Category Archives: Caribbean

The tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Saba has removed all of its testing rules for travelers, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Effective May 1, the island will no longer require travelers to have a pre-travel test or complete an online health registration form.

Post-arrival testing for incoming travelers has also been removed, while masks will no longer be mandatory for day trippers.

The Saba Tourist Bureau looks forward to welcoming visitors to explore its stunning natural beauty, the islands tourism board said in a statement. The entire island is exceptionally unspoiled and beautifully maintained, reflective of the locals deep sense of pride in their home, villages, and history. Its relative remoteness in the open sea also creates a unique ecosystem and a monument to natures best.

Often dubbed the Caribbeans Unspoiled Queen, the island is a short flight and ferry ride from nearby St Maarten.

Saba, with a population of just over 1,800, rises 5,000 feet from the sea floor, from which 3,000 feet are visible.

Its long been a haven for adventurers, with a focus on diving and hiking, in an idyllic, charming setting across four distinct villages.

It should be noted that if youre flying through St Maarten, you still have to follow all of St Maartens travel health protocols. (You can find more here).

For more, visit Saba Tourism.

Excerpt from:

The Caribbean Island of Saba Just Removed Testing Rules for Travelers - Caribbean Journal

Each year, we index the best, brightest openings, but for the 26th edition of Conde Nast Travelers Hot List, weve upped the ante: This time, editors at all seven worldwide editions had a hand in scouting and selecting the entries. At its heart, this is still a hotel lista whopping 96 made the cut this year, which is a true testament to the industrys resilience. But because (almost) no hotel is an island, weve widened the lens to include the restaurants, culture, transportation, and cruises you need to know, and the destinations that are reinventing themselves. We mean it when we say this may be the hottest Hot List yet. Here, the eight best new hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, and North Atlantic.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2022.

All listings featured on Cond Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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The Best New Hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the North Atlantic: 2022 Hot List - Cond Nast Traveler

DC fans are pushing to have Amber Heard replaced as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and so far, the Change.org petition has 3.5 million signatures, as the televised legal battle between her and ex-husband Johnny Depp continues. Both are suing each other for domestic violence and defamation.

The description of the petition details Depps defamation lawsuit and accusations against Heard. The Change.org petition reads, Amber Heard has been exposed as a domestic abuser by Johnny Depp. In his $50 million lawsuit, Johnny Depp describes many incidents of domestic abuse that he suffered at the hands of his (then) wife Amber Heard, including one incident where she punched him twice in the face and another where she shattered his finger with a vodka bottle, and his finger had to be surgically reattached. He will bear the scar from that for the rest of his life.

While the proceedings continue and its up to the court to decide whether Heards claims are false, public opinion has largely sided with Depp, whose career has seemingly taken a hit due to the accusations his ex-wife made against him. Others are calling out the double standards of siding with Depp over Heard. Other critics believe they both abused each other and are toxic celebrities, as the legal battle is televised to the world.

Nevertheless, many fans of the DC Extended Universe push for Heard to be replaced with Emilia Clarke.

Though last year Peter Safran, the producer of Aquaman 2, explained why Heard wont be recast, as Movie Web recounted. I dont think were ever going to react to, honestly, pure fan pressure. You gotta do whats best for the movie. We felt that if its James Wan, and Jason Momoa, it should be Amber Heard. Thats really what it was... One is not unaware of what is going on in the Twitter-verse, but that doesnt mean you have to react to it or take it as gospel or accede to their wishes. You have to do whats right for the film, and thats really where we landed on it.

The anticipated sequel also has wrapped filming and is expected to hit theaters on Friday, March 17, 2023.

While Heards popularity wanes amid the legal battle, she fired her PR team and hired a new one as she took the stand this week.

On other hand, #JusticeForJohnnyDepp has trended on social media, and another Change.org petition is pushing for Depps return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The petition has over 700,000 million signatures with a goal of 1 million.

According to Depp, he was in talks to star again as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates 6, but negotiations stopped once Heard described herself as a domestic violence survivor in an op-ed in 2018. According to Entertainment Weekly, Depp his manager claims he lost out on $22.5 million once Heards op-ed came out.

While Depp is suing Heard for $50 million for defamation, shes suing him for $100 million, claiming her ex-husband and his legal team defamed her by calling her accusations a sexual violence hoax.

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DC fans petition for Amber Heard to be recast in Aquaman 2, while Johnny Depps supporters push for his ret - PennLive

Traveling with a family can be especially challenging these days. So, for our winter break trip this year, I decided to skip much of the vacation planning and instead book a 6-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas. While I did have to do some planning in advance, once we got on board, we were able to relax and enjoy our trip with no stress.

We found that Odyssey of the Seas had wonderful activities for kids, and my teens were able to find many exciting things to do. With six days on the ship (including two full days at sea), there were so many activities that my kids were never bored, and we even left without them trying everything to do on the ship.

Before our sailing, we had received a RoyalUp email offering us the opportunity to bid for a stateroom upgrade. We took the opportunity to bid on a Grand Suite (one bedroom) and were thrilled to have our bid accepted. Our suite concierge was extremely helpful in organizing activities for us, making our trip even more seamless.

Here are some of the fun activities offered on Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas.

Before we even set sail, my kids found the giant foot pool game located outside the SeaPlex area. Foot pool is a hybrid of billiards and soccer and is played by kicking the cue ball following the rules of pool. Its very fun, and we played a few times during our sailing.

There are also giant life-sized chess boards, including one on the exclusive teen deck. These are a great way to enjoy playing chess in a whole new way, while also enjoying the beautiful outdoor weather. My kids played several times.

One of the most innovative features of the Quantum Class Royal Caribbean ships is the North Star. An observation pod that travels above and to the sides of the ship, the North Star gives cruisers the opportunity to the sites beyond the ship from a unique vantage point. Its a relatively short ride but offers a view that cant be beaten.

Luckily, our suite concierge pre-booked our North Star experience for the afternoon of our day at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Its complimentary, but reservations were required. We still had plenty of time at the island, but then returned in time to experience beautiful views of both the Caribbean Sea and Perfect Day at CocoCay while we were still docked.

The SeaPlex is an exciting and action-packed area of the ship. At times, it hosts bumper cars at sea. This is a free activity and is very popular. Find the times in the Cruise Compass and line up for your turn.

At other times the SeaPlex offers pick-up basketball and ping pong courts. Its surrounded by arcade games, and Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade overlook it. We spent quite a bit of time in the SeaPlex - its an especially fun area for teens.

The Sky Pad, located outdoors by the iFly and FlowRider, is a bungee trampoline with an optional virtual reality twist. After a brief video, youll be harnessed and fitted with a VR headset. As you bounce, youll be transformed into a new location.

The Sky Pad is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We found that the lines were generally pretty short, and you could definitely do it more than once during your sailing if you wanted to.

Of course, after a long winter in New England, we were excited to spend some time in the pools and on the sun loungers. Odyssey of the Seas offers a resort-style pool deck, with lots of chairs, two pools, and several outdoor whirlpools. As suite guests, we also had access to the suite-only sundeck which was almost completely empty during our visit.

For younger kids, the pool deck is also home to Splashaway Bay. This water play area offers small slides and splash zones.

Royal Caribbean ships offer compelling entertainment, and the Odyssey of the Sea is no exception. During our 6-night cruise, there were two musical productions scheduled. The Book, an innovative show located in the technologically advanced theater space in Two70, was scheduled for the first five nights of our trip. Reservations were required and were easy to obtain in the Royal Caribbean app.

The Book is a unique show that is tough to explain, but it is incredibly entertaining. My daughter loved it so much that she wanted to go back a second time.

On the last night, we saw the Effectors, which was performed in the Royal Theater. The Effectors is exclusive to Royal Caribbean and tells the story of a group of superheroes who use creative powers to fight evil. Its an entertaining show utilizing special effects including lights and drones and is a must-see. Again, reservations were required for the show, and we were easily able to make them on the app.

The Odyssey of the Seas also offers a Flowrider surf simulator. Located by the Sky Pad, the Flowrider is also open to guests without the need for reservations. A height limit does apply.

At one point, while my kids were in our stateroom working on homework, I snuck out for a spa treatment at the Vitality Spa onboard. While I decided to do a salon service, they do offer a number of treatments including massages and acupuncture. They can (and should) be booked in advance.

Despite having six days on the Odyssey of the Seas, there were still some additional activities that we didnt have time to participate in. These include the Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator, Laser Tag: Clash for the Crystal City, and the virtual adventure zone. There are also several kids clubs - offering different activities based on kids' ages.

While we were sad to have missed out on some activities, its always nice to know that we can return to the ship and try some completely new-to-us activities.

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All of the fun activities on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas - Cruise Blog

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Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, just wrapped up a week-long tour of the Caribbean in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubliee. They traveled to four Commonwealth realmsnations with Queen Elizabeth as their monarch and head of stateand their trip came in the wake of Prince William and Kate Middleton's controversial tour of the region.

During the Cambridges visit, there were calls for reparations, anti-monarchy protests, and news that Jamaica is moving to forge a new republic and to remove the Queen as head of state. Ahead of the Wessexes' tour, the Palace announced they would be cancelling a tour stop to Grenada, and during the tour, they also faced protests.

"In consultation with the Government of Grenada and on the advice of the Governor General, The Earl and Countess of Wessex's visit to Grenada has been postponed," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "The Earl and Countess hope to visit at a later date." According to People, "the country didn't feel the short visit was worth their resources and taxpayer money."

The Queen's youngest son and his wife continued on with their planned visit to Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Antigua & Barbuda. Scroll on for all the best photos from their royal tour.

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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward arrive in Saint Lucia to kick off their royal tour.

The Wessexes met with Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, at the Prime Minister's Residence in Castries, Saint Lucia.

The Wessexes kicked off day two by touching down Argyle International Airport in Argyle, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Sophie fully embraced tropical style with her floral maxi dress and summer wedges.

Edward presented trophies to the winners of 100m races and a 70m sprint in honor of the Platinum Jubilee at the Sir Vincent Beach National Stadium.

They toured the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Edward sported a hat.

Sophie was also spotted wearing the Maya Torque bangle by British jewelry brand Halcyon days. Kate Middleton has previously worn the same bracelet.

The royal couple planted a tree at the Botanical Gardens to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

Sophie held a parrot! As Victoria Murphy wrote in Town & Country in 2020, "Sophies low-key approach to duties pre-dates her willingness to hop on video calls; she is known to surprise her hosts by driving herself to and from engagements, waving goodbye from behind the wheel of her own car."

More: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Is the Royal Family's Secret Weapon

The Countess of Wessex was all smiles as the bird perched on her hand. Animals always make for great photo opportunities on royal tours.

Edward held the parrot, too. The parrot is Saint Vincent's national bird, the Amazona guildingii, also known as the "Saint Vincent amazon" or the "Saint Vincent parrot."

They were glad to meet a Duke Of Edinburgh Gold award recipient at Government House.

The two began their day with a visit to Morne Fortune. Per the Saint Lucia National Trust, "Morne Fortun means 'Hill of Good luck' which is far from the truth, since this area was on many occasions the bloody battleground between the French and the English. It was later renamed Fort Charlotte 1794 by the father of Queen Victoria of Great Britain after a battle victory."

Sophie wore a polka dot dress, and repeated her jewelry from day two of the royal tour.

Their last appearance of day three was a Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Saint Lucia's capital city.

Prince Edward and Sophie touched down in St John's, Antigua & Barbuda, on the fourth day of their royal tour.

The couple met with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, at his office.

There, Browne told the Wessexes his country plans to "one day become a republic." He also urged the couple to use their diplomatic influence to advocate for reparations for Antigua & Barbuda.

More: The Backlash to Prince Edward and Sophie's Caribbean Royal Tour Grows

Sophie played the drums, in a meeting with local craftspeople, creatives and community groups in the garden at Government House.

In a visit to the National Sailing Academy in St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda, Prince Edward's hat returned.

Sophie seemed genuinely delighted to be meeting local children that participate in The Sail-Ability program. The Sail-Ability program offers children with disabilities the opportunity to get involved with activities on the water.

On their fifth day, the Wessexes attended a Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony at the Prime Minister's residence in Saint Lucia. The Awards were founded by Prince Philip in 1956 to recognize adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises.

Another shot of the royal couple. Sophie stuck to her tour wardrobe of florals and wedge sandals.

Prince Edward and Sophie depart by boat from Ganters Bay Jetty in Castries, Saint Lucia.

Upon arrival in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, they posed with Saint Lucian politician Emma Hippolyte (center, behind Sophie) and her family, along with a ginormous floral bouquet.

Sophie looked at ease with the crowd of well-wishers.

Andrew, too, smiled at the crowd. (Sans his hat!)

The royals seemed to be in deep discussion over mixing cocoa during a visit to Fond Doux Cocoa Plantation.

Prince Edward carried a cocoa.

The royal couple then visited the Sulphur Springs in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, to hear about the history and evolution of the volcano and the establishment of the surrounding caldera.

Sophie was extremely hands-on.

The Wessexes took in the view.

The Earl of Wessex left Soufriere on a boat.

A romantic shot as the two travel by boat on day six of their Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour.

The royals continued on the Soufriere Mini Stadium in Saint Lucia, where they attended a performance celebrating St Lucia's young people. Sophie stayed in her trusty white wedges.

In the evening, they attended an event at Government House in Morne Fortune in Saint Lucia. Here, the Countess of Wessex spoke with Anysia Charles, the wife of Governor General of Saint Lucia.

On their last day in the Caribbean, Sophie and Edward met staff and students from a number of Saint Lucian schools.

They listened to students.

Sophie looked regal in a long white dress and gold wedges.

Sophie left a message on a sign of material dedicated to biodiversity at the Pigeon Island National Landmark, writing, "love worms and save our insects!"

The Countess also planted a tree.

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Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's 2022 Caribbean Royal Tour in Photos - Town & Country

Caribbean carrier Winair is expanding its flights to a pair of tiny Dutch Caribbean islands: Saba and Statia.

Beginning June 1, the St Maarten-based carrier will run twice-daily flights to both Saba and Statia.

The expanded service will run through at least Aug. 31, according to Claudio Buncamper, director of marketing at Winair.

In September and October, the flight schedule will shift to five days with two flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Its the only way to get to both islands, neither of which receive international flights (both Saba and Statia are part of The Netherlands).

Should demand need additional flights, we can have these loaded, he said.

Next season, the twice-daily service will begin again.

Depending on demand, Winair could even ramp up to three daily flights to the two islands, according to Buncamper.

Its a big boost for the charming Dutch Caribbean islands; both of which take between 15 and 25 minutes from St Maarten.

The news comes as a major new ferry service also just launched from St Maarten to Saba and Statia.

Anguilla-based Blues and Blues is now operating a 72-foot catamaran fast ferry called Makana on the St Maarten-Saba-Statia triangle route.

Saba recently lifted all testing rules to the destination. Statias rules were also recently eased, although testing is still required for unvaccinated travelers and most unboosted travelers.

More:

St Maarten-Based Winair Is Adding More Flights to Saba and Statia - Caribbean Journal

Twenty legislators from Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the U.S. gathered at the Hilton Barbados for a governance workshop hosted by the U.S. House Democracy Partnership on Saturday.

They were joined by U.S. Ambassador Linda Taglialatela, Barbadian Ambassador Noel Lynch and Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador Ronald Sanders.Representatives from the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute also participated.

U.S. House Representative Barbara Lee opened the workshop, saying, The House Democracy Partnership is a bipartisan organization founded more than 15 years ago, and we work to support effective, independent, and responsive legislative institutions.

She further explained, Its a two-way street.The United States is a work in progress. Theres much unfinished business in our own country and we want to move toward a more perfect union.Learning best practices from you is extremely important.

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) said, You are our neighbors and we need to work together.Democracy is something that needs to be worked on each and every day.

This is Kellys second visit to Barbados and tenth year in Congress. She serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees issues of communications, health and environmental protection, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

The workshop focused on three themes: strengthening legislative oversight and capacity; budget, appropriations, and access to financing; and legislative solutions to addressing electoral and campaign finance reform.The in-person meeting followed previous virtual engagements over the last two years.

As Taglialatela explained, Its an honor to have Representatives Lee and Kelly with us.As ambassador to seven countries, I hope this is not only an opportunity to share your perspectives with the United States but an opportunity to engage with one another as well.

Established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005, the House Democracy Partnership uses peer-to-peer exchange programs, training seminars for members and staff and targeted material assistance to build capacity in key areas such as legislative oversight, budget analysis, committee operations, constituent relations and library and research services.

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Oversight, Appropriations and Partnership Top Agenda for U.S., Caribbean Lawmakers - The Washington Informer

The Countess of Wessex

With this year marking seven decades of the Queens reign, her family are being dispatched across the Commonwealth in a series of tours tied to her historic Platinum Jubilee. Now, its the turn of her youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife, the Countess of Wessex, as the couple undertake a trip to the Caribbean.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also visited the Caribbean last month, but to a different set of destinations (Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas). Edward and Sophie had been set to travel to Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda but their itinerary was cut down to exclude Grenada. The announcement came after Prince William and Kates recent tour was met with a mixed reception, with the duke acknowledging the appalling atrocity of slavery that forever stains our history during a speech in Jamaica.

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With their own trip now in full swing, Prince Edward and the countess have so far visited St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. On arrival in St Lucia, the royals were greeted by the countrys Prime Minister, the Honourable Philip J. Pierre, and Acting Governor General, His Excellency Mr Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles. Sophie opted for a bold red shirt dress by Giuliva Heritage, teamed with cream wedge sandals and a woven clutch bag, and wore her long hair in an elegant, half-up, half-down style.

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On day two, it was on to St Vincent and the Grenadines, where Edward spoke with sportspeople at the Sir Vincent Beache National Stadium; the Countess watched a dance performance and met womens groups at a community college; the couple presented a number of gold Duke of Edinburghs Awards at Government House; and then visited the Botanical Gardens. Sophie was fittingly dressed for their final engagement in a pretty floral dress by Soler, which perfectly matched the tropical surroundings. She teamed the dress with tan wedge sandals and a bag with a vibrant patterned strap.

On day three, the couple attended a service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and visited a Saint Lucia National Trust site, Morne Fortune. Sophie dressed for the sunshine in a pretty cream dress with an orange and peach circle pattern by Suzannah London, accessorised with nude heels and retro oval sunglasses.

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

For the next leg of their trip on 25 April, trip, the couple flew into VC Bird International Airport in St Johns, Antigua and Barbuda. Then came a busy day of engagements including a reception with the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, during which Browne spoke of changing the countrys relationship to the UK. He stated: We continue to have the Queen as our head of state, even though I should say we aspire at some point to become a republic. But that is not currently on the cards so she will remain as head of state for some time to follow. He added that he was not trying to embarrass the couple, but wanted to build awareness. BBC News reports that the prime minister also spoke of a need for reparatory justice to compensate for slavery.

The couple went on to a meeting with local craftspeople, creatives and community groups in the garden at Government House. Sophie kept things relaxed and elegant in another V-neck sundress, this time patterned with delicate blue flowers. She teamed the look with simple jewellery and kept her hair swept back in a low bun.

The Countess of Wessex

Then it was on to the the National Sailing Academy and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, for which the countess changed into another floral number: a sky blue dress with gently flared sleeves and a ribbon-tie waist, paired with grey wedge espadrilles.

Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex attend a Duke of Edinburghs Awards ceremony at the Prime Ministers residence in Castries, St Lucia.

On day five of the tour, the couple went on to St Lucia, where they met World War Two veterans at the British High Commission residence, before attending a Duke of Edinburghs Awards ceremony at the Prime Ministers residence in Castries. The countess once again opted for florals, wearing a pretty midi tea dress by ME+EM, paired with bold Jimmy Choo metallic wedges.

See more of Sophies best looks from the trip below.

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The Countess of Wessex is a spring style muse during Caribbean tour - Tatler

The International Monetary Fund logo is seen inside its headquarters at the end of the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington, U.S., October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo/File Photo

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NEW YORK, April 26 (Reuters) - The prospect of tighter financial conditions due to the war in Europe and a more hawkish Federal Reserve, alongside concern over a deceleration in China's growth, are key risks faced by Latin America and the Caribbean and call for policy action, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

The risks add to a list that include rising inflation, including for food, which threatens to spark social unrest.

"Higher global and domestic financing costs can accelerate capital outflows and represent a challenge for the region, given large public and external financing needs in some countries," said the IMF in a blog post signed by the director of the Fund's Western Hemisphere Department, Ilan Goldfajn, assistant director Jorge Roldos and senior economist for the region Santiago Acosta-Ormaechea.

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Russia's invasion of Ukraine is impacting Latam through higher inflation, which hurts the poorest the most, the IMF officials wrote.

"Policymakers are reacting to this challenge by tightening monetary policy and implementing measures to soften the blow on the most vulnerable and contain the risks of social unrest," they said.

"Governments should provide targeted and temporary support to low-income and vulnerable households while allowing domestic prices to adjust to international prices," a move they say would contain the cost for the governments while revitalizing production.

In an environment of rising interest rates in the developed world, meaning those economies could soon funnel investments that would otherwise flow towards emerging markets in search of higher returns, Latam and the Caribbean will need to ensure the sustainability of public finances to help preserve credibility.

Growth however is expected to decelerate after the large increases brought by the activity rebound seen last year.

"Growth is returning to its pre-pandemic trend rate as policies shift," said the IMF, noting that "exports and investment are resuming their role as main growth drivers, but central banks have had to tighten monetary policy to combat an increase in inflation."

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Reporting by Rodrigo CamposEditing by Chizu Nomiyama

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Higher rates, slowing China, risks to Latam and Caribbean growth - IMF - Reuters

REGIONAL: MIGRANTS & REFUGEES

KEY FIGURES

209.9K MIGRANTS ENCOUNTERED AT MEXICO-US BORDER IN MARCH 2022, HIGHEST MONTHLY TOTAL SINCE 2000

1M MIGRANTS ENCOUNTERED AT MEXICO US-BORDER SINCE OCTOBER 2021

20.4K IRREGULAR MIGRANT ENTRIES INTO HONDURAS SO FAR IN 2022 (AS OF 22 APRIL)

MEXICO-US BORDER

Migrant crossings at the Mexico-United States border have reached their highest monthly level in 22 years ahead of the 23 May 2022 end of the Title 42 policy allowing for summary expulsions over public health concerns. The 209,906 encounters reported in March are the highest since March 2000s tally of 220,063, per US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, a 33 per cent increase from February 2022. Halfway through the 2022 fiscal year (October 2021-September 2022), the US has already reported more than 1 million encounters. With arrivals expected to rise with the end of Title 42 in late May, the 2022 fiscal year may outpace the record 1.7 million encounters reported during the 2021 fiscal year (October 2020-September 2021).

While the majority of migrants continue to come from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, nearly 40 per cent of March encounters consisted of migrants from other countries. The 32,141 Cuban migrants processed in March double Februarys count and trail only Mexicos 87,388 migrants. The number of Nicaraguan and Colombian migrants (16,000 and 15,144, respectively) in March were records for each country. The number of Ukrainians encountered also rose to 3,274 in March (a 1,103 per cent increase over February) surpassing migrants from Haiti (2,499 in March).

HONDURAS

The ongoing flow of migrants entering Honduras in an irregular manner through the eastern border municipalities of Danl and Trojes continues to strain migration and local authorities response capacities. According to IOM, some 20,400 migrants of varying nationalities are estimated to have entered Honduras in an irregular manner so far in 2022 (as of 22 April 2022). These migrants include people from Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Venezuela and Vietnam, among others.

Field missions have identified food and water access, sanitation in shelters and psychosocial support as priority needs, as well as information outreach on migration procedures, access to National Migration Institute (INM) offices and routes for reaching the western border with Guatemala.

Partners such as ADRA, the Honduran Red Cross, IOM, UNHCR, World Vision and civil society groups are supporting shelters in both municipalities with food and non-food items and working with authorities to improve temporary shelter conditions.

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Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (18-24 April 2022) As of 25 April 2022 - World - ReliefWeb