Deandrea Hamilton  (Editor)

The Bahamas, May 9, 2025 – Prime Minister Philip Davis returned from Washington, D.C. this week following high-level meetings with U.S. officials, where security, economic cooperation, and regional development topped the agenda. Accompanied by fellow CARICOM leaders, Davis met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss shared priorities and forge stronger bilateral and regional ties.

At the forefront of the discussions with Secretary Rubio was a call for enhanced security collaboration. Prime Minister Davis emphasized that The Bahamas continues to suffer from the impact of illegal firearms, most of which originate outside the country. He called for greater U.S. action to curb weapons trafficking, underlining the toll such violence is taking on Bahamian communities. In response, the U.S. pledged deeper intelligence-sharing, expanded regional cooperation, and support for programs such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT).

Illegal migration and drug trafficking were also addressed as regional threats requiring urgent attention. Davis welcomed the shared commitment to tackle these challenges through coordinated enforcement and better regulation of cross-border movement.

The Prime Minister also brought attention to the economic vulnerabilities of small island states, specifically in relation to rising food costs, workforce shortages, and global trade dynamics. In healthcare, he raised concerns over the exodus of Bahamian nurses to higher-paying jobs abroad, straining the country’s healthcare system. Davis called for coordinated efforts between the U.S. and The Bahamas to address this brain drain, a concern that U.S. officials acknowledged, expressing openness to further dialogue and solutions.

Another pressing issue was the controversial use of Cuban medical missions. The U.S. raised concerns about forced labor, while Prime Minister Davis assured that his administration is reviewing existing agreements and remains committed to labor rights and lawful standards.

With hurricane season approaching, Secretary Rubio announced the reactivation of two disaster preparedness programs to improve early warning systems and emergency response throughout the region—initiatives welcomed by the Prime Minister as essential for climate resilience.

In his separate meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Prime Minister Davis pivoted to economic policy and financial services. He reiterated The Bahamas’ commitment to robust financial sector reforms, having passed key legislation and strengthened regulatory oversight. Davis argued that despite The Bahamas’ compliance with international standards, it still faces the negative effects of global blacklisting and de-risking—practices that disproportionately harm small nations with limited global influence.

He urged U.S. authorities to use their position to push for fairer applications of global financial rules, emphasizing that The Bahamas and the U.S. share the same goals of stopping illicit finance and promoting integrity. Secretary Bessent signaled a willingness to explore balanced solutions to mitigate de-risking, and recognized The Bahamas’ efforts as a credible financial partner.

The conversation also touched on digital assets, where The Bahamas has emerged as a leader in regulatory innovation. Davis noted opportunities for cross-border collaboration on supervisory technologies and digital governance. Additionally, he advocated for continued U.S. support in global financial institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and IDB, securing reaffirmation of U.S. partnership.

The longstanding U.S. naval facility AUTEC in Andros also came under discussion. While Davis acknowledged its strategic importance, he pushed for more equitable economic participation for Bahamian workers and contractors in operations related to the base. The U.S. expressed openness to advancing those conversations.

Regional stability, especially the crisis in Haiti, was another key point of concern. Davis welcomed U.S. sanctions on Haitian gang leaders but stressed that security measures alone are not enough. He called for a multi-pronged solution addressing governance and economic development. The U.S. acknowledged the urgency of the situation and indicated interest in coordinated regional action.

In reflecting on the visit, Prime Minister Davis underscored the importance of small nations like The Bahamas actively participating in international policymaking. He said it is vital for global leaders to understand the local impact of their decisions and for countries like The Bahamas to contribute to shaping fair and effective international policies.

The U.S. State Department’s official readout echoed many of the Prime Minister’s statements, reaffirming commitments to regional security, responsible infrastructure development, disaster preparedness, and holding actors accountable for labor abuses. Secretary Rubio also emphasized the importance of transparent procurement in infrastructure projects, cautioning against reliance on partners who may pose privacy and security threats, particularly referencing the Chinese Communist Party.

In summary, Prime Minister Davis’ visit to Washington marked a strategic effort to elevate The Bahamas’ voice on critical issues. With open channels for cooperation and a shared vision for regional security and economic fairness, the meetings set a foundation for deeper collaboration between The Bahamas, CARICOM, and the United States.

BARBADOS (May 8, 2025) – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) gained valuable insights into sustainable cruise operations during a visit on board AIDAbella in Barbados, as AIDA Cruises’ Caribbean season comes to a close. AIDA Cruises, a Carnival Corporation & plc brand, welcomed CDEMA officials aboard to demonstrate the ship’s advanced environmental management and waste reduction systems.

AIDAbella’s Environmental Officer, Sebastian Treue, provided a comprehensive briefing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) power systems on some of AIDA’s ships, highlighting that the cruise line was the first in the industry to introduce a fully LNG-powered cruise ship in 2018 and has continued this standard with newer, much larger vessels such as AIDAcosma.

“This engagement with CDEMA represents an important opportunity for knowledge sharing between the cruise industry and regional experts,” said Sebastian Treue, Environmental Officer from AIDAbella. “As we operate throughout the Caribbean, maintaining strong relationships with organizations like CDEMA is essential to our commitment to responsible tourism and regional cooperation.”

The visit also showcased AIDA’s significant reduction of single-use plastics by over 77% since 2018, advanced wastewater treatment systems and a sophisticated waste management program designed to minimize environmental impact with proper processing and disposal. AIDA’s waste reduction actions also include using a color-coded system that sorts waste into 21 categories for environmentally responsible handling.

CDEMA, headquartered in Barbados, serves as the regional intergovernmental agency for disaster management in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The agency coordinates emergency response and relief efforts across 20 participating states, 15 of which are destinations for Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines.

By offering a firsthand look at environmental systems to regional agencies like CDEMA, Carnival Corporation reinforces its commitment to building strong relationships throughout the Caribbean, where its cruise lines including AIDA Cruises operate as responsible tourism partners.

For more information about Carnival Corporation’s sustainability initiatives, visit carnivalcorp.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Officials from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and AIDA Cruises pose following a tour aboard AIDAbella in Barbados on March 29, 2025. Pictured: Sebastian Treue, Environmental Officer, AIDAbella (fourth from left); Manfred Meierr, Hotel Director, AIDAbella (kneeling); and Charlene Drakes, Manager, Stakeholder Engagements, Caribbean Region of Carnival Corporation & plc (third from right).

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 7^th May 2025: In an essential step toward enhancing animal health management, food safety, and food security in the region, over 100 Caribbean stakeholders from 19 countries completed training on using the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). Held on March 27-28, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Port of Spain, the training provided an unparalleled opportunity for participants to strengthen their expertise in disease reporting, risk management, and biosecurity measures.

This training marked another step in the collaborative effort among the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) and Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET), to advance the region’s capacity to detect, report, and manage animal disease threats. High among these threats are transboundary animal diseases such as the African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza, which affect the swine and poultry industries, respectively.

A Game-Changer for Regional Animal Health Management

Participants from across the Caribbean engage in a hands-on session during the WAHIS training workshop.

WAHIS is an internationally recognised platform to enhance disease monitoring and notification. This system enables WOAH member and non-member countries to respond swiftly and effectively to outbreaks.  The updated WAHIS platform also allows the private sector to report animal health risks.   According to Dr Tiffany Chisholm, Senior Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Cayman Islands Government, “A key challenge to surveillance and reporting on animal diseases is limited human resources. Our ability to navigate the WAHIS interface will assist in determining response needs during outbreaks, expediting report submissions and staying connected with neighbouring islands. Collaboration across Caribbean countries is vital due to the high risk of disease transmission and essential to mitigate that risk.”

Participants welcomed the training, highlighting its practical value and the significant improvements it would bring to national disease surveillance. Many noted that the insights gained would enhance reporting mechanisms, ensuring greater transparency and robustness. Dr Lisa Musai, National Focal Point for Animal Diseases Notification and Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, confirmed the significance of the training in “enhancing Trinidad and Tobago’s ability to report animal health data in a timely and efficient manner. By strengthening our national reporting systems, we’re enhancing both food safety and our credibility in international trade. This localised approach enables us to effectively manage risks and challenges specific to our region, reinforcing our position as a trusted partner in the global agricultural market while safeguarding the health of our population.”

Ensuring animal health is crucial to protecting livestock production and enhancing their capacity to contribute to the Region’s food and nutrition security and rural livelihood objectives.  Left unattended, emerging agricultural health threats, pests, and diseases can decimate food production systems, worsening climate change, supply chain, and food price challenges. Strengthening disease surveillance and reporting systems through platforms like WAHIS, which enable accurate and timely disease reporting, is crucial to protecting the livestock industry, supporting regional producers, and maintaining consumer trust in local food systems. Diana Francis, IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago, emphasised that: “In today’s data-driven world, strong information systems are critical, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing an increasing role in improving disease monitoring and response to threats that do not recognise borders or economic status. IICA remains fully committed to collaboration on animal health within the One Health framework”.

About IICA

IICA is the specialised agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.