Pulse of the Caribbean

#62 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 3 Week of June 16

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Here are the latest developments shaping the region, from Puerto Rico's fight to save Job Corps centers to the closure of the UNHCR office in Trinidad and Tobago, regional leaders tackle challenges through innovative solutions while strengthening international relations and preserving cultural heritage.

  • New York Democrat Nydia Velazquez advocates against closing Puerto Rico's Job Corps centers, which would impact 700 students and cut 240 jobs
  • Antigua's UWI Five Islands Campus to host second annual AI conference focused on Caribbean sustainability with experts from Harvard, Berkeley, MIT
  • Dominican Republic implements staggered work hours for public institutions to reduce traffic congestion in Santo Domingo
  • Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu scheduled to make historic visit to St. Lucia

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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. Half marathon Labor Day weekend 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 three for the week of June 16th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report in Puerto Rico.

Speaker 2:

New York Democrat Nydia M Velazquez wants the US Labor Department to reconsider eliminating the contract-run Job Corps centers in Puerto Rico. She said Puerto Rico will suffer if the two island sites close. Velasquez and five other US congressmen wrote to US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez to emphasize the importance of the Arecibo and Aguadilla Job Corps programs for hundreds of low-income students. The lawmaker said the Puerto Rico Job Corps Center's work is necessary. Their holistic approach helps students not only get their high school diploma, but also find stable jobs that let them support themselves and their families. The federal plan will close contract-run Job Corps locations by June 30th. The letter states the closure would cost nearly 240 jobs and leave 700 Puerto Rican students without vital programming. At least 287 affected persons use Job Corps for housing, meals, training and health care. The two centers in Arecibo and Aguadilla offers credentials in construction, health care, cuisine technology and more. They also help students volunteer in their areas. Velasquez says cutting these services would be especially detrimental for Puerto Rico, where youth unemployment and poverty are high and job course sites address crucial service gaps. She said the federal government can't afford to cut programs that help thousands of low-income youth and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop is Antigua. At the Antigua and Barbuda University of the West Indies Five Island Campus, the region's AI conference is gaining popularity. Healthcare and education are being affected by AI. The June 23rd to 25th 2025 conference will focus on how artificial intelligence might help the Caribbean prosper sustainably. Intelligence might help the Caribbean prosper sustainably. The Antigua and Barbuda Five Islands Campus will host the second 5IR Artificial Intelligence Annual Research Conference. This year's program Bridging Digital Frontiers AI Innovation for Caribbean Sustainability aims to help the Caribbean go from awareness to AI use. The University of the West Indies Five Island Campus Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor C Justin Robinson believes AI will soon be a general purpose technology like electricity and the internet over the next two to three years. The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean is the conference title sponsor. Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean is the conference title sponsor. According to the bank's regional manager, dr Stacey Richards-Kennedy, we believe in building a digitally sovereign Caribbean where every citizen has safe access to public services and can fully participate in the digital economy. Keynote speakers will include several experts from throughout the world. Researchers from Harvard, berkeley, moody's Analytics, mit, cann Academy and the Global Center on AI Governance are included. Caribbean AI experts, policymakers, researchers, students and those interested in AI may register and learn more online at fiveislandsaiconferencecom.

Speaker 2:

Now on to the Bahamas. Dr Michael Darville, the Bahamas Minister of Health and Wellness, said during the Bahamas House of Assembly's 2025-2026 budget debate that the Davis administration plans to emit the Pharmacy Act to create a digital platform to manage the cannabis authority before starting the medical marijuana industry. Before starting the medical marijuana industry, darville said the Cannabis Authority will bring into force the medical cannabis legislation with the implementation of the Cannabis E-Prescription Platform, the Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Digital Platform and Amended Pharmacy Act will power it. The Bahamas Parliament approved the Medicinal and Religious Cannabis Act last July. Darville didn't indicate when Parliament would consider three measures or when the cannabis business will begin. Although the Bahamas Attorney General, ryan Pinder, stated that the government will begin accepting licensing applications next month, the Bahamas Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Attorney General are developing health care improvement bills. The legislative package will also include new national health insurance.

Speaker 2:

According to Darville, our next stop is the Dominican Republic. Public institutions' work hours in the Dominican Republic will be staggered as a part of the Dominican Republic government's Transit Change With you initiative to reduce traffic in greater Santo Domingo. The Transportation Cabinet is managing the project, which sets two major shifts for general government offices, operating from 7 am to 3 pm and 7.30 am to 3.30 pm. For institutions serving more than 1,000 people daily, there are two split shifts 7 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 9 pm. According to Alexandra Cedeno, director of Mobility at Intra, over 70 percent of morning traffic due to work or school commutes occur about 8 am, leading to significant traffic congestion. She stated the staggered hours will distribute this flow and make commuting less unpleasant. Will distribute this flow and make commuting less unpleasant. The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Public Administration is implementing the strategy developed by the French Development Agency. The administration wants to improve traffic and make it easier to navigate about the capital Next up Nigerian president set to visit St Lucia.

Speaker 2:

After this, get ready for Victory Run Walk 2025. Registration is open for the Virgin Islands 5K, 10k and half marathon. Register at VictoryRunWalkVIcom. Whether you're a Caribbean national or just want to learn more about the Caribbean, you've got the right podcast. In our newest feature, the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast, interview segment, episode number 50, meet Israel Peterson, culture bearer and teacher, as he shares the rich tradition of Mukajumbi stilt dancing and its deep cultural significance in the US Virgin Islands. His passion for preserving this African heritage shines through as he recounts his personal journey from childhood fascination to becoming a master practitioner. Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. 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 June 16th.

Speaker 2:

St Lucia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, dr Ernest Hilaire, said in the House of Assembly on Tuesday that Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tenubu will speak at a joint meeting of St Lucia's House of Assembly and Senate on Monday, june 30th, at 10 am at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom at Sandals Grand. From June 28th to July 4th, president Tinubu will make an official visit to St Lucia During a cabinet press meeting on Monday. St Lucia's Prime Minister, philippe Pierre, first talked about the visit. He said that the talks will focus on economic growth, education, infrastructure and diplomatic relations. All heads of government and organizations of eastern Caribbean states have also been invited. And here's our final note.

Speaker 2:

The Caribbean Center for Human Rights is disappointed that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Trinidad and Tobago is closing. In a statement, the Caribbean Center for Human Rights said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees gave them guidance, training and support to protect vulnerable individuals and promote human rights. The Caribbean Center for Human Rights said their leaving means the end of an important chapter, but not the end of the mission, adding that it was committed to helping refugees and asylum seekers register, gain legal protection and have their basic human rights safeguarded. The Caribbean Center for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization, defends and promotes human rights in the Caribbean. The center works to ensure that everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status, has international law-mandated rights and freedoms. They do this through advocacy, legal aid and public awareness. With the departure of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Office in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Center for Human Rights and non-profit La Casita of Arima are two groups working to safeguard and assist refugees and asylum seekers in Trinidad and Tobago.

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 St Thomas, us Virgin Islands, and Diamond Key, marina, yosemite Dike, 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 pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 3, for the week of June 16. Here's a shout-out to our listeners in Trinidad and Tobago. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others in the region and the diaspora. 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.