In a significant move to bolster disaster recovery efforts, China has pledged additional aid to The Bahamas following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The Chinese government has approved approximately $84,665 through the China-Caribbean Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Fund, underscoring its commitment to supporting the Caribbean nation in times of crisis. This latest contribution comes in response to a diplomatic note from the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which detailed the extensive damage inflicted by the hurricane. Chinese Ambassador Yan Jiarong highlighted China’s ongoing support, recalling her visit to a restoration village in Grand Bahama last November, where she delivered aid following Hurricane Milton. She emphasized that the lingering effects of Hurricane Dorian, which struck five years ago, are still palpable. Over the past three years, China has donated $140,000 to The Bahamas through the same fund, along with emergency supplies and over $600,000 in cash and material aid post-Dorian. Beyond financial assistance, China has organized workshops and seminars for Bahamian professionals to enhance disaster response and climate adaptation capabilities. The Chinese government expressed its deep understanding of the unique vulnerabilities faced by small island states like The Bahamas in the era of climate change. Reiterating its commitment to global climate governance, China emphasized the importance of translating climate commitments into action and fostering international cooperation. The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of China’s unwavering support for The Bahamas, encapsulated in the proverb, ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’
分类： world
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Asantehene concludes historic visit to Barbados; PM meeting among key engagements
His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene of the Ashanti Kingdom, concluded his groundbreaking visit to Barbados today after two days of significant engagements centered around the GUBA Investment Conference and Awards. This historic trip marked the first-ever visit by a reigning Asantehene to Barbados and the inaugural direct charter flight between Accra and Bridgetown. The Ghanaian delegation departed early Thursday morning, wrapping up a visit that underscored the deep cultural and historical connections between the Caribbean and West Africa. During his stay, the Asantehene participated in a series of high-profile events, including meetings with Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and President Dame Sandra Mason. Prime Minister Mottley hosted His Majesty at Ilaro Court, where they discussed the shared heritage and enduring ties between their nations. In a statement on her Instagram page, Mottley expressed her honor in welcoming the traditional leader and emphasized the cultural bonds that unite the regions. Wednesday’s agenda featured the GUBA Foundation Walk, a diplomatic golf invitational, and a keynote address by the Asantehene at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, where he also unveiled the university’s new administration building. The visit culminated with the GUBA Awards ceremony at the Wyndham Grand in Bridgetown, marking the first time the prestigious event was held in the Caribbean. This visit not only celebrated cultural heritage but also paved the way for strengthened diplomatic and economic collaboration between Ghana and Barbados.
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V.C. Bird Airport to Resume Homeporting Operations This Saturday
V.C. Bird International Airport is set to recommence its homeporting operations for the cruise industry this Saturday, heralding the beginning of a bustling travel weekend for Antigua’s primary aviation hub. The revival of homeporting signifies a surge in coordination between air and sea arrivals, as passengers fly into Antigua to embark on cruise ships departing from St John’s Harbour. In anticipation of the increased activity, airport authorities are strongly advising travelers to utilize the ‘Arrive Antigua’ online portal to streamline check-in processes and mitigate potential delays. Additionally, passengers are encouraged to prepare for heightened traffic congestion around the terminal. The airport has emphasized its close collaboration with tourism and transportation partners to guarantee a seamless and stress-free experience for all visitors during this peak period.
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Smith Highlights Antigua and Barbuda’s Blue Economy Vision at Global Forum in India
MUMBAI, India — Hon. Anthony Smith Jr., Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy for Antigua and Barbuda, has solidified the twin-island nation’s role as a Caribbean pioneer in sustainable ocean development. Representing his country at India Maritime Week 2025, Smith participated in the second edition of ‘Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue,’ a high-profile international forum bringing together ministers, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance global ocean governance and the Blue Economy. As a featured panelist during ‘Plenary 8: Oceans of Opportunity – Re-imagining the Global Blue Economy,’ Smith shared critical insights on human-capital development for small island states, emphasizing its significance in driving sustainable ocean industries. He highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s strides in Blue Economy policies, including the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Ocean and Blue Economy (COBE), designed to train and empower future professionals in regional ocean sectors. Smith’s address resonated strongly with delegates, particularly young professionals and students, who praised his vision as inspiring and forward-thinking. During his visit, Smith engaged in discussions with environmental engineers and researchers from the Indian Institute of Engineering and the Indian Institute of Science, exploring potential collaborations in marine innovation, ocean technology, and sustainability research. Accompanied by Ms. Marver Woodley, Senior Operations and Policy Manager within the Department of the Blue Economy, Smith’s participation underscored Antigua and Barbuda’s growing reputation as a regional leader in ocean sustainability. At just 30 years old, Smith has emerged as one of the Caribbean’s youngest and most influential advocates for ocean policy. His message in Mumbai was unequivocal: small island states have the potential—and the responsibility—to shape the global Blue Economy. ‘Antigua and Barbuda is ready to lead,’ he declared.
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Dominica is country most affected by impact of extreme weather event in 30 year period, according to Climate Risk Index
Dominica has been identified as the nation most susceptible to extreme weather events over the past three decades, according to the ‘Climate Risk Index 2026’ released by Germanwatch, an independent organization focused on development, environmental, and human rights issues. The report, presented during the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) of the UN climate change gathering in Brazil on November 12, underscores the escalating devastation caused by climate-induced disasters, particularly in poorer nations. Drawing data from the EM-DAT international disaster database, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, the report highlights Dominica’s acute vulnerability to severe weather, exemplified by the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017, which caused damages exceeding three times the country’s GDP at the time. The Climate Risk Index, published since 2006, provides a comprehensive assessment of the human and economic toll of extreme weather events globally. It ranks countries based on fatalities and economic losses over the past year and a 30-year period. Between 1995 and 2024, Dominica, Myanmar, Honduras, Haiti, and Grenada emerged as the most affected nations. In 2024 alone, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada were the hardest hit. The report also cites a World Weather Attribution study linking the unprecedented intensity of recent disasters to human-induced climate change. Since 1995, 9,700 extreme weather events have been documented, with storms accounting for a third of fatalities and $2.64 trillion in global damages. The Caribbean region’s recent experience with Hurricane Melissa, which caused widespread devastation across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, further underscores this trend. Despite Dominica’s efforts to rebuild and become the world’s first climate-resilient nation, Germanwatch warns that climate change is an immediate and defining reality. The organization advocates for urgent global action, including reducing emissions, accelerating adaptation efforts, implementing solutions for loss and damage, and ensuring adequate climate finance.
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Antigua and Barbuda represented at High-Level side event at COP30 in Brazil
At the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, Her Excellency Ruleta Camacho Thomas, Ambassador for Climate Change for Antigua and Barbuda, delivered a compelling address during a high-level side event titled ‘Building Climate Resilience through Debt Reform, Infrastructure Investment, and Private Sector Action.’ Representing the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Camacho Thomas emphasized the urgent need for systemic financial reforms to empower Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in achieving climate-resilient prosperity.
Ambassador Camacho Thomas underscored the existential threat posed by debt to SIDS, stating, ‘Debt is not a technical issue but an existential one for small island nations.’ Despite contributing less than one percent of global emissions, these nations are among the most vulnerable to climate impacts. ‘Every storm, hurricane, or drought forces us deeper into debt as we rebuild what climate disasters destroy,’ she explained. This cycle of debt and disaster has left over 40 percent of SIDS in or near debt distress, with many spending more on debt servicing than on essential sectors like health, education, or climate adaptation.
The Ambassador highlighted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a 10-year development strategy adopted by SIDS, which outlines a comprehensive framework to align debt reform, resilience, and sustainable growth. A cornerstone of ABAS is the Debt Sustainability Support Service (DSSS), a pillar of the Centre of Excellence for SIDS. The DSSS integrates debt reform, climate resilience, and access to finance, offering tools such as debt swaps, restructuring, and climate-contingent clauses to create fiscal space during disasters. It also promotes risk-layered protection systems through insurance and reserves, while channeling savings from debt relief into resilient infrastructure and climate-aligned growth.
Ambassador Camacho Thomas clarified that the DSSS is not a fund but a coordination mechanism connecting existing tools, institutions, and financial flows. ‘It transforms how the financial system treats vulnerable economies, ensuring financial flows align with climate-resilient development,’ she said. She stressed that debt sustainability and climate resilience are inseparable, and reforms like the DSSS are vital for SIDS to achieve resilient prosperity.
Antigua and Barbuda is collaborating with SIDS, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and fragile states to operationalize the DSSS, providing technical expertise, supporting fairer negotiations, and ensuring debt relief translates into tangible resilience investments. Ambassador Camacho Thomas called on development banks, donors, rating agencies, and private investors to prioritize climate finance for debt and resilience reform. ‘Resilience begins with fiscal and financial stability,’ she concluded. ‘The DSSS aligns debt reform with the fight for climate justice. For small islands, this is about survival, dignity, and the right to a sustainable future—achieved through fairness and reform, not charity.’
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COP30: Inheemsen protesteren..’Ons land is niet te koop’
Indigenous demonstrators clashed with security forces outside the venue of the COP30 United Nations climate conference in Belem, Brazil, demanding urgent climate action and forest protection. The protesters attempted to breach the UN compound on Tuesday, where thousands of international delegates had gathered for the climate talks. Many carried flags advocating for land rights and signs with messages such as ‘Our land is not for sale.’
Nato, a leader from the Tupinamba Indigenous community, emphasized the protesters’ demands, stating, ‘Money is not edible. We want our land free from agriculture, oil exploration, illegal mining, and logging.’ Security personnel pushed back the demonstrators, barricading the entrance with tables. Witnesses reported that a guard in a wheelchair was evacuated while clutching his stomach, and another guard sustained a cut above his eye after being struck by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. Security confiscated several heavy sticks from the protesters.
Maria Clara, a demonstrator from the Rede Sustentabilidade Bahia association, highlighted the plight of Indigenous peoples, saying, ‘These voices are being ignored.’ The confrontation ended as the protesters, part of a larger march of hundreds, dispersed. Security later allowed delegates to leave after initially instructing them to remain indoors until the area was secured.
A spokesperson issued a statement confirming the incident: ‘Earlier this evening, a group of protesters breached security barriers at the main entrance of COP, resulting in minor injuries to two guards and slight damage to the venue. Brazilian and UN security personnel implemented protective measures in accordance with established protocols. Authorities are investigating the incident, and the venue is fully secured. COP negotiations continue.’
João Santiago, a professor at the Federal University of Para, noted that the Indigenous movement sought to voice its demands within the ‘blue zone’ but was denied access. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has emphasized the importance of Indigenous communities in this year’s COP30 negotiations. Earlier this week, dozens of Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to participate in the talks and advocate for greater involvement in forest management.
In an interview with Reuters, respected Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, also known as Chief Raoni, expressed frustration over ongoing industrial and development projects in the Amazon. He called on Brazil to support Indigenous efforts to preserve the rainforest.
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Dominican Republic and Paraguay seal agreement to strengthen air connectivity
In a landmark move to enhance bilateral air connectivity and tourism, the Dominican Republic and Paraguay inked a new Air Services Agreement on the inaugural day of the ICAO World Conference on Air Services Agreement Negotiations (ICAN2025). The historic signing took place in Santo Domingo, marking the first time the conference has been hosted in the Dominican capital. The agreement was formalized by Nelson Mendoza Rolón, President of Paraguay’s National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, and Héctor Porcella, President of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC).
This pact is a significant milestone in fostering closer ties between the two nations, particularly in the realms of tourism and economic growth. The deal coincides with Paraguay’s ongoing negotiations with Arajet, a Dominican airline, to launch direct flights from Asunción to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. These flights are expected to commence operations by early 2026, further solidifying the partnership. Anguie Duarte de Melillo, Paraguay’s Secretary of Tourism, emphasized the shared vision of both countries to leverage tourism as a catalyst for economic development.
Running from November 10 to 14, ICAN2025 has convened aviation authorities from across the globe to expand international air transport networks. The Dominican Republic is seizing this opportunity to strengthen its position as a regional aviation hub. During the conference, the country is slated to hold 18 bilateral meetings and sign additional Air Service Agreements (ASAs) with Oman, El Salvador, Greece, and Paraguay. Preliminary discussions are also underway with Eswatini, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), Zimbabwe, and Benin.
Officials underscored that these initiatives align with the Dominican Republic’s broader strategy to enhance its global connectivity and tourism appeal, cementing its role as a key player in the international aviation landscape.
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Five-Year Schengen Visas Now Available to Belizeans
In a landmark development for Belizean travelers, the European Commission has approved a significant visa facilitation agreement for Belizean nationals holding biometric passports. This new arrangement allows Belizeans to obtain five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas, eliminating the need for frequent reapplications. The Schengen Area, comprising 29 European countries with no internal border controls, will now be more accessible to Belizean citizens, whether they hold regular, official, or diplomatic passports. Applications can be processed at Schengen embassies in neighboring countries such as Guatemala or Mexico. This policy marks the most generous visa framework the European Union has extended to any third country, underscoring the robust diplomatic ties between Belize and the EU. Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Francis Fonseca, confirmed the news, emphasizing the potential benefits for tourism, business, education, and cross-border family connections. The move also reflects the EU’s confidence in Belizean travelers, who are not perceived as a security risk. This development is expected to foster stronger cultural and economic exchanges between Belize and Europe.
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BEL Crew Heads to Jamaica to Help Restore Power After Hurricane Melissa
A specialized team from Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has embarked on a mission to Jamaica to aid in the restoration of power infrastructure devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 hurricane struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, unleashing winds surpassing 180 miles per hour and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and critical utilities, particularly in the central and western parishes. The BEL crew, led by Line Supervisor Tyrone Reynolds, includes skilled Power Line Technicians Kareem Lopez, Perr Tillett, Ethan Alvarado, Bladimir Alvarez, Adolfo Oliva, and Kendale August. They will collaborate with other regional teams under the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to expedite the recovery process. BEL CEO John Mencias emphasized the company’s commitment, stating, ‘We stand in solidarity with our Jamaican brothers and sisters by joining our thoughts and prayers with our actions.’ This initiative underscores the regional cooperation and resilience in the face of natural disasters.