Pulse of the Caribbean

#129 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of October 20

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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The Caribbean continues to prove that small states can steer big stories. This episode highlights regional security, digital finance, climate funding, and air connectivity. Here are some of the stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • U.S. Southern Command leadership change 
  • British Virgin Islands' competitive edge as an offshore financial centre 
  • Climate and development finance for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union via new MOU
  • Guyana’s outreach attracts Indian businesses to GuyExpo 2025
  • Montego Bay a key Caribbean air travel hub for Liat Air with new flights to Dominican Republic
  • Turks and Caicos named top beach and romantic destination 

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. Like and follow us on Facebook.

SPEAKER_02:

This podcast is brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yosmondike, British Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo, and gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. To reserve moorings at Diamond Key, visit Botiball.com. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 1 for the week of October 20th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We still report today at the U.S. South Command. U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Hosley, who leads the Caribbean and Latin America's military activities for the United States South Command, will retire in two months. The surprise news comes while the U.S. targets vessels in the Caribbean and tensions with Venezuela escalate. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Heggsett tweeted Hosley's departure Thursday afternoon. An hour later, the U.S. Southern Command released a statement from Hosley saying the command has made lasting contributions to the defense of our nation and will continue to do so. No cause was given for the departure, and the Pentagon spokesperson indicated they had no further information beyond Hexett's post. Neither the spokesperson nor Hosley disclose his successor. SALCOM commanders are usually four-star generals or admirals for three years. Holseley was elevated to four-star in November. Admiral Alvin Hosley, commander of SALCOM, met just last week with Prime Ministers Gaston Brown and Decon Mitchell of Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada October 14th and 15th. Security cooperation with both nations and the Eastern Caribbean was discussed, including transnational organized crime, illegal trafficking, and border security. Now on to the British Virgin Islands. Even while international pressures threaten the British Virgin Islands competitive edge as an offshore financial center, it remains a key player in crypto and digital finance. At Token 2049 Singapore, one of Asia's top Web 3 and blockchain events, the British Virgin Islands banking demonstrated the territory's digital banking products this month. The involvement supported the British Virgin Islands campaign to encourage digital innovation, fintech regulation, and global financial services. The BVI delegation maintained that the territory is open for business with strong regulation, business-friendly structures, and expertise in cross-border digital asset solutions through panel discussions and networking with renowned fintech figures. Through TOKEN 2049, BVI Finance showed fintech companies that the territory can provide transparency, stability, and international market access. Destination Digital, the group's worldwide research, showed that 94% of fintech leaders saw cross-border development as crucial to company growth, with many looking to international finance centers like the BVI for their balanced regulatory approach. FinTech firms are increasingly drawn to jurisdictions with reliable legal systems and frameworks like the British Virgin Islands Virtual Asset Service Provider Act, which allow innovation while guaranteeing responsible monitoring, according to the research. In other regional financial news, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank will come together to mobilize climate and development funds for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. The accord intends to quickly transform the region to greener, more resilient and digital economies. Sergio Diaz Grandos, Executive President of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and Timothy N.J. Anton, governor of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, signed the MOU during the 2025 annual meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. It creates a framework for cooperation among the eight Eastern Caribbean currency union countries to enhance financial systems, increase climate financing access, and boost sustainable growth. Renewable energy and energy security, digital transformation, private sector competitiveness, and institutional capacity building will be priority topics for the corporation. Diaz Grando stated that the partnership shows that they are committed to strengthening the region's financial system and collaborating with key organizations to enhance financing options for Eastern Caribbean currency union countries and increase the impact of development financing. The agreement strengthens the development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean Caribbean's participation, where it now has six shareholders. Two of these are OECS members that have incorporated, whereas all other independent OECS countries have indicated their wish to join the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and are at various levels of incorporation. Since opening this regional management office in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago in 2022, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean has supported small island economies through finance, technical assistance, and knowledge linkages that promote equitable and sustainable growth. Our next stop is Guyana. A business delegation from India will visit Guyana next month to investigate collaboration prospects. Suzanne Rodriguez, Guyana's tourism, industry, and commerce minister, made the announcement. Guyana is being promoted globally as a land of opportunity by its president and his administration. The Indian business delegation will visit Guy Expo to discuss ties with major business groupings. Minister Rodriguez said this shows global confidence in Guyana's economic potential increasing. Dates for Guy Expo 2025 are November 13th to the 16th. As Guyana becomes a major international trade participant, Minister Rodriguez urged the business sector to seize the opportunity. Next up, Montigo Bay, a key Caribbean air travel hub for Lyatt Air. After this.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 1 for the week of October 20th. Montigo Bay will be a key Caribbean air travel hub as Liette Air introduces direct flights to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. Montego Bay's Santo Domingo flights begin December 12, 2025, followed by Punta Cana on December 15, 2025. The airline said the expansion strengthens regional connections and positions Montego Bay as a Caribbean gateway. New routes are expected to serve corporate travelers, regional tourists, and Caribbean diaspora. Santo Domingo awaits professionals and government officials while Punta Cana remains a popular destination for leisure vacationers seeking the Dominican Republic beaches and resorts. Lyot Air CEO Hafsa Abdul Salam said the MOOC shows its commitment to connecting Caribbean destinations. To increase Caribbean trade, the airline said the new flights will transport goods and services as well as passengers. And here's her final note. The World Travel Awards again named the Turk and Caicos Islands the Caribbean's top beach and romantic destination. October 4th, at the awards in St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos was designated the region's leading beach destination and most romantic destination. Since 2015, Turks and Caicos has won leading beach destination and most romantic destination seven times. Experienced Turk and Caicos congratulates their hotel partners and stakeholders on regional World Travel Award wins, which include Beaches, Caribbean's Top All Inclusive Family Resort 2025, The Palms, the Caribbean's Top All Sweet Hotel 2025, Amberis Key, the Caribbean's Top Private Island Resort 2025, and the leading Caribbean Cabin Crew 2025, Inter-Caribbean. 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. Want to reserve a mooring at Diamond Key? Visit Botiball.com. 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 one for the week of October 20th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Jamaica, Guyana, Utah, and Japan. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share a podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook. I'm Keisha Beleiden. 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 Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your source for Caribbean centered news.