Caribbean News

T&T Mayor gets key to St. Ann’s

Published

7 years ago

August 15, 2017

Jamaica, August 15, 2017 – Montego Bay – Chairman of the Mayaro Rio Claro Regional Corporation in Trinidad and Tobago, Mayor Glen Ram, was on August 11 bestowed with the Key to St. Ann’s Bay, the capital town of St. Ann. Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Michael Belnavis, made the presentation following a special meeting at the St. Ann Municipal Corporation.

He said the “Key is a symbol of the friendship we have formed and also a token of the wonderful hospitality we are known for here in the ‘Garden Parish’ of St. Ann”.

Mayor Belnavis said the Corporation is looking forward to working with local government colleagues in the twin-island republic “to do some wonderful things”.

“I can see us doing some twinning as it relates to St. Ann and our rich history. We will certainly explore the areas of interest… on things that will be beneficial to us and also the people of Trinidad and Tobago. In this era of strong Caribbean integration, cooperation on all fronts is extremely necessary,” he pointed out.

While in St. Ann, Mayor Ram visited the statue of National Hero Marcus Garvey and the St. Ann’s Bay Library, and toured the Mystic Mountain attraction, among other activities.

The Mayor arrived in the island on August 9 for a five-day visit as guest of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development to observe the country’s local government reform processes.

He met with Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, the mayors of Kingston and St. Ann’s Bay and representatives of the Social Development Commission (SDC). He also visited the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

“That is a very professional and efficient organisation. It was a wonderful visit and one that showed me how well Jamaica is prepared to handle natural disasters,” he said.

Mayor Ram had high praises for the Ministry, which he described as “wonderful hosts”. He said that there are many similarities between Jamaica and Trinidad, noting that they are “probably the leaders as it relates to local government”.

He contended that the countries could pave the way for the creation of a Caribbean Local Government Association. “This, I believe, would be very effective and could play a valuable role in the region where local governance is concerned,” Mayor Ram said.

Caribbean News

Barbados recognizes Palestine as sovereign

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Barbados has made a huge diplomatic move, recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state, as announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kerrie Symmonds, according to a report from CBC News Barbados on Saturday April 20. This now aligns Barbados with other UN Member states which also recognise Palestine.

Caribbean News

Haiti death toll rises

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Haiti’s death toll is now up 53 percent with more than 2,500 people killed from January through March 2024, compared to the same time last year. This was reported by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), on Friday April 19. The organization expressed that gangs have changed their tactics, now targeting public institutions and important infrastructure such as the main Airport. Most of the violence is reportedly in the Capital Port Au Prince.

Caribbean News

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Shanieka

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) –April 11, 2024—The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Assistant Commissioner Alani Henneman, and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington, traveled to Miami, Florida, to support Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and other local partners agencies for the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference.

To kick off the week-long event, the Department of Tourism sponsored the highly anticipated Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) barbecue, which was hosted by Governor Bryan.

Revered as a steady leader in the Caribbean tourism industry, the USVI delegation, which also included the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company Limited, Magens Bay Authority, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System, showcased the territory and its growing accessibility around the cruise industry to key operators and businesses.

“Cruise has been and continues to be a leading entryway for visitors into the territory, and Seatrade allows representatives from the USVI to interface with and share pertinent updates needed to continue fostering positive relationships throughout the industry,” explains Commissioner Boschulte.

Commissioner Boschulte was featured on the Caribbean Spotlight panel moderated by renowned industry leader and FCCA CEO Michelle Paige, who referenced the Commissioner being named the 2023 Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal and shared how exceptional the publication’s acknowledgment of his accolades are. Paige referenced Caribbean Journal’s spotlight paragraph reading, “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth in the last three years than the U.S. Virgin Islands, which kicked off a full-fledged tourism renaissance just after the onset of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back. And so much of that growth can be directly tied to the expert stewardship of Boschulte, who helped craft an innovative, flexible response to the challenges of the pandemic and has continued to drive the USVI’s performance with a data-driven, creative approach to modern tourism.”

Commissioner Boschulte and Deputy Commissioner Farrington joined Governor Bryan for meetings with leading cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Corporation & plc, amongst others, to discuss continued partnerships, expansion opportunities, and industry updates.

As the global cruise industry continues to restabilize following challenges incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Thomas and St. Croix experienced a 13% growth in 2023 over 2019, with West Indian Company Dock, Crown Bay Dock, and E. Abramson Marine Facility welcoming more than 1,600,000 passengers from 495 total calls for the year. With a 58% year-over-year passenger increase from 2022 to 2023, the USVI continues to grow and is projected to experience another 5% increase in cruise passenger arrivals in 2024.

Commissioner Boschulte also highlighted the remarkable success of the USVI and Caribbean region, stating, “I am proud to see the Caribbean’s appeal continue to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”

For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.