Carib Scope

分类： business

  • Swaratsingh: CMOH permit removal could unlock millions

    Swaratsingh: CMOH permit removal could unlock millions

    In a landmark move to streamline business operations and stimulate economic growth, Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives has passed the Public Health (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, 2026, which eliminates the routine separate approval requirement from County Medical Officers of Health (CMOH) in the national construction permitting process. The legislation, which received unanimous cross-party support including backing from the opposition, targets long-standing delays that have hampered the country’s construction sector for years.

    Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Kennedy Swaratsingh, who presented the bill to parliament, laid out extensive data demonstrating how the CMOH approval step had become a major bottleneck in the development approval pipeline. Between 2020 and the time of the debate, more than 7,200 development applications were routed to the CMOH for mandatory review. Official performance data shows that the average processing time for CMOH referrals hit 67 days, far exceeding the official 21-day service target. Only 15% of all applications were completed within the mandated timeline, while 22% took more than three months to resolve. One in every four submissions was sent back to applicants for additional clarification, further extending wait times.

    The backlog hits non-residential construction projects particularly hard, with this category facing an average wait of 93 days just to get CMOH sign-off. Swaratsingh emphasized that this redundant step has become one of the single biggest contributors to costly delays across the entire construction permitting system. Based on conservative estimates, roughly $5.4 billion in annual construction activity passes through the CMOH approval process each year. The cumulative financial impact of these delays is staggering: tied-up capital, deferred investment returns, and cost escalations add up to an average of $100 million in lost value annually, totaling nearly $1 billion in present-day terms over a 10-year period, according to the minister’s calculations.

    Crucially, government officials stressed that the reform does not roll back public health protections. Instead, it eliminates duplicative oversight that already occurs through other established regulatory bodies. “This removes a duplicated approval, not a safeguard,” Swaratsingh clarified during parliamentary debate. Multiple agencies already oversee the various health and safety components of construction projects: the Town and Country Planning Division manages land use, density, and subdivision standards; municipal corporations handle core building permit reviews, inspections, and completion certifications; the Water and Sewerage Authority oversees plumbing, water access, and sewage systems; the Fire Service reviews fire safety and life protection protocols; and the Environmental Management Authority assesses potential environmental impacts. Additionally, licensed architects and engineers carry professional liability for the safety and compliance of the designs they certify. Even with all these existing layers of review, applicants were still required to obtain separate CMOH concurrence, creating unnecessary redundancy.

    The costs of these persistent delays extend far beyond administrative inconvenience, touching every stakeholder in the development process. For developers and lenders, ongoing delays mean accumulating interest on outstanding bridging and construction loans, with some loan commitments expiring before approval is granted. Development teams are forced to retain contractors and professional staff for extended periods, driving up overhead costs. Delays also push up material and tender prices, and can cause purchaser agreements and mortgage approvals to lapse before projects reach completion. For subdivision developments, lengthy hold-ups leave individual lots trapped in the development process, unable to be conveyed, sold, or mortgaged, locking up valuable real estate that could otherwise be put to productive use.

    By eliminating this redundant approval step, the government projects significant widespread economic benefits that will ripple through the national economy. The reform will move forward billions in construction activity that would otherwise be stuck in administrative backlogs. Using standard construction industry economic multipliers, the policy change is expected to bring roughly $1.1 billion in additional construction spending forward into the first year following implementation. This one-time boost will support an estimated $1.8 billion in total national output, equal to 0.5% of the country’s gross domestic product, and sustain 6,000 additional jobs in the near term. In the longer term, the reform is projected to add $40 million in annual GDP and support 300 permanent jobs annually by retaining construction sector investment that would otherwise have been withdrawn due to regulatory barriers.

    The change is part of a broader government initiative to modernize the entire national permitting system and improve the country’s ranking for ease of doing business. Swaratsingh noted that regulatory frameworks that served the country well in past decades no longer meet the needs of a growing modern economy, justifying targeted updates to cut unnecessary red tape.

    Importantly, the legislation preserves full CMOH oversight for developments that carry genuine public health risks. Projects involving food preparation, healthcare facilities, sanitation hazards, on-site water and wastewater disposal, communicable disease control concerns, and other health-sensitive uses will still required full CMOH review. The new framework simply removes overlapping approval for low-risk projects that have already been cleared by other competent agencies, balancing administrative efficiency with robust public health protection.

    After hours of debate, the bill was approved on Tuesday evening with full support from opposition lawmakers, marking a rare moment of cross-party consensus on economic regulatory reform.

  • NTUCB Demands Change In BTL Representation

    NTUCB Demands Change In BTL Representation

    A high-stakes contest for a key small shareholder seat on the board of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is intensifying, as Belize’s largest organized labor body is rallying small investors to oust the sitting director in favor of a company veteran with decades of internal experience.

    The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), alongside a coalition of its affiliated unions, has formally thrown its full backing behind Erven Marin, a former BTL employee who dedicated more than 32 years of his career to the telecommunications firm. According to the NTUCB, Marin’s long tenure inside the company gives him unique on-the-ground insight into BTL’s operations, work culture, and stakeholder needs that would allow him to elevate three critical pillars of board governance: transparent communication, tangible accountability, and consistent consultation with the investors he would represent.

    The labor congress has not shied away from direct criticism of the incumbent Small Shareholders Director, Eric Eusey. In its public call to action, the NTUCB argues that Eusey has failed to fulfill his core mandate: he has not held meaningful consultations with small shareholders on major corporate decisions that directly impact their investments and the future of BTL. This lack of engagement, the organization says, has eroded small shareholders’ confidence in his leadership entirely.

    With BTL’s 20th general meeting scheduled for September 17 just six days after the NTUCB’s announcement, the congress is moving aggressively to mobilize voter turnout. It is urging every eligible small shareholder to either attend the general meeting in person to cast their vote for Marin, or submit official proxy forms if they cannot attend in person. The NTUCB frames the vote as more than just a leadership change: it is an opportunity for small shareholders to send a clear, unambiguous message that their perspectives and interests must be centered in BTL’s boardroom decision-making going forward.

  • BMA seeks forex gains despite stiff competition

    BMA seeks forex gains despite stiff competition

    As Caribbean manufacturing firms grapple with a widening gap between skyrocketing operational expenses and stagnant sales, leadership of the Barbados Manufacturers Association (BMA) has issued a stark warning that industry-wide staff cuts could become inevitable if current economic pressures do not ease. In an interview with Barbados TODAY on Friday, BMA President Rosie Noel outlined the precarious position facing local producers, who are pinning their hopes for a turnaround on the upcoming winter tourist season and expanded export volumes to offset mounting cost burdens.

    “Costs are continuing to climb at a rapid pace, but we are cautiously optimistic that the arrival of the winter tourist season will lift demand and improve market conditions,” Noel explained. “Global economic volatility has made keeping overheads in check an enormous challenge for our members. Producers can only absorb elevated input and operating costs for so long. If sales fail to pick up to match rising expenses, layoffs become a possible outcome – but this is absolutely a measure of last resort for our sector. Manufacturers work tirelessly to retain staff and avoid this step whenever possible.”

    Beyond the direct strain of rising costs, Noel emphasized that the cost disparity between Barbadian producers and their international competitors has eroded the sector’s competitiveness both in domestic markets and across global export channels. “Competition is one of the most pressing challenges we face right now,” she noted. “Our overseas competitors operate with far lower overheads than we do, which puts us at a major disadvantage when competing for market share. This holds true for domestic sales and export activity alike. Even so, our members remain committed to expanding their international footprint, because growing exports is key to bringing more critical foreign exchange into Barbados’ economy.”

    When asked to assess the overall current health of Barbados’ manufacturing sector, Noel acknowledged that industry stakeholders are projecting moderate growth in production and export activity in the coming months. However, she reiterated that unsustainable cost growth remains the most critical barrier to long-term sector stability. “We are actively working toward increasing output and boosting export volumes in the near term,” she said. “But none of those gains will hold if we cannot get control over rising operating costs that are squeezing producers across the island.”

  • NTUCB Wants New Representation for Small Shareholders in BTL Board

    NTUCB Wants New Representation for Small Shareholders in BTL Board

    Ahead of Belize Telemedia Limited’s (BTL) upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for September 17, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and a coalition of its affiliate unions have launched a contested push to replace long-serving board member Eric Eusey, throwing the small-shareholder representative seat open to a competitive vote.

    The union coalition has nominated Erven Marin, a former BTL staff member who spent more than three decades with the telecommunications firm, as their candidate to take over the small-shareholder seat currently held by Eusey. According to official BTL records, Eusey stands as the longest-tenured member of the company’s board of directors.

    In an official statement announcing the nomination, NTUCB highlighted Marin’s decades-long track record of commitment to core governance principles: open communication, transparent accountability, and unwavering institutional integrity. The nomination and coordinated union support marks a direct challenge to Eusey’s tenure on the board, with background context pointing to a past key vote that shaped the coalition’s opposition: Eusey previously supported BTL’s acquisition of telecommunications rival Speednet, which operates under the brand name Smart.

    Notably, the unions backing Marin are not outside stakeholders — each of the supporting organizations, which includes the Belize Communication Workers Union, Belize National Teachers’ Union, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union, and Public Service Union, holds a small stake in BTL as institutional shareholders. This status gives them the standing to put forward a competing candidate for the dedicated small-shareholder board position.

    The contest will now let all BTL shareholders cast their vote to decide the future of the seat: whether to return incumbent Eric Eusey to continue representing small shareholder interests, or to usher in new leadership with Erven Marin at the September 17 general meeting.

  • The price of an apartment can triple depending on where you buy it.

    The price of an apartment can triple depending on where you buy it.

    The Dominican Republic’s core metropolitan region is currently facing a stark economic divide in residential real estate, where location alone can push per-square-meter apartment prices to three times higher than comparable properties just kilometers away, according to fresh official market data. This wide gap in residential valuations across the region stems from deep-seated territorial disparities in land pricing and the divergent types of development projects underway in different zones.

    New findings from the National Statistics Office (ONE)’s 2026 first-round Building Supply Registry Results Report (ROE 2026-1) lay bare the scale of these inequalities. At the municipal level, the highest average per-square-meter apartment price is recorded in Santo Domingo de Guzmán, hitting RD$148,445. This figure stands in sharp contrast to peripheral municipalities like Los Alcarrizos, where the average per-square-meter cost lands at just RD$48,418 – a clear demonstration that property values triple when moving from outer suburban zones to the central urban core. Disparities grow even more pronounced when breaking data down to the neighborhood level.

    The ONE’s technical analysis identifies the Paraíso sector as the metropolitan region’s most expensive neighborhood by average per-square-meter pricing, with valuations reaching RD$218,951. It is narrowly followed by the exclusive, upscale Piantini district, which posts an average of RD$210,026 per square meter. The two areas, both located within the National District, solidify their positions as the priciest residential real estate markets in the whole region.

    Median full-unit housing prices tell a similar story of stark economic inequality across geographic zones. Los Cacicazgos leads the ranking of the most expensive neighborhoods, with a median unit price hitting RD$23,500,000 per apartment. It is followed by the high-end residential hubs of Piantini and Renacimiento, which together hold the largest share of high-value residential supply in the Dominican capital.

    The census-based study also measured total new residential construction across the metropolitan region, finding that the total area of newly built residential space hit 5,684,625 square meters in the reporting period. However, the distribution of this new construction is heavily geographically concentrated: Santo Domingo de Guzmán claims 36.9% of all new built area, followed by Santo Domingo Este at 31.2% and Santo Domingo Norte at 20.6%.

    This value polarization coincides with a significant expansion in overall market volume and the total number of units available to buyers. Bolstered by strong consumer demand, the total count of new residential units rose 23.6% year-over-period, climbing from 46,850 units in the second half of 2025 to 57,920 units in the first half of 2026. Latest market absorption data confirms ongoing strong buyer appetite for residential property across the region. The number of units sold, reserved or under deposit increased 44.7% to 22,909 committed properties during the period. At the same time, immediately available inventory rose to 19,351 units, while pre-construction and future planned offerings more than doubled over the analysis window.

  • VAT-Free lists and new dates for October VAT-Free Shopping Days

    VAT-Free lists and new dates for October VAT-Free Shopping Days

    The Ministry of Finance of Grenada has issued an official update announcing a schedule adjustment for one of the flagship initiatives under its 2026 Cost of Living Assistance Programme. The popular VAT-Free Shopping Days, originally planned for an unannounced earlier date, will now take place on October 2 and 3, 2026, giving consumers and businesses ample time to prepare for the tax-free event aimed at easing household financial pressures.

    Beyond this scheduled tax-free weekend, Grenada already maintains a permanent zero value-added tax rate on a wide range of goods and services categorized to support core livelihood needs, local agricultural and fishing production, public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The full scope of permanently VAT-free items covers multiple key sectors of daily life and local industry.

    First, the government has extended permanent zero VAT to essential food items that make up a large share of household grocery budgets. These include unsweetened bread, specified cuts of fresh, chilled, or frozen chicken, plus a range of unprocessed agricultural produce such as fresh fruits, ground provisions, honey, most vegetables, fresh whole eggs, and fresh or chilled poultry and meat. Additional permanently zero-VAT food items added effective December 31, 2021 include Alaska pollock, cheddar cheese, cod, various dried and salted fish, split peas, specified turkey cuts, multiple types of cooking oil, black-eye peas, lentil peas, red kidney beans, veggie patties, brown, white and broken bulk rice for repackaging, wheat flour, and fresh, condensed, powdered, and evaporated milk. Infant milk-based preparations are also exempt from VAT.

    To support local agricultural and fishing production — two foundational economic sectors in Grenada — all core industry inputs carry a permanent 0% VAT rate. For agriculture, these include agricultural seeds, seedlings and plantlets, fertilizers, herbicides, agricultural pesticides, beekeeping supplies and breeding bees, animal feed (excluding pet food), agricultural and horticultural-specific tools and machinery, cardboard packaging and egg trays for unprocessed farm produce. For the commercial fishing sector, VAT exemptions extend to all key inputs including fishing hooks, lines, and nets, GPS devices, marine communication equipment, boat engines, bilge pumps, commercial fishing boats, and various other supplies required for daily fishing operations. Unprocessed agricultural products and fresh/frozen non-crustacean, non-mollusk fish are also permanently VAT-free.

    Permanent VAT exemptions also apply to critical public health and hygiene goods. Chronic disease medicines for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, glaucoma, cancer, and asthma are always VAT-free. Added to the permanent exemption list effective December 31, 2021 are adult and baby diapers, bathing soap, hand sanitisers, laundry soap, sanitary napkins and tampons, toilet paper, toothpaste, and condoms, all of which are essential daily hygiene products.

    To advance Grenada’s climate and sustainability goals, a range of energy-saving and hurricane mitigation devices are permanently exempt from VAT. This includes energy-saving light bulbs, solar panels, inverters, deep-cell batteries, solar water heaters, as well as hurricane shutters (both manual and mechanised) and hurricane straps and ties, helping households reduce energy costs and improve disaster preparedness.

    Additional permanently zero-VAT goods and services include residential electricity for the first 99 kilowatt hours supplied by Grenlec, residential pipe-borne water from Nawasa, newspapers, prescribed textbooks, fuel (gasoline, diesel, cooking gas, kerosene), postage stamps, service charges at hotels, guest houses and restaurants, vacant and agricultural lands, and micro-computers and their regulated accessories. Additional targeted VAT exemptions have also been rolled out in recent years to support economic development: since April 2016, building materials for qualifying investments over $30 million under the Investment Act 2014 have been zero-rated, and electric vehicles and their charging stations have also carried permanent VAT exemption. Effective April 2023, production equipment approved for business use in the creative economy is also exempt from VAT.

    This announcement, which combines an update to the upcoming VAT-free shopping event with a comprehensive clarification of permanent VAT exemptions, forms part of the government of Grenada’s ongoing efforts to reduce the cost of living for residents, support key local industries, and advance policy priorities ranging from climate action to economic diversification.

  • Fruit, Meat and Fish Prices Fall as Some Dairy Costs Rise in Antigua and Barbuda

    Fruit, Meat and Fish Prices Fall as Some Dairy Costs Rise in Antigua and Barbuda

    Newly released Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from Antigua and Barbuda has revealed a divergent landscape for grocery prices across the nation in July 2026, with sharp declines in key categories like fresh produce and seafood offset by noticeable price hikes for other staple goods. Against a backdrop of a climbing national overall inflation rate that recently hit 4.4%, the mixed price shifts have created an uneven financial picture for local consumers.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the food sector as a whole has trended downward over the 12-month period ending in July 2026. The most dramatic annual drop was recorded in fruit prices, which plummeted 13.8% year-over-year, while meat and meat products followed with a 5% annual decline. These double-digit and mid-single-digit reductions pulled the aggregate food index down by 0.8% compared to July 2025.

    Even with this overall annual downward trend, price shifts have varied dramatically across different food segments. Two categories bucked the declining trend over the 12-month period: oils and fats saw a 7.7% price increase, and not elsewhere classified food products recorded a 2.3% uptick.

    On a monthly basis, the downward trajectory for most food prices held steady in July. The aggregate food index dropped 1.4% between June and July 2026, with seafood posting the largest monthly decline of any major category. The overall fish and seafood index fell 5.8% month-over-month, and the subcategory covering fresh, chilled, or frozen fish and seafood experienced a staggering 32.6% price plunge in July alone. Beyond seafood, fruit prices dipped an additional 4% from June to July, while vegetable prices fell 2.1% over the same period.

    However, price cuts were not universal for consumers navigating local supermarkets. The milk, cheese, and eggs index jumped 4.7% in July, a rise driven almost entirely by increased costs for preserved and specialty milk products. Sugar, jams, honey, chocolate, and confectionery items saw a 3.6% monthly price increase, and even meat and meat products – which remain 5% cheaper than one year prior – posted a 1.3% uptick between June and July.

    When including non-alcoholic beverages in the calculation, the broader food and non-alcoholic beverages index fell 1% month-over-month in July and sits 0.4% lower than it did 12 months earlier. This decline in food and beverage costs stands in stark contrast to Antigua and Barbuda’s overall inflation rate, which has climbed to 4.4% as of July 2026, driven by price increases in other sectors of the national economy.

  • El Niño drought will spike costs, reduce imports through Panama Canal into 2027

    El Niño drought will spike costs, reduce imports through Panama Canal into 2027

    As a historic El Niño-driven drought parches the Panama Canal’s watershed, the Caribbean Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) has issued an urgent alert for importers and governments across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to prepare for cascading supply chain disruptions, rising consumer prices and depleted inventory levels.

    The prolonged dry spell has forced the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to implement sweeping transit restrictions that have already upended global maritime shipping. Starting September 4, 2026, the agency capped daily transits at 32 to 34 vessels — a sharp reduction from normal scheduling — after data showed rainfall in the canal’s key water collection areas hit 34% below the historical average between May and August, with river inflows falling 44% short of typical levels. ACP has already warned that further water shortages are likely during the 2027 dry season from January to April, as El Niño’s intensity persists, raising the prospect of even tighter transit limits ahead.

    In a formal statement released this week, the CPSO — an associate CARICOM institution representing regional private sector stakeholders including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises — released preliminary analysis quantifying the scale of the region’s exposure. The group estimates that between $8 billion and $10 billion in annual CARICOM imports, equal to 25% to 33% of the region’s total non-fuel import spending, relies on the constrained canal corridor. This figure includes both $4.5 billion to $7 billion in cargo that transits the canal directly, as well as additional goods that pass through the canal before being consolidated at U.S. ports for final shipment to Caribbean markets.

    Cost pressures are already mounting across the sector. The CPSO confirmed that a priority auction slot for canal transit recently sold for a record $5.3 million, the highest bid ever recorded for access. Major global shipping lines including CMA CGM, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd have already implemented per-TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) surcharges for all routes dependent on the Panama Canal, with additional rate hikes expected as low water forces further reductions to vessel draft limits.

    These added costs will not be absorbed by shipping companies alone, CPSO officials emphasized. “Auction premiums and low-water surcharges do not stay on the carriers’ books,” explained Dr. Patrick Antoine, Chief Executive Officer and Technical Director of the CPSO, in the organization’s statement. “They are passed down the chain to importers, to distributors, and ultimately to the Caribbean consumer. When slot scarcity forces carriers to reroute or rationalise port calls, small Caribbean markets are typically the first to lose frequency and the last to regain it.”

    CARICOM economies rank among the most import-dependent in the world, with nearly all food, manufactured goods and construction inputs reaching regional markets via maritime shipping networks that route through or are priced based on Panama Canal access. For consumers, the CPSO warns the risk comes in two overlapping forms: reduced product availability, driven by longer shipping lead times and depleted stock held by importers, and broad-based price increases as surcharges and extended voyage times push up final landed costs.

    Compounding the challenge, the Panama Canal disruption comes at a time of already heightened global maritime volatility, with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz also impacted by ongoing conflict. “Two of the world’s critical maritime trade corridors are under pressure simultaneously, one by climate and one by conflict, lifting freight rates, war-risk premiums and fuel costs globally,” the CPSO noted. “For petroleum-importing CARICOM states, that compounds pressure on electricity, transport and food prices at the same time.”

    To address the long-term vulnerability of regional supply chains, the CPSO has already advanced a proactive resilience framework with CARICOM leadership. In July 2026, the organization presented its Derisking CSME (Caribbean Single Market and Economy) Imports methodology to the CARICOM Heads of Government Breakfast Meeting in Saint Lucia. The tool maps the region’s exposure to extra-regional supply shocks on a product-by-product basis, and identifies opportunities for intra-regional production and alternative trade corridors to replace vulnerable long-haul imports that rely on chokepoint routes like the Panama Canal.

    “Every percentage point of import demand we can shift to regional supply is a percentage point insulated from canal auctions, low-water surcharges and chokepoint conflict,” Dr. Antoine said. “Regional resilience is not built during a crisis. It is built before one.”

    The CPSO is currently urging immediate proactive planning from importers, advising stakeholders to enter early discussions with shipping carriers and logistics providers to map alternative routing, estimate potential surcharge costs, and adjust inventory plans for the final quarter of 2026 and the 2027 dry season. The organization also confirmed it continues to advance the region’s trade connectivity agenda alongside CARICOM leaders, the World Bank’s Caribbean Reconnect Programme, and a regional ferry service initiative currently under review by CARICOM heads of government.

  • Bouw nieuwe 140 meter lange kade Jules Sedney Haven gestart

    Bouw nieuwe 140 meter lange kade Jules Sedney Haven gestart

    Suriname’s key maritime infrastructure is undergoing a major upgrade, as construction work officially kicked off this week for a 140-meter new quay expansion at the Dr. Jules Sedney Harbour. The first foundation pile was driven into the ground on Wednesday, marking the formal start of a project designed to boost the port’s overall handling capacity to meet rising demand driven by the fast-growing offshore oil and gas sector in the region.

    Preparations for the expansion followed the contract signing for the project on July 24 this year, after which pre-construction site work was completed to clear the way for piling operations that began on September 9. Once completed, the new quay will have a load-bearing capacity of 20 tonnes per square meter, enabling it to accommodate larger, heavier vessels and cargo associated with offshore energy operations. Local firm Haukes Construction N.V. has been appointed as the main contractor for the build, while another Surinamese institution, Hakrinbank N.V., is providing full financing for the initiative. The project is commissioned by N.V. Havenbeheer Suriname, the country’s port management authority, and is scheduled for completion within 12 months of the start of construction.

    The core goal of the expansion is to allow the port authority to proactively respond to projected growth in demand for port and logistics infrastructure. The project is specifically tailored to accommodate the increasing need for maritime and logistics services spurred by rapid development in Suriname’s offshore oil and gas industry, a sector that has emerged as a key driver of the country’s economic growth in recent years.

    Beyond adding capacity, the expansion will strengthen Dr. Jules Sedney Harbour’s role as a critical logistics link that supports Suriname’s broader long-term economic development, according to port management. A key feature of the project’s delivery model is its intentional focus on partnering with local Surinamese companies, suppliers and industry stakeholders. Port authorities note that this approach not only delivers the new required infrastructure but also leverages and builds up local technical expertise and project delivery capacity, creating lasting benefits for the domestic industry.

    Port management also emphasizes that the growth of new emerging economic sectors like offshore energy should create opportunities for domestic Surinamese businesses and skilled professionals to claim a larger share of the related industrial activity. Andreas Talea, General Manager of N.V. Havenbeheer Suriname, expressed confidence in a smooth, accelerated delivery of the project, citing strong alignment between all participating parties. If construction stays on the approved 12-month timeline, the new quay is set to open to commercial operations one year after piling work got underway.

  • Govt eyes aggregator for creators’ online earnings

    Govt eyes aggregator for creators’ online earnings

    Barbados is advancing a groundbreaking policy intervention to address a longstanding barrier to creative income: geo-blocking, the common digital practice that locks content creators out of monetization tools and revenue streams based on their geographic location. Culture Minister Senator Shane Archer has revealed the government is finalizing a proposal to establish a homegrown third-party revenue aggregator, designed to collect owed earnings on behalf of local creative professionals locked out by major international digital platforms.

    Geo-blocking is not a unique challenge for small island nations, Archer emphasized. While major global economies also grapple with the restrictive practice, it has disproportionately hurt emerging creative sectors in Barbados and the broader Caribbean, cutting off talented creators from global audience revenue. The government has continued diplomatic and industry advocacy pushing major platforms to eliminate arbitrary geographic restrictions on monetization, but policymakers are proactively pursuing alternative solutions to deliver immediate relief for local creators.

    The aggregator initiative is being developed by the Division of Culture and is scheduled to be presented to the Barbadian Cabinet for review in the near future. The plan responds to widespread concerns raised by the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries (BCSI), a leading industry group that flagged systemic barriers preventing Barbadian creators from earning income from content hosted on global platforms including Google, Facebook and TikTok. Back in 2025, BCSI Executive Director Michelle Smith-Mayers announced the formation of a specialized working group to investigate and address the issue, creating momentum for government action.

    Archer noted that third-party revenue collection services already exist for creators affected by geo-blocking, but most of these existing options carry prohibitive costs that put them out of reach for most independent Barbadian creatives. To solve this gap, the government’s proposal centers on launching a locally owned aggregator that would offer significantly more affordable, competitive rates for local content creators, enabling them to access revenue they are currently owed from global viewership of their work. The initiative marks a rare targeted government intervention to level the playing field for small independent creators in an increasingly globalized digital creative economy.