In a promising development for rural education and economic growth in southern Belize, a groundbreaking public-private partnership proposal is under evaluation that would bring a functional call center operation to Corazon Creek Technical High School (CCTHS) in Toledo District. If approved, the program would give local high school students a rare opportunity to earn a steady income without putting their secondary education on hold.\n\nThe details of the potential collaboration were made public by Osmond Martinez, the area representative for Toledo East, via a social media statement earlier this week. Martinez shared that Transparent BPO, a leading business process outsourcing firm, is in talks to anchor the on-site work program, creating a structured environment where students can balance part-time customer service roles with their academic requirements.\n\n\”Students can work and further their education at the same time,\” Martinez wrote in his post. \”We are currently doing our assessment and so far we are optimistic of this idea. This can boost the economy of Corazon Creek and surrounding communities.\”\n\nThe announcement coincided with a major philanthropic contribution from Transparent BPO to CCTHS: the firm donated 100 fully functional computer systems to the campus. According to Martinez, the new devices will not only lay early technical groundwork for the proposed call center program but also upgrade the school’s existing computer lab. The equipment will also support distance and concurrent learning opportunities for CCTHS students pursuing continuing education coursework through the University of Belize and Galen University.\n\nMartinez extended public gratitude to the BPO provider for its ongoing commitment to expanding opportunity across Toledo District and the broader Belizean community, calling the company’s investment “enormous support” for local residents.\n\nThe proposed on-campus BPO program builds on Transparent BPO’s recent regional expansion: the company just opened a new branch office in Toledo District, marking the first time a major business process outsourcing firm has established permanent operations in the area. This expansion aligns with national economic development goals outlined by Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño earlier this year.\n\nBriceño noted that the BPO sector has grown into a major economic engine for Belize, currently employing more than 20,000 people across the country and generating more than $150 million USD in annual wages for local workers. If the CCTHS pilot program proves successful, it could serve as a replicable model for expanding youth employment opportunities and strengthening the BPO sector’s local footprint in other rural communities across the nation.
分类： business
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ABIA Warns Public of Investment Scam Using Its Name and Logo
The Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) has issued an urgent public alert regarding a growing wave of fraudulent activity that exploits the agency’s official name, registered logo, and institutional brand identity without authorization.
In its official advisory, ABIA clarified a critical boundary for all potential investors and members of the public: the agency never solicits payments from private individuals via unsolicited private messaging on any platform. Any communication that makes such a demand under ABIA’s name is confirmed to be a malicious scam, the authority emphasized.
This brand impersonation tactic is not a new threat. ABIA noted that bad actors have a long history of misappropriating the agency’s official branding to trick unsuspecting targets into transferring unauthorized payments, making this a persistent risk to individuals seeking investment opportunities related to the twin-island nation.
In addition to the scam warning, ABIA also addressed ongoing technical issues with its official website, investantiguabarbuda.org. While the domain remains accessible in some regions, multiple users have reported intermittent service disruptions. The agency’s technical team is currently conducting a full review of the issue to restore consistent, reliable access for all users.
Out of an abundance of caution to protect the public, ABIA outlined clear safety guidelines for anyone interacting with the agency. First, all individuals should only seek information and conduct business through ABIA’s verified official communication channels. Second, users are strongly advised to avoid clicking on any unsolicited links that claim association with ABIA, as these often lead to phishing sites designed to steal personal or financial information.
ABIA reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to two core priorities: protecting the public from financial fraud, and upholding the integrity of Antigua and Barbuda’s national investment ecosystem. The agency closed its statement by urging all individuals to maintain a high level of vigilance when engaging with investment-related communications, and to report any suspicious activity impersonating ABIA immediately to local law enforcement or relevant regulatory authorities.
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Caribbean Airlines to fly daily non-stop from Guyana to Canada
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Trinidad-based regional air carrier Caribbean Airlines made a major expansion announcement that will reshape air connectivity between Canada and Guyana. Starting July 1, the airline will introduce a new daily non-stop flight route linking Toronto, Canada’s largest travel hub, and Georgetown, Guyana’s capital, just ahead of the year’s peak summer travel season.
The launch of this daily service comes in direct response to sustained, rapid growth in travel demand between the two countries. Three key segments have driven this upward trend: expanding business ties that require regular cross-border travel, a booming leisure travel market drawing Canadian visitors to Guyana’s unique landscapes and cultural attractions, and strong demand from the large Guyanese diaspora community based in Canada, who frequently travel to reunite with family and friends back home.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Varma Khillawan emphasized that Guyana holds a top strategic position for the carrier, ranking among its most important and fastest-expanding markets. “Adding this daily route is more than just a schedule adjustment—it’s a concrete demonstration of our commitment to matching our customers’ growing needs and deepening connectivity between Guyana and the North American market,” Khillawan said in the announcement. “Whether passengers are traveling for work, vacation, study, or to reconnect with loved ones, they will now enjoy far greater flexibility and convenience that extends well beyond the summer travel rush.”
Beyond improving passenger experience, the expanded service is expected to deliver tangible economic benefits for both countries. The additional flight capacity will open new opportunities for cross-border trade, boost Guyana’s growing tourism sector, and support the country’s ongoing rapid economic expansion by strengthening its international connectivity. As the leading airline in the Caribbean region, Caribbean Airlines notes that this route expansion is part of its broader long-term strategy to invest in its route network and fleet, with the goal of delivering reliable, seamless travel connections across the Caribbean, North America and South America.
Travelers looking to book seats on the new route have multiple booking options available, including the official Caribbean Airlines website, the carrier’s mobile app, the reservations call center, physical ticket offices, and registered travel agents.
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Sky High Dominicana and Plaza de la Salud join forces to strengthen medical tourism
In a move set to reshape the Caribbean medical tourism landscape, regional airline Sky High Dominicana has announced a landmark strategic alliance with Santo Domingo’s Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS), one of the Dominican Republic’s leading healthcare institutions. The partnership is centered on two core goals: expanding streamlined access to top-tier specialized medical care for international patients, and cementing the Dominican Republic’s standing as the Caribbean’s premier medical tourism hub.
Under the terms of the newly signed agreement, passengers traveling across Sky High Dominicana’s extensive network spanning the Caribbean and South America will gain simplified access to HGPS’s full range of medical services, paired with exclusive, customer-focused benefits. The collaborative initiative is intentionally structured to remove travel barriers for patients traveling to the Dominican Republic to seek specialized treatment, while injecting new momentum into the country’s fast-growing health tourism economy.
A key highlight of the partnership is the suite of exclusive perks reserved for Sky High customers. Passengers who present a valid Sky High Dominicana ticket will unlock preferential pricing and customized terms across a broad spectrum of medical offerings, including specialist physician consultations, advanced diagnostic testing, full-service clinical laboratory work, cutting-edge medical imaging, comprehensive preventive health checkups, and emergency medical care. No additional enrollment or complicated eligibility requirements are needed to access these benefits.
Cesarina Beauchamp, a representative of Sky High Dominicana, emphasized that the cross-sector alliance underscores the airline’s long-standing commitment to expanding access to critical opportunities and essential services across the entire region. She pointed out that robust air connectivity has emerged as an increasingly critical enabler of improved healthcare access, while also driving broad-based economic and social development across Caribbean nations.
For his part, Dr. Julio Amado Castaños Guzmán of HGPS echoed that sentiment, stressing the outsized importance of forging cross-industry partnerships that both expand access to specialized care for international patients and strengthen the overall quality and global appeal of the Dominican Republic’s healthcare ecosystem.
Beyond patient benefits, the agreement also includes provisions for joint promotional and institutional outreach campaigns tailored to boost the Dominican Republic’s global visibility as a reliable, high-quality destination for medical travel. By combining HGPS’s advanced clinical care infrastructure with Sky High’s extensive regional air connectivity, both partner organizations aim to draw a greater volume of international patients to the country and strengthen its competitive edge in the fast-growing global medical tourism market.
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Dominican Republic wins Caribbean’s Highest Visitor Satisfaction Award
Marina del Rey, California — The Dominican Republic has cemented its status as a leading Caribbean tourist hotspot, claiming the prestigious “Destination With the Highest Visitor Satisfaction – Caribbean” title for the third straight year at the 2026 TravelAge WAVE Awards, one of North America tourism’s most respected industry honors.
The accolade was officially presented during a gala ceremony hosted at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, by award organizer TravelAge West. This repeat recognition shines a spotlight on the Dominican Republic’s consistent ability to deliver standout travel experiences, uphold rigorous service standards, and earn high marks from U.S. leisure and business travelers alike.
Outcompeting a slate of other top-tier Caribbean destinations for the distinction, the award underscores the robust fundamentals of the country’s tourism ecosystem. From upgraded modern infrastructure to an unwavering industry-wide focus on quality improvement and innovative experience design, the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector has continued to outperform regional peers year after year.
Beyond affirming the sector’s existing strengths, the honor also validates the success of the Dominican Republic’s long-term tourism strategy, which centers on boosting global competitiveness and expanding the range of experiences available to visitors. Long famous for its postcard-perfect beaches and all-inclusive resorts, the country has broadened its global appeal in recent years by building out offerings across high-growth niche segments: ultra-luxury getaways, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) travel, world-class golf courses, farm-to-table gastronomy, and immersive cultural experiences that showcase the country’s rich history and local traditions.
Unlike many industry honors that are determined by internal panels alone, the TravelAge WAVE Awards are decided through a dual process that combines votes from practicing travel advisors across North America and rigorous independent evaluations by seasoned tourism industry experts. The awards program was created to celebrate destinations and tourism operators that demonstrate consistent excellence in service and experience delivery, while making meaningful contributions to the overall growth and evolution of the North American travel sector.
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Afreximbank advances push for Caricom EXIM bank
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — As the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) continues expanding its footprint in the Caribbean, a landmark plan to launch a dedicated regional export-import bank for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) is moving steadily through official approval channels, bringing new hope for easing the region’s long-standing access gaps to affordable development capital.
Okechukwu Ihejirika, acting chief operating officer of Afreximbank’s Caribbean Office, shared updates on the proposal Wednesday on the sidelines of the Climate Smart Summit held in the Barbadian capital. Speaking to Observer Online, he confirmed that the draft plan for the Caricom EXIM Bank has already completed its presentation to Caricom’s Council of Foreign Ministers and is now advancing through the regional review process.
“The initiative is currently under formal review. It was just presented to foreign ministers recently, so we expect to receive clearance from Caricom heads of government in the near term,” Ihejirika explained. He added that all feasibility studies for the project have been finalized, the full proposal has been circulated to relevant stakeholders, and implementation work will begin immediately once regional leaders formally approve the need for the new institution.
The proposed bank is designed to directly address a persistent economic challenge across the Caribbean: both public sector bodies and private businesses have long struggled to secure low-cost, long-term financing to support trade expansion and development projects. If established, the institution would fill a critical gap in the regional financial ecosystem by tailoring lending products to the specific needs of Caribbean economies.
In addition to advancing the new regional bank plan, Ihejirika announced a major expansion of Afreximbank’s own investment commitments to the region. When the bank launched its Caribbean regional hub in Barbados in 2023, it set an initial approved investment envelope of $1.5 billion. That cap has now been tripled to $5 billion to meet growing demand for financing across key strategic sectors.
Afreximbank’s current priority areas for investment in the Caribbean include infrastructure development, cross-border trade facilitation, and projects that build climate resilience — a critical focus for small island developing states that are disproportionately vulnerable to extreme weather and sea-level rise. To date, since opening its Barbados office, the bank has already approved close to $700 million in credit facilities for projects across multiple Caribbean nations, Ihejirika said.
Full additional details on the proposed Caricom EXIM Bank, including an analysis of its potential long-term impacts on regional development financing, will be featured in the upcoming Friday edition of *Business Week*.
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Dominican Republic hotel occupancy reaches 82% in 2026, led by La Romana and Bayahíbe
The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector has maintained its robust upward trajectory through the first five months of 2026, new official data from the nation’s Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) confirms, delivering strong numbers that outpace recent years and cement the country’s standing as a top Caribbean travel destination.
Per MITUR’s latest industry report, average hotel occupancy across the country hit 82% between January and April 2026, with a 72% occupancy rate recorded in May alone. That May figure marks a multi-year high for the month, climbing four percentage points above the 68% occupancy rates the country recorded in the same month between 2023 and 2025. The steady growth underscores rising global demand for the Dominican Republic’s diverse travel offerings, which range from sun-soaked coastal getaways to premium luxury leisure experiences.
Regional performance data breaks down the growth across the country’s most popular travel hubs, with La Romana taking the top spot for May occupancy at 91%. The coastal town of Bayahíbe followed close behind at 89%, while the renowned Bávaro-Punta Cana resort region posted a solid 77% occupancy rate. Other key destinations posted strong results as well: Samaná recorded 66% occupancy, Miches hit 63%, Juan Dolio-Boca Chica reached 60%, Puerto Plata logged 53%, and the capital city of Santo Domingo held at 51%.
Looking at the full January-to-May period for 2026, Bayahíbe leads all national destinations with an average 92% occupancy rate. La Romana follows at 90%, with Bávaro-Punta Cana close behind at 88%. Juan Dolio-Boca Chica hit an 80% average, while both Miches and Puerto Plata reached 77% — a spread of strong results that demonstrates the Dominican Republic’s tourism strength extends beyond a handful of top resorts, drawing robust visitor demand across nearly all its major regions.
Beyond raw occupancy numbers, MITUR’s report also highlighted extremely high satisfaction levels among international travelers. A post-visit survey conducted in May found that 94% of responding tourists already plan to return to the Dominican Republic for a future trip, while 65% stated they would actively recommend the destination to friends, family, and travel contacts. Overall visitor satisfaction scored an average 4.5 out of 5, further reinforcing the country’s reputation as one of the most desirable and welcoming travel markets in the Caribbean.
International visitor breakdowns show that the United States continues to be the Dominican Republic’s largest single source of tourists, accounting for 46% of all arrivals in the first five months of 2026. Other top source markets, in descending order of visitor volume, include Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Brazil, reflecting broad-based demand from across the Americas.
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IGS 2026: St. Kitts and Nevis Showcases Stronger, More Transparent Citizenship Programme – WIC News
At the opening ceremony of the third annual Investment Gateway Summit (IGS) 2026, held June 17–20 under the unifying theme “Shared Values, Shared Futures”, the Caribbean federation of St. Kitts and Nevis showcased sweeping reforms to its high-profile Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, positioning the updated initiative as a global benchmark for integrity, digital innovation and regulatory compliance.
Calvin St. Juste, Executive Chairman of the country’s CBI Unit, outlined the full scope of the multiyear transformation, which has redefined the agency’s core mission beyond traditional application processing and due diligence. What began as a functional model built to meet 2010s-era international standards has been entirely restructured into a modern digital governance authority with oversight over the entire architecture of national identity – from initial verification to ongoing protection and international recognition.
Institutional overhauls form the backbone of the reforms. The CBI Unit now operates under a newly established statutory body, which has strengthened its independent governance framework. St. Juste detailed that the unit’s board oversight mandate has been redrawn, executive leadership has been restructured, and the entire underlying technology infrastructure has been rebuilt from the ground up to support enhanced security and efficiency. The federation has also shifted its engagement with global regulatory partners to a permanent, ongoing dialogue framework, aligning its processes with evolving international expectations.
A key milestone marking the success of these reforms, St. Juste noted, is the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)’s recent decision to rescind its 2014 advisory on the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI programme. This action, he emphasized, is tangible proof of the federation’s unwavering commitment to meeting global transparency and compliance standards, and it reflects the trust the country has earned through years of deliberate reform rather than empty claims.
One of the most impactful new security measures is a nationwide mandatory biometric registration initiative, which requires all citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis to complete biometric enrolment by July 2027. St. Juste confirmed that travel and citizenship documents for non-compliant individuals will be deactivated after the deadline. Every biometric record goes through a multi-step verification process built to align with strict international standards, delivering secure, verifiable national identity that protects the long-term value of St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship for all holders.
To improve applicant experience alongside security upgrades, the CBI Unit is also rolling out a new concierge pathway for applicants, a customer-focused administrative adjustment designed to streamline processing while maintaining rigorous due diligence checks.
St. Juste acknowledged that systemic transformation does not come easily, noting it required difficult strategic decisions, consistent discipline and long-term persistence. Amid ongoing global geopolitical shifts across North America, Europe and the Middle East, St. Kitts and Nevis remains laser-focused on preserving stakeholder trust through radical structural transparency, he said. “Our structural transparency is why we are trusted. We use policy changes for our growth.”
Looking ahead, the federation’s ambition is to set the global gold standard for the fast-growing international investment migration industry, cementing its position as the most trusted and well-regulated CBI jurisdiction worldwide. St. Juste emphasized that the mobility opportunities St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship offers to global entrepreneurs and families can only be preserved through continuous institutional improvement. “These doors do not stay open by themselves; they remain open because the institution is continuously upgrading,” he said.
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St. Kitts and Nevis Opens Investment Gateway Summit 2026 Under Theme ‘Shared Values, Shared Futures’ – WIC News
The Caribbean federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has launched its third annual Investment Gateway Summit 2026, a four-day global gathering designed to connect the island nation with international investors, business leaders, and economic partners from around the world. Officially opened on June 17, 2026 by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley—standing in for Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew—the summit will run through June 20, bringing together hundreds of attendees across a packed schedule of high-level policy meetings, industry panel discussions, and networking events focused on advancing shared sustainable growth.
The opening ceremony drew a roster of high-profile domestic and international stakeholders, including Governor-General Dame Marcella Liburd, Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, Konris Maynard, the nation’s Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, and Calvin St. Juste, Chairman of the Citizenship by Investment Unit Board of Governors. Delegates traveled from across global markets, including Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United Kingdom, and beyond to explore new investment opportunities in the federation.
Centered on the 2026 theme “Shared Values, Shared Futures”, this year’s summit has evolved into a leading global platform for advancing investment, innovation, and long-term sustainable development for small island developing states. In his opening address, Hanley emphasized that the gathering is rooted in core principles of political stability, institutional integrity, open markets, and collective prosperity—values that he says have steadily deepened trust and collaboration between St. Kitts and Nevis and its global network of investors, entrepreneurs, and strategic partners.
Hanley outlined four high-priority sectors that anchor the federation’s current and future growth agenda, all of which are primed for new international investment: renewable energy, responsible real estate development, technology and digital innovation, and climate resilience infrastructure.
On the energy front, St. Kitts and Nevis is actively pursuing a transition to a cleaner, more energy-independent future, opening up substantial opportunities for international investors to partner on utility-scale renewable energy projects and sustainable infrastructure development. For real estate, Hanley framed responsible, community-centric development as a long-standing cornerstone of the federation’s economy, highlighting ongoing demand for projects that prioritize environmental protection alongside tangible economic benefits for local communities.
the federation is also accelerating its digital transformation, Hanley added, building a regulatory and business environment that supports tech entrepreneurship and helps modern, knowledge-based industries take root. Most notably, he framed climate resilience infrastructure as one of the most critical and high-impact investment opportunities of the 21st century for small island developing states like St. Kitts and Nevis, which face disproportionate climate risk despite contributing very little to global emissions.
Beyond highlighting sector opportunities, Hanley used the opening of the summit to announce a new suite of government-led transparency initiatives aimed at bolstering international confidence in the nation’s investment and citizenship-by-investment programs. The reforms are designed to streamline procedural clarity, elevate public-facing industry standards, and reinforce the federation’s long-standing commitment to institutional integrity.
As he declared the summit officially open, Hanley urged all attendees to leverage the four-day event to build long-term collaborative partnerships, explore untapped market opportunities, and contribute innovative ideas that will shape the future of sustainable, inclusive development for small island nations.
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Bajan pharma ‘could reduce imports, bring in forex’
Against a backdrop of long-standing economic vulnerability stemming from heavy reliance on imported goods and limited domestic manufacturing, Barbados is taking a landmark step toward building a homegrown pharmaceutical sector through new legislative framework. Minister of Energy, Business Development and Commerce Kerrie Symmonds outlined the ambitious plan while presenting the Barbados Medical Products Bill to the country’s House of Assembly, framing the legislation as a critical pillar of the island nation’s broader strategy to diversify its economy and strengthen supply chain resilience.
For small island developing states like Barbados, over-dependence on imported medicines and medical supplies has created persistent systemic fragility, a risk laid bare by global supply chain disruptions during recent public health and geopolitical crises, Symmonds explained. The new bill seeks to address this gap by laying the regulatory groundwork to nurture pharmaceutical development and attract investment in the life sciences sector, building on a century of small-scale compounding experience at local industry pioneer Carlisle Laboratories.
Successive Barbadian administrations have long recognized the responsibility to reduce the country’s economic vulnerabilities by expanding domestic production and advancing greater self-sufficiency, Symmonds noted. The legacy of limited manufacturing capacity has long put the small island at a competitive disadvantage relative to larger economies, making the development of a national pharmaceutical industry a core priority for long-term economic transformation. Beyond building regulatory infrastructure, the minister emphasized that growing the sector will require a deliberate cultural shift toward upholding the strict international quality standards that govern global pharmaceuticals.
The immediate benefits of a domestic pharmaceutical industry extend beyond stabilizing supply chains, Symmonds argued. By producing needed medicines locally, Barbados will cut the significant outflow of foreign exchange spent on imported medical products, freeing up critical capital for other national development priorities. Looking further ahead, the government’s long-term vision positions the emerging sector as an export-led engine of economic growth. If developed successfully, the industry will not only meet domestic demand but also serve regional markets across the Caribbean and larger consumer markets in Latin America, generating a valuable new stream of foreign exchange earnings for the island.
“This initiative represents a transformative shift for our economy,” Symmonds told lawmakers. “It lays the foundation for an economic engine that will earn foreign exchange for Barbados while serving the health needs of populations across the Caribbean and Latin America.” In line with the government’s commitment to economic independence, the bill marks the most significant step Barbados has taken to turn this long-held strategic goal into tangible action.