Carib Scope

分类： world

  • Cuba kiest voor ingrijpende economische hervormingen; meer ruimte voor particuliere sector

    Cuba kiest voor ingrijpende economische hervormingen; meer ruimte voor particuliere sector

    On the cusp of the most sweeping economic transformations Cuba has seen in more than 30 years, the island nation’s government has outlined a bold package of changes designed to pull its struggling economy out of a years-long downward spiral while retaining the country’s existing socialist political structure.

    The reform proposals, presented this week to Cuba’s national parliament, center on expanding space for private enterprise, attracting greater foreign investment, and reducing heavy centralized state control over economic activity. Officials stress that the changes do not mark a shift toward capitalism; instead, they frame the plan as a modernization of Cuba’s socialist model, where the Communist Party will remain firmly in power, and the state will retain full oversight over all strategic economic sectors.

    Among the most notable measures in the package is a provision that allows for the restructuring or partial privatization of state-owned enterprises. Small and medium-sized private businesses will gain significantly broader operating freedoms to grow and conduct commerce. To boost capital inflows, Cuba will open investment opportunities not only to foreign firms but also to Cuban citizens living overseas who wish to invest in their home country.

    Additional reforms include legalizing the operation of private banks, granting greater economic autonomy to local municipal governments, and giving state-owned enterprises more flexibility in their day-to-day management. The country will also streamline import and export processes to make cross-border trade easier for businesses of all sizes.

    A core policy shift in the plan is the gradual phase-out of broad, universal government subsidies. Instead, the government will target financial support directly to the most vulnerable populations across the country. Going forward, prices for most goods and services will also be increasingly determined by market forces rather than state setting.

    The ambitious reform push comes in response to a severe, multi-year economic crisis that has gripped the island. Cuba currently faces sky-high inflation, widespread shortages of food, medicine and fuel, persistent extended power outages, and a slow recovery of the critical tourism sector following global disruptions. Cuban officials also point to the long-standing U.S. trade embargo and recently tightened U.S. sanctions as major external factors exacerbating the country’s economic woes. According to government statements, the reforms are a necessary step to boost domestic productivity, draw in much-needed outside investment, and restart sustainable economic growth.

    In framing the changes, the Cuban government explicitly draws parallels to the market-oriented reform paths pursued by China and Vietnam: expanding the role of market forces while maintaining the state’s political control and oversight of key strategic sectors. Beyond Cuba’s borders, the reforms could reshape economic dynamics across the Caribbean region. A more open Cuban economy is expected to increase regional trade and investment flows, creating new collaboration opportunities for member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including Suriname, across sectors such as tourism, agriculture, logistics, and healthcare.

    As Cuba embarks on this transformative economic shift, all eyes now turn to the coming months, when stakeholders on the island and across the globe will watch to see how quickly the proposed reforms are translated into concrete policy, and what tangible impacts they will deliver for the daily lives of the Cuban people.

  • OECS Marks 45 Years of Regional Integration and Cooperation

    OECS Marks 45 Years of Regional Integration and Cooperation

    On June 18, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) celebrated a major milestone: four and a half decades of advancing cross-border cooperation and unity across the Eastern Caribbean. The 45th anniversary festivities and official reflections centered on the chosen theme, “One Vision, One Voice: Navigating Challenges, Shaping Our Future,” a slogan that underscores the bloc’s core commitment to collective problem-solving.

    The anniversary itself commemorates the 1981 signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, the foundational agreement that formally established the OECS as the institutional successor to the earlier West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers. From that starting point 45 years ago, the organization has grown dramatically, expanding both its membership and the scope of its collaborative work across the region. Today, OECS coordinates joint action among member states across a wide range of critical policy areas, from inclusive economic development and public health system strengthening to educational advancement, transnational security, environmental sustainability, and aligned foreign policy.

    In an official statement released to mark the occasion, the OECS framed the anniversary as both a moment to celebrate past gains secured through regional unity and an opportunity to reaffirm the bloc’s commitment to tackling emerging shared challenges together. “For 45 years, the OECS has championed regional integration, strengthening the bonds that unite our Member States and advancing a shared vision for a resilient and prosperous future,” the statement read.

    The anniversary theme was intentionally crafted to highlight the urgency of solidarity at a time when Eastern Caribbean nations face overlapping systemic pressures, including global economic volatility, accelerating climate change impacts, and repeated destructive natural disasters, all of which demand coordinated cross-border solutions.

    Looking back at the OECS’s 45-year evolution, the organization highlights several key transformative milestones beyond its 1981 founding. Most notably, member states signed the Revised Treaty of Basseterre in June 2010, which entered into force the following January. This updated agreement established the OECS Economic Union, deepening economic integration and reinforcing institutional cooperation across all participating nations.

    The OECS has also steadily expanded its membership to reflect growing interest in regional collaboration across the Eastern Caribbean. After its original founding group, Martinique joined as a member in February 2015, followed by Guadeloupe in March 2019, and most recently Saint Martin in March 2025. Regional officials frame these new accessions as clear proof of the expanding appeal and proven benefits of coordinated collective action across the subregion.

    To mark the 45th anniversary, the OECS has organized a series of public engagement activities open to residents across all member states. The organization encourages local communities to participate in events and share public photos showcasing the OECS’s official colors: yellow, white, green, and navy blue. A public commemorative fun walk is also scheduled to take place in Antigua and Barbuda as a centerpiece of the celebrations.

    In closing, the OECS emphasized that the anniversary is far more than a retrospective celebration of past progress. It is also a collective call to action, urging member states to continue building a stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous Eastern Caribbean through sustained cooperation, shared strategic purpose, and coordinated collective action.

  • Minister Michael Joseph Meets with Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage)

    Minister Michael Joseph Meets with Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage)

    Side talks at the 2026 Berlin Climate Mobility Forum have brought critical focus to the disproportionate climate risks facing Small Island Developing States, as senior officials from Antigua and Barbuda and the global Loss and Damage Fund sat down to advance actionable progress for climate-vulnerable nations.

    Michael Joseph, who leads the ministries of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs for Antigua and Barbuda, met one-on-one with Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, to unpack the cascading challenges that climate change imposes on low-lying island nations. The closed-door discussion zeroed in on the overlapping vulnerabilities SIDS confront across nearly every sector of society: climate impacts are increasingly eroding critical infrastructure, destroying residential housing, straining already stretched public health systems, undermining core livelihoods, and derailing long-term national development plans that many small island states have spent decades building.

    Joseph underscored that Antigua and Barbuda has remained a consistent, unwavering voice in global climate negotiations calling for fair and equitable access to climate finance for frontline nations. For countries that have contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions yet face the worst climate outcomes, he stressed, timely and sufficient support to address climate-induced loss and damage is not a favor—it is an existential necessity. The minister went on to outline the unique realities small island states grapple with that are often overlooked in global climate frameworks: even one major extreme weather event can leave long-lasting social and economic scars that stretch far beyond the scope of immediate emergency disaster response. Recovery can take years, if not decades, and derail development gains that communities worked generations to achieve.

    Following the discussion, both Diong and Joseph exchanged constructive perspectives on how to move from global agreement to on-the-ground action. A central point of their talks centered on operationalizing accessible, efficient financing mechanisms that can rapidly meet the needs of countries already experiencing climate loss and damage, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive the targeted support they need to recover and rebuild stronger after climate shocks.

    Joseph reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding commitment to collaborative international climate action, and expressed clear support for ongoing global efforts to strengthen support systems for nations on the frontline of the climate crisis. He was joined at the meeting by Ruleta Camacho-Thomas, Antigua and Barbuda’s Climate Ambassador, who has been a core leader driving the country’s climate advocacy and international engagement on the global stage.

    The 2026 Berlin Climate Mobility Forum serves as a convening point for cross-sector global stakeholders, bringing together heads of government, leaders of international organizations, development finance institutions, and leading climate experts to advance practical, implementable solutions to interconnected challenges including climate-driven human mobility, climate adaptation, community resilience, and inclusive sustainable development.

  • The city of Cap-Haïtien is gradually regaining its splendor

    The city of Cap-Haïtien is gradually regaining its splendor

    Nestled along Haiti’s northern coast, the nation’s historic second-largest city Cap-Haïtien is steadily emerging from a period of stagnation to reclaim its long-dimmed cultural and economic glory, driven by coordinated action between national authorities and a new local administration. Since the installation of Mayor Michel Saint-Croix’s Municipal Commission earlier this year, a sweeping, multi-sector revitalization agenda has turned ambitious policy pledges into visible on-the-ground change, with the ultimate goal of positioning the city as a leading national hub for tourism, investment and inclusive development.

    Cap-Haïtien’s rich colonial heritage and proximity to world-famous historical sites have long positioned it as a natural tourism anchor for Haiti, but years of underinvestment had left the city struggling with crumbling infrastructure, unmanaged waste and stagnant economic activity. To reverse this trend, Haiti’s central government launched an inter-ministerial support mission for the city months ago, creating a framework for close collaboration between national agencies and the new municipal leadership. This partnership has already delivered measurable progress, starting with a large-scale urban sanitation and reorganization initiative that has cleared accumulated waste from long-neglected neighborhoods, restored underused public spaces and completed targeted beautification projects across the city.

    These early, visible wins have done more than transform the city’s streetscape: they have rebuilt public confidence in local governance, proving that coordinated action between national and municipal authorities can deliver tangible results for residents. Beyond clean-up efforts, the administration is advancing a raft of projects to upgrade core public services, modernize key strategic sectors and improve public space management, laying the regulatory and infrastructural groundwork for sustained social and economic growth. Steady improvements to the urban environment have already made the city more livable for long-term residents and more welcoming to first-time visitors alike.

    Security, a critical prerequisite for any economic expansion, has also been a top priority. Targeted measures led by national law enforcement agencies have cemented Cap-Haïtien’s status as one of Haiti’s most stable major urban centers, creating a safe environment that encourages private investment, enables uninterrupted local economic activity and unlocks the city’s untapped tourism potential—one of the most promising drivers of future job growth in the region.

    Infrastructure modernization, the backbone of the entire revitalization strategy, is moving forward at an accelerated pace. The most high-profile advance is the ongoing upgrade of Cap-Haïtien International Airport, which is being redeveloped to meet modern international aviation standards and expand the city’s passenger and cargo capacity. A key milestone in this effort is the upcoming launch of regularly scheduled American Airlines flights to the city starting November 1, 2026, a move expected to dramatically boost international tourist arrivals, cross-border trade and new business opportunities across the northern region.

    Multiple complementary infrastructure projects are also underway: road rehabilitation works connecting key urban corridors to the airport, the launch of the RN3 highway rehabilitation project, street clearance initiatives to reduce congestion, a city-wide addressing and numbering program, and the reopening of the renovated Cap-Haïtien main post office, among other upgrades. These interconnected projects are designed to address longstanding gaps in basic services and connect the city more effectively to regional and global markets.

    Today, Cap-Haïtien enters its next chapter with cautious but clear confidence. The pipeline of active projects, confirmed international transport links, growing investor interest and steady infrastructure improvements all reflect a collective national commitment to building a modern, dynamic and prosperous city that can lead Haiti’s broader economic renewal. With its unrivaled historical heritage, strategic geographic position and untapped economic potential, Cap-Haïtien is reaffirming its role as one of the core engines of national development—and a powerful showcase for what coordinated, committed governance can achieve for Haiti.

  • PM renews CARICOM reparations call at Accra conference

    PM renews CARICOM reparations call at Accra conference

    On Thursday, at the NEXT STEPS 2026 High-Level Consultative Conference held in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), delivered a forceful address that renewed the regional bloc’s longstanding demand for reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Mottley challenged global leaders to move beyond symbolic acknowledgement of the atrocities of centuries of slavery and address the persistent, intergenerational harm the system left behind, stressing that advocates will accept “no retreat on repair”.

    The Accra gathering, which builds on years of CARICOM advocacy and landmark United Nations General Assembly resolutions condemning the trafficking of enslaved Africans, brought together a cross-segment group of stakeholders: African and Caribbean policymakers, academic researchers, civil society representatives, and international partners. Attendees gathered to outline concrete steps to implement the UN resolution, turning global recognition of historical harm into tangible action.

    In her speech, Mottley pointed to a striking global double standard: while the international community broadly and unanimously condemns a wide range of crimes against humanity in the modern era, it has failed to reach the same unified consensus around the historic crime of chattel slavery. “We have not found the moral courage to state unanimously across humanity that this grave crime against humanity that persisted for centuries ought to be declared so by all,” she said, adding that “That others choose to remain silent is a reflection of them, not of us.”

    Mottley traced CARICOM’s advocacy for reparations back nearly a decade, framing the Accra conference as a turning point in the global movement. Reflecting on Barbados’ unflinching confrontation with its own role in the history of slavery, she noted that the island’s 1661 Slave Code predated France’s well-documented Code Noir by 20 years, and went on to serve as a template for slave laws across other Caribbean colonies and parts of what became the United States. This legal framework stripped generations of enslaved Africans of their most fundamental rights by classifying them as subhuman property, a dehumanization that inflicted harm that echoes through communities to this day. “It is the categorisation of us as subhuman. It is the categorisation of us as chattel, as property, that stripped us of our dignity first and foremost, but equally removed from us the choices that are necessary in life to truly express freedom,” Mottley explained.

    Crucially, the prime minister emphasized that the global push for reparations is not rooted in animosity or a desire to deepen divisions. Instead, it is a necessary step toward collective healing for all humanity. “The language used from this platform this morning is not one of aggression, is not one of violence, but it is one of the necessities for healing for humanity,” she said, repeating the core mantra of the movement: “There should be no retreat on repair.”

    Mottley also highlighted CARICOM’s updated 10-point reparatory justice plan, which was distributed to all conference attendees. The framework outlines clear, actionable demands including a formal public apology from formerly slave-trading and colonial powers, the restitution of stolen cultural artifacts, investment in public health and education initiatives targeted at affected communities, widespread debt relief for former colonial states, and direct compensation for the enduring socioeconomic impacts of slavery and colonialism.

    Closing her address, Mottley urged unified action from African and Caribbean nations, warning that deliberate external divisions have long undermined progress for marginalized nations in global justice movements. “These committees, however, will only mean something if we can stay together united and not allow division yet again to be the anchor for those who want to win against us,” she said. She added that reparations must be understood not as a charitable gesture toward formerly colonized nations, but as a fundamental requirement of global justice: “Once that process is started, then it becomes easier for us to engage, not as an act of charity, as you have heard from these platforms, but as an act of justice.” Reaffirming the movement’s commitment, Mottley concluded that just as repair is always required after harm is done in any area of life, it is non-negotiable for the centuries-long crime of chattel slavery: “Our role is to ensure that there is no retreat from our requests and that we recognise that repair comes after recognition.”

  • Jamaica signs onto Ocean Coordination Mechanism, strengthening Caribbean blue economy partnership

    Jamaica signs onto Ocean Coordination Mechanism, strengthening Caribbean blue economy partnership

    At an official side gathering of the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, Caribbean ocean governance crossed a major threshold, as Jamaica formalized its membership in the regional Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Barbados. The agreement was signed by Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Mathew Samuda, on behalf of the Jamaican government, while H.E. William Alexander McDonald, Barbados’ High Commissioner to Kenya, signed for the Barbadian government, per a joint official statement released after the ceremony.

    The historic signing ceremony was co-hosted by the Government of Jamaica, the OCM, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), and a wide coalition of regional and international partners focused on ocean sustainability. Organizers of the event frame the accession as a transformative leap forward for cross-border cooperation focused on advancing a regenerative, inclusive blue economy across the entire Wider Caribbean region.

    The OCM was established specifically to confront longstanding systemic challenges facing the Caribbean’s shared marine environments. The region’s ocean ecosystems are inherently interconnected, spanning national boundaries and tying communities together through overlapping environmental, economic and cultural ties to the sea. For decades, however, fragmented national governance frameworks, accelerating marine environmental degradation, and the intensifying impacts of anthropogenic climate change have held back sustainable development efforts, limiting the ability of local communities to access and benefit from marine resources equitably.

    By design, the OCM addresses these gaps by strengthening aligned coordination between national governments, intergovernmental bodies, and the full spectrum of ocean-focused stakeholders, from non-profit conservation groups to local fishing cooperatives. Through enhanced cross-sector collaboration and streamlined institutional efficiency, the mechanism works to tackle pressing marine threats while unlocking the full range of social, economic and ecological benefits that healthy, productive oceans provide to regional populations.

    In an era of growing global conversation around ocean stewardship, the OCM has positioned the Wider Caribbean as a global leader in regional ocean governance. International attention has increasingly centered on the urgent need for stronger cross-organization coordination for marine resource management and ocean protection, and the OCM provides a uniquely tailored framework for regional cooperation that addresses the specific needs of Caribbean nations. This structure is particularly critical at a time of shifting overseas development assistance patterns and disjointed ocean action across national and regional levels, offering a centralized strategic platform to amplify the impact of existing resources and align action across the region.

    Addressing attendees at the signing ceremony, Minister Samuda underscored Jamaica’s longstanding commitment to collaborative ocean stewardship, explaining the country’s decision to join the mechanism. “Jamaica has recognized the OCM as an important regional coordinating mechanism on ocean-related matters, it is for this reason we have decided to become a member of the OCM. Jamaica looks forward to a constructive partnership with the OCM in advancing the global, regional and national ocean agenda,” Samuda said.

    Already, the OCM has advanced multiple high-priority initiatives to advance regional ocean health. Key ongoing projects include the development of a comprehensive regional Ocean Action Programme, the launch of a regular public reporting series on the “State of the Marine Environment and Associated Economies,” and targeted capacity-building efforts to strengthen climate-resilient ocean-based economies across the region.

    These efforts carry disproportionate importance for the Caribbean’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which rely almost entirely on healthy marine ecosystems and sustainable ocean industries for livelihoods, food security and economic growth, while bearing the brunt of climate change impacts including sea level rise, ocean acidification and more intense tropical storms.

    Looking ahead, regional stakeholders expect Jamaica’s accession to the OCM to deepen collective collaboration across the Caribbean, strengthening unified action on ocean governance, marine conservation, and inclusive sustainable economic development for all nations in the region.

  • FAO Sub-regional Office of the Cbean pays tribute to the late Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    FAO Sub-regional Office of the Cbean pays tribute to the late Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is honoring the legacy of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Barbados’ late Chief Fisheries Officer, following her unexpected death, hailing her as a transformative trailblazer who redefined sustainable fisheries management across the Caribbean island nation and left an indelible mark on the entire region.

    In an official tribute released after her passing, the FAO described Dr. Cox as an irreplaceable strategic collaborator whose work drove critical progress in sustainable fishing and aquaculture through forward-thinking policy design, strengthened institutional governance, and an unwavering dedication to the long-term growth of the global blue economy. The entire FAO team covering Barbados and the wider Caribbean expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the leader, who reshaped the sector in just three years in her role as chief officer.

    From the start of her tenure, Dr. Cox worked hand-in-hand with FAO as an ally to advance sustainable fisheries development across Barbados and the Caribbean, aligning local efforts with the UN body’s Blue Transformation vision for ocean sustainability. In her short time in the top role, she delivered outsized impact, drawing on deep technical expertise, a collaborative leadership style, and a persistent focus on empowering the next generation of fisheries professionals. Her vision, drive, and devotion to fishing communities stood out as unmatched among regional peers, FAO noted.

    One of Dr. Cox’s most landmark achievements was guiding Barbados’ 2023–2033 National Fisheries Policy through its final development and approval stages, an initiative backed by FAO funding and technical support. Under her leadership, the policy broke new ground by introducing innovative frameworks to add value to fish by-products, turning what was long categorized as discarded waste into new opportunities for economic growth and reduced environmental impact. Her success in turning policy text into actionable, on-the-ground change has already become a model for other Caribbean nations working to advance their own sustainable fisheries transitions.

    Planning to update and modernize Barbados’ outdated fisheries legislation began before the COVID-19 pandemic, and when public health priorities shifted short-term focus to developing the national fisheries policy through the FAO-supported StewardFish Project, Dr. Cox never abandoned her broader goal of reforming the entire legal framework for aquatic food system sustainability. Building on the foundation laid during the policy development process, she took a central role in steering the drafting and adoption of Barbados’ 2025 Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, a flagship initiative of the island’s government.

    Her technical knowledge and leadership shaped this ground-breaking legislation, which strengthens fisheries governance, boosts environmental protection standards, expands social safety nets for fishing communities, and ensures Barbados maintains access to key international markets by meeting the compliance requirements of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. Through these systemic reforms, Dr. Cox secured a lasting legacy that will benefit Barbados’ fisheries resources and the thousands of families that depend on the sector for generations, FAO emphasized.

    In a May 2026 meeting with FAO leadership, just shortly before her passing, Dr. Cox laid out her bold long-term vision: that Barbados could reach the milestone of zero fish waste by 2028. That ambitious target reflected both her relentless drive for progress and her confidence in the gains the country had already made toward building a sustainable, circular bioeconomy for aquatic food systems.

    Dr. Cox’s final professional projects with FAO underscored her enduring commitment to advancing regional fisheries development. These included wrapping up work on a new guide to anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (aFADs), a common fishing practice across the Caribbean, and launching a regional study on dolphinfish maturity. Barbados was selected as the pilot nation for this initiative by the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), a choice that reflected the widespread regional confidence in Dr. Cox’s leadership and Barbados’ technical capacity under her direction.

    Tributes continue to flow in from colleagues, project partners, and industry stakeholders who worked alongside Dr. Cox on FAO-backed initiatives, all of whom highlight that beyond her far-reaching professional achievements, she will be remembered for her warm personality, contagious passion for her work, and unwavering commitment to lifting up others. Her collaborative approach united diverse stakeholders around shared goals, her leadership inspired confidence and urgent action, and her genuine kindness left a lasting impact on every person she worked with.

    While her sudden passing has left a deep gap across the regional fisheries community, FAO notes that the impact of her life’s work and the legacy she leaves behind will continue to shape progress across Barbados, the Caribbean, and all the communities and institutions she served with such passion. “Rest well, Dr. Cox. We will miss you,” the tribute concludes.

  • Florida operator defends Bahamas jet ski industry

    Florida operator defends Bahamas jet ski industry

    A cross-border debate over travel safety has erupted in The Bahamas after the US Embassy issued a stark public alert labeling the country’s jet ski rental sector as rife with “serious and ongoing” dangers — prompting a Florida-based jet ski business owner to travel to the archipelago to defend the industry and warn the warning threatens the livelihoods of thousands of tourism-dependent Bahamian workers.

    John Rosen, founder of Jet Ski Fort Lauderdale, delivered his rebuttal on location at Cabbage Beach, a popular Nassau tourist hub adjacent to the Atlantis resort, just days after the embassy rolled out its formal advisory. The warning, announced in a Monday video address by US Ambassador Herschel Walker, outlined a series of grave allegations: multiple American tourists have died, been hospitalized, and subjected to sexual assault at the hands of unregulated jet ski operators, who frequently target visitors and transport assault victims to isolated, remote areas.

    Breaking down the specific incidents cited in the advisory, the embassy reported that six US citizens have required hospital care following jet ski accidents since August 2024, three of whom needed emergency medical evacuation off the islands. It added that two American women reported sexual assaults by jet ski operators in 2024, with two additional allegations filed already in 205. The advisory also criticized inconsistent regulatory oversight of rental zones, noting that unlicensed “rogue operators” continue to aggressively solicit customers on Nassau’s most heavily trafficked shorelines.

    But legitimate, long-running operators on Cabbage Beach pushed back against the broad-brush condemnation, arguing the sector needs stronger regulation and enforcement rather than blanket stigmatization. They emphasize that a tiny minority of bad actors should not be allowed to ruin the reputations and businesses of law-abiding operators who have built their livelihoods in the country’s $40 billion-plus tourism economy, which fuels more than half of The Bahamas’ national GDP.

    Rosen, who traveled to Nassau specifically to push back against what he calls a misleading and damaging portrayal of the industry, noted that jet ski rentals remain one of the most popular outdoor activities for visitors to The Bahamas. “I just wanted to help the public really understand the statistics and what jet ski rentals bring to the industry here in The Bahamas, and anywhere around the world in general — you know, the dangers but also all the great things that come with it,” he said in an interview on the beach.

    Putting the incident numbers in context, Rosen explained that The Bahamas welcomes roughly 12 million annual visitors, an estimated 250,000 of whom choose to rent jet skis during their stay. Comparing the embassy cited incident count to other common recreational activities, he pointed out that only six hospitalizations and one fatality — which he clarified was caused by an unlicensed boat operator, not a jet ski renter or licensed operator — have been recorded over the last three years.

    To put that risk in perspective, Rosen drew a comparison to bicycle accidents in his home region of South Florida. “When you’re going to compare that to injuries and accidents, maybe with other activities, such as where I live, you have bikes that are constantly in the news for accidents and casualties,” he said. “Just in 2024 alone, where I live, there were almost 10,000 bicycle accidents that led to hospitalisations and over 200 deaths. You know, so if they want to tell people to stop renting jet skis in The Bahamas, they better start telling people to stop riding bikes in South Florida.”

    Rosen urged tourists to simply choose licensed, insured, reputable rental companies rather than avoid jet skiing entirely, and offered to share the proven safety protocols his operation uses in Fort Lauderdale to help Bahamian operators improve their own safety standards. He also noted that Bahamian authorities have already taken concrete action to address the reported sexual assaults, including making arrests, filing criminal charges, and enacting a landmark new regulation that prohibits operators from riding on the same jet ski as renters — a policy change explicitly designed to reduce the risk of assault.

    “So clearly they’re taking action to make sure these things don’t happen, and anywhere you go around the world, there’s always a risk of some bad thing happening, but we don’t want to take away what’s so great and respected about the Bahamas. Jet skiing is what people want to do. Do not discourage people from renting and riding jet skis; it’s something that we all need to enjoy with our families,” Rosen added.

    He argued the sector should be reformed, not shut down, and questioned whether US Embassy officials fully grasp how damaging their broad warning could be to ordinary Bahamians who depend on tourism for work. “I don’t think they understand the implications of their message and how it’s going to affect the people that come here, because they really are scaring people, when in reality they don’t have a reason to be scared. You just have to look at the statistics, and the numbers speak for themselves, honestly,” he said.

    The latest US warning comes as The Bahamas’ government faces renewed scrutiny of its special jet ski regulatory task force, launched in March 2024 to crack down on unregulated operators and strengthen safety standards across the sector. To date, authorities have seized unlicensed equipment, issued thousands in fines, and revoked operating licenses for repeat violators, but industry leaders have openly acknowledged that enforcement remains uneven across popular beach areas, and more work is needed to bring all operators into compliance with safety and licensing rules.

    Devane Ferguson, a 20-year veteran Cabbage Beach jet ski operator, said established, law-abiding businesses need targeted government support to counteract the damage from the US warning and the actions of rogue operators. Ferguson explained that serious incidents almost always involve unlicensed new entrants to the industry, not the long-standing operators that have served tourists safely for decades. He acknowledged that the advisory has caused a measurable slowdown in bookings, but added that most informed tourists have continued to patronize legitimate local operators.

  • Italian Tourist dies after Hotel fire in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

    Italian Tourist dies after Hotel fire in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

    A tragic incident in the popular coastal destination of Bayahíbe, located in the Dominican Republic’s La Altagracia province, has claimed the life of a 46-year-old Italian visitor, who passed away Friday while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a hotel complex fire.

    The deceased has been identified as Francesca Valentino, a resident of Caserta, Italy. Immediately after the fire broke out at the Hotel Viva Dominicus, personnel from the Dominican Republic’s National Emergency and Security Response System (911) arrived on scene to extract and stabilize the injured tourist, before rushing her to a medical center in neighboring La Romana province. Despite aggressive intervention and round-the-clock care from attending medical staff, Valentino succumbed to her injuries.

    The blaze triggered a massive coordinated emergency response across multiple local agencies, overseen by the national 911 system. In total, the deployment included eight response units from the Extrahospital Emergency Care Directorate (DAEH), a single National Police detail, 15 fire crew units drawn from surrounding departments, one traffic safety unit from the General Directorate of Traffic and Land Transportation Safety (DIGESETT), and two specialized drone units operated directly by the 911 Emergency System to aid in search and assessment operations.

    As of the latest updates, local authorities have not yet publicly disclosed information about the root cause of the fire nor the full scope of property damage and other potential casualties sparked by the incident. Official investigations into the circumstances of the blaze remain active and ongoing as authorities work to compile a full report on the incident.

  • Gaza ceasefire a ‘deadly illusion’ — UNICEF

    Gaza ceasefire a ‘deadly illusion’ — UNICEF

    GENEVA, Switzerland – Eight months after a formal ceasefire was supposed to halt hostilities in Gaza, senior United Nations officials have issued a scathing condemnation of the ongoing violence, labeling the truce a dangerous deception that has cost the lives of hundreds of Palestinian children.

    The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the governing authority of Gaza, was announced in October 2025. But according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health – whose casualty data is deemed credible by the UN – Israeli military operations have continued unabated across the enclave, leaving at least 992 Palestinians dead since the truce took effect. Of that death toll, 265 are children, a statistic the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called an unconscionable and catastrophic injustice.

    Speaking to reporters in Geneva via video link from Amman, Jordan, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder laid bare the grim scale of child harm in the supposed period of peace. “Over more than eight months, on average, one child has been killed every single day during a window that was meant to bring restraint and safety to Gaza,” Elder said. “For months, the global community has been told a ceasefire is in place. But for Palestinian children, this supposed truce is nothing less than a cruel, deadly illusion.”

    Elder emphasized that the children killed since October have not died in active battlefront combat. Instead, they have been cut down in spaces meant to be safe: in their family homes, inside school grounds, while playing football with peers, and while fishing off Gaza’s coast. Their deaths have come from sniper fire, aerial bombardments, and strikes from unmanned quadcopters, he added. This week alone, the violence continued its unrelenting pattern: a two-year-old boy shot dead by Israeli forces, a 13-year-old killed inside his displacement camp tent, a five-year-old boy and his father killed in an Israeli strike, with dozens more similar incidents documented.

    Beyond the fatalities, more than 400 children have sustained injuries since the ceasefire was declared, many of whom suffer life-altering, catastrophic wounds. Hundreds of these injured children require urgent medical evacuation out of Gaza to receive life-saving care, but Israeli restrictions on the entry of essential medicines have worsened their suffering. Elder explained that these limitations leave wounded children grappling with extreme pain, and face far higher risks of infection, life-threatening complications, and additional amputations.

    Alongside physical harm, Elder highlighted the intergenerational psychological damage being inflicted on Gaza’s younger generation. “Fear, grief, and constant violence are stitched into the very core of childhood here,” he said. “The trauma is so deep that it disrupts children’s basic ability to eat, sleep, and grow and develop normally, harm that will resonate for decades to come.”

    Elder pushed back against the narrative that the ongoing child deaths are an unavoidable consequence of intractable conflict, arguing instead that the violence persists because of a global lack of political will to enforce the truce. “We cannot continue to accept levels of child death that would spark immediate, widespread international outrage if they occurred anywhere else on the planet,” he said. “It is long past time to stop normalizing what is plainly, unacceptably abnormal.”