Pulse of the Caribbean

#64 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of June 23

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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The Caribbean region is undergoing significant developments across politics, energy, finance, and infrastructure, with new partnerships emerging to promote sustainable growth while addressing climate challenges.

  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines PM Ralph Gonzalez assumes OECS presidency, questioning the bloc's relationship with CARICOM
  • OECS Commission launches geothermal energy study tour to Guadalupe to help member states develop renewable energy resources
  • Antigua and Barbuda among 16 Caribbean nations receiving Commonwealth IMF debt transparency assistance
  • Grenada signs three-year partnership with OPEC Fund, enabling access to $90 million for development projects
  • US Virgin Islands receives over $2 million from the US Department of the Interior for infrastructure improvements
  •  Barbados PM Mia Motley calls for a global alliance to reduce methane emissions by 2040
  • Frontier Airlines launches new Puerto Plata-San Juan route, boosting tourism between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic 

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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. 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 1 for the week of June 23rd. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines.

Speaker 2:

We start our report at the OECS. Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonzalez of St Vincent and the Grenadines has taken up the rotational presidency of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. He is urging the opportunity to express serious concerns about the bloc's relationship with the Caribbean community. Speaking at the recent OECS assembly meeting, gonzalez said that it may be time to reconsider the subregion's engagement with CARICOM, notably the CARICOM single market and economy. Citing persistent inequities impacting OECS member states, gonzalez advocated for more equitable decision-making procedures within regional organizations and emphasize the importance of collective action among small governments in ensuring balanced development and shared prosperity throughout the Caribbean.

Speaker 2:

In other news from the OACS, the OACS Commission has said that a very important study tour to Guadalupe will begin with an emphasis on developing geothermal energy. This project shows that the OACS is dedicated to finding long-term energy solutions and making the area more energy independent by using the heat that is present to make clean power. The OACS Geothermal Energy Capacity Building for Utilization, investment and Local Development GeoBuild program is putting on this study. The tour begins today, from June 23rd to June 27th. Guadalupe has been a leader in geothermal energy in the Caribbean region since 1986, when it built a geothermal power plant. The Guadalupe study tour will include senior officials, technical officers and community representatives, who will meet with key figures, tour the geothermal power plant and learn about project management, environmental management and community engagement. Guadalupe has been doing this for five decades. Guadalupe has been doing this for five decades and its experience is very helpful for the five OECS member states that are working on the development of geothermal resources under the Geo Bill, namely, in St Kitts and Nevis, st Lucia, st Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. This visit comes after a successful study tour to Dominica in 2023, which gave participants basic knowledge and helped them build important ties for future growth. Dominica's geothermal power plant is set for completion in December 2025. Clean energy and lower electricity rates are its goals.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop is Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the 16 Caribbean nations receiving Commonwealth International Monetary Fund, the IMF, debt Transparency Assistance. While debt is frequently viewed negatively, it allows governments to invest in projects that enhance laws and increase economic resilience when managed effectively. Thirty-three public debt managers from 16 Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, met in Jamaica for an intensive session on debt data quality and openness. Workshop participants included Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and UK Overseas Territory Caribbean officials From May 19 to the 30th 2025,. The Commonwealth Secretariat and IMF co-organized the course with backing from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. Commonwealth Meridian, a web-based debt management software utilized by all but one country attending, was the workshop's focal point. The latest software features were demonstrated to make debt data more credible and available to develop trust with creditors, investors and citizens. The program was led by Commonwealth Secretariat, imf, world Bank and Caribbean Development Bank experts, who shared best practices and insights to help governments connect debt management with national development goals.

Speaker 2:

Now on to Grenada. The government of Grenada signed a milestone three-year country partnership for 2025 to 2027 with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC Fund for international development, enabling sustainable growth and development collaboration in important economic areas. Grenada's Minister for Finance, dennis Cornwall, signed the agreement at the one-day OPEC Fund Development Forum in Vienna, austria. Grenada can receive up to 90 million US dollars in concessional finance for health, renewable energy, water, food security and transportation projects. Under the deal, this framework formalizes Grenada's partnership with the OPEC Fund, boosting infrastructure resilience and quality of life. Grenada will receive financial and technical help from the OPEC Fund for capacity building, project preparation and implementation. For project success and sustainability, the fund will help mobilize co-financing from other development partners. Opec Fund is also willing to provide technical assistance in developing a regulatory framework for public-private partnerships. This strategy promotes economic growth and private sector participation through strategic collaborations.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop is the US Virgin Islands. The US Department of the Interior has granted the US Virgin Islands $2,063,666 in fiscal year 2025 capital improvement project funding to improve public services and infrastructure. The US Office of Insular Affairs funds public health, sanitation, senior care and government service efficiency programs. The US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr received a letter from Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs detailing the appropriations. One of the largest expenditures is $500,000 to the US Virgin Islands Department of Public Works to renovate public restrooms on the island of St John for better sanitation and public access. The Schneider Regional Medical Center on St Thomas will receive $484,690 for its oxygen generator project to improve respiratory care. Other projects funded include a mole remediation project, funds to buy new Meals on Wheels, trucks to help the territory's vulnerable citizens, an allocation to improve information technology infrastructure, critical repairs for a senior home for the age and the reprogramming of $500,000 in prior year funds to support the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St Thomas its Interventional Cardiology Catherization Suite project to improve the US Virgin Islands' access to advanced cardiovascular care. Governor Bryan called the announcement a crucial investment in the territory's future and thanked the US Department of the Interior for recognizing infrastructure priorities. He said this funding represents an important investment in health, safety and well-being of the Virgin Islands people.

Speaker 2:

Next up, prime Minister Mia Motley of Barbados has called for the formation of a global coalition to cut methane emissions. After this emissions after this, get ready for Victory Run Walk 2025. Registration is open for the Virgin Islands 5K, 10k and half marathon. Register at VictoryRunWalkVIcom.

Speaker 2:

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 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, pulseofthegribeancom or your favorite streaming platform. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 1, for the week of June 23rd.

Speaker 2:

Barbados' Prime Minister, mia Motley, has called for a worldwide alliance to decrease methane emissions by 2040 and challenge Barbadian Ute to lead the climate change fight. At the Green Rising in Barbados event on Friday, motley cautioned that declining international solidarity threatens the planet's survival and that methane action could be crucial. She disclosed that she has explicitly proposed a global methane alliance to Brazil's President Lula da Silva and France's President Marcon before COP30. Landfills, livestock husbandry and gas flaring are key methane sources and the prime minister said controlling them might benefit the environment and economy. Methane gas is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide and it stays in the atmosphere for 12 years, making it one of the biggest climatic concerns. According to Motley, researchers have found that lowering methane might lower global temperatures by 0.3 to 0.5 degrees Celsius, a vital step for vulnerable nations trying to stay inside the 1.5 degree warming limit, although urgent Motley warned that global commitments is waning as some leaders prioritize profit over the earth. And here's our final note.

Speaker 2:

Frontier Airlines launched a Puerto Plata-San Juan route on Thursday, boosting ties between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Wilneta Robles, puerto Rico's tourism company executive director, said this new route will initially include two direct flights. The two weekly flights between Gregorio Luperon International Airport in the Dominican Republic and the Luis Marin International Airport in San Juan Republic and the Luis Marín International Airport in San Juan, puerto Rico, will boost seats by 4,464 and impact the local economy. Frontier Airlines vice president and route design and operations. Frontier Airlines Vice President of Route Design said this new route makes Puerto Rico tourism affordable for Dominicans. He said driver of economic development for Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Republic and other destinations we serve in the region. Flyer F. Flyer Josh Flyer Thank you. Frontier Airlines Vice President of Route Designs and Operation. Josh Flyer said this new route makes Puerto Rico tourism affordable for Dominicans. He said we are proud to partner in the tourism industry, a vital driver of economic development for Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other destinations we serve in the region.

Speaker 2:

This podcast is brought to you by Victory Runwalk, 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, 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 1 for the week of June 23rd. Here's a shout out to our listeners in Antigua and our listeners in Boston. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region. And the diaspora I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time. And the diaspora I'm Keisha Blyden, see you next time For more Caribbean news stories and information.

Speaker 1:

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.