Pulse of the Caribbean

#119 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 2 Week of September 29

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The Caribbean stepped into this week with a steady beat of progress across policy, education, infrastructure, and sport, as highlighted in this episode.  Here are the stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • Puerto Rico accelerates permits with tech and training 
  • University of the Virgin Islands student presents AI research at Amazon’s Machine Learning University Symposium
  • Guyana–South Africa air services agreement increases connectivity goals
  • Antigua’s solar desalination pilot project to help crop irrigation
  • Grenada wins big in bodybuilding pro cards and gold medals
  • Dominican Republic motorsport driver Jimmy Llibre wins at Road Atlanta Circuit 

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

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

SPEAKER_01:

This podcast is brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yosmendike, British Virgin Island, 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 two for the week of September 29th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start a report today in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico launched major permitting changes in June to make starting and expanding businesses easier. On July 1st, structural, technological, and regulatory changes took effect. Now Puerto Rico's Permit Management Office reports improve single permit efficiency, according to its deputy secretary, Norberto Almudovar. At the weekly news meeting at La Fortaleza, Almudovar said government measures had worked as a result of an executive order issued by the governor. Single permits efficiency increased from 39% to 83%, and construction permits granting efficiency grew from 28% in August 2024 to 85% today. Technology, artificial intelligence, and a new staff training program and productivity indicators have led to this progress, according to Al Mudavar. He said the upgrades helped Puerto Rico's Department of Economic Development and Commerce attract pharmaceutical and other industrial investments. In other news, a University of the Virgin Island student presented research at Amazon Machine Learning University Symposium on September 26th at Amazon Worldwide Headquarters. The symposium brought together students, faculty, and executives from across the country to showcase AI and machine learning innovation. According to the University of the Virgin Islands, students Zidane Bass, Lillian Alexander, and Ashawn Brown represented their findings in abstract posters. Bass represented the team on site where he participated in technical seminars, networking, and Amazon Web Service expert conversations with representatives from other universities nationwide. Following its August membership in the Amazon Machine Learning University Educator Consortium, the University of the Virgin Islands has advanced AI Machine Learning Education. The Machine Learning University Educator Enablement Program delivers curriculum resources, Amazon Web Services, Cloud Technologies, and Advanced Training to 35 institutions nationwide, including the Amazon Web Services Machine Learning University Symposium. The University of the Virgin Islands is one of only a few historically black colleges and universities that was chosen for the program. Now on to Guyana. In Montreal, Canada, at the International Civil Aviation Organization's 42nd Assembly, Guyana and South Africa signed an Air Services Agreement to improve international flight services. Both government's commitment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation is strengthened by this agreement. It aspires to increase air service opportunities, economic growth, trade, and tourism, and maintain the highest safety and security standards in air travel to solve aviation security problems. Barbara Crease, Minister of Transportation, signed the agreement for South Africa. And Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field, Director General of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, signed for Guyana. Both parties want this agreement to help airlines from both nations connect. The Air Services Agreement brings Guyana closer to being an international air connectivity hub. South African Airwave serves at least 16 destinations in Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The agreement complements Guyana's more than 50 aviation service agreements with other international civil aviation organization states to promote aviation connectivity. South Africa and Guyana established diplomatic relations on November 4, 1994. Now we head to Antigua and Barbuda. Water is life for farmers. Now under the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Technical Corporation Program, Antigua and Barbuda launched a solar power desalination pilot project to help farmers sustain crops. The Nanophotonics Enhanced Direct Solar Memorand Desalination System, developed with the University of Texas at El Paso, was built beside the Apua Well Pump No. 8 in Bubla Valley, Jennings, to turn brackish water into life-sustaining irrigation. The solar-powered transportable equipment produces two cubic meters of fresh low salinity water each day for fragile crops like tomatoes and two cubic meters of concentrated water for hardier crops like sweet potato. Julius Pojola, CEO of Finland-based Solar Water Solutions, is providing the pilot project's engineering expertise. He has installed solar desalination units in Lightfoot and Christian Valley, supplying retirees with stable water and assisting local farmers. These early achievements show that the Caribbean conditions might support the technology. As the pilot continues, water quality, crop performance, and cost effectiveness will be assessed to guide growth. With the government, private sector, and climate fund corporation, similar units might soon dot the island, shielding farmers from climatic stress. In other farming news out of Antigam, Barbuda on September 27th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy of Antigam, Barbuda held a major handing over ceremony. A high-level delegation from the People's Government of Henan Province, People's Republic of China, officially gave 12 motorized farm vehicles to help local farmers. Next up, Grenada has historic performance at the 2025 Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship after this. For Pulse of the Caribbean podcast advertising or marketplace feature opportunities, email bizbiz at pulsofthecaribbean.com. Get your ads in front of our ever-expanding Caribbean and diaspora community. Contact us at BizBIZ at pulsofthecaribbean.com. Engage in networking and advertising with Pulse of the Caribbean. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode two for the week of September 29th. Grenada won two Pro Cards and four gold medals at the 2025 Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Fitness Championship in St. Lucia from September 24 to 28. By winning the overall bodybuilding title and gaining his pro card, Grenada's 2024 Bodybuilder of the Year, Andrew Hyacinth, became one of the region's best athletes. After winning the men's physique category and overall title, Odell Cato also received a pro card. Hyacinth and Cato's victories are huge for the Spice Islands internationally. Newcomers Caron Collier and Javon Joseph both won first place in men's bodybuilding and physique junior, respectively. Both excelled in their debuts, putting Grenada in the spotlight. Team Grenada, led by Coach and International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation Pro Elite Damien Daniel and IFBB Pro Grantly Charles have established the island as a regional bodybuilding powerhouse with commitment, discipline, and excellence. And here's her final note. Dominican Republic driver Jimmy Libre won at Road Atlanta in the Historic Sports Car Racing Series. Libre and Ed Wheatley won the Classic 10H, Atlanta Historic Series, with a Porsche 991.2 GT3R. This demonstrated the Dominican Republic's motorsport potential worldwide. The triumph was a career highlight and preparation for the Porsche Carrera Cup America, according to Libre. A world famous endurance race, the 24 hours of Daytona is also on his schedule for November. This podcast has been brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yosmendike, 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 pulsofthecaribbean.com. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 2 for the week of September 29th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Puerto Rico, New Hampshire, and South Africa. 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_00:

For more Caribbean news stories and information, visit us online at pulsofthecaribbean.com. 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 Post of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your story for Caribbean Funny News.