Caribbean News

Mutant Mosquitoes could be ally vs Zika

Published

8 years ago

July 26, 2016

The government is considering introducing genetically altered mosquitoes to help contain the population of the type of mosquito responsible for Dengue Fever, Chik-V and Zika.

On Saturday night, the nation was informed by media release from the Ministry of Health that we are now among the countries recording the Zika Virus. During House of Assembly session on Monday, the Premier identified the situation as alarming and called for calm and confirmed that the TCI is considering mutant mosquitoes to help contain the Aedes Egypti female mosquito.

Premier Rufus Ewing: “…already engaged companies involved in the manufacture of genetically modified mosquito, and while all of the studies seems to be fine with it there is much resistance to this and actually this is subject to a judicial review in one of our overseas territories, Hon. Dr. Ewing continued: “If this goes well and good, this is something that we may have to consider using in the future and we will have to sensitize the public about it.”

Five residents, three cases contracted during travel to other countries account for the confirmed cases of the scary mosquito borne Zika Virus, which has the entire world on edge. Health Minister, Premier Rufus Ewing said the other two confirmed reports are being investigated to find out how they came to be.

“It is still yet to be cleared as to whether there is significant travel linkage or whether or not there is any associated sexual transmission of those cases that can be linked to travel or individuals who would have travelled and had sexual contact.”

The Ministry of Health has still not explained why it was after five cases that the country learned that there is Zika virus here, nor have we been informed, as is commonly being done elsewhere, where the Zika is believed to have originated in the imported cases, nor do we know if there are any other suspected cases awaiting results.

What we did learn is that the individuals with suspected Zika were being monitored and that the cases did not just pop up on Saturday.

“I would like to say that yes, these five cases did not just pop up on Saturday. A number of these cases are some that were once in time suspected and before we even communicate anything as it relates to suspected cases, we had to confirm, because we have to be true that we are confirming. We had to also go further and find out in addition to whether or not they are imported cases versus in country transmission. So lots of work has been going on behind the scenes,” said Premier Rufus Ewing.

Caribbean News

Barbados recognizes Palestine as sovereign

Published

23 hours 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

23 hours 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/.