Pulse of the Caribbean

#41 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 3 Week of May 12

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Caribbean nations are taking center stage in global diplomacy and sustainable development initiatives. From the Dominican Republic's support for Kenya's Haiti mission to Guyana's efforts to lift a US catfish export ban, the region demonstrates resilience and forward-thinking leadership.

Here's a look at what's making Caribbean Headlines.

• Kenya and Dominican Republic sign agreement for medical evacuations and support for police in Haiti
• Antigua and Barbuda Foreign Minister advocates for increased China-Latin America-Caribbean cooperation
• AfriCaribbean Trade & Logistics Group to build shipping network between Africa and the Caribbean
• Guyana works to lift ban on catfish exports to U.S., which were worth $1.8 billion before 2017

These and other stories are on the Pulse of the Caribbean News Round Up, Episode 3, Week of May 12.

Listen and subscribe to the  Pulse of the Caribbean News Round Up for news you need to know. 

Send news releases and information to news@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

Register now for the Victory Run Walk 2025 in the US Virgin Islands! Early bird registration for the 5K, 10K, and half marathon is open at VictoryRunwalkVI.com with discounts ending June 1st.

Speaker 1:

This is the Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup. Now today's Caribbean News Headlines.

Speaker 2:

This podcast is brought to you by Victory Run Walk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Register now for the 5K, 10k and Half Marathon. Labor Day weekend in St Thomas, us, virgin Islands, and Diamond Key, marina, yosemite, british Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 3 for the week of May 12th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines.

Speaker 2:

We start our report on Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Yesterday, we reported that the Dominican Republic's Foreign Minister, roberto Alvarez, and Kenya's first Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Secretary, musalia Mouravaria, discussed the continuing state of affairs in Haiti. The diplomatic meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Dominican Republic is part of a larger agenda. Kenya is leading the United Nations-backed international security mission with mostly Kenyan troops to help Haiti fight violent gangs. After the discussion, kenya and the Dominican Republic signed a memorandum of agreement to offer medical evacuations and repatriation support for Kenyan police personnel stationed in Haiti as a part of Kenya's multinational security support mission. This agreement comes amid Haiti's worsening crisis and Dominican Republic foreign ministers announced the agreement and stressed the significance of protecting persons. It was noted that 20 multinational security support mission members have received medical care in the Dominican Republic. Now on to Antigua and Barbuda. Ep Chet Green, antigua and Barbuda's foreign minister, supports efforts for China, latin America and the Caribbean to cooperate more, since global tensions could harm the global south. At the Fort China-Sealac Forum in Beijing, mr Green warned that geopolitical tensions could outweigh effects experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He advocated multinational action on climate change, food security and pandemic preparedness. The minister supported the Beijing Declaration 2025 and China-Seal Act Joint Action Plan 2025-2027, which promote education, technology and climate resilience through trade and collaboration.

Speaker 2:

Malten Group named a new CEO weeks after a successful trade conference in Ghana, africa, to manage the expansion of trade between Africa and the Caribbean. According to a release, sabrina Sour-Lefevre, who replaced Melissa Darville as CEO, will focus on financial sustainability and regional trade. Her promotion from the CFO to CEO follows the group's signing of a memorandum of understanding with African conglomerate, the McDan Group, at the trade conference in Ghana, to build a shipping and logistics network between Africa and the Caribbean. That corporation began with the purchase of a shipping vessel for Ghana. Caribbean Service LaFerre will oversee Afri Caribbean Trade and Logistic Consulting Group's strategic vision operations, global alliances and economic diplomacy. A statement from the group said she will lead the next phase of growth following the success of the 2025 Afri-Caribbean Global Business Trade Show held in Accra, ghana, which took place from April 22nd to the 23rd 2025, under the endorsement of the Office of the Diaspora Affairs and the Office of the President of Ghana.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop Sinkitz and Nevis. Nevis Butler, st James Photovoltaic Desalination Plant won the Best Energy Resilience Project at the 17th Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2025. The solar-powered facility incorporated into the island's water distribution system, can process 60,000 gallons per day, improving water security and sustainable energy. This innovation project is a part of a federal UAE Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund initiative to improve Caribbean government's climate resilience and energy independence. At Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2025 in Miami, nevis Island Administrator, premier and Minister of Energy, mark Brantley, accepted the award on behalf of the Twin Island Nation. Brantley also discussed energy issues with regional and international stakeholders at the event held from May 7 to 9, 2025. He participated in high-level Caribbean renewable energy debates, including the ministerial session Diverse Pathways to Energy Transition in the Caribbean.

Speaker 2:

Next up, guyana working to lift ban on its catfish exports to the United States. After this, get ready for Victory Runwalk 2025. Early bird registration is open for the Virgin Islands 5K, 10k and half marathon. Register at VictoryRunwalkVIcom. Early bird discounts end June 1st Register now and save. Whether you're a Caribbean national or just want to learn more about the Caribbean, listen to the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast online at pulseofthecaribbeancom. Listen online on our website, pulseofthecaribbeancom or your favorite streaming platform. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 3, for the week of May 12th.

Speaker 2:

The government of Guyana has completely answered to the latest US Department of Agriculture inquiry as part of ongoing attempts to abolish the longtime ban on the export of wild-caught catfish to the United States. According to News, guyana United States Ambassador to Guyana, nicole Terriott, said that Guyana submitted its latest reply last month, confirming its commitment to resolving the matter. Guyana's catfish exports have been banned to the United States since 2017. At that time, guyana exported $1.8 billion in catfish to the United States. The US ambassador to Guyana stressed that the resolution delay is not due to Guyana's inaction, but rather to the US authorities' heavy workload, which includes petitions from over 180 countries, she said. Obviously, the whole point of the current ban is simply to make sure everything that comes to the United States is safe for consumers regarding safety and photosanitary. According to US law, guyana must catch and transport live catfish to a processing facility. In contrast, the fish is caught, disemboweled and refrigerated until it reaches shore. And here's our final note A Caribbean Stock Photography Digital Business Solution Grant Call has been launched by the Caribbean Development Bank Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund.

Speaker 2:

The Caribbean Development Bank announcement states that this program will fund a creation of a Caribbean stock visual content digital platform up to $100,000. This grant's main goal are to centralize Caribbean visual resources, boost visual arts commercial viability, increase multimedia archiving and boost visual arts and audiovisual subsectors competitiveness. The bank also hopes that the grant will attract further investments and sustain these industries. Caribbean Stock Photography Digital Business Solutions grant call application conclude on May 30, 2025 at 1159 pm Atlantic Standard Time. For additional information on the request for proposals, visit the Caribbean Development Bank website.

Speaker 2:

This podcast has been brought to you by Victory Run Walk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Register now for the 5K, 10k and half marathon Labor Day weekend in St Thomas, us Virgin Islands, and Diamond Key, marina Yosvendike, british Virgin Islands. Home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Have news and information you'd like to share with us. Send news releases to news at Pulse of the Caribbean. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 3, for the week of May 12th. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

Speaker 1:

For more Caribbean news stories and information, visit us online at pulseofthecaribbeancom. If you found value in this podcast, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and thank you in advance for choosing Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your source for Caribbean-centered news.