#177 Caribbean News Round Up Week of April 20

We bring you the week’s biggest Caribbean headlines, from new tourism routes and cruise expansion to major investments, climate resilience, and regional security. We also spotlight standout sports achievements and a community awards program that recognizes people doing the work without the spotlight on today’s Pulse of the Caribbean Podcast for the week of April 20, 2026. Here are today’s headlines.

• UAE to Antigua route in the works for 2027
• Disney Cruise Line expands to the Dominican Republic 
• Dominican Republic exports show significant growth in 2026 led by raw gold shipments 
• Ghana and U.S. Virgin Islands resume talks focused on infrastructure, housing, energy and financial services
• St Kitts and Nevis selected to host the African Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2026
• Central Bank of Barbados goes paperless by end of 2026 
• Rock Island Financial Management Ltd $180M North Andros investment spans aeroponic farming, solar power and biotech research
• Guyana’s President urges Latin America and Caribbean collaboration on  food security 
• Guyana begins bamboo planting restoration effort backed by Euroclima 
• Central Caribbean Marine Institute  reports early coral reef recovery signs in Little Cayman after bleaching
• Chad deploys security mission to  support Haiti’s stabilization goals
• US Virgin Islands Aliyah Boston breaks WNBA contract record extension
• British Virgin Islands Adaejah Hodge breaks track record
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Caribbean accepting nominations for Unsung Heroes program 

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Transcript

Welcome And Listener Shoutouts

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup for the week of April 20th. Here's a special greeting to our listeners in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Canada, the UK, across the United States, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Australia, and Japan. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share a podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. UAE

Gulf To Caribbean Travel Push

SPEAKER_02 1:23

passengers and investors would save four to twelve hours by taking direct routes instead of the multi-leg journeys through European or North American centers like London, Paris, New York, or Toronto. A nonstop UAE to Antigua flight would make the Caribbean more accessible for Gulf passengers. Less than 30,000 Gulf tourists visit the Caribbean annually, a fraction of demand.

Disney Cruise Line In Puerto Plata

SPEAKER_02 2:21

Disney ships were confirmed to dock at the Taino Bay Cruise Port in Puerto Plata, a rapidly rising northern destination in the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado said Disney Cruise Line's entrance will boost a country's Caribbean cruise destination status and attract high-spending international guests. Disney is intended to boost economic growth, visitor numbers, and sustainable tourism development.

Export Surge And Investment Priorities

SPEAKER_02 3:29

Shipments of raw gold rose 78.2% with 110.8 million, the largest export value with growth in other areas, including medical gadgets, circuit breakers, and tobacco exports. Exports were valued at $731.3 million for the United States, the top trading partner, followed by Canada with exports up 150% due to gold shipments, and 36.4% for Haiti. China and Puerto Rico round up the top five. Foreign direct investments in 2025 was highest in tourism, energy, and real estate, with mining and industrial diversifying.

USVI And West Africa Deal Talks

SPEAKER_02 4:56

Government leaders, private sector representatives, and innovators from West Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands met this week to move beyond discussions and towards formal agreements and practical next steps. According to the U.S. Virgin Islands EDA, CEO Wayne Biggs Jr., digital infrastructure, affordable housing, energy security, construction, labor mobility, tourism and cultural heritage, banking and financial services, and cultural exchange are being discussed. Now

St Kitts Hosts Africa Caribbean Forum

SPEAKER_02 5:30

on to Sinkitts and Nevis. African Export Import Bank and the government of Sinkitts and Nevis will hold the fifth African Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2026, increasing economic relations between Africa and the Caribbean. Key players from both regions plan to attend the forum from July 29 to 31st, 2026, at the Sink Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, Casino, and Spa in Bastier. Strengthening African ties, trade relations, and economic development was emphasized by the signing. African Export Import Bank president and chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. George Alumbi stated that the meeting will strengthen Africa-Caribbean connections. In order to promote shared economic progress, African Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2026 will choose and execute priority projects. Dr. Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of Sinkitz and Nevis, called the deal a huge opportunity for the Federation of Sinkits and Nevis. Conference panels will explore regional commerce, investment, and Africa-Caribbean collaborations over three days. Political leaders, business people, development financing institutions, entrepreneurs, and diaspora will attend. Next,

Barbados Central Bank Goes Paperless

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we head to Barbados. From December 21st, 2026, the Central Bank of Barbados will go paperless, saving more than $70,000 in printing costs. The Central Bank Governor, Dr. Kevin Greenwich, announced the news during the Barbados Association Administrative Professional Convention at the Lloyd Irkskin Sandy Ford Center on Wednesday. A package of digital tools to replace paper-based systems is helping make the switch. Documents, uploading, editing, and real-time collaboration platforms are examples. Staff buy-in and training have gotten the bank 70% of the way to full implementation. Provisions are also being made for non-digital users to ensure no one is left behind. The bank distributed over 200 iPads to the Barbados Association of Retired Persons for Digital Literacy Programs. The bank has reinforced its cybersecurity framework, including a specialized section to detect and address risk. Rock

Bahamas Bets Big On North Andros

SPEAKER_02 8:21

Island Financial Management Limited, a financing project management and consulting firm, announced a $180 million investment in North Andros of the Bahamas to address national health, farming, and energy issues through agricultural renewable energy and biotechnology initiatives. Rock Island financial CEO and chairman Preston Drumman announced the efforts at the community event at Coral Harbor Community Park over last weekend. The investment would comprise a pipeline of modern farming, renewable energy, and health innovations, Drummond said. The statement said Rock Island financial and modern routes would lead a $50 million agricultural development in North Andros with development of a 2,000 tower aeropronic farming system to overcome arable land and climate constraints, increasing local food production capacity. The project features a state-of-the-art food processing and coal storage facility with freeze drying, dehydration bottling, and packaging capabilities, expanding value-added Bahamian product exports. Complementing this is a proposed $50 million solar energy field in North Andros, a battery storage scheme for homes and businesses, and a new Providence home farming network that uses tower systems to raise produce. The statement also said the facility will include a training and education center where Bahamians may learn modern agricultural skills and financial support for at-home growers. The development will include a $80 million plant-based science nutrition and human health biotechnology facility led by scientists, wellness advocate, and author, Dr. Annabelle Manolo Morgan, to research cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and wellness technologies.

Guyana Warns On Food Security Risks

SPEAKER_02 10:33

In news from Guyana, Guyana's president, Dr. Ifram Ali, is urging Latin American and Caribbean stakeholders to collaborate and produce more of what the region consumes to protect against global shocks. On Wednesday, the Guyanese leader gave the feature address at the 52nd ordinary meeting of the South American Commission to fight against foot and mount disease in Georgetown, highlighting how geopolitical events like the Middle East War affect Latin America and Caribbean food security. The Latin America and Caribbean region, a foot and mount disease free zone, has 590 million susceptible animals, including 390 million cattle, 190 million sheep and goats, and 80 million pigs, managed by nearly 5 million farmers and producing over 16.5 million metric tons of beef in 2024. President Ali warns that since single breakouts of the disease may disrupt food security, rural livelihoods, and trade throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He said that being vigilant is vital, but not enough. Euroclima

Bamboo Planting And Climate Resilience

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funds the effort, which will be conducted with technical assistance from Expertise France and the International Bamboo and Rattan organization. Almost 500 bamboo plants were planted on Wednesday, Earth Day in Komoka, Region 10. This exercise will be repeated nationwide throughout Guyana.

Cayman Reefs Show Early Recovery

SPEAKER_02 14:07

In other news from the Cayman Islands, Central Caribbean Marine Institute reported in its annual reef assessment that little Cayman coral reefs that were bleached three years ago are exhibiting early indications of regeneration. One of the largest global coral bleaching episodes occurred in 2023, the hottest summer on record. The 2023 maritime heat wave reduced over 9.8% from 26%. Central Caribbean Marine Institute scientists reported an early improvement in coral cover from 9.8% to 13.4% as the Cayman Islands entered another Earth Day with its terrestrial and marine ecology still under threat. Marine life experts say the increase is a sign of little Cayman's recovery. Coral cover increased early and some places recovered, but little Cayman reefs remain varied. Along with robust fish populations in 2024 and 2025, this suggests optimism, hope, and environmental resilience.

Haiti Security Support Expands

SPEAKER_02 15:42

In an international effort to help Haiti fight armed gangs, Chad sent one thousand five hundred security officers to Haiti on Monday. The declaration came during a special parliament session. Chad's president, Mahamat Iris Debi Itnu, voiced commitment to international stability in a statement to parliamentarians read by the National Assembly president. The 12-month deployment begins in April to assist Haitian authorities. The UN-backed gang suppression force strives to stabilize the Caribbean nation. He said the meeting between the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Haitian Prime Minister Alex Didier Phil's Amy in Washington showed fresh international support for Haiti's institutional rehabilitation. Longcham told Revista Prisma that Haiti's stabilization efforts should focus on security institutions and electoral procedures, as well as job creation for long-term economic growth. Security support forces might improve territorial control in Haiti and progressively reduce migration flows to the Dominican Republic, he added. Apply online at five islands.com. Engage in networking and advertising with the Pulse of the Caribbean. Three-time

Regional Sports Wins And Records

SPEAKER_02 19:05

WNBA All-Star Aliah Boston of the U.S. Virgin Islands signed a four-year $6.3 million contract extension with the Indiana Fever, the league's highest salary. She'll earn $1 million in 2026 and 20% of the salary cap through 2029. The Fever and Boston announced the four-year contract extension using the league's new exceptional performance on initial contract provision in the current collective bargaining agreement. I'm super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the fever. God is good, Boston said in a statement shared by the fever. In other sporting news from the British Virgin Islands, after breaking the woman's 100-meter national record at the Tom Jones Memorial in the U.S. over the weekend, British Virgin Islands sprinter Adeja Hodge was awarded Southeastern Conference Woman's Runner of the Week for the third straight week. The University of Georgia's Hodge won the event in a 10.77 second with a 1.7 tail win, breaking the BVI national and school records. They set a 2026 world leading time and placed her second on the all-time collegiate chart. Here's

Unsung Heroes Awards And How To Apply

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our final note. For the second year, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Caribbean is searching for unsung heroes across its 10 member region and doubled the prize money for the regional winner and runner-ups. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Caribbean Unsung Heroes Program, revived after a 10-year hiatus, received 39 nominations from various community outreach and service areas in 2025. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Caribbean Unsung Heroes Program welcomes individuals age 10 and above who have made a major impact in their communities without recognition or award. Nominations can be without recognition. Nominations can be made for excellent community work or acts of heroism, bravery, extraordinary compassion within the twelve month prior to the campaign. Nominations are accepted from April to July 2026. The top three regional winners, the unsung Hero and Two Runner Ups plus their guests will receive rewards during a special awards event in Barbados in September. Visit CBICCaribbean.com to learn more about the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Caribbean unsung heroes and how to nominate them.

Share Tips And Subscribe

SPEAKER_02 22:22

Have news and information you'd like to share with us. Send news releases to news at pulso of the Caribbean.com. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean news roundup for the week of April 20th. Check us out online at pulsofhecaribbean.com and follow us on social media. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

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.