Monthly Archives: May 2020

KEY FIGURES

510.2K CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN AS OF 18 MAY

REGIONAL: COVID-19

Cases are referenced from PAHO/WHO 18 May COVID-19 Report - https://bit.ly/3fDCwwK

As of 18 May, PAHO/WHO report 510,261 cases and 28,734 deaths across Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as 205,048 recovered cases.

KEY FIGURES

$137.1M REQUIRED FOR EL SALVADOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN

8.3M CENTRAL AMERICAN JOBS PROJECTED TO BE LOST TO THE PANDEMIC

CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO: COVID-19

EL SALVADOR

The UN in El Salvador launched their multi-sector COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Plan on 16 May. The plan requires US$137.1 million to reach some 1.7 million people and will focus on:

Direct health response for prevention, containment and health system support.

Humanitarian response to aggravated needs including food assistance and livelihood recovery.

Socio-economic response to lay the groundwork for medium- and longterm recovery.

MEXICO

Health officials reported on 11 May that some 8,500 hospital staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, just under a quarter of the entire national caseload. Officials acknowledge that both the number of infected medical staff and the total caseload are likely higher, estimating that there may be as many as 15,000 infected healthcare staff. The death toll for medical personnel has reached 111.

LIVELIHOODS AT RISK

The Central American Integration System (SICA) estimates that the pandemic has led to a second quarter loss of about 10.5 per cent of working hours across Central America, roughly equivalent to 8.3 million jobs.

SICA reports they are working with ILO and UNDRR to strengthen business recovery actions, noting that small and medium businesses account for about 55 per cent of livelihoods in the region.

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Latin America & The Caribbean - Weekly Situation Update (11-17 May 2020) As of 18 May 2020 - World - ReliefWeb

The global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impact on the entire world population requires the global community to work together to address the consequences to human health and disruptive effects on an interconnected world economy. The devastating COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping our world and exacerbating inequalities in our societies. Together, we must ensure coordinated and inclusive response and recovery efforts, to build economies and societies that are healthy, equitable, safe, clean, and resilient.

The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) extend their solidarity to the global community, particularly in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, in our collective and resolute fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic the invisible enemy of humanity.

During this challenging time, it is vital to promote increased coordination among all countries and regions with respect to the prevention and treatment of, and eventual cure for COVID-19. We echo the United Nations (UN) Secretary-Generals call for an immediate global ceasefire to reinforce diplomatic action, enable the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, and protect the persons who are most vulnerable to the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on all economies in the world, particularly in terms of commodity prices, fiscal revenues, foreign exchange receipts, foreign financial flows, food supply chains, travel restrictions, the travel, hotel and tourism industries, and labour markets. We recognize that these economic and social challenges are likely to be more disastrous in developing countries. We are gravely concerned about the potentially dire consequences to the economies and livelihoods of our Member States.

While welcoming the recent decision of international creditors such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to provide debt relief to low income countries, we call for this relief to include the most vulnerable economies in the world, including our Member States.

The COVID-19 crisis is stretching the already challenged health systems in many of our countries, which also lack the required medical equipment, test kits, and protective gear that are in high demand worldwide and difficult to source. It is expected that COVID-19 cases will overwhelm health facilities. This will adversely affect patients with high-burden communicable and non-communicable diseases, who will lack access to adequate care. This could result in increased morbidity and mortality. We note with concern that social protection issues are emerging as a result of COVID-19, particularly for the most vulnerable in our communities. We call for global COVID-19 recovery efforts that build health infrastructure and systems, as well as social protection measures, to ensure equitable and inclusive access for all.

We acknowledge the potentially dire consequences to the economies and livelihoods of our Member States, and the exacerbation of inequalities in our societies. Determined to protect the lives and livelihoods of our people, we also call on our development partners and relevant multilateral organisations the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations (UN), the World Bank Group (WBG), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to put in place the needed short, medium, and long-term emergency response programmes, in coordination with our regional institutions, to assist developing countries to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We urge our development partners to collaborate expeditiously by reviewing any unnecessary bureaucracy to facilitate movement of health professionals, essential cargo, and emergency medical supplies to the affected communities in our regions.

We recognise that while COVID-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity today, climate change remains the greatest threat in the longer term. We also call on all countries to ensure that the economic recovery measures to tackle COVID-19 align with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The transboundary nature of this pandemic reinforces the importance of multilateralism to address our common challenges.

In light of this ongoing crisis and the disproportionate socio-economic effects on countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, we resolve, on behalf of the organisations listed below, to coordinate our efforts and pool available resources, in order to aid our respective Member States to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)

H.E. Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Forum of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM).

H.E. Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)

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Joint statement by the heads of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Caribbean Community, and the Pacific Islands Forum...

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, announced that it has partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to provide free access to geospatial technology in response to the COVID-19 emergency in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Governments in the region will be able to use a COVID-19 solution to track critical equipment and asset availability, manage supply chains, and maintain business continuity.

Leveraging Esris Disaster Response Program, and based on the specific needs of IDB member countries, this collaboration provides access to technology resources that can enhance the regions response to the immediate public health emergency posed by COVID-19. Concretely, governments in the region will be able to leverage Esris analytical models and implement dashboards and control centers to monitor the spread of the virus and identify where intervention is needed.

With Esri, we have developed a collaborative relationship focused on working with IDB clients to solve complex problems and combat COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean, said Nuria Simo, the IDBs Chief Information Officer and General Manager of Department of Information Technology. We believe Esris leadership in disaster response programs, technical knowledge and assistance in the use of geographic information systems, usage of georeferenced data, and access to analytical tools can greatly benefit the region in its fight against the virus, while helping us meet other important needs in the countries we serve.

We are very proud to assist IDB in providing support to Latin America and the Caribbean, said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. The ability to understand emergency management capacity is crucial to handling a crisis like this, and it is our mission to offer enhanced technological capabilities that empower governments around the globe to respond faster, and with the best data resources at their disposal.

In addition to supporting the public health response, the partnership will also support the three other priority areas identified by the IDB as it works to address COVID-19 in LAC, including the creation of safety nets for vulnerable populations, economic productivity and employment, and the development of fiscal policies to relieve economic impacts.

To learn more about Esris resources for responding to COVID-19, visit go.esri.com/coronavirus.

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Esri and IDB Offer Solution to Combat COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean - Geospatial World

Discover the best beaches, cultural experiences and incredible nature experiences these fabled islands have to offer...

Discover Havana

Begin your Caribbean adventure in the atmospheric capital of Cuba. Cruise the citys colonial streets in a vintage American convertible. Then, venture deep into the Cuban countryside, experience daily life in the lush tobacco fields of Vinales, draw back the curtains on Santiago de Cubas ballet workshops, and wander across the French-infused waterfront of Cienfuegos.

Swim with the Humpbacks in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is full of wild adventures, mostly of the natural kind, activities like snorkelling with humpback whales. Spend a week at Silver Bank, the scene of the largest gathering of North Atlantic humpback whales on the planet. Not only will you get to view their antics from your comfortable liveaboard vessel, youll also be able to dive into the warm tropical watersand encounter humpbacks eye-to-eye in their natural environment, on their terms.Now, thats wild!

Soak in the Tropical Vibes at Jamaica

If you wish to experience the true-blue vibe of the Caribbean, head to Jamaica and venture beyond all clichs. In this land of white, sandy beaches and delicious native cuisine, take an all-encompassing trip to get under the skin of the country.Youll see and hear Rastafari culture on a tour of an indigenous Rastafari village, relax in the refreshing waters of Dunns River Falls, and swim the azure blue waters off Seven Mile Beach.

Go on a Bird-watching Trail in Trinidad

After enjoying the wonderful accent of the locals in the Caribbean, if you have time to explore one tiny country thats full of natural beauty, head to Trinidad. This country is the perfectisland for encounteringboth South American and Caribbean bird-life and thus attracts lots of visitors annually. Choose a seven-day trip at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, home to 400 species of birds. Expect to spot tanagers, hummingbirds, euphonias and more. Also, watch leatherback turtles laying their eggs, see extraordinary oil birds at Dunston Caves, and the marvellous spectacle of scarlet ibis coming in to roost at Caroni Swamp

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4 Incredible Experiences to Have in the Caribbean - Femina

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WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has joined forces with Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, to provide free access to geospatial technology in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The IDB said that governments in the region will be able to use a custom COVID-19 solution to track critical equipment and assets availability, manage supply chains and maintain business continuity.

Leveraging Esri's Disaster Response Programme, and based on the specific needs of IDB member countries, this collaboration provides access to technology resources that can enhance the region's response to the immediate public health emergency posed by COVID-19, the IDB said in a statement.

Concretely, governments in the region will be able to leverage Esri's analytical models and implement dashboards and control centres to monitor the spread of the virus and identify where intervention is needed, it added.

The IDB's Chief Information Officer and General Manager of Department of Information Technology, Nuria Simo, said with ESRI, "we have developed a collaborative relationship focused on working with IDB clients to solve complex problems and combat COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We believe ESRI's leadership in disaster response programs, technical knowledge and assistance in the use of geographic information systems, usage of georeferenced data, and access to analytical tools can greatly benefit the region in its fight against the virus, while helping us meet other important needs in the countries we serve, she added.

Esri founder and president, Jack Dangermond, said his company was very proud to assist IDB in providing support to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The ability to understand emergency management capacity is crucial to handling a crisis like this, and it is our mission to offer enhanced technological capabilities that empower governments around the globe to respond faster, and with the best data resources at their disposal, he added.

In addition to supporting the public health response, the IDB said the partnership will also support the three other priority areas it has identified, as it works to address COVID-19 in LAC, including the creation of safety nets for vulnerable populations, economic productivity and employment, and the development of fiscal policies to relieve economic impacts.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

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IDB, Esri offer solutions to combat COVID-19 in the Caribbean - Jamaica Observer

On 08 May an RAF flight delivered Foreign Office-sourced supplies to the Turks and Caicos Islands including 6 ventilators, blood and medication to support the Islands health care systems during the coronavirus pandemic. This flight is part of the wider support being offered by the UK Government to its Overseas Territories in order to maintain access to essential goods including food, fuel and medical supplies.

Alongside this, the Royal Navys disaster relief specialists on RFA Argus are preparing for hurricane season by testing their skills across six of the Overseas Territories. Operating in and around Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos, the crew have been familiarising themselves with the terrain of each island and identifying potential landing sites should aid need to be delivered.

RFA Argus and troops on board have conducted exercises on Montserrat and Turks and Caicos. The exercises use simulated scenarios to test the crews ability to quickly land personnel, equipment and stores ashore in the aftermath of a disaster and deliver life-saving aid to local populations.

The commitment of our Armed Forces to support the Overseas Territories in times of pandemic or national disaster is unwavering.

We will continue to support our partners in the Caribbean, engaging with both the local communities and authorities as they prepare for the hurricane season and adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Weve seen how hurricanes can devastate communities in the Caribbean and when combined with the coronavirus, that devastation could lead to even more lives being lost.

By providing life-saving aid alongside the world-class expertise of the British military, the UK is making sure British nationals and others living in the Overseas Territories, are prepared and supported ahead of the hurricane season.

The early deployment of a Royal Navy ship ahead of the hurricane season is vital for the personnel on board to be able to gather local knowledge of the islands and establish working practices with local authorities. Crew on board RFA Argus have been practising how to deliver aid and support local residents if a hurricane hits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ship carries hurricane-related aid from the Department for International Development such as water, ration packs, medical equipment and materials to repair damage and clear blocked roads. It is staffed by an experienced team of sailors, aviators and marines equipped to deploy in the wake of a humanitarian disaster.

Other recent support provided by the Armed Forces to the Overseas Territories includes:

Small security assistance teams have been deployed to both the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Each team will reinforce the capacity of local police and support local authorities

A new military co-ordination cell has been formed with our French and Dutch allies, optimising our support for Overseas Territories in the Caribbean as they co-ordinate their response to COVID-19.

A small medical team alongside 2 Intensive Treatment Units have been deployed to the Falkland Islands and the RAF has also flown in supplies of oxygen and medicine

310kg of essential supplies have been delivered to Ascension Island and St Helena

175 personnel have been deployed to Gibraltar, to support the delivery of food and medicine to residents

The deployment of military capabilities and UK personnel is just one way the UK Government is supporting the people of the Overseas Territories. Specialist health professionals from Public Health England are providing crucial guidance and training on infectious disease management and we are providing advice on sourcing medical personnel and equipment.

There are around 270,000 people living in the Overseas Territories, most of whom are British nationals.

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UK Armed Forces step up support to the Caribbean Overseas Territories during coronavirus pandemic - GOV.UK

(Jamaica Gleaner) The government has granted approval for the 1,044 Jamaican ship workers aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship to disembark.

The process will begin tomorrow at noon in Falmouth.

In making the announcement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will create a sterile zone around the port to conduct COVID-19 testing.

Holness explained that the Jamaicans will disembarkin groups of 200 every 48-72 hours and taken to Bahia Principe hotel in St Ann.

The time window is to allow for the test results.

Holness said ship workers who test positive will go into state quarantine for 14 days while those who test negative will be allowed to quarantine at home for the same period.

Persons in home quarantine will have their location tracked and must do a video check-in multiple times a day, Holness said.

I understand the frustration the ship workers are facing, they are eager to see their families,we well understand but Jamaica is a country of rules. Rules dont mean we cant have sympathy and empathy to ensure that suffering is minimised.

We have learned a tough lesson as a governmentwe took note of the hardship cases right across the government and we brought them back. In bringing them back, we were not able to give them the good experience that they deserve, we cannot afford that to happen again, we have to ensure that we perfect the arrangements, Holness said.

Holness said over 9,000 repatriation applications have been received by the government.

Meanwhile, he disclosed that the government is working to bring home nearly 900 additional Jamaican cruise ship workers.

Read more from the original source:

Over 1,000 Jamaicans on Royal Caribbean cleared to disembark - Stabroek News

Travel is restricted around the world but the United States has been flying migrants on hundreds of deportation flights to at least 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean since the pandemic began in the United States. There have been over 100 cases of migrants deported from the United States testing positive for COVID-19 upon being returned to Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and Colombia.

These deportations demonstrate the lengths to which the Trump administration is willing to go to prioritize its harsh immigration enforcement agenda. Under a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order issued on March 20, the administration closed U.S. borders to asylum seekers but still allowed truck drivers, students and others to continue entering the United States.

Over 20,000 migrants have since been expelled to Mexico or rapidly flown to their home country. Worse still, hundreds of unaccompanied children have been subject to this cruel policy in direct violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act passed by Congress in 2008 to establish a process for migrant children to receive temporary shelter and be reunited with their family members throughout their immigration proceedings.

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These deportations also reflect the well-documented negligence in providing access to medical care and poor conditions for migrants in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency deporting migrants. Detainees have been denied access to soap, disinfectant and masks during this public health emergency. Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, a Salvadoran man, became the first detained person to die from COVID-19 after having been hospitalized from the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California.

There is no way to know how many more immigrants could already have been exposed to COVID-19, as ICE has only tested a fraction of those within its migrant jails. Of the ones that the agency did test, about 50 percent tested positive for COVID-19. ICE is now shuttling immigrants back and forth between migrant jails that have had COVID-19 outbreaks and then deporting them with just a temperature check. ICE will be unable to administer tests for all deported migrants, and even when it does test them, there has already been at least one case of a migrant deported back with certification from the U.S. that he tested negative only to test positive in Guatemala. We cannot rely on testing or wait until it is implemented.

Regardless of whether or not migrants test for COVID-19 before being placed on flights, they are being returned to extremely unstable and dangerous situations in their home countries. In El Salvador, those deported are taken directly from the airport to one of at least nine quarantine facilities for deported migrants where there have been reports of flooding, lack of access to medical care, overcrowding and unhygienic conditions.

Governments are also taking increasingly repressive measures in response to COVID-19. Over 6,000 individuals have been arrested in Honduras for violating curfews or for protesting over layoffs and lack of food, and one man there was killed and another seriously injured by the military police. Curfews and suspensions to public transportation prevent families from accessing their relatives at airports or quarantine centers, which is especially concerning for unaccompanied children.

Migrants are being deported to some of the poorest countries in the hemisphere with extremely fragile health care systems. Haiti may have as few as 60 ventilators for a country of 11 million people. A presidentially appointed panel of medical experts in Haiti recently called for a suspension of deportation flights to the country.

Like much of the Trump administrations policies toward the region, deportations reflect a racist and myopic approach to Latin America and its people. The general attitude seems to be: It is not worth testing migrants for COVID-19 and it does not matter if they infect their communities when they are sent back.

Any measure that contributes to regionally spreading the disease or putting people at risk must be stopped immediately. A major outbreak of COVID-19 could be catastrophic, reads a statement from Doctors without Borders calling for a halt to deportations.

By exporting the virus, the United States is contributing to a destabilization of the region. There are already reports of growing food insecurity and deepening poverty due to COVID-19 in Latin America. Increased out-migration is likely to follow.

The United States should immediately halt deportation flights for as long as there is a public health emergency. Increasing testing of deported migrants alone is not the answer. Instead, the United States should release immigrants and asylum seekers and allow them to shelter in place with family and friends in the United States. It should also provide countries with assistance based on their public health needs, and not the extent to which they cooperate on migration enforcement. Doing so will make us all safer and help the region respond in these tough times, building its resiliency for the future.

Link:

US Deportations Are Exporting COVID-19 to Latin America and the Caribbean - Truthout

In ordinary times, you can count on cruise lines to turn a profit. But, alas, these times are anything but ordinary, and as cruise ships lay dormant in ports around the world, a rethink is in order just to ensure survival.

That said, according to Wedbush analyst James Hardiman, Royal Caribbean (RCL) has enough liquidity available to see it through to February 2021 based on "an industry shutdown scenario.

How does Hardiman arrive at such a conclusion? With operations shuttered, Royal Caribbean recently said that its monthly cash burn rate is between $150-$170 million. But with the addition of further outlays such as hedging costs and debt service expenses, the figure increases to between $250-$275 million a month.

In the meantime, the company has secured a $3.3 billion loan through a private offering of senior secured notes. After paying back loans amounting to $2.35 billion, Hardiman estimates RCL will have $1 billion left, giving the company what we estimate would be pro-forma liquidity of ~$3.4B.

Hardiman adds to the mix another $20-$50 million of monthly cash outflows. Where does this leave Royal Caribbean?

Relative to the $3.4B of liquidity (with a $300M covenant-mandated floor), Hardiman says, This comes out to about 10 months of available liquidity on hand, which gets us into February of next year in a minimal revenue environment.

However, even in a worst-case scenario, Hardiman doesnt foresee RCL requiring a lifeboat, as it has further options.

The analyst concluded, "It remains to be seen whether or not RCL will be cash flow positive by early 2021, and yet we can appreciate what appears to be a hesitation to follow in the footsteps of both CCL and NCLH in significantly diluting shareholders by way of an equity offering. Such an offering nonetheless remains a viable option for the company, and so we have minimal concern that the company would actually run out of liquidity."

Accordingly, Hardiman keeps an Outperform rating along with a $63 price target. The implication for investors? Potential upside of 44% from current levels. (To watch Hardimans track record, click here)

All in all, the rest of the Streets outlook for the struggling cruise line is a mixed bag. A Moderate Buy consensus rating is based on 5 Buys, 6 Holds and 1 Sell. However, the bulls are at the helm, as the average price target comes in at $67.80 and implies potential upside of 55%. (See Royal Caribbean's stock analysis at TipRanks)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

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Royal Caribbean Can Make It Through to 2021, but Whats Next? - Yahoo Finance

Ambassador Edmunds

In response to the question posed on whether Caribbean tourism can rebound; what should governments and the private sector do in order to safely revive tourism in the region; and whether Caribbean governments should make their economies less dependent on tourism Ambassador Edmunds recently responded to the Inter-American Dialogues Latin America Advisor, with the following:

The rebooting of Caribbean tourism is critical, especially considering the adverse economic impact of the pandemic on the region an estimated GDP loss of more than $1 billion. The ability to earn foreign exchange and stem unemployment is top priority to ensure social stability, which, if lost, can equally affect the countries of the Caribbean and the United States.

Partnership programs built to address illicit trafficking and hemispheric security are diminished if the region is not able to regain its footing, as is the trade relationship, in which the United States currently enjoys a surplus and trading states are direct beneficiaries.

Regional governments and hoteliers are already working on protocols to protect nationals and visitors, and discussions with the airline and cruise industries on implementation of possible frameworks are ongoing. While recovery will be gradual, a public-private partnership between governments (including the United States) and industry that positions the region as a closed and trusted travel loop could be most helpful. More immediately, a lowering of the State Departments Global Level Advisory from 4, specific to the near-space Caribbean, would be ideal. Longer term, an agreement on a common virus testing regime between U.S. federal and state authorities and Caribbean officials would protect everyone.

To the question of economic diversification, while governments are already developing initiatives to address the current dependence on tourism, the fact remains that this industry currently leads all others in terms of employment and revenue. In order for any plans to be put in place for other industries, access to much of the revenue that tourism and associated industry provide will be the key.

The publication and inputs from other commentators can be foundhere

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every weekday for scholars, government officials and informed business leaders invested in Latin Americas development and future. Subscribers include Apple,BMW, Citigroup, ExxonMobil, Google, and Mitsubishi, to name a few, as well as government agencies on four continents, and university libraries at Berkeley, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Notre Dame, among other top schools

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Ambassador Edmunds recent comments on Caribbean tourism in recent Latin America Advisor publication of the Inter-American Dialogue - The Voice St....