Pulse of the Caribbean

#107 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 2 Week of September 8

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Caribbean nations face pivotal economic challenges and opportunities, with Grenada's fishing industry bracing for severe disruption as the United States plans to ban imports starting January 2026. This embargo, affecting over 90% of Grenada's seafood exports, threatens to cost the island millions at an already uncertain economic time. Here are other stories making Caribbean headlines. 

  • St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terence Drew promotes stronger CARICOM-Africa relations at landmark summit in Ethiopia
  • Inter-American Development Bank launches Project Preparation Coordination Mechanism to address the $21.5 billion infrastructure need across Caribbean nations
  • Dominican Republic prepares to host 25th Central America and Caribbean Games in 2026, with comprehensive medical services for athletes
  • Puerto Rico allocates $6 million to boost its agribusiness sector through federal and local initiatives
  • St. Kitts and Nevis to host 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture 

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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 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 8th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report in Grenada.

Speaker 2:

Former Grenada Agriculture Minister Peter Davis says a January US import ban on Grenada fish will cost millions of dollars because the United States is the largest export market for Grenada's local fishery products. David said the US declaration is concerning to Grenadian fishermen and women. Over 90 percent of Grenada's seafood shipments go to the United States. David said the ban will cost Grenada millions of dollars at a time of economic uncertainty. He also suggests what Grenada may do before the embargo takes effect. The Fisheries Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US Commerce Department recently announced strict import restrictions to ensure that seafood entering US markets meet the same high standards as American caught seafood Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The US will ban some fish imports from Grenada and other countries starting January 1, 2026. The US will prohibit imports from Grenada and 46 other countries. Fisheries imports that do not meet comparable BICAT standards will be banned by the United States. Countries without comparability findings for their fisheries must get admissibility certifications to sell in the United States. Peter David is also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Member of Parliament for St George and leader of DeMovement, an opposition party in Grenada. Our next stop is Sinkitz and Nevis.

Speaker 2:

The incoming chairman of CARICOM, dr Terence Drew, prime Minister of Sinkitz and Nevis, said what was once a devastating tragedy for our people, the Atlantic slave trade, should now be translated into the Atlantic bridge a bridge of hope, a bridge of advancement, a bridge that will ensure that our people will take their rightful place in this world. He made these remarks at the second CARICOM Africa Summit opening in Adidas Ababa Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union Commission headquarters in Ethiopia. The incoming chair addressed the conference that this first in-person encounter of CARICOM heads of state and government and African counterparts since the 2021 virtual summit is crucial to strengthening historical links and exploring deeper strategic relationships. He said this increased participation will improve South-South collaboration, promote shared prosperity and raise a unified voice on global problems like peace, security, climate change and multilateral reforms. He said the second summit will progress the 2024 African Union CARICOM Memorandum of Understanding on upscaling engagement and linkages with people of African descent by developing inter-regional economic collaborations and people-to-people linkages. Prime Minister Drew also underlined the need to strengthen CARICOM Africa engagement on repatriation, global financial reform, climate action, education, health, trade and cultural exchange. He praised Afrexim Bank, especially Professor Benedict Orama, for promoting economic and cultural cooperation and call for action-oriented engagement. Drew said A Frexen Bank and many African leaders have already begun promoting trade, investment, cultural and sporting engagement and other forms of collaboration between CARICOM and Africa through concrete initiatives, between CARICOM and Africa through concrete initiatives. He also stressed the importance of better transportation and investment links and deeper CARICOM-Africa collaborations to advance mutual growth and change development experiences. In January 2026, sinkits and Nevis Prime Minister Drew will become CARICOM's rotating chair.

Speaker 2:

In other regional news, according to the Nassau Guardian, the Inter-American Development Bank's general manager for Caribbean, anthon Edmond, said the bank has launched the Project Preparation Coordination Mechanism as part of its One Caribbean strategy to help launch critical development projects and address the $21.5 billion in infrastructure development needed in the Caribbean. Edmund said the Caribbean needs faster, deeper and more diverse economic growth in water, sanitation, energy, transportation and telecommunications. Edmund said private sector involvement is also critical to meeting these challenges. Edmunds said project preparation coordination mechanism will enable regional government, state-owned companies and private sector partners access to finance and create, identify, plan and advance high-impact initiatives. Impact initiatives, edmonds added this is about building a pipeline of bankable projects that reflect the region's priorities and are ready to move from concept to construction, he said, using the full technical expertise of the Inter-American Bank Group and its partners. The project preparation coordination mechanism will support everything from early feasibility studies to legal structuring and investment matchmaking. He said these operations have started in Jamaica and will shortly in the Bahamas. Edmund said one Caribbean directly supports the Bahamas, barbados, belize, guyana, jamaica, suriname and Trinidad and Tobago and indirectly supports the OECS countries through the Inter-American Development Bank's Caribbean Development Bank Partnership.

Speaker 2:

Now on to the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic will host the 25th Central America and Caribbean Games in July 2026, with 6,000 athletes from 37 nations competing in 40 sports. The Dominican Republic's Public Health Services Network will offer hospital medical services at the 25th Central America and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, according to an agreement between the Dominican Republic's National Health Service and the organizing committee. The Dominican Republic's National Health Service executive director, dr Mario Lama, and the committee's president, jose P Monegro, signed the agreement in front of health sector leaders. The complete hospital network of doctors, specialists, support staff and equipment will be accessible to protect athletes and participants, dr Lama said. Also included are mobile dental units, a polyclinic at the Olympic Village and coordinated medical services in all provinces holding competitions. The Luis Eduardo Eibar Health City will be the primary referral center, with support from two trauma hospitals.

Speaker 2:

Now we head to Guyana. Guyana's President, dr Ifram Ali, met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of War, joseph Humeyer, on Monday at Guyana's State House. President Ali stressed Guyana's sovereignty and defense as top concerns. Throughout the meeting, guyana and the United States also discussed deepening and expanding their strategic corporation to promote regional peace and security. Corporation to promote regional peace and security.

Speaker 2:

Next up, puerto Rico's agriculture department has allocated about six million dollars to boost the island's agribusiness sector. 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 8th.

Speaker 2:

Through federal and local initiatives, the Puerto Rico Agriculture Department has allocated about $6 million to boost the island's agribusiness sector. Sixteen farmers and agribusinesses will receive $4.1 million under the Federal Resilience Food System Infrastructure Program until 2027. Governor Jennifer Gonzalez remarked the Resil system infrastructure program shows her administration's commitment to agriculture community development. The investment is expected to increase food processing, packaging, refrigeration and distribution infrastructure, lowering losses and enhancing food resilience. Puerto Rico's Agriculture Secretary, josue E Rivera, said the 16 projects directly intervene at important agri-food chain points that support programs to make vegetables, tropical fruits, flower products and other local goods longer-lasting, boosting the value chain and creating rural jobs. Longer lasting, boosting the value chain and creating rural jobs. The department selected projects from 124 bids on regional effect, innovation, sustainability and equity. The awarded projects will create employment, develop 75 new agricultural products and help 243 growers. And help 243 growers. Additionally, $748,771 from the Agriculture Investment Equipment, work and Permanent Improvements Program will benefit 30 ag, coffee and cattle farmers. The Dairy Industry Regulatory Office will provide 31 dairy farmers with $1.2 million to increase production. And here's our final note St Kitts and Nevis will host the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture from September 29 to October 3.

Speaker 2:

Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2025, with the theme Sowing Change, harvesting Resilience Transforming Our Caribbean Food Systems for 2025 and Beyond, will be a crucial venue for change. It will foster regional climate, smart agriculture, innovation, lesson sharing and meaningful partnerships. And meaningful partnerships. Dr Wendell Samuels, senior Economic Advisor and Acting Assistant Secretary General at CARICOM Secretariat, explains that the Caribbean Week of Agriculture is a leading regional platform for promoting agriculture and food and nutrition security investments. It transforms public image, encourages meaningful engagement and boosts regional food systems. Dr Samuel said To learn more about Caribbean Week of Agriculture 19, visit cwa2025.caricomorg.

Speaker 2:

This podcast has been brought to you by 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 2, for the week of September 8th. Here's a special hello to our listeners in Jamaica, california and South Africa. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share a 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. Thank you.