Carib Scope

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  • NHF announces more subsidies for cardiovascular medications

    NHF announces more subsidies for cardiovascular medications

    Jamaica’s National Health Fund (NHF) has rolled out a sweeping set of enhancements to its cardiovascular care support network, marking one of the most significant updates to its heart health coverage in recent years. The core of this new policy sees the agency boost subsidies for 18 separate cardiovascular drug products, with per-unit increases landing between $40 and upwards of $200 for individual tablets and capsules.

    In an official press statement, the NHF clarified that these immediate adjustments deliver direct financial relief to thousands of patients who rely on daily prescriptions for critical heart medications. This includes life-saving cholesterol-lowering and lipid-regulating treatments, as well as long-term therapies for ischaemic heart disease and chronic hypertension.

    This latest round of subsidy increases builds on a series of targeted updates the NHF has rolled out since the start of the calendar year. Earlier in 2026, the agency added 11 new branded drug formulations to its covered list, and enacted an average subsidy hike of 10 to 20 percent for 207 distinct hypertension medication products. After these adjustments, the NHF notes that average subsidies now cover approximately half of the total retail cost of hypertension drugs, a change designed directly to offset the impact of widespread drug price inflation for program beneficiaries. The targeted focus on hypertension is no accident: the condition remains the most prevalent chronic illness enrolled in the NHFCard program, and is widely recognized as the top modifiable risk factor for life-threatening cardiovascular disease across Jamaica.

    In a separate expansion that took effect in March 2026, the NHF added heart failure to the official list of covered conditions under the NHFCard program, bringing more than 253 additional heart failure medication products onto the subsidized roster. Alongside expanded drug coverage, the agency introduced two new key diagnostic benefits to improve early detection and ongoing monitoring of heart conditions. Eligible beneficiaries now qualify for an annual subsidy of $7,500 to cover the cost of an echocardiogram, and an additional $1,750 annual subsidy for electrocardiogram (ECG) testing. These additions reinforce the NHF’s long-stated commitment to expanding access to early intervention for cardiovascular disease, while cutting out-of-pocket costs that often force patients to delay necessary care.

    “Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most pressing primary health challenges facing Jamaican families today, and addressing it effectively requires an intentional, focused approach,” said NHF Chief Executive Officer Everton Anderson. “Our core mandate has always centered on tearing down the financial barriers that block access to critical care. By continuously reviewing our program frameworks and reallocating resources to prioritize heart health and chronic disease support, we ensure the NHF evolves to meet the real, everyday needs of our population, delivering sustainable, long-term relief where it is needed most.”

    This expanded investment in cardiac care is part of a broader, multi-year initiative by the NHF to scale up support for all chronic illnesses across Jamaica. Earlier this year, the agency expanded its list of covered chronic conditions from an earlier 22 to 28, adding new subsidized treatments for respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal conditions, and multiple types of cancer. All of these updated subsidies are available immediately to active NHFCard beneficiaries at any participating private pharmacy location across the country.

    Members of the public seeking additional details about the NHFCard program, or a full, updated list of covered chronic conditions and subsidized medications, can visit the official NHF website at www.nhf.org.jm, or reach the agency’s customer care team directly by phone at (876) 906-1106.

  • Ronaldinho coming out of retirement to join Italian 3rd division side

    Ronaldinho coming out of retirement to join Italian 3rd division side

    MILAN, Italy – Nearly 18 years after hanging up his professional boots, one of the most iconic footballers of the 21st century, Ronaldinho, is on the brink of a sensational return to competitive football at the age of 46, with Italian third-division club Ravenna secured his signature, according to breaking reports from leading Italian sports daily *Gazzetta dello Sport*.

    The Brazilian global star, who holds both a Ballon d’Or title and a FIFA World Cup winner’s medal from his decorated career, was expected to formalize the agreement during a signing ceremony in Miami on Tuesday. The outlet confirmed that Ronaldinho was already present in the United States to attend the 2024 FIFA World Cup, putting the final touches on the deal ahead of schedule. When contacted by Agence France-Presse (AFP), an anonymous source with direct knowledge of the negotiation confirmed the accuracy of the report, ending weeks of swirling speculation around the unexpected comeback.

    In a statement carried by *Gazzetta dello Sport*, the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker expressed his unwavering passion for the sport that defined his legacy. “I can’t wait to get back dancing with the ball again and to write a new story with Ignazio Cipriani, the Italian-American owner of Ravenna, and his entire family,” Ronaldinho said. “Football has always been a source of joy for me. I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna,” he added, leaning into the trademark infectious joy that made him a fan favorite across every league he played in over his career.

    But the hype around the high-profile signing has been tempered by a blunt admission from Ravenna’s own leadership. Club vice-president Ariedo Braida, speaking to local Italian media, clarified that the addition of Ronaldinho is less a strategic move to strengthen the first-team squad and more a bold marketing gambit to raise the club’s profile. He even cast public doubt on whether the 46-year-old will ever take the pitch in an official match for the side.

    “He’s a magical player, who will have his registration, that’s a huge coup for us,” Braida acknowledged, highlighting the global attention the signing has already drawn to the small Italian club. “Will he play at 46? That depends, but he’ll be registered.”

    Ronaldinho, who turned 46 earlier this year, has not appeared in a professional competitive fixture since a brief two-month stint with Brazilian top-flight side Fluminense back in 2015. Since retiring from the game, he has made occasional appearances in exhibition and charity matches, but this will mark his first return to a registered professional club in nearly a decade.

  • Man found dead under pear tree in Mandeville

    Man found dead under pear tree in Mandeville

    MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Local law enforcement is investigating an unexpected late-night fatal accident that unfolded on Jackson Drive in the town of Mandeville, where an unidentified man is presumed to have fallen to his death while harvesting avocados, locally known as avocado pears, on private property.

    The man’s body was discovered early Saturday morning by the homeowner of the plot, where the incident took place. First responders found the victim, described as a dreadlocked man, lying on his back directly beneath the avocado tree where he had been picking fruit. Several full crocus bags, stuffed to capacity with freshly harvested avocados, were recovered just a short distance from the body. Investigators also noted a broken tree branch at the scene, leading authorities to suspect the branch gave way under the man’s weight while he was climbing to reach higher-hanging fruit.

    At the time of the initial report, police had not yet released any information confirming the man’s identity, nor had they reached out to next of kin. The victim was documented as wearing grey sweatpants, a brown outer sweater and a red undershirt at the time of the incident.

    Following an initial examination of the scene and available evidence, detectives have formally categorized the death as a death by misadventure, a classification used for fatalities that occur during a voluntary, risky activity where the outcome results in accidental harm.

  • Christopher Taylor and Adrian Kerr among 200m semifinal qualifiers

    Christopher Taylor and Adrian Kerr among 200m semifinal qualifiers

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening day of the 2024 JAAA National Championships men’s 200m competition delivered predictable yet impressive performances on Saturday morning, as several of the event’s highest-ranked competitors secured their spots in the upcoming semifinal round without breaking a sweat. Leading the charge were two standouts from last year’s tournament: Christopher Taylor, last year’s silver medalist, and Adrian Kerr, the 2023 bronze medalist. Both athletes navigated their first-round heats smoothly to advance to the later-day semis, living up to pre-meet expectations. Taylor turned in a polished season-best time of 20.52 seconds, clocked with a slight headwind of -0.1m/s, while Kerr crossed the finish line in 20.85 seconds with a gentle 0.1m/s tailwind to back his run. The list of advancing athletes also includes a number of other notable Jamaican sprinters, including Roshawn Clarke, a former national 400m hurdles champion and 2023 World Athletics Championships finalist, and Tyquendo Tracey, a veteran sprinter with global championship experience. Topping the overall first-round qualifying rankings was Jevaughn Powell, who turned in the fastest time of the morning session with a 20.39-second run, posted into a -0.1m/s headwind. Following Powell in the overall rankings were Kadrian Goldson, who clocked 20.56 seconds with a 0.7m/s tailwind, and Roshawn Clarke, who rounded out the top three with a time of 20.58 seconds in neutral wind conditions (0.0m/s). In his respective heat, Mark Anthony Daley claimed first place with a 20.68-second performance aided by a 1.5m/s tailwind. He finished ahead of Shakur Williams, who crossed the line second in 20.76 seconds under the same wind conditions, and Shaemar Uter, who secured the third qualifying spot from the heat with a time of 21.00 seconds in a 0.8m/s tailwind. With the first round complete, all eyes now turn to the men’s 200m semifinals scheduled for later on Saturday, where athletes will compete for a spot in the final and a chance to claim the national title. By Paul A Reid

  • Collado’s titanic effort to maintain the cruise boom

    Collado’s titanic effort to maintain the cruise boom

    The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector, long the nation’s economic cornerstone, has avoided a potentially damaging decline in cruise arrivals after proactive intervention from Tourism Minister David Collado, who moved swiftly to reverse operational cuts from major global cruise lines.

    Collado has made it clear from the start of his administration that his team’s priority is delivering tangible, on-the-ground projects that drive long-term, stable growth for the country’s $10 billion-plus tourism industry. Beyond infrastructure upgrades that include new public park development, beachside problem resolution, and critical seawall restoration, the ministry is focused on protecting visitor volumes to key destinations such as Puerto Plata, which is on track to welcome more than 2.6 million cruise passengers this year alone.

    When data from the peak travel months of May, June, and July raised red flags for the cruise segment—one of the highest contributors to tourism revenue in the Dominican Republic—Collado moved quickly to address the slowdown rather than waiting for the decline to deepen. “We were elected to govern, not just observe,” he noted, emphasizing that proactive problem-solving is a core responsibility of public leadership in the sector. “I cannot allow tourism to decline or for a false perception to arise that the sector is shrinking. A public administrator must prevent and act before problems occur.”

    Collado recently held direct, high-level talks with C-suite executives from three of the world’s largest cruise operators: MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line. During those discussions, he flagged an alarming roughly 30% drop in scheduled operations at Dominican ports from some lines. Further analysis revealed a key driver of the shift: the opening of new port infrastructure in the Bahamas, which had siphoned off multiple itineraries originally planned for the Dominican Republic.

    Recognizing that tourism is the Dominican Republic’s most valuable economic asset, Collado’s team prioritized immediate negotiation to reverse the losses. In a rare win for the country—given that cruise itineraries are typically locked in up to two years in advance—Royal Caribbean agreed to adjust its scheduled routes to add 48,000 additional passenger arrivals to the Dominican Republic. Of that total, nearly 18,000 extra visitors will arrive in a month that was originally projected to post negative growth for cruise tourism.

    Collado has since publicly thanked Royal Caribbean for the adjustment via his social media channels, choosing to withhold granular details of the negotiations to preserve the collaborative, trust-based relationships his ministry has built with all private sector cruise partners.

    Looking ahead, the minister attributes emerging positive results in the Dominican tourism sector to consistent, coordinated planning between the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and private industry stakeholders, a partnership that works continuously to strengthen the country’s competitiveness as a top Caribbean destination.

    “Good news doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of taking action, working hard, seeking consensus, and overcoming obstacles every day so that Dominican tourism continues to grow,” Collado said.

  • Jamaican-born orthopaedic surgeon helps Knicks make magic

    Jamaican-born orthopaedic surgeon helps Knicks make magic

    After 53 years of bitter waiting, the New York Knicks finally hoisted the NBA Championship trophy at iconic Madison Square Garden on June 13, securing a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a tense Game 5 of the Finals. Beyond the shining stars of the court who claimed headlines around the globe, one quiet, critical architect of the franchise’s historic triumph flew largely under the radar: Jamaican-born elite orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Answorth Allen, who has tended to the team’s physical well-being for 20 consecutive years.\n\nFor two decades, Allen has been the backbone of the Knicks’ ability to compete night after night across the gruelling NBA season. He has mended career-threatening torn ligaments, guided players through complex fracture recoveries, and proactively managed the daily wear and tear that comes with professional basketball, keeping athletes in peak condition when it matters most. In recognition of his 20 years of unwavering, dedicated service to the organisation, the Knicks recently honoured Allen at a special ceremony in New York.\n\nBeyond his role with the Knicks, Allen holds a senior leadership position as Associate Surgeon in Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, an institution universally recognised as the world’s leading centre for orthopaedic care. His remarkable journey from a young boy growing up in Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica, to the upper echelons of global sports medicine is a story forged on radical discipline, intentional mentorship, and lifelong commitment to service.\n\nRaised partially by his grandmother Lena Irving, Allen credits the core values of humility, relentless hard work, and unquenchable curiosity for shaping his cross-cutting career that spans elite academic medicine and professional sports. His formative years at Jamaica’s Titchfield High School, where he studied under late former principal Lloyd O Chin, instilled in him a foundational belief that systemic and societal barriers could be overcome through intentional effort and bold vision. After migrating to the United States, Allen built an extraordinary academic trajectory: he completed undergraduate study at Queens College, attended competitive summer academic programmes at Harvard University, and earned his medical degree from Cornell University’s top-ranked medical school.\n\nA serendipitous meeting with legendary orthopaedic researcher Dr. Steven Arnoczky during Allen’s first year at Cornell shifted his professional focus toward sports medicine and orthopaedics, setting him on the path that would lead to his landmark career. He would go on to join HSS as one of the first Black orthopaedic surgeons at the prestigious institution, breaking new ground for diverse clinicians in the specialty.\n\nAt the core of Allen’s clinical practice is a patient-centred care philosophy that positions patients as collaborative partners in their treatment, rather than passive recipients of medical intervention. Speaking to reporters following the recent honour ceremony, Allen explained that personalised, individualised care is the cornerstone of strong medical outcomes. “The person who comes in, they have their own issues, they have their own concerns and it’s my responsibility to listen first… to understand, and then do the right thing for that person, whether or not you are an amateur athlete, high-school athlete, college athlete, or professional athlete,” he shared. Allen added that patient education is a non-negotiable part of his practice: ensuring patients fully understand their injury or condition, align on treatment expectations, and collaborate to build a care plan that fits their unique life goals. Every patient, he emphasised, receives the same rigorous, high standard of care regardless of their profile or background. For Allen, medicine is far more than a job—it is a calling. “I’m very passionate about people, I’m very passionate about what I do. I get to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself. It’s great to be a part of a team that is dedicated to providing the best outcome possible for a patient,” he said.\n\nAllen maintains an active clinical practice in New York and serves as an orthopaedic consultant at St. John’s University, but he has never lost connection to his Jamaican roots. He regularly collaborates with Jamaica’s medical community, mentoring local physicians looking to master advanced microsurgical techniques, leading educational outreach initiatives, and supporting programmes designed to lift the overall standard of care across Jamaican hospitals.\n\nJamaican leaders have publicly celebrated Allen’s extraordinary contributions. Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton praised Allen as “not only an ambassador for Jamaica but someone whose journey chronicled a life of dedication and service.” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett noted that Allen’s achievements align with Jamaica’s national strategy to position sports tourism as a key driver of inclusive economic growth. Longtime high school friend Keith Garvey added that Allen’s success follows a longstanding tradition of Jamaican medical scholars and clinicians who achieve global excellence while lifting communities back home. “Dr Allen’s leadership in orthopaedics and his dedication show how a small nation’s talent can contribute to global excellence while enriching its homeland,” Garvey told JIS News.\n\nOutside of his medical and sports work, Allen is a devoted family man: he is married to a fellow physician, and the couple shares two children. As the New York Knicks celebrate their championship that writes a new, long-awaited chapter in franchise history, Jamaica is also cheering for one of its own, whose impact stretches from the bright lights of Madison Square Garden to hospital halls on two continents.

  • Driver killed, 28 in hospital as UK train collision probed

    Driver killed, 28 in hospital as UK train collision probed

    BEDFORD, United Kingdom (AFP) – A day after a devastating collision between two passenger trains outside Bedford, a town 55 miles north of Central London, UK transport and law enforcement investigators launched a full probe on Saturday to pinpoint what caused the incident that has already claimed one life and left dozens of passengers hospitalised. The crash, which unfolded on Friday afternoon, involved two London-bound services operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR) that were travelling along the same track, the company confirmed.

    In immediate response to the incident, UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stressed that it remained too early to draw unsubstantiated conclusions about the root cause of the collision, while committing to a full, transparent inquiry that would identify gaps and ensure critical safety lessons are implemented across the national rail network. British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, updating reporters Saturday from the crash site, confirmed that the driver of one of the two trains was pronounced dead at the scene. To date, more than 80 injured passengers have received medical care at local hospitals, with 28 still admitted for treatment and nine remaining in critical condition, D’Orsi added.

    Joint investigation efforts are being led by specialist detectives from British Transport Police working alongside inspectors from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), the national body tasked with probing rail safety incidents, to piece together a full timeline of the crash and identify contributing factors. Buckingham Palace issued a public statement shortly after the incident confirming that King Charles III was greatly saddened by the tragedy, extending his deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased driver and all passengers who have been harmed.

    Firsthand accounts from survivors paint a chaotic picture of the moments immediately after the collision. Paul Cavin, a passenger on the leading train, told the BBC that the train had come to a stop before being struck hard from behind by the second service. “There were people injured on my carriage,” Cavin said, noting he saw multiple wounded people evacuating the wreckage, many with visible traumatic injuries including broken facial bones. Another survivor, Brett Byatt, told BBC Radio he felt a sense of surrealism in the hours after the crash, but that feeling had quickly shifted to unmoored anger over the incident.

    “I don’t know at whom [the anger is] directed,” Byatt said, “But it’s more about the fact we’ve got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot… Why wasn’t that signalled to my train?” To date, officials have not confirmed whether signalling faults contributed to the collision, and have declined to comment on ongoing speculation ahead of the full probe.

    Emergency services deployed a massive rapid response to the crash site immediately after the incident. The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed Saturday that a total of 11 passengers sustained very serious injuries, 32 suffered serious wounds, and 56 others were treated for minor injuries. In total, the service dispatched more than 20 ground ambulances, six air ambulances, and specialist hazardous area rescue teams to extract trapped passengers and provide urgent on-site care. Local fire and rescue services also mobilised more than 20 specialist vehicles, with over 70 firefighters and officers working at the peak of the rescue operation.

    Will Rogers, managing director of train operator EMR, described the incident as “a profoundly sad day for the railway community.” “We are deeply saddened that our driver has tragically died, and a number of other people have suffered injuries,” Rogers said, speaking from the crash site alongside senior emergency and government officials. He confirmed that the company is offering full cooperation and support to the ongoing RAIB investigation, and is supporting affected staff and passengers.

    Major train collisions remain a relatively rare occurrence on the UK’s national rail network, though this incident joins a small number of high-profile fatal crashes in recent years. In September 2023, a collision at the Aviemore station on Scotland’s Strathspey Railway – a privately run heritage railway separate from the national public transit network – left several people injured after a moving train collided with a stationary carriage. In August 2020, an Aberdeen-to-Glasgow passenger service derailed near Stonehaven in northeast Scotland after a rain-triggered landslide swept across the tracks, killing three people and injuring six more. In 2023, Network Rail, the government-owned body that manages the UK’s national rail infrastructure, pleaded guilty to safety failings connected to the Stonehaven incident and was fined £6.7 million ($8.4 million).

  • Sweltering heat will continue to affect the country this Saturday

    Sweltering heat will continue to affect the country this Saturday

    SANTO DOMINGO — The Dominican Institute of Meteorology has released an updated weekend weather forecast warning residents that sweltering, Saharan dust-fueled heat will persist across most of the Dominican Republic through Saturday, before an approaching tropical wave brings scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms starting Sunday.

    The combination of a persistent high-pressure system and incoming Saharan dust has locked in low atmospheric moisture across the vast majority of the country, conditions that will keep conditions mostly dry and partly cloudy through Saturday with barely any measurable rainfall. While most regions will stay dry, a small number of isolated morning showers are still expected to impact eastern coastal communities in the provinces of La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, and El Seibo.

    By Saturday afternoon, convective activity is forecast to shift to the country’s western and northwestern border regions, with scattered showers and occasional isolated thunderstorms possible across San Juan, Santiago Rodríguez, Elías Piña, and Dajabón. Meteorological officials emphasized that temperatures will remain unusually high this weekend, driven both by the seasonal timing of mid-year and the insulating effect of airborne Saharan dust, which traps heat near the surface. To help residents cope with the dangerous heat, authorities have issued public health guidance: locals are urged to maintain steady hydration, wear loose, light-colored clothing that reflects sunlight, and avoid any extended time spent outdoors between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when ultraviolet radiation and heat intensity peak.

    For the Greater Santo Domingo metropolitan area — which includes the National District, and the northern, eastern, and western municipalities of Santo Domingo province — Saturday will bring consistent scattered cloud cover with no widespread rain. Overnight low temperatures will settle between 23°C and 25°C, while daytime highs will climb to between 31°C and 33°C.

    The pattern is set to shift sharply starting Sunday, when a tropical wave moving into the region will introduce rising moisture and increased atmospheric instability. By midday Sunday, the wave will drive a sharp increase in cloud cover across affected areas, bringing scattered showers, isolated thunderstorms, and occasional gusty winds. The heaviest precipitation on Sunday is expected to be concentrated in 10 provinces: La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, Barahona, and the entire Greater Santo Domingo metropolitan region. For the national capital and its surrounding suburbs, cloud cover will build throughout Sunday afternoon and evening, with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms forecast through the end of the day.

  • The La Romana Golf Tournament paid tribute to Deyanira Pappaterra of Banreservas

    The La Romana Golf Tournament paid tribute to Deyanira Pappaterra of Banreservas

    The Dominican Republic’s top hospitality industry gathering for golf, the 13th edition of the La Romana Golf Tournament, recently wrapped up at one of the Caribbean’s most acclaimed golf venues, bringing together industry leaders, amateur athletes, and tourism stakeholders for a day of competition and recognition.

    Organized by the La Romana Bayahibe Hotel Association (AHRB), this annual tournament has grown into a beloved tradition that connects the region’s booming tourism sector with the global golf community. This year’s event carried special meaning, as organizers used the occasion to pay tribute to Deyanira Pappaterra, Vice President of Tourism Business at Banreservas, for her decades-long career and transformative contributions to strengthening the Dominican Republic’s position as a top global travel destination.

    In opening remarks at the tournament, AHRB president Andrés Fernández emphasized the outsized impact Pappaterra has had on the Dominican tourism industry. Speaking to attendees gathered at the course, Fernández noted that the 2026 recognition honors a professional whose work has been pivotal at a defining moment for the sector. “She turns ambitious visions into viable projects, and those viable projects into tangible development that benefits communities across our country,” Fernández said. “Today, we are proud to recognize Deyanira Pappaterra for all that she has done.”

    The competitive rounds of the tournament unfolded on the prestigious Links course at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, a world-famous property that has hosted international golf competitions for decades. Organizers structured the event as a pairs-based Scramble format, a popular format that encourages collaboration and accessibility for amateur players of varying skill levels.

    After a full day of competitive play, Rafael Berrido and Óscar Rodríguez claimed the top honor for Best Gross Score across all participants. In division play, Carlos Medrano and Harold Cuellar took first place in Category A, while Silvio del Rosario and Duilio Gustavo Gimondo secured the top spot in Category B. For the women’s division, Josefina Pichardo and Elizabeth Pérez earned the championship title.

    The 13th edition of the tournament would not have been possible without broad cross-sector support from leading tourism, finance, and infrastructure organizations across the Dominican Republic. Along with AHRB, the Dominican Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) served as co-organizer of the event. Other major supporting partners included Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Air Europa, Arajet, Banreservas, Central Romana Corporation, Consorcio Eléctrico Punta Cana Macao, Golf Dominicano, Dominican Golfers, and a wide range of top regional hotel properties including Catalonia Bayahibe & Royal La Romana, Dreams Dominicus La Romana, Dreams & Secrets La Romana, HM Alma de Bayahibe, Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus, Sunscape Dominicus La Romana, Viva Resorts by Wyndham, Hilton Garden Inn La Romana, Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa, and Meliá Hotels International.

  • IDB says regional exports rise significantly in early 2026

    IDB says regional exports rise significantly in early 2026

    New data from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reveals a robust expansion of export activity across Latin America and the Caribbean, with the total value of regional goods shipments rising 15.7% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026. This strong performance builds on the 7.8% annual growth the region recorded in 2025, according to the bank’s latest *Trade Trends Estimates – Latin America and the Caribbean* report.

    The upward trend is fueled by simultaneous growth in both export volumes and per-unit pricing, the analysis confirms. Leading the expansion are mineral exports, most notably gold and copper, followed by resilient gains in the agribusiness sector, where soybeans, coffee, and meat have all posted strong returns. Energy exports, particularly crude oil, have also made a substantial contribution to overall regional growth.

    Paolo Giordano, lead economist for the IDB’s Productivity, Trade, and Innovation Sector and the report’s lead coordinator, noted that the region has steadily strengthened its export standing even amid widespread volatility and uncertainty in global trade markets. The consistent growth momentum, he argued, demonstrates the region’s growing adaptive capacity to shifting global conditions.

    Giordano emphasized that the current export uptick creates a timely window for policymakers to advance structural reforms that can lift long-term productivity, enhance regional competitiveness, expand market diversification across global trading blocs, and build stronger resilience to future external economic shocks.

    Despite ongoing global economic uncertainty, the IDB maintains a broadly positive medium-term outlook for regional trade. Still, the report warns of lingering risks that could disrupt performance in the coming months. Shifting global commodity prices will create uneven impacts across the region: net energy and food importing nations will face additional cost pressure, while commodity exporting economies stand to benefit from elevated global prices. Meanwhile, sustained high prices for fertilizers and global shipping services are pushing up production and distribution costs across the region, creating a mixed landscape of both opportunities and risks for export growth.

    On the import side, the IDB estimates total regional imports grew 6.7% in 2025, followed by a 9.7% year-over-year acceleration in the first quarter of 2026. This growth has been driven primarily by increased purchases of goods from markets outside the Latin America and Caribbean region, with intra-regional trade expanding at a far more moderate pace. The report also notes that commodity prices followed widely divergent trends in early 2026, a reflection of growing global market fragmentation and ongoing shifts in global supply and demand dynamics.