Pulse of the Caribbean

#143 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of November 17

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Ready to catch the biggest Caribbean stories? Here’s a look at what’s making Caribbean headlines.

  • US DEA–Dominican Republic Meet on Coordinated Anti-trafficking Efforts
  • Antigua Calls for U.S.–Venezuela diplomacy and regional stability
  • CARICOM Reparations Commission Outreach and Public Education in the UK
  • Guyana Plans Graduated Corporate Tax for Small and Medium Agribusinesses
  • The Region's National Culinary Teams Compete Across Categories at Taste of the Caribbean in Barbados
  • Forbes Spotlights Royalton CHIC Antigua for Luxurious Experience

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SPEAKER_00:

This podcast is brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yosvindike, 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 November 17th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We saw a report in the Dominican Republic. A high-level U.S. commission from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, visited the Dominican Republic and met with President Luis Abinader to discuss national and regional drug trafficking efforts. U.S. Principal Deputy Administrator Daniel Salter and Deputy Chief of International Operations, Miles Alley, led the DEA mission. President Abinader praised the DEA for their recognition and pledge to continue working with the U.S. to combat worldwide drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and crime. DEA Special Agent for the Caribbean Division, Michael Miranda, and DEA attache for the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Caleb Sanderson, met with President Abinader. Vice Admiral Jose M. Cabrera Uloa, who heads the Dominican Republic National Drug Control Directorate, attended the conference. President Abinader assured diplomats that the Dominican Republic will remain a vital partner in regional efforts to combat drug trafficking. At this working meeting, Binational Corporation was strengthened by enhanced equipment and exchanging information in real time. Now we head to Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister Gaston Brown of Antigua and Barbuda has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve Venezuela's US issues diplomatically. Mr. Brown advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve current disputes between the countries. In a brief statement posted online, leaders should prioritize stability across the hemisphere to keep the region a zone of peace, he urged. The Prime Minister's comments follow U.S. warships Caribbean deployment and rising concerns on the conflict between Washington and Caracas. U.S. South Command announced the arrival of the USS General R. Ford Carrier Strike Group last week. The USS General R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier with nearly 4,000 sailors. It is designed to launch and recover fixed-wing aircraft on its deck for task operations. Our next stop is CARICOM. The CARICOM Reparations Commission is on a significant diplomatic trip to the UK. Reports say that the six-member team will talk about how to move reparatory justice efforts forward from November 17th to the 20th. The announcement stated the delegation's mission is to strengthen strategic partnerships and promote a joint program of public education and engagement on reparations agenda. The tour, which is being planned with the help of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, will include meetings and events that are meant to support its cause. Now we head to Guyana. Guyana's president, Dr. Ifram Ali, declared that his government will create a new taxation system that will reduce corporate tax for small and medium-sized agricultural firms to encourage registration. President Ali said the 2026 budget will outline a graduated corporate tax regime for agro processing enterprises. The method will be tiered so that small and medium-sized agribusinesses pay almost no corporate taxes. This is an effort to encourage agriculture-based businesses to register so that they're not afraid of the tax system, become compliant, and adopt the value system to access regional and international markets, he said. This new taxation system will charge agriculture, veterinary, and agro processing inputs at 0% within existing trade framework, the president said. President Ali said these steps will make Guyana the major agro processing economy in the hemisphere. Next up, taste of the Caribbean Regional Culinary Competition. It's underway in Barbados after this. Taste of the Caribbean is the region's top culinary competition, food and beverage education and cultural display. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association signature event began on Sunday, November 16th at the Windham Gran Barbados Sam Lord's Castle Resort and will conclude on November 18th. Since 1993, Taste has brought together the Caribbean's top chefs and culinary teams to compete, share knowledge, and showcase the island's best cuisine. Taste of the Caribbean allows food and beverage professionals to learn, sample, buy, build supplier relationships, and meet new vendors. Attend creative, interesting educational sessions to improve skills and business value. Taste of the Caribbean 2025 will include culinary teams from eleven Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association member destinations this year. They are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, the reigning and five times national team winners, Belize, Bonaire, Curacao, Grenada, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to the team competition, Dave and selects Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, and Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year. To be eligible for the Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year, a contestant must be studying or working in the culinary sector in the Caribbean and be no older than 21 years old. And here's our final note. Ruralton Chic Antigua is now one of the most talked-about places to stay in the Caribbean after being included in a new Forbes travel article. The article praised the resort's luxurious experience and unique overwater bungalows. The Forbes article also talked about the hotel being a little over than a year. Its newness and praise its fitness program, large spa facilities, and unique restaurants, one of which is Antigua's first overwater dining facility. This podcast is brought to you by Diamond Key Marina, Yos van Dijk, 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 Boatieball.com. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, Episode 1 for the week of November 17th. Here's a special greeting going out to our listeners in St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, New York, Florida, the UK, and Switzerland. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. I'm Keisha Blight and 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.