A fleet of over 80 yachts is expected for the ninth edition of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 in which 900 sailors from 30 different nations will race non-stop around 11 Caribbean islands, starting and finishing in Antigua. Passionate corinthians will be rubbing shoulders with Olympic medallists, Americas Cup winners and round the world sailors in a race to take home the coveted RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The 600 mile course is designed to offer a tactical, high speed race with stunning vistas at every corner.

The RORC Caribbean 600 is very different to the other 600 mile races and definitely not a holiday race in the Caribbean, commented RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott. The race has many tactical legs with land effects and wind-driven currents which are both difficult to predict. The heat of the day and the long nights are also unusual features for an offshore race making it every bit as challenging as the Rolex Fastnet Race, and just as exciting. It is interesting to note that the records for the Rolex Fastnet Race and the RORC Caribbean 600 are very similar.

Featuring a magnificent collection of yachts, an incredibly varied fleet will be racing under the IRC, CSA and MOCRA rating systems, as well as Class40s racing under class rules. Rambler 88, Phaedo3 and Maserati will be gunning for course records, however, the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy will be decided by the yacht with the best corrected time under IRC.

Monohull Record: 2011 George David, Rambler 100 40 hours 20 mins 02 secs.

George Davids Rambler 88 RORC/Tim Wright Photoaction.com

George Davids American Maxi Rambler 88 is back with an impressive crew line-up for another tilt at the race record, the overall win and class honours. New Zealands multiple Americas Cup winner, Brad Butterworth is part of an impressive afterguard including fellow Kiwi, Brad Jackson and Australian navigator, Andrew Cape. Virtually the entire crew are Americas Cup winners and stars of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Multihull Record: 2016 Lloyd Thornburg & Brian Thompson, MOD70 Phaedo3 31 hours, 59 mins 04 secs.

Lloyd Thornburgs American MOD 70 Phaedo3 has lowered the bar for the multihulls for the last two years and this year will be up against stiff competition from Giovanni Soldinis Italian MOD70, Maserati.

Phaedo3 has assembled a phenomenal crew for the race and multiple world record holder, Brian Thompson is joined by Volvo Ocean Race winners Robert Greenhalgh and Damian Foxall. Extreme 40 champion, Pete Cumming and the formidable talent of Michel Desjoyeux, the only sailor to have won the Vende Globe twice. Maseratis skipper, Giovanni Soldini is Italys most decorated offshore sailor and Maserati has been fitted with foils which can provide a speed advantage over Phaedo3. A fascinating contest for multihull line honours is expected.

Phaedo3, Lloyd Thornburgs MOD70 Rachel Fallon-Langdon

The winner of the Multihull Class will be the yacht with the best corrected time under MOCRA. Seven teams are entered including Shaun Carrolls Australian Modified Sea Cart 30, Morticia which is the smallest yacht competing in the entire fleet, and the head-turning all-carbon R-Six, skippered by Robert Janecki, which is the first ever entry from Belize.

IRC Overall for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy Overall winners of the previous eight editions of the race have all come from IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero. Amongst this years favourites are two Maxi 72s: Hap Fauths Bella Mente overall winner in the 2015 race, and current holder of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, George Sakellaris Proteus.

Whilst the two Maxi 72s are firm favourites, the stellar cast racing in IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero includes; Farr 100 Leopard and three Volvo 70s, Lionel Peans SFS II from France, Trifork skippered by Dutchman Bouwe Bekking and Green Dragon, skippered by Austrian Johannes Schwarz. The dark horse of the canting keel class is Maverick, skippered by Oliver Cotterell. The Infiniti 46 with DSS side foils was class winner for the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

In IRC Zero, the 182ft schooner Adela, skippered by Greg Perkins is the largest yacht taking part and making a RORC Caribbean 600 debut is Anders Nordquists Shamanna. The 115ft superyacht is the largest of nine Swans competing this year and boasts a crew including many of Maltas best sailors from the Calascione, Podesta and Ripard families. RORC Admiral and IMA Secretary General, Andrew McIrvine is a guest aboard Grant Gordons Maxi cruiser 72, Louise. Overall winner of the 2017 Cape to Rio Race, Stefan Jentzschs German Carkeek 47, Black Pearl is the smallest yacht in IRC Zero. South African Americas Cup sailors, Mark Sadler and Marc Lagesse form the afterguard.

Adela, the magnificent schooner is the largest yacht in the RORC Caribbean 600 fleet RORC/Tim Wright

With 17 yachts, the largest class competing this year is IRC One and a huge variety of yachts includes Giles Redpaths Lombard 46, Pata Negra, with RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd among the crew. Bernie Evan Wongs RP37, Taz will be proudly flying the Antiguan flag once again. Bernie is the life and soul of the race having competed in all nine editions as skipper.

The IRC Two champion, Ross Applebeys Scarlet Oyster is back attempting to win the class for the fourth consecutive race in a highly competitive field including; Ed Fishwicks Redshift on El Ocaso with a young, top-class crew including, 2012 Olympic Silver Medallist Luke Patience and Figaro sailors, Alan Roberts and Nick Cherry, as well as Volvo Ocean Race sailor, Nick Bubb.

Close racing is expected in IRC Three among four vintage Swans, including two Sparkman & Stephens designed Swan 48s, Jonty Layfields Sleeper X and Andrew & Mia Schells Isbjorn. Peter Hopps, skipper of the Sigma 38, Sam has competed in every edition of the RORC Caribbean 600.

Short-Handed Challengers A number of young talented Figaro teams are expected from Guadeloupe and James Healds British Swan 45 Nemesis will be racing Two-Handed. Five Class 40s will be competing including Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merrons Campagne de France which won the Class40 division in the 2016 RORC Transatlantic Race, Catherine Pourres Erendil, Peter Hardings Phor-ty, Mikael Rykings Talanta and Marc Lepesqueuxs Saint-Pierre & Miquelon.

Event details Notice of Race Entry list

Background: The 9th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts from Antigua on Monday February 20, 2017. The 600nm course circumnavigates 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heads north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barths.

Source: Royal Ocean Racing Club

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Record Fleet for RORC Caribbean 600 >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News - Scuttlebutt Sailing News

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) A report on non-standard forms of employment (NSE) that provides a comprehensive look at employment including temporary work, part-time work, temporary agency work and subcontracting and disguised employment relationships will be presented at a meeting of Caribbean ministers of labour to be held in Jamaica later this month.

The 10th International Labour Organization (ILO) meeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour from February 23 24 will also provide an opportunity for the labour ministers, permanent secretaries and other high-level officials of the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean to discuss labour issues that are of mutual concern to the region.

The two-day meeting will be held under the theme Realising Decent Work Under the 2030 Agenda and will focus on two main areas, namely Elevating Decent Work to the National and Regional Policy level through social partnership and Instruments and Practical Tools for Decent Work.

The organisers said that the delegates will be presented with the NSE report on the opening day of their deliberations.

It is the first comprehensive report on NSE including temporary work, part-time work, temporary agency work and subcontracting, dependent self-employment and disguised employment relationships.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Shahine Robinson, and ILO Director General Guy Ryder will address the conference.

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Caribbean labour ministers to meet in Jamaica - Jamaica Observer

The Fisheries Department of Belize and researchers with the Florida International University (FIU) registered their discovery of a previously unknown species of Sphyrna or hammerhead shark this week.

They say its range is relatively small and that it needs clean waters to survive, which is indicative of the health of the 300 kilometer long Belize Barrier reef -the longest in the northern hemisphere - where it was found.

Philipp Kanstinger, marine conservation expert with WWF Germany says the find underscores the importance of the reef as a biodiversity hotspot, and signals the need for action.

"The WWF is working with other partners to ensure this valuable location will be preserved in the future," he said in a press release.

The organization isalso calling on the government of Belizeto be actively involved in protectingthe marine paradise, which is home to more than 500 species of fish, over 100 types of coral as well as a rich diversity of flora.

Sharks, dolphins, sea turtles,manta rays and the American marine crocodileare also among the wildlife known to swim in those parts.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the reef is comprised of seven marine protected areas. But the ecosystem has come under threat in recent years as thousands of hectares of mangrove forest have been destroyed in the name of coastal and industrial development. In 2009, the destruction prompted UNESCO to put the site on its endangered list.

Blame it on Jaws or blame it on the fact that sharks do have rather a lot of sharp teeth, fact is, many humans have a fear of sharks as deep as the waters in which they swim. Any expert will tell you, we kill by far more of these great fish a year than they do us. So should we really be scared?

There are five species of reef shark, of which this is one. Feasting on crustaceans and fish alike, they are the top predator in the fragile ecosystem from which they take their name. They are no strangers to divers either, and have been known to attack when they feel threatened.

There are more than 250 recorded species of shark in the waters around our planet. They range in size and ferocity. The sand tiger shark weighs up to 159 kilos and can reach a length of 3.2 meters. They are big eaters, have a mouth full of frightening looking teeth, but are generally regarded as being docile and unlikely to attack humans unless provoked to do so.

Though it is impossible to know exactly how many sharks are killed annually for their fins, some estimates put the number around 100 million. Finning, as the practice is known, entails the removal of the fin while the shark is alive. The animals are then cast back into the sea where if not dead already, they succumb to a painful end. The fins are used to make soup, which costs up to $100 a bowl.

Recent research revealed that Greenland sharks can live to the extraordinarily ripe old age of 400. These predators have a healthy appetite, but have never been known to go for humans. They like cold waters, through which they move slowly. And that is not the only thing they do at a leisurly pace - they don't even reach sexual maturity until they are around 150.

...it will hurt you. At 18 meters, whale sharks are the longest species in the family, and indeed the biggest fish in the sea. At that rate, dinner should be theirs for the picking, but their penchant is for plankton. Good news for all the other creatures in the sea. But whale sharks are at risk. Not only are they fished for their fins, oil and meat, but are often hit by eco-tourism boats.

Said to be the best researched sharks, the lemon species is considered non-agressive. To date there have been no recorded incidents of a human fatality as a result of a lemon shark attack. They are social creatures that move in groups, where they rarely display aggressive behavior to each other.

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New shark of the Caribbean - Deutsche Welle

New York Times

Caribbean's Carnivals Tip Their Hats to Trinidad New York Times We Caribbean carnival devotees, counting down the days until the region's biggest bacchanal erupts on the streets of Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Feb. 27 and 28, have a dream. A dream that one day carnival will grace us with its life-affirming presence ... and more »

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Caribbean's Carnivals Tip Their Hats to Trinidad - New York Times

Over 2,000 passengers who thought they'd be sailing to the Bahamas this week were unexpectedly delayed at port after a Royal Caribbean cruise ship failed an annual Coast Guard safety inspection Monday.

The Majesty of the Seas was scheduled departure from Port Canaveral, Fla. late Monday but Coast Guard officialsordered the liner to remain docked on Valentines Day after inspectors found multiple safety infractions, including the vessels life preservers that were showing their age, according toFlorida Today.

"Yesterday, the U.S. Inspectors found 'multiple' safety concerns involving the ship's lifesaving equipment for its 2,700 passengers and 800 crew members, officials reported. Ultimately, they failed the inspection, Royal Caribbean said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

Over 2,000 passengers and 800 crew members are currently aboard the 13-deck vessel that has now been stuck at the port for over 24 hours. The ship was set to depart for a four-night excursion through the Bahamas, CocoCay and Nassau.

The ships major mechanical components, such as the engine and the hull, passed the inspection.

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New life jackets are expected to arrive on the ship Tuesday, at which point the Majesty of the Seas must undergo another inspection to be cleared for sailing.

Royal Caribbean is keeping the docked passengers entertained with food, shopping and shows onboard the static ship.

Still, several passengers who thought they'd be enjoying a romantic Valentine's Day trip have taken to social media to express their frustration with the line.

Jonathan Galed reached out to the cruise line via Twitter seeking more information on the delay.

Hey @RoyalCaribbean thanks for turning my Caribbean vacation into a docked shipyard stay, says Whitney Linn on Twitter.

Others remain optimistic. Chill out @RoyalCaribbean #majestyoftheseas passengers. There are worse places to be "stranded" & you're aboard a floating city of fun! posted Erica Bourdage.

A representative for Royal Caribbean Cruises was not immediately available for comment.

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2000 Royal Caribbean passengers stranded after ship fails life jacket inspection - Fox News

An artists rendering of the lagoon and sandy beach at Balmoral in northeast Houston.

An artists rendering of the lagoon and sandy beach at Balmoral in northeast Houston.

Image 5 of 19 | New York City, New York

Image 6 of 19 | Kanazawa, Japan

In an undated photo, Japanese couples look through a swimming pool at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, in Ishikawa prefecture, northern Japan. The museum, which cost over 10 billion yen, is a UFO-shaped modern complex which opened Oct. 9, 2004, bringing a rare contemporary expression in the heart of traditional Japan.

In an undated photo, Japanese couples look through a swimming pool at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, in Ishikawa prefecture, northern Japan. The museum, which cost over 10 billion yen,

Image 7 of 19 | Palm Desert, California

Duane Hagedon's 64,000 sq ft dream home is spread out on a ridgeline above the desert in Palm Desert, California. A tri-level swimming pool is seen in the rear part of the estate. Guy Dreier is the architect.

Duane Hagedon's 64,000 sq ft dream home is spread out on a ridgeline above the desert in Palm Desert, California. A tri-level swimming pool is seen in the rear part of the estate. Guy Dreier is the architect.

Image 8 of 19 | Turbuku, Turkey

Image 9 of 19 | Scottsdale, Arizona

Taliesin West of Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Drafting Rooms and Office Annex across Swimming Pool.

Taliesin West of Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Drafting Rooms and Office Annex across Swimming Pool.

Image 10 of 19 | Holland Park, London, United Kingdom

A 2010 photograph of an indoor swimming pool inside a home in Holland Park, London.

A 2010 photograph of an indoor swimming pool inside a home in Holland Park, London.

Image 11 of 19 | Matosinhos Porto, Portugla

A 1966 photograph of Leca Swimming Pool in Matosinhos Porto, Portugal.

A 1966 photograph of Leca Swimming Pool in Matosinhos Porto, Portugal.

Image 12 of 19 | Marbrisa, Acapulco, Mexico

A swimming pool at the Arango Residence, designed by architect John Lautner in Marbrisa, Acapulco, Mexico.

A swimming pool at the Arango Residence, designed by architect John Lautner in Marbrisa, Acapulco, Mexico.

Image 13 of 19 | London, United Kingdom

A photograph of a swimming pool adjacent to a bar area in London's Carlton Tower Hotel, designed by architect Charles Fowler.

A photograph of a swimming pool adjacent to a bar area in London's Carlton Tower Hotel, designed by architect Charles Fowler.

Image 14 of 19 | Tenerife Island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

A view of the sea, pool and auditorium on Tenerife Island, Spain.

A view of the sea, pool and auditorium on Tenerife Island, Spain.

Image 15 of 19 | Singapore

A rooftop swimming pool at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore.

A rooftop swimming pool at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore.

Image 16 of 19 | Berlin, Germany

The swimming pool in Holmes Place Health Club has a view from the reception area.

The swimming pool in Holmes Place Health Club has a view from the reception area.

Image 17 of 19 | Acapulco, Mexico

Image 18 of 19 | Shanghai, China

Chinese people enjoy the sun on the one and only artificial beach of the city near the Bund on Aug. 05, 2011 in Shanghai, China.

Chinese people enjoy the sun on the one and only artificial beach of the city near the Bund on Aug. 05, 2011 in Shanghai, China.

Caribbean-style lagoon coming to Houston-area development

A northeast Houston subdivision will build a 1.5-acre artificial lagoon and sandy beach tailored to look like a Caribbean seashore thanks to patented technology from the Florida-based designer.

The project in Balmoral, a community in the works near Atascocita in northeast Houston, will probably be the second such lagoon in Texas; another in Dallas is expected to open sooner.

The technology comes from Florida-based U.S. Crystal Lagoons Corp, the U.S. arm of the company that built the world's largest swimming pool inSharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2015.

RELATED:Marriott Marquis Houston debuts Texas-shaped pool in grand opening

The shimmering clear water is produced by a proprietary technology for sonic water filtration, which Man said differs from conventional pool technology and uses 50 percent less water than a park of the same size. He said the lagoons uses a fraction of the chemicals of a conventional swimming pool, and sport 400 sensors measuring water parameters in real time.

At Balmoral, lagoon construction is expected to begin by late summer or early fall, and open to swimmers in summer 2018, said Jeff Sheenan, director of community affairs and amenity development for Land Tejas.

Home construction will start in late April or early May of this year, and people are expected to start moving into finished houses in the third quarter. When the project is completely built out, within 10 to 12 years, it will have 1,700 home sites, the developers said.

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Caribbean-style lagoon coming to Houston-area development - Chron.com

Forbes

Royal Caribbean CIO Sets Sail For Digital Innovation Forbes When Mike Giresi joined Royal Caribbean Cruises as its chief information officer 18 months ago, he did so after having been a CIO three times over, at Tory Burch, Direct Brands, and Godiva Chocolatier. He had depth of knowledge in retail, but not as ...

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Royal Caribbean CIO Sets Sail For Digital Innovation - Forbes

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If you thought an all-inclusive Caribbean getaway was out of reach until your kids headed off to college, you were wrong in the best way.

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Sonesta Maho Beach Resort in the Caribbean.(Photo: Sonesta Resorts)

If you thought an all-inclusive Caribbean getaway was out of reach until your kids headed off to college, you were wrong in the best way.

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort on the island of St. Maarten is a huge resort with features just for kids, according toMelanie Reffes in a special for USA TODAY.

Kids over age 3 can splash in the watery playground, hang out in the indoor kids club, go on beach treasure hunts and clamber up the tree-house. Dining options abound with five restaurants.

Pajama and disco nights as well as movies by the pool appeal to kids of all ages.

Best of all,kids under 12 stay, play and eat free, and the nightly rate for 13- to 17-year-olds is $45.

Andread on about two more family-friendly Caribbean resorts.

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You can take a family vacation the Caribbean - AZCentral.com

BELIZE CITY, Fri. Feb. 10, 2017 - The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) yesterday unveiled its report on the performance of the tourism sector across the Caribbean for 2016. The report said that while only 48% of the reporting destinations registered growth during the year, with the best performances occurring in the Dominican Republic, the British Virgin Islands and Grenada, which all grew by double digits, Belize became the 8th destination to record over one million cruise passenger visits that year.

The report added that Belize was actually one of 7 Caribbean destinations which recorded double digit increases within their reporting periods. The other countries in the group are the Turks & Caicos Islands, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada and Montserrat.

Caribbean tourism continues to break new ground, surpassing 29 million arrivals for the first time in our history, and once again we have grown faster than the global average, said Hugh Riley, CTO Secretary General.

The CTO reported that total visitor expenditure is estimated to have increased by approximately 3.5% to reach US$35.5 billion. Despite political uncertainties, security and economic challenges in our main source markets, tourist arrivals to the Caribbean increased by 4.2 per cent in 2016, better than the 3.9 per cent overall internationally, Riley said.

As is the case for Belize, the United States continued to be the Caribbeans primary long-stay market, increasing by three-and-a-half per cent and providing just about half of all arrivals, Riley added.

In dissecting the 2016 numbers, CTOs Acting Director of Research, Ryan Skeete, said: 2016 marked another record-setting year as for the first time in our history we received over 29 million arrivals. This is also the 7th consecutive year of growth and our estimated 4.2% increase in tourism trips is the 3rd consecutive year above the global growth rate.

A month ago the Belize Tourism Board reported that Belize was boasting its highest level of overnight arrivals in 20 years with a growth of 13%. Meanwhile, cruise tourist arrivals grew by 4.9% to over a million tourists.

The contributing factors to these performances included greater air access from the source markets to the region and the realization of significant investments to enhance infrastructure (airport redevelopment) and product (hotels), the CTO information said.

The report said that, 2016 was also a record-breaking year for Caribbean cruising, as cruise passenger arrivals to the region grew by about 1.3% to reach 26.3 million, in line with expectations at the beginning of 2016.

The CTO said that the forecast is for tourist arrivals in the Caribbean to grow at a slower rate of between 2.5 and 3.5% in 2017.

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Belize among the Caribbean countries recording strongest tourism growth - Amandala

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Intoxicating natural vistas, deserted beaches, long dormant volcanoes, and the legacy of a once thriving sugar industry defines the landscape of Nevis; an off the beaten path Caribbean destination thats making a name for itself as the place to be seen.

wanderlusters.com

Boasting a unique island charm that sets it apart from the regions established vacation haunts such as Barbados and St Barts, Nevis is unspoilt, relaxed, and easy-going. Here wide open spaces and a rich cultural heritage implore visitors to ditch the clichd holiday itinerary of all-inclusive sea, sand, and sun, and instead immerse themselves in the real Caribbean.

Without a single traffic light nor even a hint of rush hour madness (unless you count the donkeys and goats that wander rouge along the asphalt), Nevis population of just over 12,000 live by the mantra Rush Slowly; nothing is hurried is here. Yet despite its apparent equable appeal, Nevis offers far more than your average island escape.

Inspired? Heres my insiders guide to Nevis.

Crowds flock to the warmth of the Caribbean during the frigid winter months (November through March), and while you won't necessarily encounter hordes of visitors on Nevis throughout this peak season, take note that the cost of accommodation, car rentals, and some activities will increase during this time.

The festive season and the month of February are the busiest times on the island, however the shoulder season (late April through early June) offers the best of both worlds. Prices drop and the snow birds disperse affording the flexible traveler a reduced rate and a quiet escape.

Flights from five major US cities make connections in either San Juan or St. Maarten with airlines Cape Air, Seaborne, Tradewind, or Winair for arrival into Nevis. Alternatively, there are four direct routes from major US cities to St. Kitts where water taxis deliver passengers across the narrows to Nevis.

Keen to immerse yourself in the islands heritage? Check into The Hermitage. A colonial manor house surrounded by traditional chattel houses the hotels Greathouse is one of the oldest in the Caribbean and exudes a timeless charm.

At this Balinese inspired property lavish two, three, and four bedroom villas overlook the Caribbean Sea. A butler, concierge, private chef, and wellness professionals are on hand to attend to your every whim, and when youre so inclined you can stretch out on the pristine sands that fringe the resort.

Looking for a laid-back, eco-friendly retreat? Check into the Oualie Beach Resort. Owned by the Yearwood family whose heritage runs deep in the sugar trade of the 1600s, the property boasts quaint gingerbread cottages and is set aside a lush beachscape blanketed in coconut palms.

Feeling adventurous? Hike the majestic 3232ft Nevis Peak. Perfect for all levels of climbers, though with a few challenging and adventurous sections, those who reach the top will be rewarded with unparalleled views that stretch out across the Caribbean Sea.

Seen the sights and keen to relax? A skippered sail aboard a yacht is the perfect remedy for any ailment. Book a days sailing with Nevis Yacht Charters who will whisk you away for a few hours on the ocean; snorkel on vibrant coral reefs, relax on the deck in the sun, and see the mighty Mount Nevis in all its glory, clouds blanketing its peak.

Sunshines Beach Bar & Grill has a chilled West Indian ambiance and is popular not only with locals, but visitors and famous faces alike; Beyonce, John Travolta, Kevin Bacon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Mel Gibson have all dined here over the last 24 years.

Want to relax aside the sand in style? Head to my favorite hangout the Chrishi Beach Club. The only place to be seen on Nevis, rock up to this ocean-front haunt any time of the day or night and unwind to the sound of Heddas unique playlists that perfectly complement the stylish interiors of this up-scale beach bar.

Currency - Eastern Caribbean Dollars

Transport - Travelers are required to obtain a visitors drivers license, which may be obtained from the Traffic Department or the Fire Station in the islands capital Charlestown for a small fee (take along your passport and a valid international license).

- Nudism and topless sunbathing are illegal.

- Minimum driving age is 18 years old.

- Minimum drinking age is 18 years old.

- Drink driving is illegal on Nevis and those found guilty can be fined and/or jailed for up to 12 months.

Have you discovered Nevis? Share your recommendations below.

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This Unknown Caribbean Island Should Be Your #1 Vacation Destination In 2017 - Huffington Post

Melanie Reffes, Special for USA TODAY 8:08 a.m. ET Feb. 13, 2017

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Making a big splash in Jamaica, the Caribbeans first villas built over the water are open at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay.(Photo: Sandals Resorts)

As the region where the modern-day all-inclusive was born, the Caribbean is chock-full of resorts that come with unlimited food, drink and play. Planning a getaway in the sun is a no-brainer, but choosing a resort that fits the bill is another story.Whether youre traveling with the kids or in the mood for an adults-only holiday, check out our best-of-the-best for families, foodies, couples and those seeking adventure.

Family time

Bigger is better on the southwest shore of St. Maarten, where youll find the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, the largest all-inclusive (395 rooms and five restaurants) on the Dutch side of the dual-nation island and the first and only resort with a watery playground just for kids. Coming in at 4,000 square feet, Aqua Park is splash-central with animal-themed slides with water just 20 inches deep, making it ideal for kids over 3 years old.For grown-up onlookers, the pool deck is a comfy perch with loungers and sun umbrellas. Maho Bungalow Kids Club features an indoor slide that connects to a loft for dance classes and arts and crafts, and a 2,500-square-foot outdoor funhouse. Other kid-friendly features include treasure hunts and a tree house on the beach. Kids can play and swim all day and for lunch, they choose between a slice at Pizzeria Napoli, big buffet at Ocean Terrace or nachos and burgers at the Palms Grill, says Jeriesha David, who has been entertaining kids at the resort since last spring. The resort fronts Maho Beach next to the Princess Juliana International Airport where kids of all ages are spellbound watching the big jets come in. Sweetening the pot, kids under 12 stay, play and eat free, and the nightly rate for 13- to 17-year-olds is $45. When the sun sets, pajama parties, disco nights and movies by the pool keep families entertained.Ratesthrough April 16 start at $160per person, per night based on double occupancy(rate dips to$127per person, per night based on double occupancy for travel April 17-Dec. 22 ).

On a 75-acre ribbon of prime Grace Bay oceanfront real estate, Beaches Turks & Caicos is one of three Beaches all-inclusives in the family-friendly fleet (two are in Jamaica). The ginormous 758-room, suite and villa resort is also home to a 45,000-square-foot Pirates Island Waterpark with a wave pool, water slides and lazy river. More kid-pleasers include the Xbox Play Lounge, Club Liquid Dance Club for teenagers, Kids Camp for 3- to 5-year-olds and a nursery for wee ones under 2 years old. Larger-than-life Sesame Street characters roam the sprawling resort posing for snaps and tucking kids in bed at night. Picky eaters will find plenty of variety at 19 restaurants, sun tanners like the 12-mile-long alabaster beach and the whole brood can splash around in six pools, three with swim-up bars and one just for toddlers.For kids on the go, theres the Junior Golf Club, Kids Scuba Program, tennis and a boatload of water sports.Rates start at $330 per person, per night for adults; $61per person, per night for children ages 2-16;kids under 2 stay gratis.

The first all-inclusive in St. Thomas, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is family-owned for four decades. The 74-room resort on the south side of the U.S. Virgin Island offers unlimited water sports like kayaking, windsurfing, aqua tricycles, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding and scuba lessons in the pool. Home to St. Thomas Dive Club, tours explore the coral reefs and wrecks at the bottom of the sea and aboard the resort's own catamaran called Heavenly Days, families swim with sea turtles and sail to nearby St. John: the most laid-back of the U.S. Virgins. For parents and teens older than 18, Snorkel Booze Hunt is a 30-year-old resort tradition where snorkelers scour the bay for big bottles of Cruzan Rum distilled next door in St. Croix.Those with energy to burn sign up for deep-sea fishing tours, golf at Mahogany Run, horseback riding, day trips to sky-high Paradise Point and duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie where the cruise ships dock.Rates start at $595 per room, per night until May 1.

Romantic resorts

Making a big splash in Jamaica, the Caribbeans first villas built over the water are open at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay. Over-the-top from infinity-edge soaking tubs, rope hammocks above the waves, gigantic teak beds and glass-bottom floors, the 2,000-square-foot suites also come with butlers, 12-year-oldAppleton Estaterum and Molton Brown amenities in the massive bathroom with a rainfall shower. Built along a wooden boardwalk, the sweet suites area is connected to the resorts offshore island called Sandals Cay, where youll find the Jerk Shack and Royal Thai two of eight restaurants at the 227-room resort. With these suites, guests experience a direct link to the Caribbean Sea, says Gordon "Butch"Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts. The five villas come with nightly rates of $1,435 per person including expedited immigration and resort transferfrom Montego Bays Sangster International Airport, which is a short 10 minutes away. Twelve over-the-water bungalows (slightly smaller and without private infinity pools on the deck) will be ready in the spring starting at $1,078 per person, per night.

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Marrying rustic with romance, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club in Nevis is the only beachfront plantation-turned-resort in the Caribbean. Across the channel from St. Kitts on the northeastern side of the smaller sister isle, the 30-acre all-inclusive (breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner) is home to 36 lemon-hued wicker-furnished cottages that sit on a palm-fringed 18th-century sugar and coconut plantation. Its history reads like a love story as the home of Fanny Nisbet, who married British Navy Captain Horatio Nelson in 1787 after he visited the plantation.With a AAA Four Diamond rating and honored by TripAdvisor as one of the Top Resorts in the World for Romance, the resort keeps the theme with a trio of fine restaurants including The Great House, built in 1778. To kick-start the day, Coconuts is the breakfast go-to for wait for it coconut pancakes. Weddings are popular on the palm-flanked great lawn or seaside on the beach with champagne-hued sand and to celebrate the occasion, a coconut palm is planted in honor of the newlyweds. For couples looking for a nicely wrapped package, Nevis is for Lovers includes candlelit dinner on the beach, breakfast in bed and a couples massage.Rates start at $1,009 per room through April 1.

Sandals LaSource Grenada is unplugged romance in a Sky Pool Suite with a soaking tub for two, solar-heated ocean-view infinity-edge plunge pool, premium spirits and a butler who arranges dinners on the beach and bubble baths pour deux. Sprawling over 17 acres, the posh 257-room and suite resort on the southwest coast is sweet on romance with swinging hammocks, hanging chairs built for two, chocolate buffets, five pools and 10 restaurants. Fronting a sugary swatch of Pink Gin Beach, where the water is so clear it shimmers past the rocks, couples surf, dive, explore down under on a glass-bottom boat or tie the knot on the waterfront pier. We arrange 24 weddings a month, says Deannette Johns, the resorts wedding captain, but only one couple each day marries at sunset. If you forgot to pack the bling, a duty-free jewelry store is open from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m.Celebrating comes easy at a six-pack of bars where the Grenada Sunset stirred with passion fruit, coconut rum and mango is a fruity refresher. Add-ons worth the splurge include Scents of Love couples massage at the Red Lane Spa,a Champagne and Seafood cruise,and the Spicy Island tour which visits the Belmont Chocolate Estate and the picturesque waterfront capital of St. George's.Rates start at $255 per person, per night.

Active all-inclusives

On a 300-acre island 2 miles off the northeast coast of Antigua, Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort is AAA Five Diamond for those on an escape mission from the 9-to-5. Accessible by small boat from the mainland (about 10 minutes), 40 rooms, suites and villas come with views of the beach and Caribbean Sea. Eco-focused before it was trendy, the resort produces its own electricity,the nursery houses thousands of trees and flowers and the only way to get around is on foot, golf cart and bicycles (no cars allowed, guests get loaner bikes).The beaches are protected areas for Hawksbill turtles and popular with nature buffs who come to see the endangered sea turtles during nesting season and also during the summer Hawksbill Turtle Experience. Other incentives to get active include three tennis courts (two lit for night play), 3 miles of hiking and biking trails, croquet lawn, a 25-meter lap pool, lawn bowling, putting green and a fitness pavilion with a yoga deck. In the water, theres no shortage of calorie-burners like windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling and paddle boarding. For the bird-watchers in the brood, white egrets and blue pelicans also call the island home. Chill-outs include massages at the Sense Spa, cocktails and locally caught spiny lobsters at five restaurants and bars including The Estate House, the oldest building on the island dating back to 1830.Rates through April 22 start at $1,850 single or double occupancy.

On the west coast of Barbados, all-inclusive at the 76-room Mango Baycomes with paddle boarding, snorkeling, kayaking, water-skiing and pedal boating.For those with scuba diving on their vacation to-do list, complimentary lessons are offered and for an afternoon on the water, theres glass-bottom boat cruises and cavorting with the Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles that call the west coast home. Sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean's swells, this side of the island is the calmer side and favored for the pink and white sandy beaches and gentle surf. In the town of Holetown in the Parish of St. James, the beachfront hotel is a short stroll to the upscale Limegrove Shopping Center and home to Julian Restaurant, where bands perform nightly.Rates start at $670 per room, per night, based on double occupancy.

It truly is a holiday for the body at The Body Holiday on a secluded cove on the northwest coast of St. Lucia. Surrounded by 40 acres of sweet-smelling gardens along Cariblue Beach, the 155-room resort with five restaurants and one bar is a magnet for those who enjoy more exercise than it takes to balance a pia colada in the pool. Activities include archery, spinning and yoga classes called Spoga in Tree House Spin Studio, golf and tennis.Keep moving with cycling along the coastline, hiking in the mountains and sunrise power walking on the beach. In the water, theres plenty to choose from like swimming lessons, two-tank boat diving, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling.For those who like to plan ahead, the resort offers a customized activity schedule arranged prior to arrival. Perks are creative like a pillow menu, herbal tea and cookie turn-down and daily treatments at the spa with a heated marble massage bed. Personal trainers are on hand for those serious about getting in shape.Rates start at $700 per person, per night.

Wine and dine

Foodies give the thumbs-up to the curated culinary experiences at Spice Island Beach Resort on Grenadas Grand Anse Beach at the edge of the Caribbean Sea. With a AAA Five Diamond rating and member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the 64-suite resort is beachfront elegance with stellar service, superb dining and spectacular suites with ocean-view whirlpool tubs and Phillip Starck designs. Where Prince Harry popped by for lunch during his recent visit to the Southern Caribbean, dining choices range from Oliver's, where the five-course dinner menu changes every three weeks (herb-crusted lamb rack with coconut rice is a standout), Sea & Surf Terrace and Barfor a light bite and a Spice Island Classic cocktail potent with sparkling wine and the island herb called sorrel and a bowl of deliciously addictive flash-fried green banana chips. The resort is all about eating local. Many of our staff havebackyard gardens, says Janelle Hopkins, deputy managing director, we buy what they grow like lemons, tomatoes and callaloo rather than import from outside the island. If you particularly like a dish on the menu, ask chef JessonChurch to show you how to make it and hell happily set up a mini-cooking lesson.Rates start at $1,387per room, per night, based on double occupancy.

Those who prefer their lobster and mango served with a side order of dramatic views are in for a treat in St. Lucia at Jade Mountain. High above its sister resort Anse Chastanet, distractions are minimal in the upscale suites withno TVs or phones (there is Wi-Fi ) and no fourth wall, leaving the impeccably appointed sanctuaries open to the warm breezes. On the southwest coast coveted for vistas of the mighty Piton Peaks and the Caribbean Sea, gourmands bunking in one of 29 suites with infinity-edge pools or Jacuzzis take their pick of haute cuisine at a quartet of restaurants. Michelin-starred executive chef Stefan Goehcke and James Beard-winning chef Allen Susser prepare works of art on a plate. Dining venues include Jade Mountain Club wrapped around an infinity pool, and the seaside Trou Au Diablofor a curry-filled West Indian flatbread called a roti and a frosty mug of Piton Beer to wash it down. Wine pairing menus at The Treehouse which really is a tree house are a big hit, while at Emeralds small plates are perfectly shareable. As the resort has its own farm, explains Karolin Troubetzkoy , co-owner along with her architect husband Nick, we deliver afarm-to-table experience with our own organic produce complemented by our handcraftedartisanalchocolate harvested from our estate cocoa trees. For fans of the sweet stuff, the Chocolate Alchemy package is chock-full of chocolate cocktails, chocolate-themed breakfasts in bed, chocolatey spa treatments, a tour of the Emerald Cocoa Estate and a class in the chocolate lab where choco-philes create their own bars.Rates start at $1,680 per couple for travel until April 15.

In Antigua, its all about coconut and codfish at the St. Jamess Club on the southeast coast. On 100 acres, 240-rooms, suites and villas are close to four restaurants and the seaside grill on Mamora Beach. Rainbow Garden is where youll find chef Dave Ralph cooking up an island storm of delectable edibles like shrimp and salty codfish dressed up in a tomato garlicky sauce, sides of callaloo and boiled bananas and his savory bowl of Fish Water filled to the brim with snapper and peppers. Ask for the national dish called fungee pronounced foon-jee and sometimes spelled fungi which is a robust mash of cornmeal and okra that looks and tastes like polenta.Every cook adds his or her own touch to the recipes, explains Chef Ralph as he flits about the open-air restaurant, these are dishes I have eaten since I was a small child and now as a chef, its my pleasure to encourage our visitors to try them. For a sweet finish, coconut dumplings with a cinnamon sprinkle and rum balls infused with real rum hit a home run.Rates start at $195 per person, per night.

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Caribbean all-inclusive resorts: Top spots for families, foodies, more - USA TODAY

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has expressed concern over poaching in the hospitality sector where new hotels are stealing the trained and experienced staff of established properties, warning that such a practice could affect the customer service rating across the region.

CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that there is an opportunity to reduce employment by building a larger segment of hospitality workers that can be hired for new properties.

I dont like what I am seeing, in some instances where a new property is being built in the Caribbean and there are not enough skilled workers to man the operations, we just seem to be stealing each others staff.

If we are not careful we would keep training and our best trained people keep moving from property to property then you will eventually affect the customer service rating of the destination.

Since the influx of Spanish owned properties in Caribbean territories such as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and more recently St Lucia, several of the established properties have complained that their trained staff were being lured to work in these establishments by offering higher salaries.

The CHTA President, who herself is an hotelier, stressed the danger in relying on just the few that are trained.

We must bring more and more trained people in, not just for one new hotel but in an effort to have the best customer service rating across the island and region she said, adding that most hotels start with untrained staff.

Troubetzkoy disclosed that the issue of people development was at the forefront of her Associations agenda and recently signed agreements with several companies including Springboard Caribbean and Forbes Travel Guide.

She said the two professional development organisations will help address the training needs of member countries at both the national and regional levels.

In addition, she said that the CHTA Education Foundation will continue to grow its scholarship programme providing special assistance for the education of the Caribbean tourism industry personnel and students pursuing tourism and hospitality careers.

2017 will bring a host of new educational trainings, online and offline. Every CHTA signature event will include a professional development, as well as awards and recognition programmes to show case those that hold us up to a high standard by exemplifying Caribbean excellence, she announced.

We must find a way of training everybody and having more skilled workers available, not just in customer service but in culinary arts, and the technical side such as in IT technology maintenance, there are lots of job opportunities in the tourism sector, she told CMC.

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Caribbean hoteliers concerned over poaching - Jamaica Observer

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MSC Cruises, the leader in the European cruise market, is making waves as the cruise line jockeys for position in the #1 cruise market in the world, the Caribbean.

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down the CEO of MSC Cruises, Gianni Onorato, and we discussed tendifferent ways that the cruise line is going to elevate the Caribbean cruise experience.If youre not familiar with MSC Cruises and love cruising to the warm waters of the Caribbean, here are tenexciting features coming to MSC and the Caribbean.

11 New Cruise Ships MSC Cruises has an astounding 11 new cruise ships scheduled to debut in the next 10 years. Two of those ships, MSC Seaside and a Meraviglia class ship, will be sailing out of PortMiami by 2019. MSC Seaside will be christened in PortMiami this December and promises to be unlike any other cruise ship ever built. Not only will the ship turn heads, but the ship will offer more outdoor space per passenger than any other cruise ship in the world.

Lets be honest, you dont cruise to the Caribbean to stay inside. Its all about the sun, getting a tan, and enjoying the calm, blue water. With all of this outdoor space on MSC Seaside, passengers will be closer to the sea than ever before. From the extra wide outdoor promenade to the three separate pool areas (four if you count the Yacht Club), its no wonder that MSC Cruises calls this The ship that follows the sun.

Choices MSC Cruises will be all about choices. After all, its your cruise and you love to have options. Dining will have all of the options that we are now accustomed to, early/late seating as well as anytime dining. There will be a great variety of specialty restaurants that include an American steakhouse, sushi, seafood, Asian, and Teppanyaki. MSC will fly in fresh sea bass, oysters, and other seafood from the Mediterranean each week. No other cruise line does that.

However, the biggest choice will be when it comes to entertainment. MSC Cruises is known for their award winning shows, and on MSC Seaside, there will be afternoon and evening options so everyone can see the shows that they are interested in without dinner plans getting in the way.

Family Cabins In an effort to be the most family friendly cruise line, MSC will have joining cabins that will hold up to 10 passengers. This will be perfect for large families who like to cruise.

Solo Cabins Since no one enjoys paying double occupancy when you cruise solo, the Meraviglia class shipwill have cabins for solo cruisers that will also have a shared lounge.

Wearable Technology MSC Cruises has been working on wearable technology that promises to do everything that the Ocean Medallion from Carnival Corp. will do according to Mr. Oronato. Wearable technology, whether in a watch, bracelet, necklace, or by another method is the future of cruising. This will help the cruise line cater to your interests giving you the best possible cruise experience.

Smoke Free Casino While the casino on MSC Divina is entirely smokefree, MSC Seaside will have a separate section for smokers. This will allow everyone to be happy, especially since you often have to walk through the casino to get from one end of the ship to the other.

Different Ship MSC Seaside will be unlike any other cruise ship ever built. The aft section of the ship will resemble condos, and there will be open deck space everywhere you look.

View Cruises on MSC Seaside

Ship for Adventurers MSC Seaside will not only have the longest zip line at sea, but the vesselwill also have the largest and most interactive waterpark ever found on a cruise ship.

App/Tablets Passengers soon be able to download an app before their cruise and enter their preferences on it. Once on board, crew members will have tablets that will be able to instantly pull up that information. This will be perfect not only for passengers who travel with food allergies, but those who want a custom cruise experience catered to their likes and dislikes.

Future of Cruising The future of cruising will be all about accessibility. It will be affordable, but not done in a cheap manner.

Bonus Reason I would be remiss if I didnt mention Ocean Cay, the private island experience in the Bahamas being built by MSC Cruises. Ocean Cay will be an exclusive 85 acre Bahamian Marine Reservethat will have a dock so there will be no need for tendering.

The island will have six different beaches, an exclusive spa and wellness sanctuary for MSC Yacht guests, an inland lagoon for absolute tranquility, a thrilling zip line that crosses over the island, and a pavilion for weddings and celebrations. Ocean Cay will open in October 2018 and MSC Seaside will make weekly visits from PortMiami.

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10 Ways MSC Cruises is Elevating the Caribbean Cruise Experience - Cruise Fever

NEW YORK, United States (CMC) Caribbean/American and other elected officials and leaders in New York are calling for a very strong stance against the Donald Trump administrations immigration policy in the United States.

Speaking at an immigration forum, New York City Council member Jumanne D Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, New York State Assembly member Rodneyse Bichette, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, Haitian District Leader Josue Pierre, and New York Senator Kevin S Parker, said the goal was to energise the Caribbean community to take action, organise and learn how to survive during the next four years of the Trump administration.

We have to change how people feel about Trump and his attack on immigrants, said Williams, who represents the largely Caribbean 45th Council District in Brooklyn.

I agree with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries when he said every racist voted for Donald Trump. Ill add that every xenophobe also voted for Trump, and were seeing it play out.

While some people are telling us to wait, Im saying we have to resist from day one, added Williams, stating that its, however, been difficult to engage particularly Caribbean and African immigrants.

Our Latino brothers and sisters have done a great job in getting involved, but I need everyone involved in the immigration discussion, he said.

Bichotte, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said the immigration forum was very much needed, in particular, for the black immigrants in her district, who are never at the forefront in regard to the immigration issue.

Getting accurate information to people in the community is so critical, especially now, because things have been moving so quickly, she said.

I was glad to hear of the 9thCircuit Court of Appeals decision to continue to block the travel ban, but I know this is not the end, and we need to prepare people for what is to come.

Last Thursday, a United States federal appeals panel unanimously rejected Trumps bid to reinstate his ban on travel into the US from seven Muslim countries, stating that the government showed that no evidence that anyone from the seven nations Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen had committed terrorist acts in the United States.

The ruling also rejected Trumps claim that courts are powerless to review a presidents national security assessments, according to the New York Times.

The appeals court, however, acknowledged that Trump was owed deference on his immigration and national security policies, the Times said.

But the panel said Trump was claiming something more and that national security concerns are unreviewable, even if those actions potentially contravene constitutional rights and protections.

Shortly after the ruling, Trump angrily vowed to fight it.

Caribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke had condemned Trumps travel ban, warning that it would eventually affect the Caribbean.

At the YMCA immigration forum, Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY), a co-sponsor of the event, said that Trumps executive order barring refugees and immigrants from select countries from entering the United States is both unconstitutional and unethical.

Make no mistake, this ban is only the beginning, warned Ritha Pierre, HALANYs president.

If we do not take a stand now, the state of immigration in this country will only become worse and soon it will not just be refugees and people from a certain region getting barred; it will be everyone who does not fit the criteria of the Trump administration.

I am here to say that we, as an organisation, stand in solidarity with our community in speaking out against this injustice. We stand in support of our immigrant brothers and sisters, and we vow, as a legal organisation, to be present and to take an active role in this issue.

Parker, whose 21stSenatorial District in Brooklyn has a very high concentration of Caribbean immigrants, said he and his colleagues will not allow the current presidential administration to create a culture of fear for residents of our districts.

We will continue to come together, and keep everyone informed and aware of their rights, regardless of their immigration status.

Undocumented immigrants, their lawyers and advocacy groups are bracing for heightened enforcement that Trump has advocated, as immigration raids have intensified, in recent days, across the US.

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Caribbean/American leaders want strong stance against Trump's immigration policy - Jamaica Observer

Until this point, my experience of the Caribbean islands has been limited to notions of beautiful beaches and a vague awareness of the pitfalls surrounding Caribbean tourism. In his highly ambitious new book, Island People: The Caribbean and the World, however, author Joshua JellySchapiro attempts the seemingly herculean task of giving all these typically marginalized islands more depth and substance.

Though this work is perhaps most accurately called a travelogue, JellySchapiro also provides a historical account of the islands, which ranges from Christopher Columbus initial discovery to contemporary problems and politics. Island People is also, at times, a sociological account, as the author explores ideas such as the impact of tourism on the native populations and race relations.

Most strikingly, however, JellySchapiro promotes the idea that the Caribbean islands, far from being small players on the world stage, contribute much to both popular culture and academic study. This reader finds the author to be as comfortable discussing Afro-Caribbean identity as he is Bob Marleys impact on music.

Given the varied tasks of this book, JellySchapiro performs an amazing balancing act. Though it is true that each of the islands are not given equal space and depth, JellySchapiro still manages to leave the reader with a strong sense of each islands culture.

Some readers may find, however, that this work is occasionally too theoretical, and reading Island People is less a pleasure than an intellectual exercise. Despite this drawback, JellySchapiros distinctive prose style sets him apart. Although this work is nonfiction, JellySchapiro brings the people and places he encounters over the course of this expansive book to life, and the book, in these moments, reads more like a novel than an academic text. Moreover, although JellySchapiros love of the islands is clear from his introduction, he does not shy away from exposing the darker aspects of the islands cultures, governments and politics, and the picture of the Caribbean that develops over the course of the text has remarkable depth.

The goal of this work appears to be to alter the seemingly omnipresent view that the Caribbean is only the sum of its tourism industries, and in this JellySchapiro is astonishingly successful. The Caribbean, as it is presented here, becomes a place of astounding humanity and color.

Ashley Riggleson

is a freelance reviewer from Rappahannock County.

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Book review: 'Island People' brings Caribbean's humanity, color to life - Fredericksburg.com

The United States Government passed the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) in 2010 and has been implementing it vigorously.

FATCA requires US persons, including those living abroad, to file yearly reports on their non-US financial accounts to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. It also requires all foreign financial institutions to provide information on assets and transactions of US persons to the US Department of the Treasury.

The definition of US persons includes foreigners holding upwards of US$50,000 in accounts with financial institutions.

The motivation for FATCA is two-fold: First, improved tax compliance and tax revenue collection, and second, to cut off or reduce funds getting to terrorist organisations. Nothing is wrong with either motive.

But the US is inadvertently causing serious damage to the small, developing economies of the Caribbean, who are its strong allies, because of the highly open nature of their economies and their dependence on international financial intermediation by foreign commercial banks.

Many in the region, however, believe that the US action was also related to the fact that it has listed 15 Caribbean countries as tax havens. FATCA adversely affects all international financing provided by correspondent banks. Adverse impacts include choking international investment flows, trade financing, transfers of remittances, debt servicing, transfers of profits and royalties.

Some US banks have either withdrawn or restricted some of these services to 16 banks in the Caribbean in spite of FATCA compliance by Caribbean jurisdictions. There have been meetings between the US Treasury and Caribbean ministers, but the region feels that there is insufficient empathy.

Jamaicas Finance Minister Audley Shaw made a strong statement when Caribbean finance ministers met with the US Treasury and the International Monetary Fund late last year. Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda hosted a special conference shortly thereafter.

Recently, the leader of the Opposition in Trinidad and Tobago Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar did something almost unheard of by writing to then President-elect Donald Trump to remind him that in his presidential campaign he indicated that he would abolish FATCA. The Wall Street Journal took up the issue in an editorial.

Latest development is that a seminar is scheduled for tomorrow at the SUNY-UWI Centre for Governance and Sustainable Development in New York to mobilise support for a change in US policy. The strong Caribbean team includes Sir Kenneth Hall; former prime minister of Barbados Owen Arthur; Ambassador Dr Richard Bernal, pro-vice chancellor of global affairs at UWI; former president of the Caribbean Development Bank Professor Compton Bourne; and Dr Damien King of the UWI Economics Department.

Combating money laundering and terrorist financing is a goal shared by this newspaper and Caribbean governments. Suitable arrangements have to be put in place to ensure that this can be attained while allowing normality in international financing. Hopefully, the SUNY-UWI seminar will help influence the US to repeal FATCA.

We wish the team well in their mission.

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FATCA hurting Caribbean: Revoke it, Mr Trump - Jamaica Observer

Caribbean Brothers Bar & Grill opened Friday along Route 30 inside the Lancaster Family Resort, across from Dutch Wonderland.

The new restaurant in the hotel at 2250 Lincoln Highway E. takes a spot next to Stitches Comedy Club that was previously occupied by JRs.

Carlos Castille is an owner-operator of the restaurant. Ben Anderson and Ray Dixon, owners of Got Jerk! sauces and marinades, also have ownership stakes, but are not involved in day to day operations.

At the new restaurant, Caribbean dishes will be made with the owners sauces and include jerk chicken, beef patties and oxtail.

The menu will also feature hamburgers, pizza, meatloaf and spaghetti, among other items.

The restaurant opened with just the bar area where there is seating for around 85.

A 100-seat dining room will open in about a month and a half. A patio, where there will be seating for around 200, will be open during warmer weather.

The restaurant opened with around 15 employees, although more will be hired soon.

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Caribbean Brothers Bar & Grill opens along Route 30 in Lancaster Family Resort - LancasterOnline

Miami Herald

Cruises that cater to the Chinese on Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas Miami Herald Gone was Johnny Rockets, a fast food mainstay of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, so a meal of burger and fries was difficult to find on the 4,180-passenger Ovation of the Seas during a five-night voyage into the South China Sea. No problem, however, if ... Pros and Cons of Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packagesRoyal Caribbean Blog (blog) Lisa Lutoff-Perlo Sells 7948 Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) StockThe Cerbat Gem Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) Receives $95.82 Average Target Price from AnalystsSports Perspectives BNB Daily (blog) -Highland Mirror -StockNewsJournal all 61 news articles »

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Cruises that cater to the Chinese on Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas - Miami Herald

ST. CROIX Two restaurants here were voted among the best in the Caribbean by U.S.A. today, according to U.S.A Todays Top Ten website, 10Best.

Winners were chosen by apanel of Caribbean travel experts, according to the site, who hand-picked their favorite restaurants in the region as nominees for Best Restaurant in the Caribbean. 10Best readers had for weeks voted on their favorites.

When the results came in, balter and Savant, well-known restaurants on St. Croix, came in 7 and 9 respectively. See all winners below:

According to 10Best, apanel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Liliana Erasmus (10Best), Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (JetSetSarah.com), Melanie Reffes and Chelle Walton (10Best) were chosen based on their expertise of the Caribbean region, according to the site.

Feature Image: balter owner and chef,Digby Stridiron. (Credit: Digby Stridiron, via Facebook)

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St. Croix Restaurants Named Among Top Ten In Caribbean By USA Today - VI Consortium (press release)

Oraine Halstead (left) and Rhys Actie tend tomatoes in a greenhouse at Colesome Farm at Jonas Road, Antigua. (Photo credit: Desmond Brown/IPS)

By Jewel Fraser

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Thursday February 9, 2017, IPS As Caricom countries struggle to move away from their traditional reliance on a single industry or major crop in the face of growing economic uncertainty worldwide, they are finding it increasingly difficult to enter markets in the EU and North America with new types of food products.

But tariffs are no longer the main barriers to accessing important markets, according to a document produced by the ACP-EU Overcoming Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) programme.

The ACP-EU is of the view that Non-tariffs barriers will become the main challenge of the future multilateral trade system. Specifically, technical barriers related to compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) in export markets and other standards including those relating to labelling and packaging.

The EU considers these technical, non-tariff, barriers to trade so challenging for its African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) partners that it provided 15 million euros starting in 2013 to help those developing countries upgrade their processes and become compliant, thus giving them a better chance of success on the EU and North America markets.

The Caribbean Agribusiness Association (CABA) is one Caribbean organisation that was able to access funding to help its members move toward HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) certification, which the ACP-EU TBT programme identified as a crucial requirement. Since the early 2000s, the US and EU have stipulated that foods entering their markets must have HACCP certification.

Ten of CABAs members were present at a regional conference, held at the Radisson Hotel in Port-of-Spain Jan. 29-30, to report on the benefits they received from the HACCP training. They heard some sobering statistics with regard to the EU and US food industry that provided context for the TBT programme.

Dr. Andre Gordon, chief executive officer of TSL Technical Services Limited, told delegates that each year, the UK records approximately one million cases of food-borne illnesses, of which about 20,000 require hospitalisation, and 500 deaths are recorded. The cost to the UK of dealing with food-borne illnesses is 1.4 billion pounds annually.

In the US, approximately 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses are recorded annually, resulting in 128,000 hospitalisations and 3,000 deaths. The cost to the US of dealing with food-borne illnesses is approximately 77.7 billion dollars annually, the delegates heard.

The 2016 report, Addressing Food Losses due to Non-Compliance with Quality and Safety Requirements in Export Markets: the case of Fruits and Vegetables from the Latin America and the Caribbean Region, by two Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) experts, underlined how much is at stake for Caribbean agribusiness exporters.

The report reveals that Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) provide over 90 per cent of the fruits and nearly 80 per cent of all vegetables imported by the US. Nonetheless, some countries in the region have very high rejection rates at US ports of entry, including Jamaica, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic, the document states.

The report said, While many LAC countries have a good rate of acceptance in comparison with other countries exporting to the USA and EU, a few countries within LAC perform very poorly, revealing great disparity in preparedness for export trading within the region. The report noted that Multiple handling failures along the chain are likely the cause of the most frustrating complaints by international buyers.

Dr. Gordon, who oversaw the Jamaica ackee industrys transformation that made it compliant with US Food and Drug Administration regulations in the early 2000s so that it could gain access to the US market, explained to IPS the obstacles facing Caribbean exporters.

The problem in general with all agribusiness companies in the Caribbean is typically lack of technical capacity and knowledge of the requirements and lack of the resources to implement the systems as required, he said.

However, Dr. Gordon said, The cultural change that is required is probably the biggest single limitation to implementing and sustaining certification systemsIf the management and ownership [of agribusinesses] do not have a vision of becoming global players then the effort and resources required are going to seem unattainable and not good value for money. A lot of firms have issues with understanding the value for money proposition of embarking on a certification programme.

The briefing paper SPS measures lead to high costs and losses for developing countries, published not long after the EU mandated HACCP certification for all exporters to the EU, noted that As the income level of developing countries is far smaller, the opportunity cost of compliance is relatively far higher than that for developed country exporters.

The rapid change in SPS measures, regulations and notifications of new regulations is another problem facing developing countries in preparing for compliance. It also imposes extra costs on investors and exporters and creates uncertainty for them.

However, the papers author concluded, while the cost of compliance is high, the cost of lack of compliance is even higher because of loss of market share or reduced access to markets.

Dr. Gordon revealed that in 2010, the Caribbean had the second highest level of food rejections of any region at US ports of entry.

A March 2016 FAO report highlighted other issues hindering Caribbean agribusinesses in their efforts to export. The report states: A number of deep-seated challenges inhibit Caribbean agriculture diversification and competitiveness: the small and fragmented nature of most farm units; the absence of strong farmer grass-roots organizations; the cost of agricultural labor; the ageing demographics of Caribbean farmers; an education system that does not prepare youth to seek employment opportunities in the agricultural sector; and extension systems that have historically focused on managing the traditional export crops.

The problem of small farm units is being addressed head on, said CABAs president Vassel Stewart, with the formation of CABEXCO, a new umbrella organisation for SMEs in the Caricom agribusiness sector, which will jointly procure raw materials and services as well as market its members products and reach out to new buyers.

The resulting economies of scale will also hopefully make it easier to bear the cost of becoming compliant with US and EU food export regulations.

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