Pulse of the Caribbean

#109 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 4 Week of September 8

• Pulse of the Caribbean

Share episode

The Bahamas launches groundbreaking stem cell research center while Nevis tourism surges 44% above last year.  These among the headlines highlighted. Here are other stories making Caribbean headlines. 

  • Cayman Islands preparing for potential fee increases in October budget as government spending outpaces revenue growth
  • Dominican Republic economy under pressure from rising US dollar and crude oil prices affecting fuel imports
  • St. Lucia increasing police presence and security monitoring in Castries to ensure safety during upcoming cruise season
  • Jamaica's Falmouth Artisan Village drawing positive feedback from locals and visitors
  • Puerto Rico's San Juan Museum receives grant to improve preservation of artistic heritage and cultural 

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. 

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 Yosvintag, 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 4 for the week of September 8th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report today as a day of remembrance.

Speaker 2:

Today is the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, when four planes traveling over the eastern United States were taken over by terrorists. The jets hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC. The Ford plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. People believe that the hijackers wanted to attack the Capitol building in Washington DC. The attacks had an impact all across the world and changed US policy at home and abroad. People from around the world died, including people from the United States and the Caribbean. Today, numerous family members of the approximate 3,000 people who died will join dignitaries and elected officials at memorial services in Lower Manhattan and at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, pennsylvania. Some people choose to celebrate the day with smaller groups. We will now take a moment of silence to remember those who died on this day, on September 11, 2001.

Speaker 2:

Now we head to the Cayman Islands. The National Coalition for Caymanians' first budget, to be presented to Parliament in October, may raise fees. Government revenues is growing but spending is growing faster. Officials say spending must be cut but revenues must also be increased, since many fees have not been raised in years. The Cayman Islands Deputy Governor, france Manderson, and Financial Secretary Ken Jefferson told the Public Accounts Committee last week that they will. After reviewing the February Office of the Auditor General report Improving Financial Accountability and Transparency. Long-term Financial Sustainability, public Accounts Committee concluded that fee increases are needed to sustain the public sector. Jefferson said the government can finance capital projects with revenue and prepare for global downturns, public health emergencies and natural disasters if it rebuilds its reserves. Jefferson stated the government 119 million general reserves are insufficient. He said some income initiatives are planned for the financial services sector next year, but he and Manderson, when they appeared, said existing levies will need to be raised. Custom work permit and other immigration costs are likely targets.

Speaker 2:

In other news from the Dominican Republic, dominican Today reports the Dominican Republic's economy and fuel prices are under pressure from rising US dollar and crude oil prices. The country imports refined fuels but international market swings affect domestic costs. On September 9, 2025, the US dollar ended at 64.02 pesos for sale and 63.53 for buy, beating the budget's prediction of 63.1. Fuel imports are more expensive due to this exchange rate, which could strain the national budget. Our next stop is the Bahamas.

Speaker 2:

A new Sandy Point stem cell and regenerative Research Center was officially opened on Wednesday in the Bahamas. Swedish biotechnology business Cell Co-Labs and local Bahamian Family Health Center, live Well, directed by Bahamian Dr Darius Bain and Swedish Dr Mathis Bernal, formed Cell Co-Labs by Live Well, formed cell collabs by LiveWell. Bain said during the ceremony that the bone marrow-derived stem cells would be used for musculoskeletal illness therapy. They can be injected into joints to relieve pain and disease and will be studied to see how these cells affect disease progression. The laboratory is also studying Bahamian ailments like cardiovascular disease. Being added, the Bahamas Prime Minister, philip Davis, praised Cell Labs for advancing the Bahamas health care industry and urged the country to focus on illness prevention. His words highlighted the Bahamas Longevity and Regenerative Therapies Bill 2024, which replaced the Bahamas Longevity and Regenerative Therapies Bill 2024, which replaced the Bahamas Stem Cell Research Therapy Act 2013, and promised economic prosperity and revolutionary therapies to the Bahamas. While praising the collaboration. The Prime Minister acknowledged the risk of regenerative medicine and emphasized the Bahamas regulations are strong. Davis stated the new law allowed safe and ethical research and treatment of advanced treatments like stem cells, gene therapies and regenerative medicine. The Bahamian law also establishes an oversight board, ethics committees and patient safeguards.

Speaker 2:

In other regional news, record revenues and visitor arrivals indicate a significant post-COVID resurgent for Nevis' tourism revealed that the sector has already topped last year's totals, with momentum developing well into the off-season. Premier Brantley said by August we are already ahead of where we were for the entire year of 2024. The August tourism Tourism development levy is $311,951.24. That's up 44.48% from 2024. After consulting hoteliers and restaurant owners, the Nevis Island administration raised a tourism development levy from 2% to 3% last year. The June adjustment has yielded big profits. Additionally, navis is expanding its luxury tourism brand. The Navis Tourism Authority has improved its VIP and meeting incentives, conference and exhibition services with targeted marketing strategies to attract affluent travelers.

Speaker 2:

Now on to St Lucia. To attract affluent travelers. Now on to St Lucia. The St Lucia government is increasing police presence and monitoring in castries to ensure a secure and welcoming cruise season. After tourism minister Dr Ernest Hilaire predicted record port visitors in the coming months. Local officials have improved public spaces and tightened security and safety. According to the Castery's central member of parliament, richard Fedrick, all city police will be on duty during peak cruise days and 200 security cameras will be given to businesses for broader monitoring. With the capital bracing for increased activity, the Castery City Council and the St Lucia Industrial and Small Business Association are supporting the drive to combat crime and reassure visitors and residents. By linking the cameras into shared surveillance systems, authorities can respond faster to criminal behavior.

Speaker 2:

Next up new Jamaican artisan village draws positive feedback 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 4, for the week of September 8th.

Speaker 2:

The artisan village in Falmouth, trelawney, jamaica, is attracting locals and visitors with regular events set to become a fixture. Dr Kerry Wallace, executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, commented on the recent Falmouth earthquake Artisan Village Food Festival, which drew many guests and received great response. He said the Tourism Enhancement Fund and other organizations must maximize the facility's potential because it attracts locals and visitors. The Artisan Village opened last year, changing visitors' options of Falmont's lack of activities, dr Wallace said At the facility, cruise ship and layover visitors can do something. He said this is an area for food, entertainment, craft and souvenirs, to promote Jamaica's craft traditions, local business and a vibrant location for visitors to experience the full range of cultural and culinary arts. The Artisan Village was created. The venture centralizes Jamaican crafts, mementos and experience to promote artisan livelihoods. Besides crafts and shops, the village includes live entertainment, interactive demonstrations and selected culinary experiences that showcase the country's unique regional flavors.

Speaker 2:

And here's our final note the Save America's Treasures collection grants gave Puerto Rico San Juan Museum $42,076 to improve the museum's preservation. San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero said the award and preserving artistic heritage was a responsibility to our history and future generations. He stated that these federal grants will improve preservation efforts at the San Juan Museum, ensuring that our treasures remain a source of knowledge, pride and cultural identity. Specialized conservation materials and instruments will be purchased for the museum's collections preservation project. This year the State Tribal Local Plans and Grants Program approved the December 2024 proposal. The competitive program supports preservation projects at US cultural institutions.

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 4, for the week of September 8th. Greetings go out to our listeners in Grenada, st Lucia, the US Virgin Islands and New York. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region and the diaspora.

Speaker 1:

I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time. 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.