dollars. Mexico was the country with the most opportunities for the Dominican Republic producers in 2024, with a more sophisticated demand for premium dairy products. And Greece also advanced by 10%. The Dominican Republic already has a presence in the United States cheese market, which opens up new opportunities to continue strengthening exports to this end. Other key markets such as Mexico, the Netherlands, and Greece were. And in other key markets such as Mexico, Netherlands, and Greece, where demand continues to increase. This podcast has been brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yosvendike, British Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo, open daily for lunch and dinner, and your gateway to the bubbly pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. To reserve moorings at Diamond Key, visit Boatyball.com. Have news and information you'd like to share with us, send news releases to news at pulsofthecaribbean.com. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode one for the week of December 15th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, California, Florida, Canada, and the UK. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

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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.