Caribbean News
A CHAMPION FOR JAMAICA: TRAVEL ADVISORS IMMERSE IN “JAMAICA LOVE” DURING SANDALS® RESORTS’ LARGEST CARIBBEAN TRAVEL ADVISOR EVENT EVER
~ Weeklong “Sandals Jamaica Love Tour 2024” Celebrates Destination, Highlighting Connections Between Public and Private Sectors and Major Tourism Infrastructure Investment ~
Dr. The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, gave the keynote speech at the Jamaica Love Showcase, where he shared plans for more seamless connectivity around the island via new bypasses and international airports.
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – Family-owned and operated Sandals Resorts, the Caribbean’s most awarded luxury all-inclusive resort company, made an impressive case for its home country of Jamaica recently, welcoming nearly 1,000 attendees to its Jamaica Love Showcase, where Dr. The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica applauded the resort brand on its far-reaching impact, “Sandals represents the best example of Jamaica fulfilling its potential.” The prime minister in his keynote address also announced that new airports, roadways and other infrastructure will better connect the island for visitors.
The Jamaica Love Showcase is part of a week-long event from October 13-20 aptly named the “Sandals Jamaica Love Tour 2024,” and is immersing travel advisors and partners into the celebrated island’s beauty, safety and limitless opportunity, with a diverse itinerary that includes comprehensive Sandals Resorts and Beaches® Resorts tours, Island Routes excursions, Sandals Foundation activities, and exclusive networking events.
The Jamaica Love Showcase
Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, on stage at the Jamaica Love Showcase, where he thanked travel advisors and reaffirmed the brands’ commitment to their craft and to the Caribbean – a region with a bigger future anywhere on the planet.
Designed to demonstrate the crucial connections between public and private sectors that create the foundation for successful tourism, the unprecedented Jamaica Love Showcase welcomed hospitality executives, international media and more than 700 travel advisors to the Montego Bay Convention Center on October 16th. A vendor market of local artisans, music by the Silver Birds steel drum orchestra, and culinary displays reflecting signature dining experiences from across the resort portfolio set the tone for the Jamaica-centric event. Speakers from the highest echelons of government took the stage including Hon. Prime Minister Holness, US Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nick Perry, and Jamaica Minister of Tourism the Hon. Edmund Bartlett. Strategic partners, including executives from American Airlines, Air Canada Vacations, Travel Leaders, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), also addressed the audience with compelling insights and a bright path forward for the destination. Adding to a dynamic lineup of speakers, two resonating thought leadership panels highlighted innovations in hospitality, sustainability, continued team member engagement and more.
“Jamaica’s tourism is everybody’s business, an intertwined ecosystem that brings farmers and taxicab drivers, travel advisors and prime ministers, fishers and pilots together as one,” said Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, who also serves as an Ambassador/Special Investment Envoy for Tourism for Jamaica. “The story of Sandals is the story of Jamaica… to always, together, work toward better. That is at the heart of our superbrand and forged in our homegrown values of hard work, exceeding expectations and trust in those who lift you up, who believe in you. That is the lasting legacy of my father, the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who taught me to cherish relationships with those who care as much as you do, who share your dreams of better and who will complement your gifts with their own,” said Stewart.
Jamaica Minister of Tourism the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, gave the closing speech at the Jamaica Love Showcase, where he acknowledged Travel Advisors as the island’s most important partners in making tourism the number one economic activity in Jamaica, enabling 11 consecutive quarters of economic growth.
A Lasting Relationship with Travel Advisors
Opening remarks were delivered by Gary C. Sadler, OD, Executive Vice President of Sales & Industry Relations at Unique Vacations, Inc. (UVI), an affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, who spoke about the importance of travel advisors in the brand’s success.
“Travel advisors are the single most effective tool in changing hearts and minds and most importantly, moving the needle,” said Sadler. “We know that informed advisors, prepared with firsthand knowledge and experience, are the ambassadors for this moment. They have the trust of their clients and this event was designed to empower them further, giving them the tools they need to promote Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica confidently and passionately.”
Following a group Reading Road Trip experience earlier in the week, Chairman’s Royal Club travel advisors attending the Jamaica Love Tour surprised their hosts with an $81,000 USD donation to the Sandals Foundation on the Jamaica Love Showcase stage.
Accuracy and Advocacy
One of the key themes woven throughout the conference was aligning perception with reality when it comes to the success of Jamaica and the safety of visitors in Jamaica.
Sandals Resorts’ Chief Experience Officer Jessica Shannon led discussions on the state and future of sustainability in the Caribbean, the company’s commitment to investing in its people, and the wider impact of its role in the island’s Linkages Council.
“There is only one Jamaica,” said Stewart. “Jamaica is having a moment. It’s an extraordinary moment. Our unemployment is at 4.5% right now. Our debt to GDP [ratio] has been cut in half… Our national reserves are 3x higher than they were while I was growing up. The Jamaica brand has never been bigger. Jamaica is a rockstar Caribbean island and has never hit harder.”
During his address, Hon. Prime Minister Holness ensured that his administration is working hard to reinforce that Jamaica’s brand is a safe, secure, sustainable, and seamless destination.
“There are so many things that are happening in Jamaica that have not yet made it into the consciousness of the world, so that Jamaica is properly placed and positioned in the minds of our tourists, visitors, and people who would want to do business with us,” said Hon. Prime Minister Holness. “Our friends in the tourism and travel industry who are here are very important partners in us achieving our goals. It’s important that when advisors bring visitors to Jamaica, it’s clear they are not just helping the hotels. The dollar of that visitor is making its way into the pocket of a family that will benefit, grow and develop.”
Major Tourism Infrastructure Unveiled
Gary C. Sadler, OD addresses a spirited group of Travel Advisors and industry partners as the master of ceremonies at the Jamaica Love Showcase in Montego Bay.
Received with great fanfare, Hon. Prime Minister Holness also announced the incredible investment the destination is making in the island’s infrastructure, most notably with a new international airport in Negril, a new terminal at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, improvements to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, and building new roads on the southeastern coast to better connect the island, which will create an entirely new dimension of tourism in Jamaica.
Investment in Jamaica is Investment in the Future
Summarizing the impact of the day, Jamaica Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett was frank. “This is perhaps the single most immersive tourism, thought leadership summit, that Jamaica has ever had. And it is important that it happens now. And it is important that it is happening to the number one indigenous product of the Caribbean, Sandals Resorts International,” Minister Bartlett. “I felt what it means to regenerate, to reimagine, to reposition, to reconcile, and to create, in fact, the renaissance, that will move Sandals and Jamaica tourism to the next level.”
Travel Leaders’ Stephen McGillivray addresses the crowd during the Jamaica Love Showcase: “This is our opportunity to use our influence as professional advisors and deliver a message to our clients that Jamaica is a top choice for 2025 and beyond.”
Since Sandals Montego Bay opened its doors in 1981, the brand has continued to invest in Jamaica, developing programmes such as the Sandals Corporate University to uplift and prepare rising hospitality talent, to the Sandals Foundation, the brand’s philanthropic partner aimed at improving the lives of Caribbean communities where the brand operates — and, most importantly, Sandals’ expansive development and continued innovation in the hospitality space that keeps Jamaica one of the most visited destinations in the world.
“Always, we move toward better,” said Stewart. “This is Sandals 2.0 – a new chapter built on innovation, deeper connectivity, and the same commitment to excellence that’s always set us apart. Together, with our incredible partners and the community that inspires us, we’re continuing to build Brand Jamaica. This gathering is a testament to the connectivity between our organization, government and our travel partners in the private sector, demonstrating that together, we can affect significant and meaningful change in our beloved destination, recognizing Jamaica for its beauty, convenient accessibility, affordability, safety and endless possibilities. Jamaica is here and ready for you now.”
Sandals and Beaches Team Members perform for a group of 700 Travel Advisors at the Jamaica Love Showcase in Montego Bay on October 16th.
An array of local entertainers, including Jamaican singer-songwriter Christopher Martin, energized the crowd with performances and special surprises throughout the showcase.
How Venezuelan farmers are learning to grow and live with a devastating plant disease
In the fields of Venezuela, where the banana has been for generations a symbol of sustenance and tradition, a shadow fell across the land. In 2023, Venezuela’s National Institute of Integral Agricultural Health (INSAI) declared a phytosanitary emergency: the fungus Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4; syn. Fusarium odoratissimum) had arrived in producing areas in the states of Aragua, Carabobo and Cojedes.
This fungus, considered a devastating disease of banana and plantain (Musaceae) trees, can remain in the soil for more than two decades,
threatening production and the lives of those who depend on it.
In the state of Aragua in the north of the country, the Renacer community had been growing bananas and plantains on 20 hectares since 2018. Then Fusarium arrived.
“When the disease hit, the entire plantation began to deteriorate. We refused to ‘die’ with the trees because that was our livelihood. The visits of INSAI confirmed that we had to chop down the banana trees. I cried a lot because I had worked with my banana trees for years,” recalls woman farmer, Lesbia Margarita García, with a broken voice.
In response, INSAI implemented measures to eliminate the affected plantations and improve the soil health by changing to other crops that allow agricultural production to recover. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) offered assistance by providing corn seeds, tools, biosecurity inputs and training, with teams of experts helping farmers to start again.
“Planting corn, thanks to the INSAI-FAO programme, gave us a harvest that benefited everyone. We have been improving the soil,” says Lesbia Margarita with a smile. “Now we rotate crops, observe soil health and have learned how to use natural fertilizers. Expert assistance has been key.”
The pilot project works directly with affected producers in high-risk areas, promoting alternative crops such as cereals and vegetables, delivering inputs and tools to mitigate damage and applying biosecurity measures for safe and effective containment.
“Beyond the corn received, we have already planted cassava, chili peppers, beans and pumpkin. We hope that by the end of the year [2025] we will be diversified and that each season we will have something to sell. These lands do not give up,” says Lesbia Margarita with conviction.
The Renacer community is beginning to see fruits. Their products are reaching local markets, generating income and rebuilding their livelihoods.
Key actions to manage Fusarium TR4 are ongoing, including regular monitoring, continuous training, inter‑institutional coordination,
updates to the national plan, information campaigns and producer impact assessments. INSAI is sustaining regulatory, surveillance measures and training —with FAO support—as part of a comprehensive long‑term strategy.
At the global level, FAO supports awareness raising, capacity building and international collaboration in the fight against Fusarium TR4 by facilitating the World Banana Forum and its Global Network on TR4.
“The objective is for countries to strengthen their operational and technical capacity, articulating actions between the public sector, the private sector and family farmers,” says Raixa Llauger, FAO Agriculture Officer in Mesoamerica. “FAO and local partners have promoted this approach in Venezuela.”
As an essential part of the activities, a comprehensive training programme was developed with activities that taught farmers how to identify the disease contain it and protect crops. In addition, FAO has distributed laboratory equipment, biosecurity tools and a multispectral drone to INSAI. Drones are an efficient and cost‑effective tool for phytosanitary surveillance, offering rapid, high‑resolution monitoring and early detection of plant pests and diseases.
Overall, the project strengthened biosecurity measures against the Fusarium fungus through the adoption of the National Action Plan and the establishment of partnerships with national and international institutions. In addition, the pilot initiative supporting smallholder farmers in key production areas and a nationwide awareness campaign with broad outreach improved surveillance, diagnosis and phytosanitary response capacities across the country.
MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given
jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.
Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.
She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.
According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and
Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.
The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.
More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.
Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed
at building stronger resilience to future disasters.
The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.
Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.
By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.
Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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