One of the coolest listings to hit the Caribbean real estate market this month is a gorgeous colonial home in the heart of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Listed by Puerto Rico Sothebys International Realty, the home at 250 Norzagaray Street in Puerto Ricos historic capital has hit the market at $3.9 million.

The exquisite 16th century building has seven bathrooms, seven bathrooms and a total of 8,113 interior square feet.

It actually spans an entire block of the old quarter, with views of the sea, a gourmet kitchen and even a wine cellar.

According to Sothebys, the layout of the home means it can be used as a single-family home or converted into three separate properties.

Old San Juan has long been one of the most enchanting neighborhoods in the wider Caribbean, and this is a rather unique property.

For more, visit 250 Norzagaray.

CJ

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Caribbean Home: A Mansion in the Heart of Old San Juan - Caribbean Journal

Gay Nagle Myers

How is Christmas celebrated Caribbean-style?

Since today is Christmas Eve, it may be too late to book a flight to witness a jolly Santa, garbed in a stocking hat and swim trunks and toting a sack full of toys, glide in on a surfboard, step onto a white sand beach and dole out gifts to good boys and girls. But to visit the region during the Festive Season, as it is dubbed in the Caribbean, is to be a witness to and a participant in holiday traditions and customs that reflect the history of the islands of the region.

As visions of sugar plums dance in our heads here at home, down in the islands the festival fever extends well into January.

In St. Croix, for example, the month-long, islandwide Crucian Christmas Festival in both Christiansted and Frederiksted features calypso shows, soca competitions, steel pan orchestras, quadrille dancers, horse races, pageants, face painting for the kiddos, Latin music venues, food fairs with johnny cakes, roti and plenty of coquito. These festivities morph right into the Crucian Carnival celebrations, with the finale on Jan. 4 with Jump Up events: huge, town-wide parties with live music and performances by costumed mocko jumbie dancers who perch on tall stilts high in the air above the crowds.

Puerto Rico's holiday traditions continue through to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian Jan. 15 through 19 that marks the unofficial closing of the long holiday season.

During the multiday celebrations, Old San Juan is taken over by live music, circus performances and impromptu dancing on every street corner.

By day the plazas and streets are filled with local artists and artisans showcasing their wares. Once the sun goes down, concerts and parties take place across the walled city into the wee hours.

Puerto Ricans love parrandas, their version of caroling where friends and family go from house to house, surprising people with live music and food.

The lifesize gingerbread house at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort.

Visitors who stop in (or stay at) the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf and Beach Resort will get an opportunity for an Instagram-worthy photo of the resort's life-sized edible gingerbread house, created by the resort's pastry team and on display through early January.

Ingredients included 75 pounds of butter, 132 pounds of chocolate, three pounds of cinnamon and 600 eggs.Visitors to Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and many other islands during the holiday period will be treated to black cake, a rich fruitcake whose ingredients include a mix of spices and fruits soaked in wine and lots of rum for several months.

Jamaica also hosts the Grand Market, a holiday tradition that features pop-up markets across the island in December with decorated vendor stalls selling toys, gift items and food.

These festive markets stay open late with music throughout the night.

Haitians place a large nativity scene under the pine Christmas trees in their homes and in the markets. Anisette, a mild alcoholic beverage prepared by soaking anise leaves in rum and sweetened with sugar, is the traditional beverage served on Christmas Day.

A traditional Jamaican holiday meal is a spread with baked ham, chicken, oxtail or curried goat, accompanied by yampi (sweet yam), rice and gungo peas.

Sorrel wine, a sweet Caribbean-style cocktail, is the official drink of the festive season in Jamaica as well as in Trinidad, Montserrat and Antigua.

The tart-and-tangy holiday punch is made with dried sorrel (hibiscus seeds) spiced with cloves, fresh ginger, pimento and laced with white rum.

Holiday drinks of choice include ponche de crema eggnog with added rum in Trinidad and Tobago, and shrub beverage (local rum infused with spices and clementine orange peels) in Guadeloupe.

The main dishes for Christmas dinner vary across most of the islands, but it's common for a whole hog or goat to be slaughtered for the grand meal that day, served alongside macaroni pie, baked ham and turkey, Johnny cakes, plantains and potato pudding, topped off by black cake for dessert. The most popular dessert in the French-speaking islands is buche de Noel (Christmas log).

Antigua's Christmas celebrations include the moko jumbie dancers, while Montserrat and St. Kitts feature a full calendar of musical and beauty competitions, fetes and parades right through the New Year.

Christmas day in Barbados is marked by musical performances by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, tuk bands and gospel singers at Queens Park in Bridgetown.

Throughout the holiday season on Aruba, gaita bands perform at public venues all over the island. The music originated in Venezuela, and gaita bands are composed of a female singer accompanied by musicians on piano, tambu drum and guitars.

The Cayman Islands' National Trust hosts a Christmas Lights bus tour so visitors can sample beef and cassava cake during a tour of local homes and gardens decked out for the season.

Junkanoo Festival in the Bahamas runs from Boxing Day on Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

From 1 a.m. through the early morning hours, downtown streets in Nassau and on many of the Out Islands are abuzz with parades of exuberant performers in colorful horned masks who drum and dance through the streets to the sounds of goatskin drums and cowbells.

Guadeloupe wraps up its Christmas and New Year's celebrations with the start of its lively Carnival season on Jan. 1 that runs through March 6. Dance marathons, song contests and parades are centered in the capital of Basse-Terre.

In Bermuda, visitors and locals gather at Elbow Beach for food, drink and music on Christmas day followed by the arrival of the Gombies on Boxing Day, traditional troupes of costumed dancers who move to the rhythms of goatskin drums, tin whistles and beer bottles.

Read more:

Celebrating the Festive Season in the Caribbean - Travel Weekly

By Karen KalunianSpecial to The Journal

ThursdayDec26,2019at5:28PMDec26,2019at5:42PM

Luna is sweet, smart, playful and adorable 10-month-old potcake (a type of mixed-breed dog found on Caribbean islands) who traveled to Rhode Island all the way from Haiti. She's awaiting adoption in Glocester.

If you have been thinking about adding a new family member, think about meeting Luna. She has all the great qualities you would want in a pet.

Luna is sweet, smart, playful and adorable. She is a 10-month-old potcake (a type of mixed-breed dog found on Caribbean islands) who traveled to Rhode Island all the way from Haiti. She is available at the Abandoned Dogs of Rhode Island at 29 Paris Irons Rd. in Glocester. Call them at (401) 568-7000 for more information about Luna. Go meet Luna, and you will fall in love!

If you know of an animal in need, please contact Karen directly at ilovedogs1920@gmail.com

Link:

Pet of the Week: Caribbean native Luna is looking to settle in R.I. - The Providence Journal

Where to Jamaica Jeffs in Belmont Center, in the space that formerly housed the restaurant Kashish Indian Cuisine. Now its done up with flags of the Caribbean, brightly colored tables, and a shiny blue motorcycle in the storefront window. Its been open for two months.

Why To slip into one of the 14 tables and feel happy. At lunch, for the moment, owner Jeff Lasseter is the waiter and hes a welcoming, enthusiastic host, delighted youre in his place. Hell offer you everything but the aqua blue Caribbean water and snorkeling equipment.

The Back Story Lasseter, who was known as Jamaica Jeff when he lived in Kingston, Jamaica, while working for the US State Department, got to know and love the the food and drink of the region. He was assigned to all the neighboring islands and had lived in Barbados (and Africa, South America, Europe, and Southwest Asia). For some of his time abroad, his family stayed in Belmont, so he decided it was the ideal place to open a restaurant.

What to Eat Jerk chicken (youll gnaw the bones), baby back ribs, jerk pork, fried or sauteed fish of the day, Caesar with plump shrimp, a wedge of citrusy, creamy Key Lime pie, and more.

What to Drink Lasseter has one of Belmonts coveted all-alcohol licenses. He built a bar with 12 seats he did much of the renovation himself and offers Red Stripe lager (from Jamaica), along with Carib beer (Trinidad and Tobago), and Banks (Barbados); many rums, including Mount Gay (Barbados), Kirk and Sweeney (Dominican Republic), Havana Club rum, local craft beers, wine, and a full bar.

The Takeaway The owner says he hired the first dozen high school students, with or without experience, who came in looking for a wait staff job. He wants them to put down their phones, learn life skills, and interact with the community. Theyre learning as they go. (Lasseter is a dad of two teenagers.) This is a real neighborhood place with an attentive, indefatigable host who wants very much for you to enjoy yourself. And with a background of calypso, afrobeats, soca, dancehall, and reggae, you cant help but get into the spirit. 61 Leonard St., Belmont Center, Belmont, 617-484-5333, http://www.facebook.com/JamaicaJeffs.

Sheryl Julian can be reached at sheryl.julian@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @sheryljulian.

Excerpt from:

Jamaica Jeffs in Belmont Center offers flavors of the Caribbean - The Boston Globe

Rainbow-coloured drinks with tropical names and fruit-inspired flavours are the beverage of choice for many children in the Caribbean. But happy neon tongues and adorable food dyed lips disguise a public health crisis that is anything but cute. With a single serving of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) exceeding the World Health Organisations daily-recommended maximum sugar intake, and in a region where there are more soft drinks consumed than anywhere else in the world, SSBs have been linked to the Caribbeans deadly childhood obesity epidemic.

The Caribbean exhibits some of the highest rates of childhood obesity globally, says Maisha Hutton, Executive Director of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, a Caribbean Non-Communicable Diseases alliance of over 100 organisations. One in every three Caribbean children is obese and at risk for developing non-communicable diseases including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

"Happy neon tongues and adorable food dyed lips disguise a public health crisis that is anything but ... [+] cute."

Excessive consumption of sweet beverages is one the major drivers of obesity, yet most Caribbean children are still consuming carbonated drinks loaded with sugars on a daily basis, continues Hutton.

It has been found that the odds of obesity in children increase by approximately 60% with each additional serving of a sugary drink per day. (Francis et. al, 2009)

Fizzy, sugary drinks on a supermarket shelf. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

According to the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, approximately 75% of Trinidadian students between the ages of 13 and 15 consume carbonated sugar sweetened beverages every day. In Barbados, it is more than 73%. In Jamaica, it is almost 70%. In the Bahamas, it is 69% and in St. Kitts and Nevis, it is 62%.

The typical 12-ounce can of soda or any sugar sweetened beverage has around 40 grams of added sugar which adds calories with no essential nutrients and accounts for at least 40% of the added sugar in Caribbean childrens diets. (Pan American Health Organisation)

Children aged 2-18 years are advised to consume less than 25 grams of sugar daily (WHO), yet popular beverages from the region, such as Canada Dry Ginger Ale (35g sugar/container), Fanta Orange (48g sugar/container), Pinehill Passion fruit (32g sugar/container), Vita Malt (46g sugar/container), Frutee Red (68g sugar/ container), Angostura Lemon Lime Bitters (37g sugar/ container) and Tiger Malt (31g sugar/ container) all exceed the maximum recommended amount in just one serving.

It is no wonder that, according to the Global Atlas on Childhood Obesity, three Caribbean nations (Dominica, the Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) are among the top twenty countries in the world with the highest risk of having a significant childhood obesity problem in the coming decade.

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition and its regional member civil society organisations have been working collaboratively across the Caribbean since 2017 to advocate for healthy nutrition policies which tackle unhealthy diets and in particular the unacceptably high levels of overweight and obese Caribbean children.

Urgent action is needed to ban the sale and promotion of sweet beverages in schools, tax sweet beverages and make front of package nutrition warning labels mandatory. Strong public education is needed to inform the general public about the dangers of excess consumption of sugar and the levels of sugar in the beverages commonly consumed, says Hutton.

Taxation has proven to be a successful strategy in curbing the consumption of sweet drinks. According to the Pan American Health Organisation, Price elasticity models for SSB sales estimate a 6-16% reduction with a tax rate of 10%. These measures have already been put in place in Barbados, Dominica and St. Lucia and the rest of the region appears to be supportive of the tax.

A 2019 Jamaican survey found that 82% of Jamaicans support the sugary drinks tax if the proceeds go towards funding obesity prevention programmes, particularly for children, while 71% are supportive of a sugary drinks tax in general.

In 2015, Barbados imposed taxes on carbonated soft drinks, juice drinks, sports drinks and fruit juices, with mixed findings. While there was a 4.3% decline in SSB sales and an increase of 7.5% in bottled water sales during the first year of implementation, a recent study found evidence suggesting that consumers responded to the price increase by purchasing cheaper sugary drinks that are typically associated with higher levels of sugar.

One of the most critical policy priorities is the restriction of sugar sweetened beverage sales in schools. Regulation banning or restricting the sale and marketing of SSBs already exists in the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada (from January, 2020), Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Despite regulatory impediments to consumption, at an average of 1.9 eight-ounce servings per day, the Caribbean continues to have the highest recorded consumption levels of sugar sweetened beverages in the world (Singh et al. 2015). This has lead to weight gain, increasing the risk of obesity, with direct links to cancers, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Latin America and the Caribbean has the highest absolute mortality related to SSB consumption in the world and among the 20 countries with highest SSB-related deaths, at least 8 of them are in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Singh et al. 2015)

Given that childrens health and nutritional choices are guided by adults, childhood obesity is a social justice issue and should be addressed as such by policy makers, parents and schools. Allowing children to consume sugary drinks on a regular basis is a violation of Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that provides for the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.

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Sugary Beverages Are Feeding A Childhood Obesity Epidemic In the Caribbean - Forbes

Bellegarde Anba Tonl

Bellegarde Anba Tonl (Bellegarde, 2018)

Canadian percussionist and composer Daniel Bellegarde exploresthe encounters of 19th century European ballroom dance music with themusical genres from the French-speaking Caribbean on Anba Tonl.

The modernized styles featured on Anba Tonl include contradans(square dance), the quadrilles of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Dominica;minuet-congo of Haiti; and Haitian twoubadou guitar music.

Bellegarde brought in musicians from diverse backgrounds who play typically European instruments like the violin and hurdy gurdy along with a wide range of percussion instruments and French Creole vocals.

Based in Montreal, Bellegarde has performed with numerousartists in the Quebec music scene as well as Cirque du Soleil.

The lineup includes Daniel Bellegarde on percussion and manouba (thumb piano); David Boulanger on violin; Hassan El Hadi on banjo and ud; Marco Jeanty on lead vocals; Toto Laraque on guitar, bass and banjo; Erik West-Millette on acoustic and electric bass; The Kreol Supremes Choir: Sylphir Soulafy, Cynthia Soudin and Cynthia Cantave; Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy-gurdy; Diol Kidi and Sacha Daoud on percussion; Frtiz Pageot on bass manouba; Francis Franklin Brisebois on guitar, bass and banjo; Jean Christophe Germain on violin; Bruno Rouyere on vocals; and Olivier St-Pierre on lap steel, manouba, mandolin, guitar, bass and banjo.

Buy Anba Tonl

Author: Angel RomeroAngel Romero y Ruiz has been writing about world music music for many years. He founded the websites worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. Angel produced several TV specials for Metropolis (TVE) and co-produced Musica NA, a music show for Televisin Espaola (TVE) in Spain that featured an eclectic mix of world music, fusion, electronica, new age and contemporary classical music. Angel also produced and remastered world music albums, compilations and boxed sets for Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Music of the World.

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Fascinating Recreations of 19th Century Caribbean Dance Music - World Music Central

BORIS Johnson and girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrived today at the 20,000-a-week, six-bedroom Caribbean villa where they will see in the New Year.

The couple arrived at the island paradise of Mustique to rest up after the hard-fought election campaign.

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They couple celebrate the PMs dominant election win at the Oceanus, a Moroccan-style house nestled on the hilltops of Mustique.

Guests can pick from one of three private pools and will be looked after by a team of staff including a butler, housekeeper and private gourmet chef.

Boris and Carrie will be staying with the German aristocratic Von Bismarck family at the rented villa, although it is not clear who is picking up the tab.

However, the PM is understood to have paid for their British Airways flight.

After landing on a nearby island, the couple then took a small plane to Mustique.

Each of the villas master suites faces the ocean, offering romantic sunset evenings, while the property is made of natural materials.

A brochure for the villa says: The open air plan provides the perfect balance of indoor and outdoor living spaces.

"Multiple sunset decks and lounge areas with seven lighted water features make the property well suited for entertaining.

This tranquil villa rests harmoniously on a hilltop overlooking Britannia Bay, which offers perfect trade wind breezes and panoramic views of the surrounding Caribbean and lush landscape of the island.

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Mustique is a favourite of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and is home to singers Mick Jagger and Bryan Adams, and the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.

Singer Harry Styles won a drinking competition on the island earlier this year.

It is owned by the Mustique Company, which is controlled by the islands residents.

PMs hol upgrade

BORIS and Carries luxury break is a cut above those taken by previous PMs.

His predecessor Theresa May goes on annual walking holidays around Snowdonia, Wales.

David Cameron was a regular visitor to Cornwall but took wife Samantha to Lanzarote for a short break.

And in 2009, Gordon Brown took his family to the Lake District.

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Inside the 20,000-a-week Caribbean villa where Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds will celebrate New Year - The Sun

There are so many different wants to enjoy a luxury holiday, and there are so many ways to reach a destination like the Caribbean. One idea, that sticks out in our mind, is a cruise. If you don't like being out at sea then it might be a bit of a challenge, but if you're able to overcome that, there's a whole world full of possibilities available.

The idea of drifting from place to place without having to lift a finger is a pretty remarkable thing, and it's even more unbelievable once you consider all of the amazing advancements that have been made in this form of travel over the years. From pillar to post, the desire and intrigue surrounding cruises is at all all-time high.

Of course, with so many endless islands to explore there are plenty of options out there regarding the Caribbean, many of which come across as being perfectly valid. However, while there are different companies to enjoy and speak of, we're decided to narrow it down to three that really do seem to put the interests of the people first.

There's a wide variety of places that the Royal Caribbean can jet off too, but in particular, we enjoy their getaways to places like Aruba and Curacao.

One of the biggest issues with air travel is that you sometimes miss out on the specific locations that might otherwise fly under the radar. From the architecture to the beaches, there isn't all too much not to adore - and beyond that, there's quite an astonishing volume of beaches to enjoy in both of the islands that we've just mentioned.

You can tell by the name that the Caribbean is the priority, and they really do put everything they've got into giving customers what they want.

Disney has already established that they're great at an awful lot of things - and one particular trait that we feel isn't appreciated is their phenomenal variety of cruises. It's a little bit rugged, but one of the best locations that the Disney Cruise Line heads to is Jamaica. When you truly peel back the curtain, there's so much to love about this exotic paradise.

Then you've got Puerto Rico which is just littered with so much culture that it'll be coming out of your ears. We like how unconventional these destinations are painted out to be, because Disney takes those stereotypes and throws them directly in the trash where they belong.

There's an edge to these places that you just aren't going to find anywhere else in the world, and we can all but guarantee you'll leave a different person to the one that arrived (in a good way).

The rich and the famous come out to play with Seabourn - especially when you're paying thousands upon thousands of dollars to jet around the finest parts of the Caribbean seas.

The stop-off in Saint Barthelemy is always great, mainly because it's the sort of island that redefines what it means to be high-end. Then there's Guadeloupe, where it's quite literally impossible not to stop and take in the magnificence that surrounds you from every direction.

Nich is a word that's thrown around a lot and isn't always given the best connotations, but trust us when we say that these destinations will leave you begging your friends and family members to return.

Oh, and how can you not love a place that has a runway which flies directly over the beach? It's like something out of a James Bond movie.

Survey Says Two Weeks Vacation Is Not Enough For Most Of Us

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These Cruises Go To The Most Stunning Caribbean Destinations - TheTravel

Canadian travel giant Sunwing is launching a new Caribbean destination: Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

The tour operator has announced a new seasonal flight service from Toronto to Grand Cayman, with service set to launch from Feb. 2, 2020 through May 3, 2020.

We are excited to be offering travellers departing from Toronto Pearson even more ways to Vacation Better this winter with the addition of this new destination. With its pristine beaches and picturesque landscapes, were sure that Grand Cayman will be a popular choice amongst Torontonian sun-seekers.

The flights will be operating once-weekly on Sundays, a big boost for Cayman from the important Canadian market.

We are so pleased to welcome Sunwing in offering Canadians with more opportunities to visit the Cayman Islands, said Rosa Harris, director of tourism at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. We are proud to share our exceptional attractions, from our pristine Seven Mile Beach to the Crystal Caves and, as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, our diverse and exceptional restaurants.

Sunwing has a broad footprint across the wider Caribbean region.

The company said it would be highlighting Grand Caymans Margaritaville Beach Resort on Seven Mile Beach for travelers from Toronto.

CJ

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Sunwing Is Launching Its First-Ever Flights to Grand Cayman - Caribbean Journal

Alongside works of art created by their better-known Tano peers, the exhibition will present objects created by the artists of the Tairona in northern Colombia, the diverse kingdoms in the Isthmus of Panama and Costa Rica, and the networks of sculptor communities in the Ula Valley, Honduras. Objects created from luxury materials including greenstone, shell, gold, and marble will underscore the range of trade connections between Caribbean peoples. In a fourth section, the exhibition will explore the ancestral legacies into the 20th century and today by incorporatingRumblings of the Earth (Rumor de la tierra), 1950, by painter Wifredo Lam (Cuban, 19021982), on loan from theSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum will offer a variety of educational programs in 2020, including anArtists on Artworksevent, a lecture,Conversations With a Curator(bilingual in English and Spanish),TeenCareer Lab, and aFamily Afternoon(for families with children ages 311).

These programs are made possible by The Reed Foundation.

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Artistic Treasures of Caribbean Civilizations - Art & Object

It turns out that the Caribbean is one of the most fascinating places on the planet: who knew? The answer: everyone who has ever taken the time to go there. From the people to the weather and beyond it's a tremendous place - but beneath the surface, one anecdote we really enjoy more so than anything else is their beaches.

They're big, they're beautiful, and they're so unbelievably unique. With over 700 islands you would think they may, on the off occasion, run out of stunning destinations to fill up: but nature is a pretty wonderful thing.

Alas, you should trust us when we say that the weather alone doesn't make the Caribbean a home run of a place to go if chilling out on the beach is your main agenda on holiday. It's worth so much more than that.

So if deciding where to go next summer is still a source of contention, allow us to put your minds at ease.

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you: the sand really is that white.

Alongside the beautiful colors, you've also got the great sights and sounds, many of which spread across this insanely gorgeous beach that is known almost as much for its unbelievable width.

Just picture hanging out down the beach, playing some baseball and taking in the weather with a nice cold one.Oranjestad, as a whole, is a super friendly and charming down that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

We all have work-related stresses because that's life, but here, you really do feel like they just fall away into irrelevancy.

As far as a form of rehabilitation goes, we'd argue that's a pretty successful tactic. Congrats, Aruba.

That water is so crystal blue that we might need to start asking Walter White some questions. This two-mile-long beach features bars, restaurants and just about everything in-between. It gives off a really secluded vibe, too, which is great for those of us who just need to escape from time to time.

Once you sit back and allow yourself to fall in love with Shoal Bay, three hours will go by and it'll feel like three minutes. There's also lots of open ground and hills for people to walk or run along, and while that isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, there are going to be very few opportunities in your life when you're able to stretch your legs on a patch of land as breathtaking as this.

Snorkeling and swimming are particularly popular activities here, and so is the fact that the mountains descend upon the ocean to make for a fantastic contrast between land and sea. If you looked up only at the top half you'd think you're in Cornwall, with the bottom representing paradise.

The huts alone make us want to jump on a plane with our swim shorts at the ready, but of course, there's so much more to it than that.

It's not too crowded, it's not too noisy, and it doesn't really matter who you're going with either. There are families to be found from head to toe to go right alongside couples that have gone for a quick break in the sun.

Plus, and we can't understate how important this point is, the frozen drinks on offer will quite literally blow your mind as you attempt to deal with the relentless heat.

Why Picking The Window Seat On A Plane Means You're Selfish

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The Most Stunning Caribbean Beaches To Visit This Winter - TheTravel

The worlds largest airline launched a pair of new routes this week to a Caribbean destination on the rise: St Thomas.

The latest boosts to St Thomas tourism renaissance came with the arrival of new winter flights from both Chicago OHare and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Both of those nonstop flights will be operating weekly on Saturdays, now through April 4, 2020, St Thomas tourism officials confirmed to Caribbean Journal.

The Chicago-St Thomas flight will be running on an Airbus A319 with 128 seats, while the Dallas-St Thomas flights are operating on Boeing 757s with 176 seats.

American Airlines is pleased to provide nonstop service to the beautiful island of St. Thomas from these importanthubs, saidAlfredo Gonzalez,Americans Managing Director, Caribbean, in a statement We would like to thank the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, and other agencies for working seamlessly with us to make these flights possible.

The new routes come as St Thomas tourism sector, still recovering from the storms of 2017, welcomed back the US Virgin Islands leading hotel, the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas, which reopened its doors at the end of last month.

That complements a strong contingent of hotels that have been operating in St Thomas for some time now, from the beloved Bolongo Bay Beach Resort (Iggys, anyone?) to the Secret Harbour hotel.

And the USVIs most popular destination will this year see the launch of two more hotels: the transformed Frenchmans Reef Marriott Resort and Spa, and a new hotel called Noni Beach, a St Thomas Resort. The latter will be a member of Marriotts Autograph Collection, with the combined openings totaling more than $200 million investment.

American is also adding more flights to St Thomas out of Miami, with a third daily flight that launched earlier this week.

We are delighted to inaugurate these flights which open up and enhance the very important Chicago and Texas markets, said Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. We are very happy with the deepening of our partnership with American Airlines and look forward to working with their team to bolster airlift to our Territory this winter and beyond.

St Thomas also serves as a crucial air hub for the neighboring British Virgin Islands, which will undoubtedly see a benefit due to the increased air capacity, too. (While travelers can fly to Tortola through airports like San Juan on Cape Air, St Thomas-Tortola ferry service is also a very popular option).

The new routes are an important sign of confidence from American, and part of a wider Caribbean expansion American is undertaking throughout the second half of this month.

CJ

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American Airlines Kicks Off Two New Nonstop Routes to St Thomas - Caribbean Journal

Boris Johnson has faced fresh anger fornot visiting flood-hit parts of the countryafter it emerged that he is not expected to travel to stricken areas over Christmas.

Despite floods having hit parts of Cornwall, Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk, and warnings being in place across the country, the prime ministers spokespersonsaid there were no plans for him to visit the affected areas.

Opposition parties accused Mr Johnson of being perfectly comfortable weathering the storm from the comfort of his own home.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

The Environment Agency has issued 200 flood warnings and alerts, mainly in the south of England, and further rain is forecast before Christmas and on Boxing Day. In some areas, families have had to be evacuated from their homes and risk being unable to return before Christmas.

Mr Johnsons official spokesperson said: We are working closely with the Environment Agency. The EA is monitoring the rainfall and river levels, and they have crews on the ground already operating defences. We will be keeping the closest possible eye on it.

The Independent compares Boris Johnson's victory to Donald Trump's in America, branding it a "post-truth" election

The Guardian focuses on Jeremy Corbyn's loss, as well as the Tory win

The Times leads with an image of the prime minister with his dog, calling his win a "landslide"

The i simply said: "Johnson unleashed"

The Daily Mail was triumphant after the Conservative win, saying the result "will finally see Brexit delivered"

The Daily Mirror called the result a "NIGHTMARE BEFORE XMAS"

Daily Star led with a picture of Labour's Diane Abbott, claiming she wore two left shoes on Thursday

The Telegraph called it a "historic victory"

The prime minister was heckled during visits to flood-hit parts of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire last month, with one local resident asking him: Why has it taken you so long?

Mr Johnson will spendChristmas in Downing Street with his girlfriend, Carrie Symonds.

He is reportedlythenset to travel to Mustiquewith Ms Symonds to see in the new year. The exclusive Caribbean island is a favourite of the royal familyand a host of A-list celebrities. Mr Johnson is expected to be hosted by the Von Bismarck family of German aristocrats.

Criticising Mr Johnson for not visiting the flooded areas, Wera Hobhouse, the LiberalDemocratMP for Bath, said: With so many flood warnings in place across the UK, hundreds of families are facing the awful prospect of being forced out of their homes over the Christmas period.

The fact that, once again, the prime minister isnt even planning to visit flood-hit communities says it all. This is a man who is perfectly comfortable weathering the storm from the comfort of his own home, rather than confronting the grim reality that hundreds of people across the UK are having to deal with.

The government needs to recognise that current flood protection is inadequate. It must invest in better flood defences to ensure these scenarios are not repeated time and again.

On Monday, Prince Charlesvisited the Yorkshire village of Fishlake, which was hit by floods last month, and spent two hours talking to residents, police officers, firefighters and soldiers.

He is also understood to have made a donation to the flood relief fund.

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Boris Johnson criticised for not visiting flood-hit areas before jetting off to Caribbean - The Independent

Its official: Texas soon will be home to one of the worlds biggest cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean has recently said its massive, 5,484-passenger Allure of the Seas will begin sailing out of Galveston, Texas, in November 2021 following the completion of a new cruise terminal for the line at the citys port.

The announcement comes after the finalization of a deal between Royal Caribbeans parent company and the Port of Galveston to build the $100 million terminal, which has been in the works for more than a year. The two parties signed final contracts on the project on Dec.12.

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At 225,282 tons, Allure of the Seas is the fourth-largest cruise ship in the world. Unveiled in 2010, its one of Royal Caribbeans four giant Oasis Class vessels, which are more than 20% bigger than any other cruise vessels afloat. The series includes the recently unveiled Symphony of the Seas, the current size leader in the cruise world.

The arrival of Allure of the Seas in Texas will be a major milestone in the history of cruising out of the state. The 18-deck-high, 1,187-foot-long ship is more than 40% bigger than the biggest cruise vessel now sailing out of Galveston (Royal Caribbeans 3,798-passenger Liberty of the Seas).

Until now, Royal Caribbeans Oasis Class ships mostly have sailed out of the major Florida cruise hubs such as Miami and Fort Lauderdales Port Everglades, as well as select ports in Europe. Royal Caribbean also soon will be deploying an Oasis Class ship to the New York area.

We are excited to partner with the Port of Galveston to develop a world-class facility which will allow us to sail our newest, largest and most innovative ships from Texas, Royal Caribbeans president and CEO, Michael Bayley, said in a statement after the signing of the terminal deal.

Bayley said the new terminal would allow Royal Caribbean to increase its passenger count on ships sailing out of the port by 50%. In addition to Liberty of the Seas, the lines smaller, 2,252-passenger Enchantment of the Seas also currently sails out of Galveston.

Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles

Cruising out of Galveston has been booming, with passenger numbers up more than 13% in 2018, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This year, the port will handle more than 1 million cruise passengers for the first time. Thatll make it the fourth-busiest cruise port in the U.S., after Floridas Port of Miami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades.

Royal Caribbeans parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., will build the new terminal but wont own it. Royal Caribbean will lease the site from the port for an initial term of 20 years that can be extended. The company said the new terminal will be a two-story, 170,000-square-foot structure with state-of-the-art technology such as mobile check-in and facial recognition to expedite passenger arrivals. Construction will begin in April.

Designed for vacationers who love big, bustling megaresorts, the Oasis Class ships are chock full of more deck-top attractions and interior lounges, bars, restaurants and showrooms than any other cruise vessel.

Like its sisters, Allure of the Seas boasts three main pool areas; a separate, adults-only outdoor lounge area; an outdoor aquatheater with diving shows; an ice skating rink; two rock climbing walls; a basketball court; a massive spa; and a mall-like indoor promenade with shops, bars and places to eat. Theres also an open-air, tree-lined area called Central Park with more restaurants, bars and upscale shops; and one of the biggest showrooms at sea.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

In advance of its sailings out of Galveston, Allure of the Seas will undergo a $165 million overhaul that will bring even more attractions, including the ships first deck-top water slides and one of the tallest dry slides at sea. The latter attraction, called Ultimate Abyss, will drop nine decks (from the Sports Zone on Deck 16 to the Boardwalk area on Deck 6). Royal Caribbean says this is a 10-deck drop, but dont be fooled: Theres no Deck 13 on Allure of the Seas.

Both the water slides and the Ultimate Abyss attraction already can be found on the three other Oasis Class ships.

Allure of the Seas currently sails to the Caribbean and Bahamas out of Port Everglades. Its scheduled to move to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2020 before returning to Florida in late 2020 for sailings out of Miami and Port Canaveral. Once in Galveston, itll operate seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries with stops in Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

Feature photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

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One of the worlds biggest cruise ships is heading to Texas - The Points Guy

Jamaica and West Indies women cricketer Stafanie Taylor was named in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-Day International (ODI) Team of the Year.

In a year that saw some disappointing results from West Indies women, Taylors performance stood out. With the responsibility of captain on her shoulders coupled with the absence of Deandra Dottin, Taylor tapped into her unwavering work ethic to earn her place among the best ODI players of 2019.

Amassing 472 runs in 11 innings, Taylor is also listed second place in ICC Womens ODI players ranking for both batting and all-rounders.

Cricket West Indies Director, Jimmy Adams commenting on Taylors achievement said: On behalf of Cricket West Indies and the wider Caribbean public in general, I wish to recognize and congratulate Stafanie for being selected into the ICCs International One Day Team of the Year. Stafanie continues, after so many years, to be the standard bearer not just for womens cricket in the West Indies but for our cricket in general.

Taylor is the leading runs-scorer in West Indies womens cricket history, second on the all-time run-scorers in womens T20 International cricket and fifth all-time in womens ODI cricket.

The ICC Team of the Year is headed by Alyssa Healey (wicket-keeper)- Australia with Indians Smriti Mandhana second. Taylor is listed sixth on the list.

Posted 4:12 pm, December 26, 2019

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Stafanie Taylor named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year - Caribbean Life

Pirates of the Caribbeanis one of the most successful and loved movie franchises of all time. Since 2003, the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Barbossa have thrilled audiences around the world and increased the demand for more movies starring those characters. However, while the original trilogy was fantastic, the movies that followed this trilogy were mixed. The most recent movie has even led many critics to describe the series as tired.

RELATED:10 Things The Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot Needs

This article will give 5 reasons why we need a sixth movie and 5 reasons we need a reboot.

From a business standpoint, perhaps the clearest reason why there should be a sequel is characterrecognition. The main reason why many people went to watch the latestPiratesmovie, despite the poor reviews, was the chance to see another adventure from Captain Jack Sparrow.

While a reboot could be a better movie, the simple box office draw of seeing the iconic characters from the original movies is reason enough for studios to continue with a sequel.

Despite the fact that Piratesis one of the most popular and successful franchises of the last few decades, there is no denying that the box office success has been on a steady decline. This is the sign of a tired franchise and may need a reboot to fix before the franchise is too far gone.

RELATED: Pirates Of The Caribbean: The 10 Most Terrifying Moments

A reboot would draw interest in the property that was no longer there, and it would make people want to see the new reboot, even if it is just to compare it to the original.

While a reboot could easily introduce new actors that could become just as iconic as Jack Sparrow, there is no denying the star power that Johnny Depp holds. The mere mention that Depp is in a movie is bound to increase box office sales and drum up audience interest in the movie.

It is for this reason that the studio would feel more than justified to carry on with the series as it is and try to introduce some course correction.

It wouldn't be controversial to claim thatPiratesis beginning to look like a tired franchise. Since the conclusion of the Davy Jones story arc inDead Man's Chest, the franchise has been languishing in story wilderness. There has been no meaningful story arc across the most recent movies, and many are self-contained and forgettable stories.

A reboot would really help to trim the deadwood surrounding the series and allow some new actors with a new director to inject some life into the series.

One of the most exciting things about the most recent movie was the inclusion of Will Turner. The character was given a rough deal inAt World's End as he had to take over as captain of the Flying Dutchman and leave the love of his life on land. It was certainly great to see that the new movie would pick up this plot thread and help free Turner from his eternal duty.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Hidden Details About The Main Characters Everyone Completely Missed

The most recent movie, however, ended on a kind of cliffhanger as it also teased the return of Davy Jones. So it would be great to see this given a conclusion.

Depp's performances have always been fantastic inPiratesmovies, so it was a real shock when the recent movie came out. Rather than appearing at his best, Depp seemed to be playing himself as Jack Sparrow. In other words, the Sparrow mannerisms were overdrawn and played to almost caricature level.

This certainly did not help the movie, as most of the draw to anyPiratesmovie comes from the amazing performance of Johnny Depp.

Despite the fact that Depp's performance wasn't the best in the last movie, it would still be hard to recast such an iconic character. While one could suggest that the reboot does notneedJack Sparrow, it would be very hard to imagine anyPiratesmovie without him.

Consequently, one of the main reasons why we need a sequel is that the franchise would struggle to both replace and recast the iconic Jack Sparrow.

While it would be interesting to reboot thePiratesfranchise into another movie series, perhaps a more interesting idea would be to reboot it into aDisney + series. TheMandalorianhas already shown that a series with a movie budget on the platform can be a massive success and influence popular culture.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 10 Worst Things Captain Jack Sparrow Ever Did

A TV series would also allow for more character development to take place and allow for a different feel than a movie reboot would.

It would be a huge injustice to end thePiratesfranchise without any closure regarding the fate of the characters.At World's Endprovided some closure for the characters and would have been a perfect ending point, yet they carried on with the series.

Consequently, we need some kind of ending that would make the series feel complete. Rebooting the series without this will only make the franchise feel incomplete.

The brand recognition forPirates of the Caribbeanis next level. It is one of the most popular film franchises of all time and has a dedicated fan base. The only issue currently is that the movie series had not managed to meet the expectations of the cinema viewing public.

The huge fan base and popularity of thePiratesfranchise is ripe for a reboot. Many would love to see how the series would change and how they would replace or recast Jack Sparrow, even if such a decision is incredibly difficult. Further, breathing a new lease of life into the series would not only lead to a fantastic movie, but also fantastic profits for the studio.

NEXT:The 10 Most Expensive Disney Movies Ever Made

NextRick & Morty: 10 Most Hated Supporting Characters Of All Time

Writer living in Adelaide, Australia. Long-suffering post-graduate student and lover of pop culture from Game of Thrones to DC.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Reasons There Should Be A 6th Movie (5 There Should Be A Reboot) - Screen Rant

All-inclusive resorts are the hottest thing in Caribbean travel right now. Theres a reason, after all, why the biggest resort companies in the world, from Marriott to Hilton to Hyatt, are either (in the case of Marriott) launching their first-true all-inclusive properties or significantly ramping up their all-inclusive operations.

Add that to continued growth from firms like Apple Leisure Group, Playa and Royalton, and its clear that the biggest names in travel see where things are headed.

Plainly, the convenience and all-around comfort of an all-inclusive vacation are what more and more travelers are asking for right now.

But while the technical appeal of all-inclusive is surging, the look, feel and character of all-inclusive resorts has never been more fluid. All-inclusive used to be a qualitative description. Now, its simply a financial one.

Indeed, the biggest change in all-inclusive has been the diversity of resort designs, experiences and personalities.

For years, the all-inclusive was traditionally a megaresort or the like, more about quantity than quality.

Today, the all-inclusive sector has become remarkably layered, said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal. While demand for all-inclusive vacations is at an all-time high, there has never been a broader or more interesting group of resorts to choose from, whether youre at an intimate, boutique all-inclusive to an authentic-locally-focused resort.

Our team scours the region for the best all-inclusive resorts and all-inclusive experiences, and our 2020 edition takes you around the Caribbean, from small resorts in bohemian enclaves like Negril to grand, iconic resorts in destinations like Antigua.

Here are our the best all-inclusive resorts to check out in the Caribbean in 2020.

Hammock Cove, Antigua No Caribbean all-inclusive better exemplifies the dramatic reinvention all-inclusive resorts than Hammock Cove, the regions newest and most exciting all-inclusive resort. There are just 42 rooms, all crispy designed with private plunge pools, with a pervasive boutique experience and a culinary program led by renowned Chef Marco Festini. Its an all-inclusive only in name; this is an intimate, boutique luxury resort.

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The 20 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean to Visit in 2020 - Caribbean Journal

A heart-shaped bottle included in the Mets Arte del Mar exhibition. Metropolitan Museum of Art

At the entrance of the new Met show, Arte del Mar: Artistic Exchange in the Caribbean, wedged into a blue-walled space in a wide corridor, stands a dark wooden statue of a grimacing man with white inlaid teeth.

There is a temptation to see it as African, like some of the work exhibited near the pocket-sized exhibition. Curator James Doyle pointed out some resemblances. It is a hardwood sculpture of a figural anthropomorphic person with outsized proportions, he said, taking a break from installing the exhibition.

The similarity ends there. This figure is a rare sculpture from the Taino culture of the Caribbean basin, from 1000 A.D., and was probably hidden in a cave, which accounts for its strikingly good condition.

SEE ALSO: Keith Harings Church Mural Has Been Removed From Its Site and Sold at Auction

The shows title, art from the sea, refers to the Caribbean territory of islands and shorelines where the Taino civilization flourished and traded before the Spanish arrived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Scant physical evidence remains of the Taino, who had no written language. Yet the 42 objects in the gallery have a mute eloquence, despite the huge gaps in our knowledge about their cultures.

I really wanted to focus in the visual story on connecting the Taino civilization in the Antilles with their peers along the coastline, Doyle said.

Wood decomposed quickly in the tropical climate. The Met is fortunate to have four hardwood sculptures on view, including the figure at the entrance. Another is an elongated figure, legs crossed, with a flat section at its center, which is labeled as a ceremonial chair. It is small for any human to sit in, said Doyle, and may have actually served as a ritual platter.

Double-tiered jar, Tonos-style, 3rd4th century. Ceramic. The Metropolitan Musuem of Art

The use of the many of the objects on view remains a matter of speculation. Questions linger about two heavy collars carved in stone, decorated with sculpted patterns and human-like faces.

The collars are not mentioned by Friar Ramon Pane, a Catalan friar who accompanied explorers and wrote of the Tainoareitos, performances in which singing was accompanied by percussive rhythms. The collars could have been hidden from the Europeans or, as Doyle speculates, most likely they were durable versions of cloth or leather belts or collars that would have been part of rulers regalia.

The Tainos also worked in pottery, which survived over centuries better than wood. Two of those works are the standouts of Arte del Mar.

Heart-Shaped Bottle with Phallic Spout (Potizo) stands almost twenty inches high by seventeen inches across. Its description as heart-shaped does not do justice to the life that seems to exude from the objects earthen reddish surface. A dark, splotchy form on it seems more natural than designed. The irregularly proportioned bottle dates from 1000 to 1500, but definitely before European contact. If the heart doesnt quite beat, it certainly breathes. This object, in itself worth a visit to the show, will make anyone want to see more of Taino culture.

Nearby is a 4th-5thcentury standing vessel found in Panama, eight inches high, with a series of figures painted in a horizontal line. On a close look, the figures seem archaically stylized, and remarkably modern, as if you were seeing them in Keith Harings graffiti on the subway from the 1980s.

Its one of the rare depictions of an actual ceremony, said Doyle, I call it our Panamanian Keith Haring. Acquired in 2007, it has never before been exhibited.

Wifredo Oscar de la Concepcin Lam y Castilla, Rumblings of the Earth (Rumor de la tierra), 1950. Oil on canvas. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

On the back wall of Arte del Mar, past golden pendants in the form of eagles, yet always visible through the glass vitrines that lead you there, is a large earth-toned canvas by the Cuban Afro-Chinese artist Wifredo Lam (1902-1982).

Rumor de la Tierra (Rumblings of the Earth) from 1950 is a grouping of bird and bat shapes against a black-brownish background. A hint of metal and danger comes from a sharp knife grasped by one of the creatures. With some figures represented in parts rather than whole, and without a clear center, the picture has been compared to Guernica, 1937, by Pablo Picasso. While monumental in its size, the Lam canvas offers something intimate in its seductive darkness.

The work is on loan until the end of 2020 from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, just up Fifth Avenue. The Met owns a Lam that Doyle considered exhibiting, but it is a gouache on paper, which could not be shown for the duration of the exhibition, and it is vertical, which would not have given the show its cave-like effect. (Bear in mind that many of the Taino works were preserved from pre-European days in the Caribbean because they were hidden in caves.)

I love the earth tones, said Doyle, the real point of this section was to build a bridge to the present.

Centuries later, with that strong parting dose of surrealism, the artistic ecology still pulls you in.

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Caribbean Treasures Long Hidden in Caves Go on View in Arte del Mar at the Met - Observer

Luxury Caribbean resorts just keep getting more and more impressive, and with every year the standard for Caribbean luxury gets higher.

Weve long said that Caribbean luxury is a unique concept; but even within the sphere there are so many different interpretations and manifestations of what the word means in the region.

Theres sleek, modern luxury; the luxury of the residential resort; the luxury of overwhelming beauty and design; and the luxury of endless indulgence to name a few.

The hottest luxury Caribbean resorts for 2020 all exemplify a particular brand of luxury; what they all have in common is a commitment to making guests feel grand.

Here are the hottest, buzziest luxury resorts in the Caribbean for 2020.

Cabrits Resort and Spa Kempinski Dominica Theres no hotter luxury Caribbean resort than the brand-new Cabrits Resort and Spa Kempinski Dominica, the Nature Islands first true resort. The 151-room resort in northern Dominica is the first-ever resort in the Caribbean for the luxe Kempinski brand, and a new level of modern luxury for an island that has long been one of the Caribbeans most closely-guarded secrets. Make sure you go for one of the plunge-pool suites, either gazing at the sea or at Dominicas stunning green-mountain scenery.

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The 10 Hottest Luxury Caribbean Resorts for 2020 - Caribbean Journal

USAID Administrator Mark Green announces a $10M disaster-preparedness aid package for organizations in the Caribbean, Barbados, Dec. 16 (USAID)

By The Maritime Executive 12-17-2019 04:47:00

During a visit to Barbados this week, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator Mark Green announced that his agency has committed an additional $10 million to help Caribbean countries to prepare for natural disasters. With these funds, USAID will work with community organizations, governments, regional institutions and the private sector to strengthen preparedness for hurricanes, earthquakes, and other calamities.

"We have seen painfully how extreme weather events in the Caribbean are increasing in intensity and frequency. In 2017, it was Hurricanes Irma and Maria that devastated the region. And earlier this year, as we just heard reference to, it was Hurricane Dorian that struck the Bahamas," said Green. "In total, we contributed more than $9.7 million toward the Hurricane Irma and Maria responses, and more than $25.5 million toward the Hurricane Dorian response . . . But we also believe that the truest sense of compassion comes with helping others to help themselves. And so we're equally committed to working with our friends and partners to build resilience against hurricanes and other natural disasters."

The new funding comes in addition to the $2 million USAID contributed earlier this year to the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados, a part of the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation (CMO), to strengthen systems for weather research and forecasting. Earlier this year, USAID also launched its new Caribbean Energy Initiative, a five-year effort with an initial investment of $5 million that will help reduce electricity prices, increase the quality of service and enhance the ability of electrical grids in the region to withstand shocks.

USAID also recently announced a $25 million loan guarantee with the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica (NCB) to increase lending for small-scale investments in renewable energy, power generation and economic development. The guarantee will enable NCB to expand its lending throughout the region, including in Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

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USAID Commits $10M for Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean - The Maritime Executive