Pulse of the Caribbean

#140 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 2 Week of November 10

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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We track the biggest Caribbean stories. Here are some of the stories making Caribbean headlines.

  • U.S. Visa Reviews Expand to Chronic Health Risks
  • Inaugural GUBA Awards and Trade and Investment Forum Spotlights Africa-Caribbean Trade Potential
  • Dominican Republic Ranked Top Latin American Country for Investors
  • Guyana Launches Coursera-Powered Public Service Training
  • Dominican Republic vs Puerto Rico Baseball Event in New York Honors Delgado and Cano
  • Antigua and Barbuda Secures Solar Lights and Home Systems in Agreement with China

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SPEAKER_01:

This podcast is brought to you by the Tuck Shop, located in downtown St. Thomas, featuring the best of local island cuisines like no other. And Diamond Key Marina, Yoswendike, 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 two for the week of November 10th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start a report today with a look at new U.S. immigration policy. Chronic health issues may now disqualify U.S. visa and green card applicants. All foreign nationals received updated guidelines from the U.S. State Department and American embassies and counsel it overseas. The latest instruction broadens how officers evaluate visa applications under the public charge requirement, which previously centered on financial dependence. Health issues include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, malignancies, neurological disorders, and obesity may indicate a person's long-term strain on public resources. Now U.S. Counselor of Staff must assess applicants' long-term health and medical needs. Barbados senior officials convened in Bridgetown on Monday to launch the inaugural GUBA Awards and Trade and Investment Forum, urging Barbados and its Caribbean neighbors to unlock billions in untapped trade and investment potential with Africa. Leaders in government, business, and creative industries and civil societies gathered for the Grow Unite Build Africa GUBA Awards to honor African and African diaspora achievements and develop ties. Compared to nearly 60% in Europe and 50% in Asia, intra-African commerce accounts for 16% of the continent's total trade. She noted that those numbers present huge opportunity. Now on to the Dominican Republic. According to the Latin America Country Risk Index and Analysis 2025 by U.S. Florida International University, Adams Center for Economic Freedom, 76% of experts recommend investing in the Dominican Republic ahead of Paraguay at 66% and Argentina at 63%. The research praises the Dominican Republic's governance, institutional strength, and foreign investor appeal as one of the region's most reliable, stable, reputable, and low-risk nations. The report underlines the Dominican Republic's democratic stability, stable institutions, and robust business climate. Investor confidence, steady macroeconomic policies, and budgetary disciplines are Florida International Universities' reasons for the country's success. Strategic companies seek stable and predictable settings, have also favored the nation due to its capacity to profit from global economic shifts like near shoring and friendshoring. According to the research, the Dominican Republic has excellent external ties and a lawful security-focused foreign policy, lowering social and security risk below the regional average. Now we head to Guyana. Thousands of public personnel in Guyana, even those from the rural areas, can take online courses now from top universities globally to help modernize Guyana. From data analysis to introductory Spanish, Coursera offers 100 free online courses for public officials to complete at their own leisure. Guyana's public service upscaling platform was launched Monday at the Author Chung Conference Center by the Ministry of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation. Guyana's President Dr. Mohammed Ifram Ali called the program's start an essential step in the government's attempt to modernize the public sector and make it more digital. The pace of global change requires a contemporary, adaptable public agency that solves issues rather than just process papers. According to the president, every public servant must overcome rigidity, embrace systemic AI and digitization, and master new tools to succeed and stay relevant. He noted that top nations like the United States, Singapore, and Finland use Coursera to develop their public sector workforces, which can be done through the new initiative. Next up, baseball fans are in for a treat as the Dominican Republic versus Puerto Rico Showdown takes place at New York City Field after this. Experience the best of the island flavor at the Tug Shop, located downtown St. Thomas, where every Sunday features a local all-you-can-eat brunch buffet that captures the true taste of the Virgin Islands. Call 340-779-9900 to reserve your table today. And treat yourself to a Sunday brunch experience like no other. This is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 2 for the week of November 10th. The RD vs PR Showdown, or Dominican Republic versus Puerto Rico Showdown on November 15th at City Feel will feature Puerto Rican baseball star Carlos Delgado, a candidate for the Hall of Fame's contemporary era ballot, and Dominican Republic eight-time all-star Robinson Canoe. The New York Mets, where Delgado played his final four seasons, organized a star-studded event with the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball Association and the National Federation of Professional Baseball Players of the Dominican Republic with Major League Baseball's approval. All Puerto Rican players will wear Delgado's number 21 as honorary manager. He hit 473 home runs in 17 years in Major League Baseball. Two-time All-Star Carlos Gomez Delgado's former Mets team will coach the Dominican squad in the city where he began his Major League career in 2007. For his final organized game in the United States, Cano played with the Dominican Republic. The roster will include Major League aspirants. Kanyo played parts of three seasons with the Mets in his 17-year Major League Baseball career following his 2009 Yankees World Series title. To honor Cano, all Dominican Republic nationals will wear his number 24 jersey. And here's our final note. At CLP 30 in Bellum, Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador, Diane Blacklane, Director of Department of Environment, signed an MOU with China. Antigua and Barbuda would get 1,500 solar-powered streetlights and 200 home residential, photovoltaic, and energy storage system units from the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment. This initiative accelerates Antigua and Barbuda's renewable energy transition and supports its goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and increase climate resilience. So as street lights improve community safety and visibility, reduce fossil fuel use, and lower local electricity prices. Ambassador Black Lane said the partnership shows the growing spirit of international corporation in addressing the global climate crisis and China's support for small island developing states' sustainable development and energy transition goals. Today marks Veterans Day in the United States. We say happy Veterans Day to all those who have honorably served in the U.S. military forces. This podcast has been brought to you by The Touch Shop, located in downtown St. Thomas, featuring the best of local island cuisine, like no other, 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. To reserve moorings at Diamond Key, visit Botiball.com. This is your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode two for the week of November 10th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Brazil, Nevada, 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 Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your source for Caribbean centered news.