Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Prime Minister wants Spanish to be second language
Montego Bay, October 20, 2018 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says it is of strategic importance that the appropriate programmes be put in place, making Spanish a second language in Jamaica.
Delivering the keynote address at the official opening of the Excellence Oyster Bay Hotel in Trelawny on October 18, Mr. Holness said there are so many Spanish investments in Jamaica, that “bilateral cooperation” with that country could be even stronger by encouraging greater use of the Spanish language here.
The Prime Minister reminded that Jamaica and Spain have enjoyed a successful, meaningful and mutually beneficial relationship for many years, dating back centuries. He said bilateral cooperation between the two countries has never been better, having strengthened over the past decade to where Spain is now one of the leading sources of direct foreign investments in Jamaica.
“With so much investment from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in the region, I think very soon we will have to emphasize and put in place programmes that make Spanish a second language,” Mr. Holness added.
The Prime Minister said it has not gone unnoticed the interest being shown in Jamaica’s tourism by Spanish investors, adding that the Government will do everything to “encourage even more investments”.
“We do take note of the Spanish investment of US$1.7 billion in Jamaica’s tourism industry. This is evident in the 14 hotels, wellness centres and construction projects undertaken by Spanish companies across the island,” he noted.
Mr. Holness also pointed out that 25 per cent of the rooms that are built in Jamaica are the product of Spanish investments, and cited the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the two countries back in May in Madrid, Spain, to facilitate the strengthening of bilateral, regional and multilateral relations to include areas of trade and investment, tourism, energy, agriculture and education.
For his part, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Excellence Group, Luxury Hotels and Resorts, Antonio de Montaner, said the opening of the US$110-million property is not only a win for the Group, but also for Jamaica.
“The Excellence Oyster Bay signifies our true commitment to Jamaica. Throughout this whole process, we worked with 350 local suppliers, who provided an astounding total of US$70 million worth of goods and services. Additionally, we created over 1,500 jobs for Jamaicans during the 
construction phase and a further 700 new jobs in connection to the daily operation of the resort,” he noted.
The CEO said he is grateful for the support the company received, both at the local and national levels.
“The Excellence Group will be building on our investment in Jamaica where, in the immediate future, through the development of the second phase of Excellence Oyster Bay, we should soon be seeing some impressive beach villas with private pools,” he said.
The Excellence Group is a family-owned and operated resort chain, specialising in hotel management and worldwide real estate development, with a primary presence in the Caribbean.
Situated on the private peninsula of Oyster Bay, the resort offers an adult-only all-inclusive experience to a select high-end clientele. It features 315 suites, inclusive of 800 square ft. junior suites and 2,000 square ft. upper suites, with panoramic ocean views and direct beach access.
Release: JIS
Contact: Garwin Davis
Photo Caption: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, gives the keynote address at the official opening of the Excellence Oyster Bay Hotel in Trelawny, on October 18.
Garwin Davis photos
MORANT BAY, Jamaica, October 6, 2024 – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says that a long-term approach to dealing with coffee farm roads must be taken, to propel the nation’s coffee farmers by granting easier access to their farms.
“What I have said to the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) team [is that] we have to take the coffee road programme out of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) farm road programme, because the small fixes, they help, but we
need some big fixes,” said Mr. Green, at the handover of fertilisers and herbicides to coffee farmers in the Buff Bay Valley area of Portland, recently.
He explained that for the short-term approach using resources already available, at least six roads in the coffee belt will be dealt with every year. In this financial year, this will include roads such as Wakefield to Mahoe and Bangor Ridge to Mahoe in Portland, as well as others in St. Thomas and parts of St. Andrew.
Mr. Green pointed out that he has asked JACRA to work with the National Works Agency and do a comprehensive assessment of how much money it is going to cost to fix the coffee roads once and for all.
“Because one of the things that we know, if we are able to fix access to the farms, you will produce more. And if you produce more, the country will make more money from coffee. So, the reality is that the investment in coffee will pay back for itself. So, we have to fix the infrastructure,” the Minister emphasised.
CONTACT: MICKELLA ANDERSON-GORDON
JIS REGIONAL OFFICE
MORANT BAY
Caribbean News
Turks and Caicos Islands Ranked in Top Ten Caribbean Islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (October 3rd, 2024) –The Turks and Caicos Islands has been voted among the Top Ten Islands in the Caribbean and The Atlantic in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024.
The Turks and Caicos Islands was ranked seventh in the Caribbean according to the votes.
The results of the voting were announced on October 1st, 2024.
A staggering 575,048 people voted in the annual Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards, rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they enjoyed and recommend to others.
The Readers’ Choice Awards, with its unparalleled legacy as the travel industry’s longest-running and most prestigious accolades, remain the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector.
“We are honoured once again to be recognised as a top island within Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards,” said Hon. Josephine
Connolly, Minister of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The Turks and Caicos Islands remain a staple on this prestigious list which speaks to the quality experiences our visitors enjoy. These votes are determined by them which makes it all the more special.”
Experience Turks and Caicos congratulates our hotel partners who have also been voted among the Top Resorts in the Bahamas, Bermuda and The Atlantic:
- Sailrock – #2
- Beach Enclave – #3
- Amanyara – #3
- Ambergris Cay – #9
- Seven Stars Resort – #10
- Wymara Resort and Villas – #11
- Como Parrot Cay – #14
This honour is the latest among the accolades that the Turks and Caicos Islands has received in 2024 such as:
- TripAdvisor Best of the Best Reader’s Choice Awards: Grace Bay, #1 Beach in the Caribbean and Best of the Best for 2024, # 5 among the Top 25 Best of the Best Beaches in the world.
- USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards – Best Caribbean Beaches: #2 Bambarra Beach, #9 Grace Bay Beach
- World’s 50 Best Beaches: Grace Bay #1 in the Caribbean, #25 in the world
- World Travel Awards: Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination, Caribbean’s Leading Romance Destination
- World MICE Awards: Caribbean’s Best Incentive Destination (Providenciales)
The 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at https://www.cntraveler.com/story/top-islands-readers-choice-awards-2020
Caribbean News
Sandals Foundation and interCaribbean Airways Join Forces for International Coastal Cleanup Day
MEDIA RELEASE
TURKS AND CAICOS – In a significant effort to protect coastal ecosystems, the Sandals Foundation and interCaribbean Airways are teaming up for International Coastal Cleanup Day to host a major beach cleanup in Turks and Caicos. This collaborative initiative will bring together a total of 100 volunteers—50 from each organization and other resorts —working side by side to remove trash and debris from Grace Bay Beach, one of the island’s most iconic shorelines, helping to safeguard its pristine beauty and marine life.
On September 21st, volunteers will converge on Grace Bay Beach, to collect, record, and properly dispose of solid waste along the coast –
helping to protect the vital habitat for marine life in the surrounding area.
“Turks and Caicos boasts some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world, but the real difference comes from fostering a deeper connection with these environments,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. “It’s not just about cleaning up today—it’s about educating communities, schools, and visitors on reducing waste and understanding their role in preserving these precious ecosystems for the future. We are excited to partner with interCaribbean Airways to promote environmental stewardship and long-term protection of our coastal areas.”
Trevor Sadler, CEO, at interCaribbean Airways, echoed the sentiment: “As environmental stewards, our commitment must go beyond surface-level efforts. By working alongside the Sandals Foundation, we’re engaging the community in meaningful ways that inspire action and awareness. Together, we’re helping to safeguard the delicate ecosystems that make the Turks and Caicos such a unique and beautiful destination, ensuring its preservation for future generations.”
Across the Caribbean, the Sandals Foundation has mobilized team members in all nine islands in which it operates implementing coastal cleanup activities in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, Curacao, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Header: Over 400 Sandals Foundation volunteers across Jamaica, Grenada, Curaçao, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Antigua, and Saint Lucia cleared more than 600 pounds of garbage from the region’s coasts during last year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Insert: A look back at last year’s efforts, where Sandals Foundation ambassadors united to clean up shores and protect marine life.
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