Pulse of the Caribbean

#105 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 2 Week of September 1

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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The Caribbean region has been thrust into the spotlight this week with several significant developments that underscore the complex geopolitical landscape of the area. Most notably, US forces conducted a military strike on the coast of Venezuela, targeting what officials described as a drug boat associated with the Venezuelan cartel, Tren de Aragua. Here are other stories making Caribbean headlines. 

  • New US visa policy requires most non-immigrant visa applicants to have in-person interviews 
  • Citizens from specific Caribbean territories may qualify for interview waivers under certain conditions
  • Dominican Republic exporters concerned about 10% US duty affecting competitiveness
  • BVI and Cayman Islands postal services suspend mail containing goods to the US due to tariffs
  • CARICOM Election Observer Mission declares Guyana's elections peaceful and orderly
  • Barbados PM announces new Caribbean e-marketplace for Carifesta vendors with first-year costs covered by government
  • Puerto Rico reports employment growth with unemployment rate steady at 5.5% 

Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribbean.com. For Pulse of the Caribbean marketplace feature opportunities email biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

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

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

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 Diamond Key, marina Yosvendike, 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 2 for the week of September 1st. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report. On the coast of Venezuela, us forces launched a military strike on Tuesday, allegedly targeting a drug boat associated with the Venezuelan cartel, tren de Aragua, killing 11 people. This is the first action of its kind since the military deployment to the region began. According to US President Donald Trump, who announced a strike and destruction of the ship attacked was transporting narcotics, and the US Open fired on it. Trump said a lot of drugs are coming out heavily from Venezuela, so we took it out. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a US-sanctioned narco-terrorist organization's vessel was the objective of the attack. As a part of their anti-drug efforts, the Trump administration sent warships to the southern Caribbean. They accused Venezuela's President, nicolas Maduro, of running a drug cartel. Trump has refrained from threatening a full-scale invasion of Venezuela, despite the action In related news. According to sources, us military servicemen deployed by President Donald Trump for the Caribbean Drug Interdiction Mission will reside at the PHRT Village, also known as man Camp, on St Croix. A few weeks ago, the US Air Force started a call to make local preparations and the St Croix lodging request is part of a regional campaign to strengthen maritime interdictions.

Speaker 2:

Now we take a look at US visas. The US Department of State has changed the types of candidates who may be able to skip the non-immigrant visa interviews starting on September 2, 2025. Most people who apply for a non-immigrant visa, including those who are 14 years of age or 79 years of age or older, will need to meet with a consular office in person. The only exception are people who apply for visas with the symbols A1, a2, c3, except attendants, servants or personal employees of accredited officials. G1, g2, g3, g4, nato 1 through NATO 6, g4, nato 1 through NATO 6, or TECRO E1,.

Speaker 2:

People who want to get a diplomatic or official visa and for applicants who are renewing a full validity B1, b2, b1, b2 visa or a border crossing card foil for Mexican nationals within 12 months of the previous visa expiration and who were at least 18 years old when the previous visa was issued, to qualify for an interview waiver based on applicants renewing a full validity b1, b2, b1 b visa or a border crossing card foil for Mexican nationals. Applicants must fulfill specific conditions, including you must be a citizen or a legal residence of one of the following places Angola, barbados, the British Virgin Islands, grenada, guadeloupe and Martinique, french Montserrat, st Bartholomew, st Martin and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and have never been denied a visa unless that denial was overturned or waived and they have no obvious or possible reasons for being ineligible For any reason. Counselor agents may still need to meet with someone in person To find out more about the requirements and steps for applying for a visa, as well as the embassy or consulate hours of operation and services. Applicants should check the embassy and consulate websites. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, dominica, st Lucia and St Kitts who are applying for non-immigrant visas, including those who are renewing, must meet with a consular officer in person.

Speaker 2:

Now we take a look at impacts on the newly imposed US tariffs, starting in the Dominican Republic. Carell Castillo, head of the Dominican Republic's Exporters Association, cautioned that the US new 10% duty on Dominican products could hurt the country's competitiveness and ask for negotiations At the London Symposium. Modern Customs Secure Trade in the Globalized World. Castillo said the policy made Dominican goods less appealing than Mexican and Canadian ones. Castillo said exporters paid 50 billion pesos in tariffs in May and 58 billion in June. Castillo noted that the Dominican Republic exports grew 30.4 percent to 8 billion US dollars between January and July. Despite this issue, india has become the nation's second largest commercial partner, while links with Canada and China are growing, giving local producers additional chances.

Speaker 2:

Other impacts of the US tariffs includes the British Virgin Islands Postal Service has temporarily suspended all mail containing goods for the United States and its territories. The suspension began on Friday, august 29, 2025. It covers shipments to American Samoa, guam, northern Mariana Islands, puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Letters and papers will be accepted and handled as normal. The Postal Service said the decision follows the US Executive Order 14324, which eliminated the duty-free exceptions. The directive mandates US import tariffs on all overseas parcels, regardless of value. In similar action, the Cayman Island Postal Service suspended all outbound mail to the United States on August 21st after receiving information that the US President Donald Trump executive order suspended the duty-free threshold on all mail arriving in the US. Last week we reported on the temporary suspension of US parcels in Grenada.

Speaker 2:

Now on to Guyana. On Tuesday, chief of Missions Josephine Tomei of the CARICOM Election Observer Mission to Guyana's September 1st general and regional elections, declared that the elections were peaceful, orderly and incident-free and urged Guyanese to remain calm and patient as the country awaits the official results. Tomei thanked voters and Voting Day staff and political stakeholders for a peaceful election at the CARICOM Secretariat press conference. The 10-member delegation of electoral authorities from eight CARICOM member states visited Guyana from August 28 through today, september 3. The group watched all parts of Election Day at 324 polling stations in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10, from opening to closing to counting and tabulating votes. Tomei urged peace and patience until the election results are announced. The CARICOM Secretary General will receive the CARICOM Election Observer Mission's final report in the coming weeks, which will include extensive findings and recommendations.

Speaker 2:

Next up Barbados' new Caribbean e-marketplace to promote CARIFesta 15 grand market sellers after this For Pulse of the Caribbean podcast advertising or marketplace feature opportunities. Email biz B-I-Z at pulseofthecaribbeancom. Get your ads in front of our ever-expanding Caribbean and diaspora community. Contact us at biz B-I-Z at pulseofthecaribbeancom. Engage in networking and advertising with Pulse of the Caribbean. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 2, for the week of September 1st.

Speaker 2:

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley revealed on Sunday night that all Carifesta 15 Grand Marketplace sellers will be included on a new Caribbean e-marketplace, a Barbados government-backed project to connect regional artisans to worldwide consumers year-round. We will ensure that you are on board on the Caribbean marketplace, motley said at the Richard Stout Amphitheater closing ceremony. There will be an electronic marketplace where every Grand Market vendor can sell their products not just to the region who didn't attend CaraFesta but to the world. Motley said the government of Barbados will cover all vendors' first-year onboarding costs, allowing small enterprises to enter the digital market for free. Motley said the project was crucial to turning festival exposure into a long-term opportunity. Cultural economists have long maintained that CaraFesta should become a sustainable industry engine. Officials want to boost Caribbean growth in the creative economy by digitizing access. And here's a final note.

Speaker 2:

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics figures reported by Puerto Rico's Department of Economic Development and commerce, employment climbed and the unemployment rate kept unchanged at 5.5% in July. The workers group surveyed indicated a slightly lower jobless rate than July 2024. People were employed up to 21,000 from last year. The labor force grew by 22,000 from July 2024, while the participation rose to 44.4%, up 0.5 percentage points. The Establishment Survey reported 966,000 seasonal adjusted non-farm wage employment, up 2,600 from June to 16,500 from July 2024. These results confirm the resilience and dynamicism of our economy, with sustained growth in key areas like service construction and tourism, and a growing workforce, said Agency Secretary Sebastian Negrón. Richard San Juan grew 13,000 salary positions to 697,100, while Ponce, mayaguez and Aguadilla gained Negron. Richard said the department would cooperate with the private sector, municipalities and other authorities to attract investments, promote small and median firms and boost Puerto Rico's competitiveness.

Speaker 2:

This podcast has been brought to you by 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 pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 2, for the week of September 1st. Here's a shout out to our listeners in Dominica, florida and Sweden. 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.

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.