Monthly Archives: July 2022

Posted on July 27, 2022

Executive Vice President of the Afreximbank, Kanayo Awani chats with Prime Minister Mia Mottley during her visit - GP

Barbados is expected to host more than 700 African businessmen, investors, and representatives of financial institutions during the first Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) from August 31 to September 3 this year.

The Forum is one of the first projects coming out of last years First Africa-Caricom summit and will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre under the theme: One People. One Destiny. Uniting and Reimagining Our Future.

The event is a collective initiative of Invest Barbados and Export Barbados in collaboration with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The Forum aimsto fosterthe development of strategic partnerships between the business communities in Africa and the Caribbean, to bolster bilateral cooperation and increase engagement in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, tourism, culture, and other sectors, a media release from Export Barbados (BIDC) and Invest Barbados stated.

Additionally, ACTIF 2022 is expected to contribute to the implementation of theAfrican Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)and the Caribbean trade development agenda, further reflecting the deep-rooted ties between Africa and the Caribbean based on their shared history, culture, common identity, and destiny.

As part of their commitment to the Forums success, CEOs of Export Barbados (BIDC) and Invest Barbados Mark Hill and Kaye Greenidge respectively, hosted Kanayo Awani, executive vice president of Afreximbanks Intra-African Trade Bank and her team during a preparatory visit to Barbados between July 20 and 22.

Awani also had meetings with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and representatives of key local and regional organisations.

Mottleysaid Barbados ACTIF2022 will be a major step towards strengthening relations between Caricom and Africa.

Last September, Barbados signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Afreximbank, and we are committed to the success of that MOU, she said.

Indeed, Barbados is of the view that the Afreximbank is a key partner for all Caricom member states in facilitating trade and investment opportunities between Africa and the Caribbean.

The prime minister added: Establishing air links between our regions is vital if those prospects are to be realised, and Barbados is committed to doing its part to achieve that. After four centuries, Africa and the Caribbean are joining forces, and so this Forum must embrace all our people.

It is a historic moment that cannot be captured by only a few businesses and businessmen; none of us should miss it.I am confident that ACTIF2022 will connect our peoples and result in an increased flow of goods and services between our two regions and overall, wider cooperation.

Commenting on the Forum, Awani said ACTIF2022was taking placeagainst the backdrop of the renewed engagement between Africa and the Caribbean.

The joint hosting of the first Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum is a key step towards the renaissance of the relationship between Africa and the Caribbean, she said.

Following the step taken on September 7, 2021, by the African and Caribbean heads of state and government at their summit, where they renewed their commitment to revitalise the relationship, ACTIF2022 is the next logical stride, using the power of trade to reconnect the two regions.

We thank the government of Barbados for sharing our vision and generously committing itself without hesitation to host this Forum, extending the invitation to the business communities and developmental agencies in Africa and the wider Caribbean region. We look forward to a successful Forum and a renewed relationship between two regions that everything links.

Intending participants, including potential exhibitors, can register for ACTIF2022 by visiting the event website.

(PR/AR)

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Forum to advance Africa-Caribbean trade and investment in August - Nation News

What if a tourist could travel across the Caribbean on a single visa?

Thats the idea of Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who says the implementation of a regional tourist visa regime among CARICOM nations has huge economic potential.

A regional visa regime is something that weve been talking about. I think if we are to build Caribbean tourism, then we must recognize that as individual states, we are too small to grow and to benefit from the recovery of tourism as it now stands, but together as a region, we can grow and we can benefit, Bartlett says.

That would create the potential for a malt-destination tourism network, Bartlett says.

More importantly, it would create a single common airspace, where airlines flying to the Caribbean would pay one fee.

The idea would be that a traveler could clear customs in Jamaica and then be domestic across the countries of the Caribbean Community, from Barbados to Antigua to Trinidad.

It will bring more airlines into our space because the turnaround time for the aircraft will be significantly reduced as a result. More rotations could be had, and thus more visitors can come in, Bartlett says.

The other element of importance is that it also provides a new skill set to be developed in the Caribbean area. What tourism will be doing is now saying were not just people who have bartenders, cooks and housekeepers, but we are into technology, aviation, logistics and procurement, he said.

Its not completely without precedent.

Indeed, for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, CARICOM treated the nine host countries (and Dominica) and a single domestic space tor travelers for nearly three months.

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A Single Tourist Visa for the Whole Caribbean? - Caribbean Journal

Theyre the kinds of meals you savor. Not just when youre finishing dessert, but months and years in advance.

This is the experience diners are seeking when they come to any strong culinary destination, and, thankfully, the Caribbean is full of them.

Whether youre in a seaside food stall or a Michelin-level fine-dining destination, the Caribbean is filled with world-class culinary experiences, a reminder that this remarkable part of the world is a full-fledged global gastronomic destination.

Its hard to believe, but this year marks the 10th anniversary of Caribbean Journals groundbreaking list of the 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean, a list that is still the authority, that is still without peer: our on-the-ground, exhaustively-experienced guide to the most memorable places to eat in the Caribbean. What hasnt changed in 10 years is our loyalty to our three pillars: Food, Service and Ambience, the essential ingredients to any great restaurant.

These are the fundaments of an unforgettable meal the kind that stay with you long past dessert.

Congratulations to all of this years selections!

#1 Brass Boer, Bonaire The Caribbean leader remains in the top spot. This Bonaire classic, the Caribbean outpost of three-Michelin-star Chefs Johnny and Therese Boer (the team behind Hollands De Librije, has created the Caribbeans true destination eatery, with a level of culinary artistry the region has not seen before, all in a setting at the oceans edge at the Delfins Beach Resort.

See the article here:

The 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean - 2022 - Caribbean Journal

Join the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas Tuesday, Aug. 2, for a free webinar as we launch a free multilingual ebook on journalist safety in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Experts on the topic will come together for a discussion on the current situation of violence against journalists in the region and measures to protect the press.

Speakers include:

The webinar takes place, in Spanish, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. US Central Time via Zoom.Registration is required.

Protection of Journalists: Safety and Justice in Latin America and the Caribbean, the ebook soon available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, is a compilation of articles produced over the course of eight months by members of the Knight Centers digital magazine, LatAm Journalism Review, and journalists from the region.

The four-part project focuses on: 1) coverage of protests, 2) reporting on violent conflict, 3) development of protection mechanisms, and 4) investigation and prosecution of violence against journalists.

The 15-story project, edited by Mexican journalist Javier Garza and coordinated by The Knight Centers Teresa Mioli, presents country case studies and never-before reported details of violence targeting press professionals. It includes guides on how to stay safe while reporting on protest and violent conflict. And, it looks at delays in setting up systems to protect journalists, as well as flaws in the offices meant to prevent impunity.

This is one of the most complete assessments of the risks journalists face and the systems designed to protect them, but from the perspective of the journalists themselves and how safe they are in their own countries," Garza said.

The project was made possible thanks to funding from UNESCOs Global Media Defense Fund.

We are grateful to UNESCOs Global Media Defense Fund for its support to enable us at the Knight Center to work on this project that has helped journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean with useful information about their safety and ways to fight against impunity, said professor Rosental Alves, Knight Center founder and director. We have helped journalists to understand many aspects of the problem of violence against the press in the region, but we have also highlighted the need for justice, the end of impunity.

Register today for this important webinar and join the discussion on journalist safety in the region.

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Knight Center to launch ebook on journalist safety in Latin America and Caribbean during webinar | Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas -...

2022 Atlantic hurricane names: See list, including supplemental names

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Here is the list of names for 2022, as established by the World Meteorological Organization.

Cheryl McCloud, Wochit

The Atlantic basin remained quiet again, with no tropical cyclones expected over the next five days, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Forecasters are watching three tropical waves, with one in the western Caribbean.

Your guide to preparing for the 2022 hurricane season in Florida

Track all active storms

Excessive rainfall forecast

A weak tropical wave brought thunderstorms to South and Central Florida Tuesday, with rain amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches.

Scattered storms are forecast this afternoon over the same areas.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.

The next named storm in the Atlantic basin will be Danielle.

Hurricane season 2022: CSU, AccuWeather forecasters agree: Active hurricane season ahead. Here's what you need to know

WeatherTiger: The 2022 hurricane model power rankings: Who has the best spaghetti, who's off track?

Forecasters agreed earlier this year an active hurricane season is coming. Colorado State University meteorologists predicted 19 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationsaid 14 to 21 named storms will develop.Of the predicted hurricanes, three to sixcould be major hurricanes, packing wind speeds of 111 mph or higher.

Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8a.m. July 27:

Tropical wave 1:A tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic is located north of Cape Verde. It's moving to the west at 19 mph. It's embedded in dry Saharan air, which is inhibiting development.

Tropical wave 2:A tropical wave is located in the central Atlantic between the British Virgin Islands and Cape Verde. It's moving to the west at 15 mph. It's also embedded in dry Saharan air.

Tropical wave 3:Another tropical wave is located in the western Caribbean off the Yucatan Peninsula. It's moving to the west at 13 mph.

It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to the U.S. from the tropical waves.

Forecasters urge all residents to continuemonitoring the tropics and to always be prepared during what's expected to be an active hurricane season.

If you can't see any local weather warnings here, you'll need to open this story in a web browser.

See the National Hurricane Center's five-day graphical tropical weather outlook below.

Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.

We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look at ourspecial subscription offers here.

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NHC keeping eye on 2 tropical waves in Atlantic, 1 in Caribbean - Ocala

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. July 26, 2022:Google is putting the spotlight today on a Caribbean musical instrument the only acoustic instrument invented in the twentieth century.

Today, July 26, 2022, the Google Doodle celebrates the steelpan, a percussion instrument made of metal, created and influenced by Trinbagonians. Its the only acoustic instrument invented in the twentieth century, but has origins dating back to the 1700s.

It was a staple during Carnival and Canboulay, the annual harvest festivals celebrated in Trinidad, and is still used in contemporary music. On July 26th in 1951, the Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) performed at the Festival of Britain, introducing the steelpan and a new music genre to the world.

Todays Doodle was illustrated by Trinidad & Tobago-based guest artistNicholas Hugginsand composed by Miami-based musicianEtienne Charles and Lennox Boogsie Sharpe The other steelpan musicians who worked on the project were: Josanne Francis, Jonathan Castro andLuke Walker.

See and hear it HERE

Says Huggins of the project: When I was first approached to tackle such a culturally significant topic for this Doodle, I was a bit nervous because I wanted the story being told to be one that Trinbagonians worldwide would be proud of. I was also very excited because I love creating art that showcases Trinidad & Tobago and this Doodle will allow my country to be showcased on one of the biggest online stages.

Charles commented: First thoughts were those to contain my excitement to get to work with Boogsie on the music, as well as with Nick, Angelica and the whole google team. Then it was figuring out a process. Luckily, I had just finished a global steelband project, but this one was a collaborative composition with Boogsie and myself, so he recorded ideas into a phone and sent them to me. From there, I added my part to compliment and arranged the whole piece.

Nicholas says he hopes that people can take away the sense of the industriousness and creativity of the people of Trinidad & Tobago.

We are a small country on the global stage but the fact that we have given the world such a beautiful instrument is something to be held in the highest regard, he added.

Id like people to feel the magic in the steelpan, said Etienne. An instrument born out of Afro-descendant resistance in Trinidad. A symbol of community, artistic excellence, and scientific innovation. Hopefully this makes people more inclined to come hear pan in its birthplace and feel the energy that comes from it. Its really like nothing else.

HISTORY OF THE STEEL PLAN

When enslaved Africans were brought to Trinidad and Tobago by colonialists in the 1700s, they brought over their African heritage and traditions of rhythmic drumming with them. When slavery was abolished between 1834 and 1838, Trinidadians joined in on Carnival festivities with their drums. However, in 1877, government officials banned their drumming because they feared that the drumming would be used to send messages that would inspire rebellion. In protest of this ban, musicians started to pound tuned bamboo tubes on the ground as alternatives to mimic the sound of their drums. These ensembles were called Tamboo Bamboo bands.

Another ban came in 1930, when rival Tamboo Bamboo bands would cause disturbances during Carnival and other street festivals. These bands then looked to a new alternative to carry their rhythm: metal objects such as car parts, paint pots, dustbins, biscuit tins and thus the idea of the pan was born.

During World War II, Carnival was forbidden due to security reasons, and musicians began experimenting with the unique instrument to improve the sound quality. Overtime, dents were hammered into the surface of these objects, which played different notes depending on the size, position and shape. In 1948, after the war ended, the musicians switched to using the 55-gallon oil drums discarded by the oil refineries. In addition to changing the shape of the drum surface, they found that changing the length of the drum allowed complete scales from bass to soprano. This formed the basis for the modern version of the pan. The steelpan grew and developed into a legitimate instrument through the likes of pioneers and innovators such as Winston Spree Simon, Ellie Mannette, Anthony Williams and Bertie Marshall. Many of their innovations and techniques are still used today.

The steelpan is now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, and is a source of great pride and true resilience for its citizens. Steelpans are now enjoyed in concert calls like Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and more. Whether in the UK or Japan, Senegal or the States, the steelpan is an internationally recognized instrument that reminds listeners of its island origins.

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Googles Doodle Spotlights On This Caribbean Musical Instrument - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News - News Americas

Nearly every island in the Caribbean is ringed with beautiful beaches, but theres more to a Caribbean vacation than sun and sand. Just inland from the coast on many islands youll find steep-sided mountains carpeted in lush rainforest, a less undeveloped and often unexplored side to what are, after all, tropical islands. In destinations like St. Lucia, Dominica, Puerto Rico, Belize and Panama, take the path less traveled to one of these beautiful resorts hidden among the palms and ferns:

Secret Bay, Dominica Secret Bay promises a six-star rainforest resort experience, and this Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel delivers with all-suite accommodations featuring private plunge pools, dining on sustainably sourced food in your private villa or the open-air Zing Zing restaurant, dedicated hosts for each room, and a setting that blends the serenity of the rainforest with a secluded beachfront location the best of both worlds. Of course, its not just the regions best rainforest resort; its one of the best resorts in the hemisphere, period.

Visit link:

9 Caribbean Rainforest Resorts to Try Right Now - Caribbean Journal

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Alicia Nicholls

Much of the trade policy world released a collective sigh of relief when on June 17 it was announced that ministers and delegates at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)s Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) had reached an agreement.

MC12 had been postponed for two years due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

Negotiators worked late into the night two days after the initial deadline to achieve consensus on a narrow package of low-hanging fruit. Now that the dust has settled, this SRC Trading Thoughts assesses what was agreed to under the Geneva Package of agreements and decisions. Furthermore, it examines what this all means for Caribbean countries, all of which are WTO members with the exception of The Bahamas which is an observer and is currently in the accession process.

The WTO is the inter-governmental organization with responsibility for overseeing the multilateral trading system. Though global merchandise trade reached a record high in 2021, it has seen some challenging years and is likely to be subdued in 2022, according to UNCTAD. The COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and consequent western sanctions against Russia, has adversely impacted global supply chains and skyrocketed global inflation.

Like any institution, the WTO is not without flaws. However, despite the dysfunction of the two most visible parts of the WTO, other functions continue such as its Trade Policy Review mechanism.

Moreover, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the WTO Secretariat has compiled invaluable data and studies on Members trade-related pandemic responses, while the organisation continues to serve as a forum for Members to share and discuss trade-related aspects of the pandemic, climate change, among other issues. In a world with an escalating number of crises, each with its own trade impacts, the WTO is needed now more than ever.

Moreover, as small open economies, Caribbean countries are particularly invested in the success of the rules-based multilateral trading system and have consistently advocated the need to fix on-going issues, includingwith the WTOs negotiation and dispute settlement functions.

Indeed, in Geneva, Caribbean countries are widely regarded as having been pivotal to the success of the MC12 negotiations. The tireless work of the negotiators, including those from the Caribbean, should be lauded.

Main Outcome Document

In the main outcome adopted by Ministers on June 17, they, inter alia, reiterated their resolve to strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system, committed to reforming the WTO and solving the current Appellate Body impasse by 2024.

It was also the first time there has been reference to climate change, broad environmental and gender issues in the main outcome document.

Critical to the global trading systems security and predictability is the WTOs compulsory and binding dispute settlement system (DSS) where Members can settle trade disputes in an orderly and peaceful manner. As the higher tier of the two-tier DSS, the WTO Appellate Body (AB) is the forum to which parties could appeal points of law following a panel decision. The AB has been dysfunctional since December 2019 when it lost its quorum owing to the US blocking the appointment of new judges to the Body.

Although the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Mechanism (MPIA) has gained some modest traction, it is only a temporary fix with just a handful of the WTOs membership having signed on and all with the recognition that the ideal solution would be a resumption of the ABs functioning.

WTO Members committed to conduct discussions to have a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all Members by 2024.

Fisheries Subsidies Agreement

The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, which seeks to limit and not eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies, is only the second major multilateral trade agreement to be agreed under the WTOs auspices and its first with sustainable development at its heart.

The Agreement was over two decades in coming as the negotiations had begun in 2001 and only really picked up speed in 2015. It tackles Sustainable Development Goal 14 target 6 under the United Nations2030 Agenda.

The agreement prohibits subsidies contributing to illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, subsidies for fishing an overfished stock and subsidies for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

It, nonetheless, allows developing countries, including Least Developed Countries, to continue to grant or maintain these subsidies up to and within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for up to two years from the date of the Agreements entry into force.

A Fisheries Subsidies Committee will be established to monitor the agreements implementation and there will also be a Funding Mechanism. As countries washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea where overfishing is a threat to reefs and livelihoods, Caribbean countries would have wanted a more ambitious agreement.

There will be further negotiations on disciplining subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. However, if comprehensive disciplines are not adopted four years after the Agreements entry into force the Agreement will lapse unless the General Council decides otherwise.

TRIPS Waiver

In 2020, South Africa and India had proposed a waiver to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) allowing countries to suspend patent and other IP protections on COVID-19 related products and technologies, such as vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, for the duration of the pandemic.

However, this proposal had been strongly resisted by some of the major developed countries with substantial pharmaceutical sectors who deemed the waiver unnecessary.

What was ultimately decided at MC12 was a waiver for eligible countries of certain procedural aspects of the TRIPS Agreement for COVID-19 vaccine manufacture only, and for up to five years. Within six months Members are to further determine whether to extend this waiver to the production and supply of diagnostics and therapeutics. The waiver has drawn significant criticism from several quarters including Medicins sans Frontiers (MSF) for not going far enough.

Extension of E-commerce moratorium

WTO Members have extended the temporary moratorium banning customs duties on electronics transmissions, such as streaming services, by another two years (until MC13 which is to be held December 31, 2024 latest). India and several other developing countries have increasingly objected to the moratoriums continuation, blaming it for lost customs revenues.

A South Centre research paper, which was subsequently critiqued, has found that in the period 2017-2020, developing countries and LDCs lost $56 billion of tariff revenue, of which $48 billion were lost by the developing countries and $8 billion by the least developed countries. Without any public data on the amount of tariff revenue lost by Caribbean countries to the moratorium, it is difficult to state empirically whether this continued moratorium would negatively affect the region.

Other noteworthy outcomes

Members have also made non-binding best endeavour commitments not to apply export restrictions on medical supplies and food.

Unfinished business and the way forward

The fact that any agreement was achieved is noteworthy as the expectations going into the Ministerial were indeed low. Since the WTOs birth in 1995, its membership has grown and diversified. Finding consensus among 164 members, and an increasingly more assertive group of developing countries, is a tall order.

What helped in MC12 is that regardless of the dysfunction most, if not all, WTO members realise the organisations importance and are invested in its success even if they disagree on how that success could be achieved. What also helped was having a Director General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is unwavering and committed to working with WTO members to find solutions to address the dysfunction.

To be sure, there remains much unfinished business coming out of MC12. For example, the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement must be ratified and the built-in agenda for the negotiation of comprehensive disciplines must be completed within four years if not the Agreement lapses.

Members have agreed to accelerate WTO reform and this requires renewed commitment to address longstanding and sensitive issues such as the effectivenessof special and differential treatment and the decision-making process.

While not as ambitious as many of us would like, the MC12 Geneva Package should be regarded from a glass half-fulland not half-empty perspective.

It invigorates new life and confidence in an organization which had been dismissed by some as moribund, and in the rules-based multilateral trading system which affords our Caribbean small States some semblance of equity in an international system where small States voices are not always equally heard. Now the hard work truly begins.

Alicia Nicholls is the Junior Research Fellow with the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services of The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. Learn more about the SRC at http://www.shridathramphalcentre.com.

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#BTColumn WTO MC 12 and the Caribbean - Barbados Today

Today is our last day on the Mariner, but what better way to end the cruise than in CocoCay?

Patty and I woke up at 10 a.m. this morning and headed to the Windjammer for breakfast. We were able to get a great table that overlooked the colorful entrance of CocoCay.

Also visiting CocoCay today was Allure of the Seas. We had a feeling the island was going to be busy, so we got off the ship as soon as we were done eating.

Our first stop during our (perfect) day at CocoCay was Chill Island, which you can get to quickly by taking a left once you get on the island. Here you can find tons of seats and umbrellas for sunbathing and relaxing by the sea. There are also daybeds here you can rent for a fee if that is more your style.

It was a very hot day (85 degrees but felt like 95), so I wanted to stop and get a drink at The Wacky Seagull. Someone ahead of me ordered a Miami Vice (also known as a Lava Flow); it looked so good that I had to get one too. Patty and I sat down and enjoyed the views while I savored my drink.

We started going towards the Oasis Lagoon so we could cool off in the water. There were multiple shops along the way for those that enjoy shopping. The Chill Grill is also near Chill Island. We decided to check out the food they offered, and boy were we surprised to see how much food they had!

The Chill Grill had burgers, tacos, hotdogs, sandwiches, fruit and various desserts. It was a much larger selection than Royal Caribbeans other private island, Labadee. Patty and I decided to split a cuban sandwich and ribeye cheesesteak sandwich.

I could hear the music bopping from the Oasis Lagoon, so I knew we were close! The lagoon was busy when we first got there, and it stayed that way most of the afternoon.

All the beach chairs were claimed by towels so it was hard to find an empty one to put our stuff down. Luckily, Patty didnt have to wait too long, as a couple decided to leave when she was near them. The seats were right by the lagoon and had the perfect view of the swim-up bar.

Celebrating the fact that we found chairs, I visited the swim-up bar and got myself a Bahama Mama. It helped me stay cool in the heat for sure. A lot of the group cruisers were hanging out here so it was fun to see them and chat. This was my first Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise, and I met lots of friendly people that have made my first experience memorable.

I love jamming to the music at the lagoon, so that makes this place my favorite spot on the island. The DJ does an excellent job of playing current and older pop songs to get people hyped and excited.

As I mentioned, we were worried the island was going to be busy since there were two cruise ships. This was not the case because the island is larger than it looks. There are many places to go and spend your day, almost like a resort. This was my third time at CocoCay, and every time I visit, I find new spots or things to do!

The heat was catching up to us, so we chose to head back to the ship and give ourselves plenty of time to shower and get ready for dinner.

I had heard from an employee that I can get a Johnny Rockets shake as part of my Diamond Plus status, so I wanted to go see if this was true. Johnny Rockets is only open from noon to 5 p.m., so I had to go before dinner. Turns out the employee was right, and I got an Oreo shake for free! I wish I wouldve known about this sooner.

We didnt want to forget to look at all of our professional pictures and buy some, so we did that since we were close to the dining room. We decided on our welcome aboard picture and another from a photoshoot.

Matt was sitting with his daughters at a table of eight, so he invited my mom and me to join them. It was a lovely dinner with great company!

Patty ordered the crispy coconut shrimp as an appetizer. We both got the cheese tortelloni as the main dish. I thought this was super good and different than how it has looked in the past. As I was eating it, it occurred to me that it tasted like mac n cheese, in a good way!

Dinner had two of my favorite desserts - the summer fruit pavlova and dark chocolate brownie. Both were a-ma-zing and I so wish I could bring home some leftovers (but there were none to be had).

The Farewell Variety Showtime featured both Adam Kario, the juggler and comedian from last night, and Jeffrey Allen, who had performed towards the beginning of this sailing.

Adam put on a great show and brought someone up to help him with an act, and that was fun to watch. The crowd even gave him a standing ovation. Jeffrey is an Elton John impersonator. While I did not know any of the songs he played, I could still appreciate his musical talent.

After the show, it was approaching 8 p.m., and it was time for the sunset. We made our way to the helicopter pad at the front of the ship. There were about 20 other people up there taking pictures of the sunset as well. It was beautiful for our last night at sea.

Since this is the last night of the cruise, we had to pack to leave. Patty and I are not light packers, so we had to dedicate a chunk of time to getting ready for tomorrow's long day back home.

There was still one more event I wanted to attend at 9:45 p.m. - The Battle of the Sexes game show. The host asked for five women and five men to come up on stage to represent each team. They then had to compete in certain challenges, like making a paper airplane and seeing who could throw theirs the farthest and choreographing a synchronized dance with a handkerchief. It was a fun show, but I had to leave early to finish up my packing.

Thats a wrap on our Mariner of the Seas group cruise. Thank you for following along with us! Our next group cruise is in December on Wonder of the Seas. In the meantime, happy cruising!

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Mariner of the Seas Live Blog - Day 8 - CocoCay - Royal Caribbean Blog

West Indies Chris Gayle catches a ball during a team training session in Chennai, India, Wednesday, March 16, 2011.

Associated Press/Kirsty Wigglesworth/File

The theme song for the SKYEXCH 61XTY tournament has been released ahead of the first running of the new 10-over (60 ball) cricket tournament, which gets underway on Aug. 24 in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The song is performed by Naomi Cowan, winner of the Jamaica Reggae Industrys breakthrough artiste of the year 2018 and 2019.

Cowan co-wrote and co-produced the song with Skorch Bunit and Cool Blaze under her independent label, 7th C Records.

A Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) media release last week said, Cowan has seen her profile grow rapidly around the world over recent years with her song Paradise Plum getting global plaudits and radio play.

The 6IXTY will see six mens teams and three womens teams compete for their respective versions of the Universe Boss Trophy as the unique cricketing carnival launches in 2022.

The trophy is named after T20 star Chris Gayle.

Cowan said, Ive always believed that the Caribbean has given the world the best in music and sport for many years.

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6IXTY tournament theme song released Caribbean Life - Caribbean Life News