Pulse of the Caribbean

#122 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of October 6

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Today’s traces how money, policy, and people are reshaping the Caribbean.  Here are some of the stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • US Virgin Islands charter revenues face emerging challenges
  • Dominican Republic labor shortages put local coffee income at stake
  • Cannabis regulators look to OECS for alignment to scale trade
  • Cayman’s revenue reliance, regulatory burden, and talent pressures
  • Antigua anticipates over a million-guest cruise following port upgrade for the new season
  • St. Lucia’s new cruise season gains momentum and awards

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 Boundless Bliss Hotel, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Diamond Key Marina, Yosmindai, 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 one for the week of October 6th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We still got a report today in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research says that the charter boat business brought in about$92 million for the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2024. The sector also provided about 800 jobs, which was a big boost for the economy of the U.S. Virgin Islands. But as 2025 comes to a close, the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research Director Haldine Davies says that the sector seems to be facing some challenges. Last week, the director made these statements while leading a discussion on the maritime industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Workforce Development Summit on St. Thomas. Several charter boats moved to the British Virgin Islands when the British Virgin Islands raised costs for charter yachts based outside of their country. This year, when farmers plan to make up for years of losses, there were no harvesters accessible since the Dominican Republic and Haitian harvesters are no longer available. Domestic production is increasing at the same time that coffee prices have reached their highest level in 50 years. Local purchasing companies offer 21,500 pesos for each 100-pound quintal. A coffee harvest exceeding 300,000 quintals at present pricing suggests at more than 6 billion pesos, equivalent to over 95 million US dollars, could circulate throughout the country's most impoverished districts. The loss of the harvest would result in not just economic hardship for domestic producers, but also an increase in grain imports from other producing countries, as well as the necessity to seek foreign currency to fund those purchases. Now here's a look at the Caribbean cannabis industry. Caribbean cannabis regulators believe the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States may help unify island legislation and facilitate commerce, testing, and inclusion. At the second cannabis conference in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, regional regulators agreed that the region will struggle to compete globally without alignment. At the conference, regulators said a harmonized framework would let Caribbean states exchange testing facilities, trade across borders, and include traditional farmers and small producers everywhere. Regulators said fragmented laws make it hard to attract investment or create a regional supply chain. Financing and pharma inclusion showed that OECS collaboration could provide the region scale and structure. Our next stop is the Cayman Islands. According to a Cayman Finance Report, direct and indirect financial services revenues now account for approximately two-thirds of the government's revenues, up 38% over the past five years. The research suggests that a focused set of policies to promote the industry might boost this revenue. Since sectors of the economy are becoming jurisdiction neutral, expensive work permits and high living costs could lead businesses to outsource more labor without reforms. The report states Cayman risks becoming a jobless revenue center, reducing government revenue. Most Cayman-based enterprises surveyed for the Capital Economics Report listed burdensome regulatory requirements as the biggest concern, hurting their outlook. The analysis indicated that the appropriate support, innovation in legislation, and government services, more promotion, investment, and better talent access may boost financial services industry growth by 40% over the next decade. In other news, this November, Caribbean Airlines will end flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica, less than a year after restarting them. Fort Lauderdale International Airport, 20 miles from Miami International Airport, is a discount option for South Florida passengers. The airline claims the decision is part of an optimization effort. Fort Lauderdale, Montego Bay service resumed in December 2024 and Kingston flights earlier this year. Later bookings will receive refund or credits for the last flights on November 1st. The carrier says flights and personnel will move to more profitable routes. Next up, Antigua and Barbuda set to welcome more than one million cruise visitors after this. Boundless Bliss Hotel, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands is a visit carved in time. Off the beaten path, yet close to everything. All units provide furnished balconies facing the beautiful St. Thomas Harbor, relaxed, comfortable, and spacious with the convenience of a cooktop range, apartment size, refrigerator, dining area, and full bath. Our central location offers 180-degree scenic hilltop views, and our tropical landscape distinguishes us among the many hotels and vacation rental services. Come share a slice of St. Thomas's gorgeous tropical paradise anytime throughout the year. Stay with us in one of our Deluxe King, traditional King bedroom suites, or classic queen double efficiency units. Boundless Bliss Hotel, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, a visit carved in time. Book your slice of St. Thomas's gorgeous tropical paradise anytime. Visit us online at Boundless Bliss Hotel.com. 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 Biz BIZ at pulsofthecaribbean.com. Engage in networking and advertising with Pulse of the Caribbean. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 1, for the week of October 6th. Gaston Brown, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, expects more than one million cruise guests this season, a record high for Antigua and Barbuda's tourism industry. Brown noted on Brown and Brown show that the government's six-year partnership with Global Ports Holding overhauled the country's cruise tourism infrastructure. The Prime Minister said Global Imports Holding has invested roughly 80 million US dollars in port modernization and is years from profit. The alliance has improved Antigua's cruise destination status by building land-based facilities and commercial areas along Newgate Street, Brown added. With hotel bookings up across the island, the Prime Minister said that the winter season is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years. Record cruise arrivals and stayovers show that the government's development model is working, Brown said. And here's her final note. After a record-breaking 2024-2025 season that welcomed over 650,000 cruise passengers, St. Lucia reopened its 2025-2026 season over the weekend with goals of 750,000 cruise visitors, according to St. Lucia's tourism minister, Ernest Hilaire. He said St. Lucia's cruise tourism success is due to excellent collaboration and national effort. The celebrity reflection, the season's first ship was welcome at Point Seraphine Cruise Terminal on October 5th. Cultural, musical, and traditional exhibitions set the stage for the beginning of the new season. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Corporation schedule arrivals account for 18% of projected passenger arrivals this season, the minister said. At the 2025 World Travel Awards, St. Lucia was named the Caribbean's leading adventure destination and leading honeymoon destination. This podcast has been brought to you by Boundless Bliss Hotel, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and 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 and news releases to news at pulsofthecaribbean.com. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode one for the week of October 6th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Guyana, Florida, and Canada. 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_02:

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 Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your source for Caribbean centered news.