Pulse of the Caribbean

#138 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 3 Week of November 3

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Headlines should do more than inform—they should reveal where the region is headed. Here are some of the stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • Jamaica Public Service Company Reduce Un-serviced Consumers and Bring In Line Workers 
  • India and Jamaica Provide Humanitarian Aid to Jamaica
  • Barbados Become Smallest Member of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
  • British Virgin Islands House of Assembly Move To Be Totally Independent
  • Persad-Bissessar Grants Export License to Tobago 
  • Puerto Rico launches 24-7 AI-operated airport stores
  • Dominican Republic Push Plastics Bans and Smarter Waste Disposal

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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 more into Diamond Key, visit Bowteball.com. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 3, for the week of November 3rd. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We saw a report in Jamaica with hurricane recovery efforts. At Monday's Jamaica House Press briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery, Jamaica Public Service Company President and CEO Hugh Grant disclosed they reduced the number of unservice electric consumers from 77% to well under 50%. We prepared the system, people, and powerful response, he stated. Mr. Grant said the Jamaica Public Service Company will restore power to St. Thomas, Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine within 3 to 14 days. Power has been restored to 57% of major hospitals as part of the company's strategic response. Mr. Grant reported that the storm damaged over 70% of high voltage lines. Mr. Grant also said the Jamaica Public Service Company will bring in 100 line workers under retainer contracts with Canadian and American corporations. The line workers should arrive on island by the end of this week to help with restoration. In related news, as J. Sankar, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, said that the Indian Air Force flight left India on Tuesday to deliver 20 tons of humanitarian goods to Jamaica and Cuba, which were hit by Hurricane Melissa. The relief supplies include India's innovative portable hospital cubes, materials for rehabilitation, food and daily necessities, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, power generators, housing support, and hygiene kits. The U.S. military also sent a task force to Jamaica to perform humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts in response to the hurricane, the U.S. South Command announced on Friday. Now on to Barbados. Barbados Finance Economic Affairs Minister Ryan Strong introduced legislation to ratify membership on Tuesday, making Barbados the smallest full member of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, giving the government, private sector, and individuals access to 18 billion US dollars in loan financing. Strawn spearheaded the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean bill, which will formalize Barbados's shift from Series C to Series A status, giving the island more control over banking and financial options. The Caracas-based Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, previously the Andean Development Corporation, is a regional development bank owned by member countries and financial institutions. It promotes Latin America and the Caribbean sustainable development, regional integration, and social inclusion. The island must pay over 1 million US dollars in dues to become Series A. Strawn noted as the World Bank in which the U.S. has significant influence begins to align its climate-related development project financing with the Trump administration's policy, Barbados will gain greater insulation and flexibility to access concessional loans through the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Our next stop is the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands leaders are taking a historic step to make the BVI's House of Assembly totally independent of the executive branch, which Deputy Premier Jillian Fraser believes will change how the legislature functions. Fraser introduced a House of Assembly Management Bill to govern House administration, staffing, and finances. Fraser said the suggested arrangement would resemble the UK Parliament, which is independent of the government. This implies the governor, premier, and UK cannot order the House's internal activities. Fraser said for the first time this House is taking its destiny into its own hands. The new law establishes a commission to manage House finances, prepare reports for public debate, and preserve the legislature's independence, openness, and accountability. Next we head to Trinidad and Tobago. Declaring her government's intention to give Tobago more control over its financial affairs, Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamala Prasad by Cessar on November 4th presented Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine with an export license for the Studley Park Enterprises Ltd. to market the island's aggregate regionally and provide opportunities to generate some much needed foreign exchange. She made the presentation while addressing members of the Tobago House of Assembly during a special sitting of the Assembly Legislature. Several members of her cabinet attended the sitting, which marked Persad by Sessor's first official visit to Tobago since the UNC-led coalition won the April 28th general election. The Prime Minister recognized Tobago's decades-long struggle for a greater share of the national pie and pledged her government's commitment to working alongside Augustine to develop the island. Persad by Sessor said the export license for Studley Park was one avenue through which the island could help chart its own destiny. Next up, Puerto Rico opens AI-operated stores after this. For Pulse of the Caribbean podcast advertising or marketplace feature opportunities, email biz BIZ at pulse of the Caribbean.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 3 for the week of November 3rd. Airport Shops built a third AI-operated store at the Luis Munoz Marine International Airport in Puerto Rico, providing customers with another automated food and beverage outlet. A$495,000 QuickBite store opened in Terminal B on November 1st. Airport Shops President Jose Algarin announced the integration of artificial intelligence into its retail operations to offer customers more possibilities. We're offering travelers pizza, hamburgers, and chicken in AI-powered stores. These will be available 24-7, Algarin stated. The first Quick Bites in Terminal A in July 2024, and the Gustos Cafe in Terminal D in March 2025. The company claims it not only is among the first in the Caribbean, but also the Ford airport in the United States to have such an advanced system. An AI-operated store in each terminal is planned for 2026. Purchases are automated using visual detection, machine learning, and AI. And here's our final note. Businesses have 12 months to eliminate single-use plastics and foam goods, but laptop food containers and trays get an extra 12 months due to the lack of inexpensive alternatives. Stores must charge for non-biodegradable plastic bags and promote reusable and eco-friendly bags within a year. The law prohibits the importation of non-biodegradable plastics, cups, cutlery, and lids within 60 days of its enactment. President Abinader wrote to the Senate President Ricardo de los Santos on November 3rd, stating the amendments preserve the environment, maintain free competition, and prevents monopolies. He also suggested placing transfer stations, landfills, and trash recovery plants by distance and logistics rather than geographical boundaries. The reforms also clarify definitions and ideas to help apply the law. 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. To reserve more into Diamond Key, visit Botiball.com. Have news and information you'd like to share with us, send news releases to news at pulsofhecaribbean.com. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode three for the week of November third. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in Jamaica. Speedy Recovery. In Antigua and Barbuda, Texas, Nevada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share a podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. I'm Keisha Beleiden. See you next time.

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For more Caribbean news stories and information, visit us online at pulsofhecaribbean.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.