Saint Lucia’s Opposition Leader, Allen Chastanet, has passionately advocated for the empowerment of small businesses, emphasizing their vital role in driving economic growth and preserving cultural heritage in the Caribbean. Speaking at the 10th Annual Leo Leacock Memorial Lecture at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, Chastanet celebrated the significance of small enterprises in...
One of the Caribbean’s most dynamic hospitality leaders has stepped into a significant new role: president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). Sanovnik Destang, executive director of the Bay Gardens Resorts in Saint Lucia, has been officially elected as the association’s new president. His appointment was confirmed at the recent CHTA General Meeting. Destang, who was recognized...
The Caribbean nations offering Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs have once again cemented their dominance in the global migration industry, as evidenced by the latest 2024 CBI Index. For the fourth consecutive year, St Kitts and Nevis has been named the top-ranking nation, securing an impressive score of 84%. Other Caribbean nations, including Dominica (80%), Grenada (77%), Saint Lucia (74%), and...
Barbados is now part of the Kinesis Free Accelerator programme, a new initiative designed to enhance the growth and sustainability of startups with social and environmental impact across Latin America and the Caribbean. The programme, funded by USAID and operated by Agora Partnerships, was recently launched during an interactive event. Kinesis operates across several countries, including Chile,...
Recent reports have highlighted comprehensive analyses of tourism arrivals across Caribbean destinations and forecasts for the upcoming travel season. These insights are crucial for the region's tourism industry, a cornerstone of its economic vitality. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), renowned for its extensive tourism research spanning macro and micro trends that influence the region's...
The Barbados Community College (BCC) is now accepting applications for its Real Estate Sales programme, offering a golden opportunity for those looking to enter or advance within the real estate industry. The course begins on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, and applications must be submitted by Friday, October 4, 2024. This part-time, five-month certificate programme aims to prepare participants for a career...
BIBA Hosts Official Launch Event for October's Global Business Week Barbados is set to host Global Business Week from October 20 to 26, 2024, as announced by BIBA, the Association for Global Business. The launch event highlighted the island's ongoing efforts to remain competitive despite recent changes in corporate tax rates. Addressing concerns about companies leaving Barbados after the corporate...
IDB Invest, which is part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and works with private companies, has raised $750 million by selling a bond under its Global Debt Program. A bond is basically a loan investors give to an organization, and in return, they get interest over time. This bond will last for 2.5 years, and it pays 3.625 percent interest every six months. The price of the bond was set at a...
Barbados is poised to make history with the launch of the world’s first vehicle powered by renewable natural gas (RNG) derived from Sargassum seaweed, Blackbelly sheep manure, and rum distillery wastewater. This innovative project, a result of over a year of research by the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, marks a major step in renewable energy development. The initiative, spearheaded by...
First Hotel Set to Open in the Dominican Republic in 2026 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has unveiled plans to significantly expand its presence in the Caribbean, announcing a deal to open five new Sonesta ES Suites properties in the Dominican Republic. This move forms part of the company's broader strategy to grow its footprint in Latin America. The first of these properties, an 80-room...