The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has unveiled a comprehensive plan to address its $400 million debt to the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board (ABSSB). The proposal, detailed in a letter from Financial Secretary Rasona Davis-Crump to ABSSB Chairman Kem Tonge on August 21, 2025, includes a $75 million cash injection and the transfer of income-generating assets, starting with the Jolly Beach property. This initiative aims to restructure and consolidate the government’s arrears into a single 25-year bond valued at $437.8 million. The bond will feature interest-only payments at 3% for the first five years, increasing to 5% in years six to ten, with full principal and interest repayments commencing in year eleven. The Financial Secretary has also requested the waiver of all accumulated interest arrears to facilitate the restructuring. Prime Minister Gaston Browne emphasized that this plan fulfills a previous arrangement designed by the UPP administration but never executed. He highlighted that transferring Jolly Beach to the ABSSB would significantly reduce the government’s debt to approximately $300 million, ensuring the Social Security scheme remains financially sustainable without raising contribution rates or the retirement age. The proposal is seen as a responsible approach to honoring long-overdue obligations while preserving the solvency of Social Security and stabilizing long-term pension payments.
分类: business
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Law, Capital, and the Startup Frontier: Jean Marco Pou Fernández on Structuring Dominican Innovation
Jean Marco Pou Fernández, a prominent figure in the Dominican Republic, has carved a unique niche at the intersection of law, business, and diplomacy. As an attorney, entrepreneur, and former President of the EuroCámara de Comercio de la República Dominicana, Pou’s influence extends across corporate law, infrastructure projects, and binational chambers connecting Santo Domingo to global hubs like Brussels and Madrid. Later this year, he will further his expertise by pursuing an LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law at Georgetown University, solidifying his role in shaping the hemisphere’s most critical economic debates.
Pou’s insights are particularly valuable for founders and investors in the Dominican Republic, offering clarity on structuring startups for capital, scalability, and international credibility. He emphasizes that corporate governance is essential for investor confidence, advocating for practices like shareholder agreements, advisory boards, and transparent records. These measures, he argues, signal a startup’s seriousness about attracting external funding.
Despite the Dominican Republic’s legal framework supporting venture deals, Pou highlights gaps such as the absence of standardized instruments like SAFEs or convertible notes, unclear regulations on stock options, and slow IP enforcement. These challenges, he notes, make the country less competitive compared to other markets.
For cross-border ventures, Pou stresses the importance of strategic structuring, recommending that founders maintain local entities while raising capital through Delaware or EU holdings. This approach provides investors with legal familiarity while enabling local operations to thrive. He also underscores the role of legal advisors in balancing founder protection with investor appeal, ensuring that international clauses are enforceable under Dominican law.
Pou identifies three key policy reforms to accelerate innovation: a Startup Act to simplify incorporation and offer tax incentives, clear crowdfunding and fintech regulations, and legal recognition of employee equity plans. These changes, he believes, could transform the Dominican Republic into a more attractive ecosystem for global capital.
Additionally, Pou sees potential in a Digital Nomad Visa, not just as a tourism driver but as a means of fostering knowledge transfer through connections with accelerators, coworking spaces, and universities.
Pou’s perspective reflects a broader shift in Dominican business credibility, moving away from legacy institutions and toward founders who prioritize governance, traction, and structure. As a bridge between the old order and the emerging economy, Pou embodies the tectonic shift in credibility from traditional boardrooms to the innovators shaping tomorrow’s economy.
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US unseats UK as Barbados’ main tourism source market
In a significant shift in tourism dynamics, the United States has surpassed the United Kingdom as the primary source of visitors to Barbados. According to Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), the US contributed 179,753 visitors this year, marking a pivotal change for the island nation. Historically, the UK has always been Barbados’ leading market, but recent economic shifts in the UK prompted the BTMI to diversify its strategy, focusing heavily on the US market. Franklin highlighted the success of their airlift strategy, which included adding over 60,000 seats from the US during the 2025 winter season, including a direct flight to New York—a service absent for 14 years. This strategic move has not only increased visitor numbers but also altered the demographic profile of tourists, with a notable rise in Black American travelers, particularly from Atlanta and its feeder cities. American visitors tend to stay shorter durations (7-10 days) compared to UK tourists but spend more, contributing significantly to the local economy. Barbados also saw strong performances from the Caribbean market (70,984 visitors), Canada (59,332 visitors), and Europe (21,000 visitors), with emerging markets like Central and South America showing potential. Franklin emphasized the importance of these trends, noting that Barbados is not only attracting more visitors but also solidifying its position as a regional hub for airlift and tourism. Cruise tourism also saw a 24% year-on-year growth, with 599,826 passengers visiting between January and July 2025. The island’s accommodation sector is thriving, with 6,000 hotel rooms and over 13,000 vacation rental rooms, supported by 10 new hotel projects in the pipeline. Culinary offerings range from street food to fine dining, with over 400 eateries catering to diverse tastes. Barbados’ pristine beaches and calm waters remain a major draw, with over 80 beach spots enhancing its appeal. Additionally, the BTMI is launching a community tourism initiative, ‘Dine With A Bajan,’ this winter, allowing visitors to experience authentic Barbadian hospitality. Looking ahead, Barbados will commence year-long celebrations on December 1, 2025, leading up to its 60th anniversary of independence from Britain on November 30, 2026.
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Forex: $161.28 to one US dollar
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The US dollar demonstrated a notable uptick in value against the Jamaican dollar on Tuesday, October 7, closing at $161.57, marking a 29-cent increase from the previous trading session. This data, sourced from the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary, highlights the ongoing fluctuations in the foreign exchange market. Concurrently, the Canadian dollar also saw a rise, ending the day at $161.57, up from $116.37. In contrast, the British pound experienced a decline, settling at $116.35, down from $218.83. These mixed trends underscore the dynamic nature of global currency markets, influenced by a myriad of economic factors and international developments. The Bank of Jamaica continues to monitor these shifts closely, providing essential insights for investors and policymakers alike.
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World Bank says Caribbean economies outpaced economies in Central America
The World Bank has emphasized the potential for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to overcome its persistent low-growth cycle by fostering entrepreneurship to drive job creation, enhance productivity, and accelerate innovation. In its latest report, titled ‘Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Review: Transformational Entrepreneurship for Jobs and Growth,’ the institution highlighted the region’s economic challenges, including stubborn inflation, rising debt, weak investment, and global uncertainty. These factors are projected to limit regional growth to 2.3% in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026, the slowest among global regions. Susana Cordeiro Guerra, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, stressed the need for governments to build on recent stability by accelerating reforms to improve the business climate, invest in infrastructure, and mobilize private capital. The report identifies external challenges such as declining global demand and commodity prices, which are expected to drop by 10% in 2025 and another 5% in 2026, impacting key sectors. Domestically, high inflation and public debt, with the debt-to-GDP ratio rising to 63.8% in 2024, further constrain economic activity. The report advocates for ‘transformational entrepreneurship’—high-growth firms that diffuse technology, create jobs, and boost productivity—as a catalyst for economic dynamism. William Maloney, World Bank Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean, underscored the role of entrepreneurs in identifying opportunities and driving innovation. However, the region faces significant barriers, including limited access to finance, heavy regulation, skills gaps, and weak infrastructure. To address these challenges, the report proposes a three-point agenda: investing in human capital, supporting policy and regulatory reforms, and expanding access to finance. By implementing these reforms, the World Bank believes LAC can foster entrepreneurship, fuel innovation, and build more competitive economies.
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DTS Swim expands with new location
KINGSTON, Jamaica — DTS Swim, a renowned luxury swimwear brand, marked a significant milestone in its 10-year journey with the grand opening of its new store at Shop 9, 18 Balmoral Avenue. The launch event, held on Saturday, was a vibrant celebration attended by loyal customers and industry insiders. Owner Daniela Stona officially inaugurated the space at 12:30 pm, emphasizing the brand’s evolution and growth. “This larger space reflects our expanding offerings and upcoming collections,” Stona remarked, highlighting the brand’s commitment to innovation and excellence. Known for its custom-made designs inspired by Jamaican culture, DTS Swim has garnered a loyal following with pieces like ‘Feva’ and ‘Unda Wata.’ Guests praised the brand’s inclusivity and aesthetic appeal, with Davia Findlator describing the event as “beautiful and girly.” Pia Vonique Haynes commended the brand’s dedication to catering to diverse body types, while makeup artist Sashawna Harris, who shares the new space with DTS Swim, expressed pride in the turnout and the collaborative vibe. The event featured Frontera Rosé wine and a selection of appetisers, offering guests a taste of luxury while browsing the latest collections. DTS Swim continues to champion local fashion, with model Regina Scarlett noting its unique contribution to Jamaica’s swimwear scene. The brand’s offerings are available online at dtsswim.com, with in-store pickup options at the new location.
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Sandals to begin designing new resort for St Vincent next year
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has unveiled plans to construct a $500 million Beaches resort in St Vincent, marking a significant milestone in the region’s tourism sector. The announcement was made by SRI CEO Adam Stewart during the signing of a multi-million dollar agreement with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. The resort, slated to feature 500 bedrooms, is expected to commence design work in 2026 and will employ nearly 2,000 Vincentians at full capacity.
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WTO hikes 2025 trade growth outlook but tariffs to bite in 2026
GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced on Tuesday that global merchandise trade growth in 2025 has been significantly bolstered by increased demand for AI-related goods and a surge in exports to the United States ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes. However, the organization cautioned that the outlook for 2026 appears grim as the full impact of these tariffs begins to take effect.
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National stakeholder engagement and mapping workshop
Grenada’s Hydrocarbons Technical Working Group (TWG) is set to organize a pivotal two-day Stakeholder Engagement and Mapping Workshop on October 8–9, 2025. This event aims to foster robust dialogue, collaboration, and active participation among diverse stakeholders to chart the course for Grenada’s energy future. The workshop will gather representatives from government ministries, agencies, industry professionals, and TWG’s technical experts, alongside other key players in the sector. Participants will engage in open discussions, exchange perspectives, and explore the opportunities and challenges associated with Grenada’s burgeoning hydrocarbon industry. The event will commence with a keynote address by Anthony Paul, a globally recognized oil and gas expert with over four decades of experience in operations, management, and leadership roles across the global oil and natural gas value chain. Paul’s expertise is expected to provide valuable insights to frame national discussions and guide informed decision-making. The workshop’s objectives include promoting transparency and inclusive dialogue, strengthening national capacity, guiding evidence-based policy and planning, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders for responsible and sustainable resource development. The Government of Grenada remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing responsible energy development that aligns with the best interests of the nation and its citizens.

