When it comes to characters in films, the list can go on and on for whose the best and who's everyone's favorite. Out of every list and every possibility however, there's one thing most people can agree on: No one is quite like Captain Jack Sparrow.

RELATED: Which Pirates Of The Caribbean Character Are You Based On Your Zodiac?

Ever since Johnny Depp graced the world with Sparrow inCurse Of The Black Pearl, he's become a household name, with many fans loving his character. Yet, despite loving Sparrow, there are many facts and details about him that people tend to forget happened. Here are 10 things everyone missed about Captain Jack Sparrow.

Although it's somewhat of a well-known fact, many audience members do tend to miss or forget that Jack Sparrow was marooned. Given Barbosa's mutiny, it's not surprising Jack was strandedand yet it's there'ssomething else people overlook.

When they see Jack Sparrow, they think of a cool, collected hero who can almost always overcome any obstacle thrown his way. Yet, when Jack was stranded, he relied on rum runners instead of himself for rescue, perhaps showcasing his true nature. Not as a legendary pirate but a lucky man.

Throughout many films, there are little bits that are seen as running jokes, where either the main character or someone close to them keeps running into trouble that's seen as a bit. For Jack Sparrow, one of his running bits is a key detail that many overlook.

During the series, Jack always has a compass with him that never points north, making many assume that it's broken. Thecompass is in fact magic to some extent and instead points towards what Jack desires the most, making for a handy tool.

Many words jump into people's heads when thinking of Jack Sparrow. They range from the world's greatest pirate to a drunken buffoon and yet one word that's never included ishero. In some cases, Jack is the unlikeliest of heroes despite being a pirate.

RELATED: 10 Best Quotes From The Pirates Of The Caribbean Movies

In a deleted scene fromAtWorlds End, it's revealed that Jack was hired by Beckett, one of the film's villains, to deliver a shipment of slaves. However, Jack chose to free the slaves, leaving him branded with the mark of a pirate despite his heroics.

The notion of Jack Sparrow, a drunken yet likable and clever buffoon, could be a great captain is a ridiculous idea that would make any fan chuckle... despite it being true. Before Jack lost the Black Pearl to Barbosa and became seen as an outcast, he was a great captain.

Truth be told, audiencesnever hear of his legendary tales, and yet, throughout the films, movie-goers watch him navigate his way around even the leakiest of ships with ease as if he knows it like the back of his hand.

Everyone remembers the first time they saw Captain Jack Sparrow make his grand entrance on the big screen and recall his tale of how he lost the Black Pearl to his mutinous first mate, Barbosa. However, some fans tend to forget that Jack didn't just lose the Black Pearl once. He lost it twice.

At the end of the original Pirates trilogy, Jack returns to port, hoping to set sail on his newly reclaimed ship... only to watch it sail off into the distance with Barbosa at the helm.

There are many reasons why fans don't remember details and informationabout the fourth Pirates film,On Stranger Tides.For manyfans, it wasn't the strongest, especially after the original trilogy, and the ideaof Jack and the daughter being a couplewas a minor note.

RELATED: Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Worst Thing About Each Main Character, Ranked

That being said, it's an odd noteandfeelsstrange to hear that Jack and Blackbeard's daughter were in love. Yet, when you look at her and then back at Jack, it makes a little sense as to why they were attracted.

In just about every movie no matter the genre, there's always a deal to be made with some kind of devil. Whether the devil comes in human form or that of a humanoid squid pirate, the results are still the same as Jack Sparrow discovered.

Even though it's a key plot point for most ofDead Man's Chest, Jack making a deal with Davey Jones for the Black Pearl is something many fans and audience members either miss or fail to remember.

As the old saying goes, "opposites tend to attract" and there's nothing more opposite than Jack Sparrow and Joshamee Gibbs. A pirate and a British sailor should and do have nothing in common or at least in most cases, they shouldn't.

Over the course of five films, however, the friendship between Jack and Gibbs goes largely unexplained, with the pair either having each other back while also trying to stab it as most friends do. It almost makes one wish for a spinoff centered around the duo's unlikely friendship.

It goes without saying that the universe ofPirates Of The Caribbean is one of the more bizarre andfascinating ones, full of historical tidbits mixed in with loads of myths, legends, and supernatural occurrences that plagued the seven seas.

RELATED: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Pirates Of The Caribbean

As it stands, Jack has gone up against numerous supernatural creatures and survived. From the goddess Calypso to a curse that makes the bearers skeletons to Davey Jones himself to mermaids and even ghosts, Jack has seen more than enough of both the real and supernatural sides of Pirates.

The true backstory of Captain Jack Sparrow will remain a mystery for a great number of fans and movie-goers and yet there's one fact that can be proven, the fact that Jack Sparrow has and always will be a pirate.

Since he was a sailor and took command following the dreaded Captain Salazar's attack, Jack has always been the pirate that fans love. While over the years his luck and lifemay have fallen on hard times, Jack willforever be the greatest pirate anyone's ever seen.

NEXT: 5 Reasons The New Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot Will Work (& 5 Why It Won't)

Next 5 Most Underrated Animated Movies (& 5 Most Overrated)

Drew Atchison is a writer, reader, and avid movie goer based in Phoenix, Arizona. He's gone from being a line cook to a trading post employee to an actual zip line attendant and now a list writer for screen rant. Currently enrolled as a film production major at Azusa Pacific University.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Things Everyone Missed About Jack Sparrow - Screen Rant

With the Pirates of the Caribbean movies more accessible than ever, and a summer season void of blockbusters, this month were diving deep into Disneys swashbuckling series. Grab your cutlass and hoist the colors: here be Polygons take on all things PotC.

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise juggles a lot of balls, but perhaps one of the most gripping threads is romance. Throughout the original trilogy, Elizabeth Swann is the central point of a triangle formed by Will Turner, Jack Sparrow, and James Norrington. The films end with Elizabeth choosing Will but was he the right choice?

To discuss the pivotal romance in the original Pirates trilogy, three Polygon staffers Karen Han, Emily Heller, and Petrana Radulovic convened to talk over Elizabeths three potential beaus, as well as all of the other high-seas heartthrobs introduced throughout the series.

Karen: Id like to start with the Big Three: Will, Jack, and Norrington. You guys have told me before that you both love Will why is that?

Emily: I do love Will Turner. I love a boy who pines.

Karen: So there was never any competition?

Emily: No, and in fact, I was annoyed whenever Jack Sparrow would get flirty with Elizabeth, and whenever anyone I talked to was into Jack Sparrow. I was anti-Jack Sparrow.

Petrana: I did not like Jack in the way a lot of people I know did. I do love a charming rogue, and as an audience surrogate crush, I get it, but I never wanted him for Elizabeth.

Karen: Please expand on why you love Will so much.

Petrana: I think Orlando Bloom is very cute. I think that was 85% of it, especially when I watched those movies. I also like a good childhood best friend love story, and I liked that it was mutual. They were both into each other, and society didnt like it, but they decided, hey, fuck society.

Emily: For me, I love a loyal character who has a moral code that they stick to even when theyre teaming up with someone who is not necessarily sticking to that. Whats interesting is that I was not an Orlando Bloom gal, I was not into Legolas. I was into Sam, that was my guy. Its that sort of loyalty that I really dig.

Petrana: I do like that Will has these principles. Norrington is the other character who has a strict moral code, in contrast to Jack, but his is a code of honor, which is hot in its own right. Whereas Wills devotion is to the people he loves.

Karen: The next logical talking point is Norrington, because he is the third love interest, but I feel like hes someone no one really considered until his arc in the second and third movies.

Petrana: I actually saw the movies in reverse order. I wasnt allowed to watch them because they were scary, so I saw the third one with my friends when I was old enough, then I saw the second one with my cousin. I finally saw the first one because I told my parents I was really into those movies. I think seeing them in reverse really elevates Norringtons story. He sacrifices himself for Elizabeth, and he was really hot in the second one. But then you watch the first one and its weird that she knew him when she was 11 and he was, like, 25.

Emily: I did not think of Norrington as anything other than an obstacle between Elizabeth and Will in the first movie. I agree that he was hot in the second and third movies. Removing that powdered wig really helped him out there.

Karen: So in the second and third movies, were you no longer like, Get him out of here, Will and Elizabeth need to kiss, because it was clear that Will and Elizabeth would get together?

Emily: I think because it was clear that Norrington did not have a chance with Elizabeth, that she was in love with Will and it was great, I did not see him as a threat then, and he was allowed to be cute without being a hindrance. The second movie is actually where I got really mad about the Jack Sparrow stuff, because thats where Elizabeth kisses him, and the look on Wills face when he sees it happen is devastating, because he doesnt know why shes doing it!

Petrana: The kiss is for the greater good! She kisses him for Will! Its the only way to save all of their asses. But he doesnt know that, so its dramatique.

Karen: So both of you, from the beginning, were like, She should be with Will Turner, there is no alternative, this is who she should choose. I will say I havent found Orlando Bloom attractive until very recently starting from when he was a villain in the Three Musketeers movie. I wasnt in love with Will while watching these movies. But I wasnt in love with Jack Sparrow, either. I was more interested in Norrington because of his redemptive arc; thats the story trope that really works for me. I find it interesting that both of you were with Will Turner from the beginning, because I feel like so much of the fandom thinks she shouldve gotten with Jack Sparrow.

Petrana: The fact that her choice is very clear from the beginning makes the other men good for the audience to project upon. Jack doesnt have a love interest until Penlope Cruz in the fourth movie (which doesnt count).

Emily: I never really went for the bad boy thing, I remember I got really mad at my sister for being really into the Phantom of the Opera. Thats part of why I wasnt into Jack Sparrow. If I was going to go for a bad boy, I would be into a bad man, i.e. Captain Barbossa.

Petrana: I have to wonder what it is specifically about Jack that I didnt get, because I usually do go for the rogue. I think the key thing missing is the heart of gold. Jack doesnt really have it. Hes an interesting character, but lacks the ride-or-die appeal of Will.

Karen: Yeah, the interesting thing about the end of the second movie is that hes trying to make an ultimately selfish and very villainous choice. So, of the three main love interests, the consensus is, two out of three, that Elizabeth made the right choice. But who would you pick?

Petrana: Will, but if Norrington kept his look from the second movie, that might sway me a little. I am very shallow and I love a man with dirty blonde hair.

Emily: I would also choose Will, but I do, as a 27-year-old woman versus a 10-year-old girl, understand the appeal of Norrington being much more established, and a more stable life is appealing to me, personally, as a tired adult.

Petrana: Will as a blacksmith has a stable income, but Will as captain of the Flying Dutchman doesnt.

Karen: He doesnt have a stable income, and the only thing thats stable is he can only come see you once every 10 years or whatever. What do you guys think of the way Will and Elizabeths story ends?

Petrana: I was looking into this because I was curious. In the directors commentary, they say that, because Elizabeth was faithful to him, the curse was broken, which I clung to as a little girl. Of course, they retcon that in the fifth movie, but I loved that tragic trope. There is the big question of why she doesnt just go with him. Her dad is dead, so why not?

Karen: Yeah, there is nothing preventing her from going with him. But I guess if you want to live in a nice house you wouldnt go because the Flying Dutchman is not very nice. Now, I want to dig into Emilys comment about Captain Barbossa. Personally, I wouldnt not choose Barbossa.

Emily: I love Barbossa, especially as hes juxtaposed with Jack Sparrow, because where Jack is morally ambiguous and kind of loosey-goosey and his whole thing is this stumbling rockstar thing, Barbossa is not loosey-goosey. He is controlled, he is tight, he knows exactly what his code is, which is none. I love that he absolutely does not care about anything besides his very specific goals. When he bites into the apple and the juice runs down his face? Its hot. Im sorry. Also he has a monkey, and thats cool.

Karen: Did you find him attractive during the first movie or is this something that has cropped up as youve grown up?

Emily: In the first movie, I was terrified of him. By the third movie, I was into him. I was 15, and I was like, Yeah, I like this guy. I was still all-in for Will, but I had some tinglings of, What about him, though?

Karen: Petrana, Im curious if there are any other characters that you looked at and were like, Hm, I do like them.

Petrana: Im not even sure if its romantic but I think Tia Dalma deserves so much more. I want to know more about her and Calypso. Her whole thing is kind of handwaved. Also Naomie Harris is just a beautiful woman.

Karen: I like when she turns big and then turns into a bunch of crabs. I do like that thats her ending: I am a sea goddess, goodbye. My huge crush was Davy Jones. I was so obsessed with him when these movies came out, and for a long time afterwards. I dont know if my crush on Bill Nighy came first or if liked Davy Jones first, but hes just so mysterious and cool. When I was 13, I was so into him that my friends made me a poster that was just a collage of pictures of Bill Nighy on a bunch of printer paper. They also got me a little piece of official movie merch which was a pen with a Davy Jones head-topper on it, which I treasured. I think its still in my childhood bedroom. That one moment where he turns into a man in the moonlight was hot. Not that Davy Jones with a squid face wasnt hot ... I dont look at Davy Jones with a squid face and think, I want to kiss him, but I dont look at him and think I dont not want to kiss him.

Emily: I mean, if we want to talk crushes that the room will not relate to: Jonathan Pryce, man.

Karen: Hes a devoted dad and has a nice house!

Emily: I like the wig, but also when he takes off the wig. Hes got that messy wig hair. Its good. Also, those Turner genes are strong because Id absolutely smooch Bootstrap Bill. Stellan Skarsgrd ... hes daddy, I dont know what to tell you.

Karen: Big, big same. Hes a hunk! More of a hunk than Will, in my opinion. Those barnacles aint nothing to me! I do have to bring up that when we were discussing this roundtable, Emily, you brought up the pirate Ragetti.

Emily: Yes! Specifically because of the scene where theyre doing the ritual to return Tia Dalma to her true form as Calypso, and the ritual says they have to speak to her like theyre talking to a lover. I love Barbossa, but he does this big, performative voice, and then Ragetti just walks up to her and whispers into her ear. She does this little shiver. I would, too. Also, Mackenzie Crook is a cutie.

Karen: I do love Pintel and Ragetti a lot. They are extremely cute together. OK, so what if Pirates of the Caribbean was a dating sim? If you were playing it right now, who would romance?

Emily: I think Governor Swann, just to see if the game would let me.

Petrana: I will say that I would not pick Will because he and Elizabeth were a first OTP for me, and I wouldnt want to mess with it. I want go with Norrington because I think that would be a challenging route. Whenever Im playing a game with romance options I have to choose the one that would be an uphill battle. (Disclaimer: this is not how I approach real-life romantic relationships.)

Karen: You have to fix him. It reminds me of Cullens route in Dragon Age: Inquisition, where you have to get him over his drug addiction.

Petrana: I picked that route.

Karen: I know you did. Obviously, I would romance Davy Jones. He was always my number one in Pirates of Caribbean. I was never into Will, Jack, or Norrington. I am fully aware he was not in the first movie, but I dont care. I love him. I love his little claw. Hes like a big octopus! Also, I feel like a new relationship would be good for him.

Continued here:

The Pirates of the Caribbean cast: who was the best love interest? - Polygon

SITUATION OVERVIEW

4.054.586 Confirmed cases

143.800 Confirmed deaths

At this moment, Latin America and the Caribbean is the region with the most restrictive measures at the global level

COVID-19 has spread to all 54 counties and territories in the Americas Region

BENEFICIARIES REACHED SO FAR 7.343.016 PEOPLE

HOW IS COVID-19 IMPACTING GIRLS IN THE REGION?

As previous reports, all CO report 3 mayor issues in the lives of girls: 1. Increase in gender-based violence both in virtual spaces and in everyday life. 2 Anxiety and uncertainty generated by the decline in livelihoods and economic means 3. And increase in domestic and care work.

Detrimental to the quality of education, lack of social contact and emotional containment. The issue of mental health is also been reported in several countries. The confinement measures are weakening girls social and collective actions, even if there are virtual means this is something not all girls have access to. This impacts directly to their access to education and self-organization in their communities.

As previously reported, the effects of COVID 19 have led to the collapse of local health systems, preventing women, adolescents and youth from accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

Originally posted here:

COVID-19 Emergency Response Latin America and the Caribbean Report: Based on Internal Situation Report N 16 (August 5, 2020) - Bolivia (Plurinational...

On August 6, the U.S. Department of State removed the Global Level 4 Travel Advisory Do Not Travel and adjusted the individual travel advisories of Barbados and the countries of the Eastern Caribbean to Level 3 Reconsider Travel. After nearly five months of a global do not travel advisory, the upgrade to Level 3 takes into account both the current assessment of conditions on the ground and the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose unprecedented risks for travelers. We routinely review safety and securityconditionsacross the region and will update destination-specific information asappropriate. Travel advisories are not issued against countries. They have a singular purpose to keep U.S. citizens informed and help ensure their health and safety. We will continue to work with Barbados and the countries of the Eastern Caribbean through bilateral communication, economic cooperation, and humanitarian aid to end the spread of COVID-19.

By U.S. Embassy Bridgetown | 8 August, 2020 | Topics: Press Releases

Originally posted here:

Level 3 Travel Advisory for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean - US Embassy in Barbados

This year, with the pandemic and shutdowns in place, I finally got around to reading a lot more of the trade magazines I have piled up in my desk and revisiting so many recipes and notes I have jotted down hastily for future use, that sometimes never gets past that point-as life sometimes gets in the way more often than not for me. Such is the life story of a chef/owner/marketer/human resources person/ shopper/equipment mechanic and administrator. I may start the day at the market, move on to prepping, interview a prospective employee, fight with my fish guy, then end the day fixing a pump tube on the dish machine then having a drink with the bartender next door just to get away from it all for a moment. Yet I wake up every day and love doing it all over again and wouldnt have it any other way. For some, chaos is par for the course and fuel for the soul. I am one of those somebodies.

This pandemic has introduced me to someone I knew very little aboutmeit forced me to reflect on life and where I fit in and I gotta tell u folks it wasnt pretty!

What was pretty though was some of the amazing dishes I produced while looking at all the notes I wrote on napkins, on receipts, on the back of business cards, etc.

Which is where I came upon a business card from the owner of a farm. A few years back he invited me and about 10 other chefs to a pig feast; at which we were to share our thoughts and give feedback on the prepared dishes expertly paired with some great wines.

It was a smart idea as the pork he peddled was quite a departure from anything we are used to here in America and would certainly need a positive nod from us chefs to get it on menus in the area, and patrons indoctrinated into this new style of protein.

It certainly worked because I remember everyone oohing and awwing with each course, and the most memorable part of the evening for me was when I bit into a cut called the collar steak. I even wrote on the back of business card Experiment further with collar steak as soon as possible-a true gamechanger.

And then of course life got in the way and it never made it to my menu but at least some of the other chefs who had their s#$%t together better than I do, did get it on theirs.

Until NOWthe name of the pig in question is a heritage breed coming all the way from Hungary, now being raised in the United States called a Mangalitsa pig. Unlike the regular pigs we know, this one has hair. Yes I know all pigs have hair, but this one has real honest to goodness mane of hair like sheep and about as much fat to match the hair. Most American pigs are bred to be lean, as in the other white meat-but this one certainly is not!

As a matter of fact, the collar cut as it is called looks more like a cut of beef, with deep red hues and marbling rivaling a high grade rib-eye steak. The cut I used is taken from the neck and was about of an inch thick. Because of all the marbling, I decided it would be high on the flavor scale, so I didnt want to adulterate that flavor by adding too many seasonings to it (though this is totally a personal preference). I simply sprinkled some kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on the steak. I then grabbed a small sprig of rosemary, added clarified butter to a roasting pan over low heat, added the rosemary sprig and dropped the steak on top of it. I slowly pan roasted while basting it with the now mildly flavored butter from the pan. I roasted the first side for approximately 5 minutes while it developed a golden crust, I then flipped it over and continued to pan roast and baste for an additional 4 minutes. I then transferred it to a 300-degree oven and let it slowly finish up for another 3 minutes to get to a medium temperature.

I then removed it and allowed it to rest for 15 minutes tented with foil, while I deglazed the pan with a bit of allspice liqueur (slightly sweet complex liqueur from the allspice berry), mounted some butter on the sauce and served it next to the steak.

Oh, my gravy what a treat! The steak was quite juicy, tender, definitely a departure from the texture of a standard American pork chop that just gets really chewy and dry anywhere north of medium rare. Not even the Iberico pork could stand next to this little freak, except that I have never had the collar steak from the Iberico steak, only the standard chop, so I guess I am not quite comparing apples to apples.

Nonetheless, this thing was the BEST cut of pork I have ever had and reminds me well of the first time I had it at the dinner party. Though I might be biased toward my own technique, I would venture to say the first time I had it was not as good as this second time probably because it may have been cooked past my ideal temperature of medium for a pork chop, which is what the collar steak was meant to mimic.

This recipe is obviously less about the seasonings or aromatics and more about the protein itself and the cooking technique, which is of utmost importance to get the best taste and texture on your plate. Enjoy!

Nigel Spence, a Culinary Institute of America alumnus, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Nigel freelanced at the Television Food Network for 3 years where he worked with culinary luminaries such as Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse. Chef Spence has appeared twice on Throwdown with Bobby Flay where he emerged the victor in cook offs against the Food Network star and was featured on CBS when he appeared on Tonys Table as well as ABCs Neighborhood Eats, NBCs The Today Show , Sirius Everyday Living with Martha Stewart and TVFNs Chopped. The acclaimed and New York Times-reviewedRipe Kitchen and Baris Mr Spences first entrepreneurial endeavor.

The rest is here:

Nigel Spence: The Recipe for the Perfect Pig Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

Belize is postponing what had been a planned tourism reopening on Aug. 15, destination officials confirmed.

Citing an increase in COVID-19 cases, the Belize Tourism Board said it was necessary to delay the reopening of Belizes Philip Goldson International Airport.

The country has not yet announced a new date.

Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow said the move had come in an overabundance of caution, folloiwng a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in three districts in the country.

Ensuring that travelers have reliable, trustworthy, and useful information continues to be a top priority so they can make the best decisions for their health and safety when choosing a vacation destination, the Belize Tourist Board said in a statement.

As a country, we are committed to enhancing our tourism product to be able to welcome back visitors to our shores in a safe and responsible manner. A new date for re-opening has not yet been established, and will be determined based on further developments in country, the Belize Tourist Board said.

Belize is continuing its weekly repatriation flights for Belizean nationals abroad, however.

More than a dozen Caribbean destinations have reopened their borders for tourism in some form.

For more, visit the Belize Tourist Board.

CJ

See the article here:

Belize Is Postponing Its Tourism Reopening Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

InYourArea Community

Turn on the Calypso music, ladle some rum punch and learn how to make authentic Caribbean food

Submitted by Pam Chattin

Hospices of Hope has lined up a fun series of virtual events to raise money for its hospices in Romania, Serbia, Moldova and Albania.

Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has decimated their ability to raise funds through their charity shops and programme of live events, so they have turned to Zoom.

This month youre invited to join Winnie Joseph-Tebutt for two free cooking demonstrations when she will share her enthusiasm for some amazing Caribbean recipes.

For the next two Thursdays, Winnie will be demonstrating traditional St Lucian cooking in her own fun-loving style from 6.30pm to 8pm.

On Thursday, August 13 viewers will be able to follow her step-by-step instructions in real time and create delicious, authentic jerk chicken accompanied by mango salsa and roasted sweet potato.

The second demonstration will be on Thursday, August 20 when Winnie will show how to make a sumptuous Caribbean carrot and coconut cake with ginger and orange buttercream.

Winnie is hoping that you will have such a great time that you will make a donation to the charitys Emergency Covid-19 Appeal for its hospices in south eastern Europe.

The west Kent charity work tirelessly to support thousands of sick people in hopeless situations.

The hospices provide vital nursing, hospital treatments, training sessions and home visits completely free of charge, and nobody is ever turned away.

Winnies Caribbean cooking demonstrations are free to watch but you need to register in advance here.

Hospices of Hope is based in Otford and has charity shops in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Biggin Hill, Maidstone and Ashford, Kent.

Shine a spotlight on your neighbourhood by becoming an Area Ambassador.

Click here to learn more!

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Take your taste buds to the Caribbean and help support Kent hospice charity - In Your Area

St Vincent and the Grenadines, which reopened for tourism last month, has implemented a series of changes to its travel protocols including the addition of a quarantine period for U.S. travelers on commercial flights.

St Vincent and the Grenadines had already been requiring a negative COVID-19 result within seven days of arrival for all U.S. travelers.

All travelers will also be tested immediately upon arrival.

Now, the country is requiring proof of a fully-paid reservation in an approved hotel for five nights, and an initial quarantine in the approved hotel for five days.

After that period, the traveler will be tested again before their release from quarantine.

The requirements for discharge from quarantine include a negative PCR test; no close contact with a positive case; absence of signs and symptoms and a determination that the traveler is not at high risk for being exposed.

And depending on the risk after that point, travelers will quarantine for a period of nine to 16 days at the discretion of the Port Health Officer.

Travelers from other source markets like Canada will have to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test received within five days of the date of arrival or take a test upon arrival.

Those who take the test on arrival will have to quarantine until their results are available at least 24 hours.

The country is also requiring all travelers to fill out this form.

See below for the full list of approved hotels.

CJ

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St Vincent and the Grenadines Adds Quarantine for US Travelers - Caribbean Journal

Saint Lucia was one of the first destinations to relaunch tourism when the island reopened its borders at the beginning of June, and its open to tourists including those from the United States.

What youll find in Saint Lucia are many resorts with widely spaced accommodations ideal for social distancing, and strong safety protocols for hotels, transportation, and attractions.

All travelers to Saint Lucia must submit a pre-arrival travel registration form and proof of having received a negative COVID-19 PCR test within seven days of arrival on-island. Visitors must have reservations at (and confie to) a hotel that has been certified as compliant with Saint Lucias COVID-19 safety protocols in order to be admitted into the country. (See more on the islands policies here). Happily, Saint Lucias diverse hotel stock specializes in resorts youll never want to leave.

So where can you stay if youre planning to visit? Here are the resorts that have received COVID-19 certification and are open right now.

Ladera: Three-walled suites 1,000 feet above the beach and with spectacular views of the Piton mountains make a stay at Ladera seem otherworldly in other words, the perfect place for escape. Just 37 rooms means plenty of elbow room for guests.

Read the original post:

9 Saint Lucia Resorts That Are Open Right Now Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

Next week will see earnings reports from a hard-hit cruise operator, a hotel operator and a networking giant, among others.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) - Get Report is expected to report a loss of $988.5 million, or $4.82 a share, on sales of $47.4 million before the market opens on Monday, based on a FactSet survey of 12 analysts.

In the same period a year ago, the company posted earnings of $2.54 a share on sales of $2.8 billion. It reported net income of $249.7 million.

The stock has risen 25.5% since the company last reported earnings on May 20.

In the upcoming quarter, analysts are forecasting a loss of $931.2 million, or $4.65 a share, on sales of $212.5 million.

For the year, analysts project revenue of $3 billion.

Marriott International, Inc. (MAR) - Get Report is expected to report a loss of $136.3 million, or 41 cents a share, on sales of $1.7 billion after the market closes on Monday, based on a FactSet survey of 23 analysts.

In the same period a year ago, the company posted earnings of $1.56 a share on sales of $5.3 billion. It reported net income of $375 million.

The stock has risen 9.8% since the company last reported earnings on May 11.

In the upcoming quarter, analysts are forecasting adjusted net income of $35.5 million, or 15 cents a share, on sales of $2.6 billion.

For the year, analysts project revenue of $12.2 billion.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) - Get Report is expected to report a loss of $1.52 billion, or $1.68 a share, on sales of $3.9 billion after the market closes on Monday, based on a FactSet survey of 23 analysts.

In the same period a year ago, the company posted earnings of 97 cents a share on sales of $4.4 billion. It reported net income of $628 million.

The stock has risen 0.9% since the company last reported earnings on May 5.

In the upcoming quarter, analysts are forecasting a loss of $726.3 million, or 75 cents a share, on sales of $4.6 billion.

For the year, analysts project revenue of $19.2 billion.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) - Get Report is expected to report net income of $3.1 billion, or 74 cents a share, on sales of $12.1 billion after the market closes on Wednesday, based on a FactSet survey of 25 analysts.

In the same period a year ago, the company posted earnings of 83 cents a share on sales of $13.4 billion. It reported net income of $3 billion.

The company offered guidance of 72 to 74 cents a share on May 14, a day after its last financial report. Shares have risen 8.9% since then.

In the upcoming quarter, analysts are forecasting net income of $3.2 billion, or 75 cents a share, on sales of $12.2 billion.

For the year, analysts project revenue of $49.2 billion.

Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) - Get Reportis expected to report net income of $881.3 million, or 95 cents a share, on sales of $4.2 billion after the market closes on Thursday, based on a FactSet survey of 23 analysts.

In the same period a year ago, the company posted earnings of 74 cents a share on sales of $3.6 billion. It reported net income of $666 million.

The stock has risen 16.9% since the company last reported earnings on May 14.

In the upcoming quarter, analysts are forecasting net income of $942.7 million, or $1.02 a share, on sales of $4.4 billion.

For the year, analysts project revenue of $16.6 billion.

Applied Materials is currently trading at a price-to-forward-earnings ratio of 15.3 based on the 12-month estimates of 25 analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Read what Jim Cramer is telling his investment club members about earnings season at Action Alerts PLUS.

Originally posted here:

Royal Caribbean, Marriott and Cisco Earnings on Tap in Week Ahead - TheStreet

By Robin GomesThe Popes charitable initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean are carried out largely through the Populorum Progressio Foundation for Latin America and the Caribbean, operating under the Vaticans Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

During the annual meeting held online, July 29-30, the board of directors of the Populorum Progressio Foundation selected 138 social development projects from among the numerous proposals, developed by the Latin American and Caribean communities and regions most in need.

In addition to these, another 30 food aid projects already in operation, were approved earlier by the board of directors in June. This was in response to a request by Pope Francis, as a collaboration between the Foundation and the Vatican Covid-19 Commission, which the Pontiff established in March in the Dicastery, in collaboration with other dicasteries of the Roman Curia and other agencies. The 168 projects in 23 countries express the Church's concern and love for the entire human family in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

The board of directors also analyzed the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in the region. The projects selected aim at helping mitigate the short and mid-term effects of the virus.

At the virtual meeting, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the prefect of the Dicastery, who is the president of the Foundation, thanked and encouraged the members to continue working with dedication and enthusiasm on behalf of those who need their support in this difficult situation.

Among the several participants in the annual meeting were representatives of the Committee for Charitable Interventions in favour of the Third World of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), which finances most of the projects. Also present were delegates from Cross Catholic Outreach, an American charity that has been funding a significant number of them since 2018.

In collaboration with the Italian Church, the Foundation aims at promoting the integral human development of farmers communities (campesinos), indigenous peoples and African Americans of Latin America and the Caribbean. This way, it bears witness to the closeness of the Pope through the works of charity that are accomplished.

In the face of this crisis of global proportions that we are experiencing, these projects are intended to be a tangible sign of the Pope's charity, said a statement issued at the end of the meeting. It also appealed to all Christians and people of goodwill to practice the virtue of charity and solidarity ever better, ensuring that during this pandemic "no one is left behind", as the Holy Father Pope Francis has asked.

Founded in 1992 by Saint Pope John Paul II, on the occasion of the 5th centenary of the evangelization of the Americas, the Foundation is headquartered at the Vaticans Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, while its operations secretariat is in Bogot, Colombia.

There are 3 other foundations for papal charities within the Dicastery, namely, the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, Justice and Peace Foundation and the Good Samaritan Foundation.Vatican News

More here:

Pope finances 168 projects in Latin America and the Caribbean - Malaysian Christian News

Last week, Myriam Jean, Haitis Minister of Tourism, Raina Forbin President of the Haitian Tourist Association (ATH) and Dr. Yves Gaston Delourches, Representative of the Ministry of Public Health indicated that Haiti is considering plans for the reopening of the country as a tourism destination.

The protocol being planned to reopen the tourism sector aims to reassure tourists and operators of the tourism sector and the staff of tourist establishments of prevention against COVID-19.

Meeting to discuss the protocols for reopening the tourism sector, Minister Jean said, Today more than ever, we must reassure travelers, restore confidence in the tourist chain and have a healthy and quality tourist offer in the context of Covid-19, are the objectives of this protocol, stressing that a team from the Ministry will be set up whose mission will be to monitor the proper application of the measures in all tourist establishments.

Raina Forbin gave assurance the ATH will make provisions to guarantee the health protection of tourism employees and tourists who choose Haiti as their tourism destination Haiti, affirming This is what we can do to prove to the whole world that the country is opening again to tourists by full security, stressing that in all establishments with more than 5 employees the presence of a health worker will be compulsory.

Yves Gaston Delourches, recalled We are not at the end of our troubles it is true that the incidences of COVID-19 are decreasing in Haiti but we must remain vigilant. This is why all infection prevention and control measures are part of any protocol to reopen the country to tourists.

View post:

Haiti is Planning to Reopen to Tourists - Caribbean News - caribbeannationalweekly.com

With the Pirates of the Caribbean movies more accessible than ever, and a summer season void of blockbusters, this month were diving deep into Disneys swashbuckling series. Grab your cutlass and hoist the colors: here be Polygons take on all things PotC.

After the critical failure and colossal box office haul of 2011s On Stranger Tides, something had to be done to save the stray-but-viable Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

The answer was obvious: Hire Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem to dwibble oily spittle fwom his mwouth wike a big piwhate baby.

Though known as a handsome Spanish star, Bardem had a history of playing peculiar baddies before stepping on board Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. In 2007, he picked up his Academy Award for playing the bolt-stunner-wielding assassin Anton Chigurh in the Coen brothers No Country for Old Men. Five years later, he faced off against James Bond as the blonde, jawless genius Raoul Silva in Skyfall. If the role required hair, makeup, or costume special effects, Bardem was game, and Dead Men Tell No Tales demanded his greatest transformation.

In directors Joachim Rnning and Espen Sandbergs fivequel, the undead captain Armando Salazar appears to be floating in the water even as he walks the dry deck of a ship. His hair ebbs and flows in the air, suspended by an invisible tide. A crackling set of scars give him a facade akin to Frankensteins monster. Plus hes choking on goo! Disgusting amounts of sludge seep out of his mouth as he talks to the mannequin playing Will Turners son.

As mom-blog Tools 2 Tiaras reported at the time of release, Bardem was not fond of the leaky gunk, but was more than happy to reveal the secrets of the ooze. It was a liquid, he said. They told me it was supposed to be like chocolate, chocolate my ass. That tasted worse than that, so, and they were supposed to put it on the teeth. I said give me that, so I drunk it and then I went to play the first scene, I think it was with Geoffrey Rush and it starts to pour out of my mouth and he was very disgusted. [LAUGHTER] And I thought it was like a rage pouring out, right? Its not blood. Its like the rage of the character coming out, like something more physical, like a bull.

We gave Bardem an Oscar for sporting a horrible bowl cut, but he earns a Razzie for spitting pure rage on Geoffrey Rush? Hollywood makes no goddamn sense!

I wish I could say I will never forget the time I saw Javier Bardem heave black grease out of his mouth as he pontificated on the woes of being an undead sea captain, but the truth is I could barely remember whether or not I saw Dead Men Tell No Tales in theaters. All I remembered was a hazy memory of Bardems goop acting. Was it even as gloriously vile as I thought, or had Rnning and Sandbergs messy character choice been fused with another daring act of oral expulsion that I held in high esteem?

Looking back at Dead Men Tell No Tales, which just arrived to Disney Plus in July, and at my own history of watching characters with leaky orifices, the answer is that the secreting Armando Salazar that I knew was more of a construct than I had ever believed. Without being on the set with a measuring cup, Id estimate Bardem spits out about 1/4th of a cup of black good out of his mouth in his first scene. Spooky, but nothing a few paper towels could handle.

So how did I conjure this exacerbated imagined version of Salazar? Who set the bar for spewing liquid out of ones face? After a journey through the mind, its clear that when I saw Dead Men Tell No Tales the first time, I was under the influence of Kids in the Hall. While I think Bardem deserves an Oscar for bringing obsidian spit up to the big screen, Dave Foley deserves at least 14 Emmys for going the distance in 1995.

Foley was a comedic iconoclast who never saw a bag of foul-looking liquid he couldnt hide under his quote and expel for laughs. In another sketch, he went four minutes on a mock date with a stream of blood shooting out of his ear. In Personal, his boss character is the victim of brown stuff coming out of his mouth. Its tremendous.

Kids in the Hall was in constant rotation on Comedy Central in the late 90s and early 2000s, molding the senses of humor of young lads like I. Twenty years later, when Dead Men Tell No Tales graced the screen, my brain was ready for Armando Salazar to close-talk spit all over his victims while enunciating his words. Foley ran the first leg of the race, and Javier Bardem grabbed the baton. But the performance didnt sit well with audiences who werent as familiar with the art of performative gushing: The movie once again made millions around the world, but wound up with a dismal 30% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Though Salazar met his end in the final scenes of Dead Men Tell No Tales, Rnning and Sandberg are set to return as directors of Pirates 6. To them I would say: double down. Hire Dave Foley. Get the black goo crankin this time. People understand now.

Read this article:

Javier Bardems black mouth goo in Pirates of the Caribbean, explained - Polygon

By Darren Marcy, Manchester Journal

MANCHESTER The taste of the Caribbean is coming to Manchester by way of a Jamaican food trailer that will be setting up across from rk Miles.

The Manchester Select Board approved a request by Everton Brownie, the applicant for the food trailer, to approve his plans to set a 12-foot trailer in the back corner of the parking lot behind H&R Block on Depot Street across from rk Miles.

Brownie is from Jamaica and told the board he plans to bring authentic food from the Caribbean to town as soon as Aug. 20 with the intention of staying open until the end of November, then returning May 1 next year.

In an interview, Brownie said he has been in the area for more than 18 years.

"I worked in the hotel and restaurant industry until I realized that we need a taste of the Caribbean here," Brownie said.

Brownie posted about his plans on his Facebook page three weeks ago with a video showing some of the food, calling it a mixture of Jamaican and American, or Jamerican Cuisine.

That video has been seen nearly 3,000 times and widely shared.

His yellow, black and green trailer, painted to resemble the Jamaican flag, is awaiting decals and name to be stenciled on.

He told the board he has people interested in coming from miles in all directions.

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The board briefly discussed concerns that restaurant owners express about food trucks and trailers not having to invest in locations and competing against them for business.

But select board vice chairman Wayne Bell said that the town is in a different place right now with the emergency going on and the town has gone out of its way to be helpful to all businesses in whatever way possible.

The board agreed they may have to revisit their vending policies at some point but for now, they thought Brownie's plans and location were OK.

They also talked about revisiting the rules regulating whether these food trailers and food carts could have a limited number of places for seating.

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The board could not tackle that because it wasn't warned but promised to revisit it soon.

"We all really appreciate what vending brings to the streetscape," said board chair Ivan Beattie. "It brings energy and excitement."

Main Street Parking

The board also tackled a parking issue on the one-block area of Main Street just north of the Evelyn Street roundabout where four restaurants operate.

Thai Basil, Christos' Pizza & Pasta, Mystic Cafe & Wine Bar, and Union Underground are all located in that small section of Main Street.

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With most restaurants converting largely to pick-up or curbside service, the lack of parking and space to easily pick up to-go orders, the board has made it easier.

Board member Greg Cutler said he thought there should be one on each side of the street.

Bell, the vice-chair, supported that contention.

"Many businesses, without warning, have turned into pick-up businesses," Bell said. "I think this is the least we can do to accommodate them at this point."

The board changed the status of two parking spots, one on each side of the street, into 10-minute only spaces to facilitate customers picking up a to-go order from one of the nearby restaurants.

It was pointed out that it wouldn't only benefit restaurants as there is a bank and other businesses whose customers could utilize those short-term parking spots as well.

With those two spots identified, select board members also considered adding more temporary parking spots in the area, but will wait to look at how it goes.

Contact Darren Marcy at dmarcy@manchesterjournal.com or by cell at 802-681-6534.

If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.

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A taste of the Caribbean coming to Manchester - The Manchester Journal

Reopening the Borders with New Protocols

The top priority for all islands in the region has been a focus on residents and the public health issues at hand. Upon knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic, each island immediately closed its borders, which allowed for a very low number of cases in the region so that the islands could focus on containing the virus transmission without any additional entrants. Given that the Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world, it was essential to develop new protocols for entry, which had never been implemented before, once the virus spread was under control in each country.

Per Honorable Dominic Fedee, Chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism for St. Lucia, "Revenues in St. Lucia went from $110 million a month to $15 million a month with over 15,000 jobs lost." Therefore, understanding the importance of tourism and the safety of their residents, St. Lucia and many other islands unleashed a set of entry protocols, such as the health screening of individuals, including temperature checks; the requirement of face masks in public; and the reduction of restaurant capacity.

In addition, all visitors to the island are required to arrive with a negative COVID-19 test. "Travel restrictions, increased protocols, and management of the COVID-19 situation pose a significant challenge to the reopening of the Caribbean," per Honorable Fedee. Despite a stringent set of protocols in St. Lucia, other islands have struggled with developing these protocols, which has caused a range of confusion for consumers. Per Alex Zozaya, Executive Chairman of Apple Leisure Group, "We should not try and make the protocols a competitive advantage of a destination and of a company. The protocols should be unified, and, currently, they are not." Furthermore, Honorable Fedee noted that the Caribbean Travel Organization (CTO) has been working on generally standardizing protocols for hotels and airports, with some wiggle room for pre-entry testing varying from country to country given the different situations on each island.

Unlike other destinations, island destinations are 100% dependent on airlift, as there are no drive-to markets. Delta Air Lines, and many other carriers, restarted air travel concurrent with the borders reopening. St. Thomas and San Juan have had continuous yet reduced service during the pandemic given their territory and commonwealth statuses with the United States.

In the Caribbean, Jamaica was the first island to resume airlift in June, followed by the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Punta Cana, and Aruba in July. Plans are in the works to return to previously served destinations, such as St. Maarten, Bonaire, and Turks & Caicos, depending on demand and, most importantly, government regulations.

Dale McKinney of Global Sales at Delta Air Lines noted that air travel has changed given the impact of the pandemic. "Delta has invested in resources to add layers of protection through the travel journey and to keep surfaces clean, giving customers more space and offering personal care at all points of the journey." With so many travelers concerned about their safety and cleanliness, airlines are working to regain consumer trust with cleanliness protocols and education about the safety inside of an aircraft. "Aircraft air is recirculated every two to five minutes with fresh outside air or through a HEPA filter, which extracts 99.99% of the particles, including viruses such as the coronavirus." Delta is changing HEPA filters, the same filters that are used in hospital rooms, twice as regularly as recommended, and all flights are sanitized before boarding with high-grade spray, all high-touch surfaces are wiped down, and all customers are required to wear masks. Without air travel, the Caribbean would be unable to function; therefore, it is crucial to educate travelers on the cleanliness protocols on all airlines.

The Caribbean region is predominately driven by the leisure segment, which was immediately shut down at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. As hotels and resorts slowly begin to reopen on an island-by-island basis, some not until late 2020 and into 2021, hoteliers are facing significant reopening challenges, both operationally and financially. Hoteliers now need to have a significant amount of working capital for any reopening expenses and the implementation of new safety and cleanliness protocols. Per Alex Zozaya, "Business has been expensive, and the working capital necessary to reopen the hotels is similar to when the hotel opens from scratch."

In addition to that, the cost of the protocols makes it more expensive to operate. Running all-inclusive hotels with low occupancy becomes a very expensive operation. Mr. Zozaya noted that his resorts are not trying to make money in the short term but are trying to lose as little as possible as they begin to reactivate the industry and encourage travelers to board planes to Caribbean destinations.

Aside from the operational challenges, financial obligations have been a stress point for many owners. Nicholas Hecker, Executive Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Sculptor Real Estate, noted that "For assets that had issues going into COVID-19, the pandemic was the nail in the coffin. Many owners had over-leveraged their assets, had ongoing development delays, or were challenged by budget and operational issues; thus, they are now facing significant issues." Both Mr. Zozaya and Mr. Hecker believe that the recovery for the region will be protracted given the issues, but the historical resiliency of the region will shine through.

The Caribbean region has historically displayed resiliency, with strong recoveries from each challenge faced over the last decade, including the global recession in 2009, the impact of the Zika virus in 2016, and the devastation caused by the 2017 hurricane season. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed new challenges for the region, including how to unify testing, safely open resorts, and have travelers feel comfortable on airplanes.

The recent spikes of COVID-19 cases in select areas of the United States are negatively affecting the recovery in the short term, and hotel operators are struggling to obtain future bookings. As said best by Mr. Zozaya, "Efforts need to be done between private and public sectors to reactivate the Caribbean in five steps. First, islands need to standardize protocols and speak a common language to avoid confusion. Second, investment needs to be spent in promoting the Caribbean region and uniqueness of each island. Third, operators need to be careful with pricing, as demand levels will take time to rebuild. Fourth, island destinations need to reduce dependency of cruise-ship tourism, and, finally, reduce bureaucracy in the Caribbean to move the recovery faster."

We would like to thank the Honorable Dominic Fedee, Chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Minister of Tourism for St. Lucia; Mr. Alex Zozaya, Executive Chairman of Apple Leisure Group; Mr. Nicholas Hecker, Executive Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Sculptor Real Estate; and Mr. Dale McKinney of Global Sales at Delta Air Lines for sharing their valuable insights. For more on their panel discussion, please watch the video below.

Powered by HVS, the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) is the premier industry conference for the region. CHICOS 2020 will welcome governmental representatives, opinion leaders, developers, bankers and other lenders, tourism officials, investment funds, hotel brand executives, individuals/companies seeking investors for their tourism projects, franchise and operations companies, public and private institutions, consultants, advisors, architects, and designersall to discuss the region's markets and possibilities. The 2020 event is slated to take place November 8-10 in Nassau, Bahamas, at The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. We continue to monitor the ongoing situation and remain optimistic that we will be able to meet in person safely. Updates can be found on the conference website.

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Reactivating the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic | By Kristina D'Amico - Hospitality Net

Americans have been warned that severalCaribbeanislands have been identified as high-risk for COVID-19.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)updated its travel health noticesfora number ofcountries in the Caribbean region, placing them under Level Warning 3.

This means US citizens should avoidallnonessential travelto thosedestinations due to the risk of COVID-19.

The countries include:

The CDC notes that if someonegetssick with COVID-19(or tests positive for COVID-19, even iftheyhave no symptoms) while abroad, they may be isolated or not be permitted to return to the United States until they have fully recovered from the illness.

Ifapersonis exposed toCOVID-19 while abroad,that personmay be quarantined or not be permitted to return to the United States until 14 days aftertheirlast exposure.

Some Caribbean countries have also been placed under a Watch Level 1.

This means UStravellersshould practice usual precautionsas over the last 28 days new cases of COVID-19 in these destinations decreased ofstabilised.

The islands under this watch include:

Saint Barthelemy

Saba

Sint Eustatius

Bonaire

The travel recommendations wereupdatedby the CDC on August 6.

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US travellers advised to avoid non-essential travel to Caribbean - Loop News Trinidad and Tobago

Royal Caribbean International President & CEO Michael Bayley spoke to travel advisors on a webinar and spoke on a number of commonly asked topics surrounding the current situation and the cruise line's recovery.

Mr. Bayley spoke for an hour on a varietyof questions that travel agents had submitted prior to the webinar related tothe timing and plans to resume cruises.

The questions were all about the current situation Royal Caribbean is facing in the midst of no sailings and the global health crisis.

A few hours before the webinar, Royal Caribbean announced they had cancelled more cruises, extending their voluntary suspension of cruises through October 31, 2020.

Mr. Bayley indicated that Royal Caribbean is "actively engaged" in the Healthy Sail Panel working on a healthy return to service plan.

He then went on to say that the combination of the CDC requesting public feedback, along with the submission of Royal Caribbean's return to service plan is one of the reasons why there needed to be another month of cancelled cruises.

"We think it's going to take obviously some time for back and forth with with the CDC when they see the full detail of the plan, and they've received all of the public comment."

Another question raised was which ships might start up first, and it looks like Royal Caribbean is still looking at short sailings to begin the return to service.

"I think when we resume service, our thinking is that will probably we'll probably start with short product, Perfect Day, and that'll be the how we'll start phasing in operations."

In addition, Mr. Bayley said during an employee-only call, he is committed to the idea of starting with an employee-only sailing in order to test out the new protocols.

"I said that the first cruise that we will operate through, Royal Caribbean International, will be an all employee cruise, a little bit like a shakedown cruise, because then we can test and take a look at in real-life operations all of the protocols that we're putting into place. And so our first cruise is going to be an employee cruise."

Ultimately, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure when they resume cruises, they do it the right way.

A lot of this is going to be about trust.

Mr. Bayley reiterated a notion conveyed by different Royal Caribbean executives that they want to start cruising again once it makes sense, and not just for the sake of starting up.

"We would never want to resume service unless we were incredibly confident that we could create an environment that was healthier and safer than the environment from which people were coming."

"I think that's really why we're being really thoughtful and taking our time on creating all of the protocols that we we hope we will introduce when they're ready to be introduced."

Included in today's announcement that Royal Caribbean would cancel its sailings through October is the 2020 President's Cruise has also been cancelled.

Mr. Bayley lamented the fact there will not be a sailing this year, but did say he hopes to announce a new sailing for 2021.

"We haven't yet decided when we'll do the 2021 President's Cruise, but we certainly will do it."

"So we'll probably announce in the coming weeks when the next President's Cruise will be."

Some good news is the fact that Royal Caribbean is nearly complete with repatriating crew home.

Mr. Bayley said Royal Caribbean is about 97-98% complete, with some crew facing "unbelievable restrictions".

"One of the positive things that's happened in the past few weeks was that theCDC approved our accruing No Sail order plansand converted many of the ships of Royal Caribbean international and Celebrity to what's called the green code, which means that for 28 days or longer, none of those ships have had any COVID on them whatsoever."

"That green code designation means that the the ability to use commercial air, which which makes logistics a lot simpler."

The big cruise news this week has been smaller European cruise lines have attempted to restart cruising, but have already experienced COVID-19 outbreaks on their ships. This has many questioning what impact it will have on Royal Caribbean's ability to restart sailings.

"It's unfortunate, I think also it just shows it shows what a complex challenge this is."

"It's also interesting that what hasn't been reported is that both TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd, which are larger cruise brands, have been operating now, I think, TUI has now done four cruises without any incident"

Despite the fact that smaller lines will operate in a different way than Royal Caribbean, it is provides a good learning experience to overcome these challenges.

"The last thing we want to do is to return to service and get it wrong. And I think and I think our customers and our travel partners really do expect to get it right. And that's our focus."

See the original post here:

Royal Caribbean CEO updates on resuming cruises, President's cruise, which ships will sail first and more - Royal Caribbean Blog

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 7, 2020: As we get into the hot month of August, heres a simple recipe you can make that is sure to refresh and titillate the taste buds this weekend. Its a chow that you can make using mango, pineapple or cucumbers and its a Trini delicacy. Heres how to make a mango chow.

INGREDIENTS

1-2 green mangos

1/4 teaspoon of salt

Sprinkle of black pepper

1 tablespoon of shado beni or 1/4 cup of cilantro (Optional)

1 lime OR 1 lemon OR a few tablespoons of vinegar to taste

1-2 of your favorite pepper (optional)

1 shallot (optional)

2 cloves of garlic (optional)

METHOD

In a bowl, add sliced pepper of your choice, garlic and shallots. These ingredients are optional based on the level of spice youre trying to achieve in your mango chow.

Wash and peel the mango, slice mango into wedges and place in a bowl

Add salt and pepper

Add your shado beni or cilantro

Squeeze the juice of the lemon or lime, this can also be substituted with vinegar.

Toss the mixture with a spoon, do not use hands if peppers are present in the mixture

Bon Appetite

Read the original here:

Chow It Up This Weekend - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News - News Americas

This snapshot seeks to provide an overview of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Peru. It aims to contribute towards building a solid evidence base to inform targeted responses on the ground, as well as advocacy efforts related to the situation of refugees and migrants during the coronavirus pandemic.

Recommendations

Increase humanitarian assistance in order to limit the impact of the COVID-19 crisis for migrants and refugees.

Prioritize cash-based assistance to ensure that refugees and migrants can cover their most pressing needs.

Disseminate information to increase Venezuelan refugees and migrants awareness of existing assistance programs and how to access them.

Ensure that refugees and migrants are adequately included in government relief programmes.

See the article here:

MMC Latin America and the Caribbean 4Mi Snapshot July 2020 : Impact of COVID-19 on Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Peru - Peru - ReliefWeb

Dominicas commitment to climate resilience through renewable energy, organic agriculture, ecotourism, sustainable infrastructure and a culture of eco-consciousness has provided a strong strategic and ideological underpinning for the Nature Isles social and economic development.

In March, during the pinnacle of the tourist high season, COVID-19 forced the Eastern Caribbean island into lockdown and while only 18 people have been infected to date, all of who recovered, the tourism sector was forced to pick up the pieces.

Luckily, Dominicans know a thing or two about resilience.

No stranger to navigating crisis or to the devastating impacts of climate change, after being mercilessly decimated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, Dominica rebounded within two years, becoming the fastest growing economy in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations (2020).

Dominicas rapid growth is a testament to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrits vision of becoming an example to the world, an example of how an entire nation rebounds from disaster and how an entire nation can be climate resilient for the future.

Determined to become "the world's first climate-resilient nation," governments priorities during the pandemic have been to safeguard its people while making plans to reboot the eco-tourism sector and develop climate resilient homes and infrastructure to support environmentally responsible growth, much of which is being funded by one of the most prestigious Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Programmes in the world.

Dominicas Citizenship By Investment Programme is the backbone of its green growth strategy. The CBIs Economic Diversification Fund is fuelling development projects such as hurricane-proof public housing and a geothermal plant that promises to provide clean energy to 23,000 homes. Would-be citizens also have the opportunity to support the development of the ecotourism sector by investing in select properties, such as The Residences at Secret Bay, a limited luxury collection of fully appointed, sustainable residences.

Dominicas tourism product is a natural fit to the vision of its leadership. Famed for its biodiversity, the second largest boiling lake on earth, active volcanoes, black sand beaches, heavily protected rainforests and the Eastern Caribbeans first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the Nature Isle is a haven for eco-enthusiasts and environmentally conscious travellers.

Emerald Pool Waterfall, Morne Trois Pitons National Park (UNESCO World Heritage List, 1997), ... [+] Dominica. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

Last year, The Financial Times fDi Intelligence service FDI Strategy Ranking selected Dominica as one of the top 20 tourism destinations of the future, placing the island in two awards categories: 'Ecotourism' and 'Health and Wellness Tourism.'

And in July, as many regional hotels began to reopen their doors amid uncertain circumstances, Dominicas Secret Bay Hotel was named the No. 1 Resort Hotel in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas in Travel + Leisure Worlds Best Awards. This is a success that proprietor, Gregor Nassief credits to the Green Globe Certified hotels unwavering commitment to responsible luxury and sustainability.

Basking in the light of well-deserved global recognition, Dominicas government has been making plans to open borders to all travellers on August 7th. Strict protocols have been enforced around entry, hygiene and social distancing and the tourism sector has been briefed on safety standards and operational best practices. Properties such as Secret Bay have been waiting for months to open their doors to visitors.

As an all-villa resort, Secret Bay was designed around social distancing before it was a buzzword, muses Nassief of the propertys freestanding cliff top accommodations, spread across acres of rainforest at a density of structures to land of less than 10 per cent.

In time for reopening, Secret Bay is launching a StayWell Program that supports holistic health and wellness, safety and responsible luxury. In addition to surpassing all of the sanitising and disinfecting protocols, Secret Bay is introducing immune-boosting remedies like morning wellness "shots" consisting of turmeric, ginger, moringa, kale, cucumber, wild honey, beetroot, local oranges and pineapples, and a superfood turndown.

Overhead view of Secret Bay Hotel

Secret Bay has also launched a backyard garden program, inspired by the Ministry of Agricultures backyard garden initiative that was introduced as a way for families to sustainably support themselves during COVID-19. Each villa has its own garden where guests can forage for provisions like assorted herbs, Asian leafy greens, chives/spring onions, lettuce and tomatoes.

In November 2019, at a pre-independence speech, Prime Minister Skerrit reminded Dominicans of how far they had come.

We are back. Our country is on the cusp of a very exciting and dynamic period, he declared.

In Dominica we have much for which to be thankful and to give praise. First and foremost, we are no longer the Cinderella sibling of the Caribbean family; were up there with the brightest and the best.

See more here:

Green Growth Has Made Dominica The Fastest Growing Economy In The Caribbean - Forbes