The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is calling on Caribbean nations to take a unified and forward-thinking approach to high-skilled migration, emphasizing its dual role as both a challenge and a potential catalyst for sustainable development. This appeal came from PIOJ Director-General Dr. Wayne Henry, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Easton Williams, Director of Social Policy, Planning, and...
Barbados and other CARICOM nations have successfully secured an exemption from a proposed United States tariff plan that threatened to drive up the cost of goods and disrupt shipping to the region. Following weeks of unified lobbying by CARICOM governments, private sector leaders, and regional stakeholders, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has ruled that the Caribbean will not be subject...
Barbadian chess players International Master (IM) Orlando Husbands and Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) Hannah Wilson have etched their names in the history books, becoming the first players from the English-speaking Caribbean to qualify for the FIDE World Cup under its current format. Their historic qualification comes after impressive performances at the Subzone 2.3.3 Open and Women’s Chess...
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has greenlit a major new energy initiative—the Caribbean Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility—targeting Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Developed in collaboration with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and regional governments, the initiative aims to drive the transition to clean, reliable, and...
Barbados’ recent credit rating upgrade by Moody’s is expected to lower borrowing costs, attract more investment, and create room for greater public spending—all positive signs for the island’s economic trajectory, according to leading economist Professor Justin Robinson. Moody’s decision to lift the country’s long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings from B3 to B2, while maintaining a...
Barbados now boasts the largest electric bus fleet in the Western Hemisphere, thanks to the formal handover of 30 new electric buses from the People’s Republic of China. This latest donation brings the island’s total to 89 electric buses and marks the third delivery in an ongoing partnership between the two nations. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw,...
Barbados has strengthened its commitment to the growth of gymnastics through a collaborative initiative with the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the Barbados Amateur Gymnastics Association (BAGA), with plans also underway to introduce the dynamic sport of parkour to the island. The announcement came during discussions between Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles...
Barbados and China have reaffirmed their shared commitment to climate action and sustainable development, with a renewed focus on zero-carbon initiatives. This came as officials from both countries gathered in Rockley for a networking session aimed at deepening cooperation on clean energy and low-carbon innovation. The event, held at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, was organised by the Association of...
“Trade and investment must be at the centre of the Commonwealth’s renewal,” declared Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey during the 2025 Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit. Her remarks came at a pivotal time of global economic disruption, marked by sweeping tariffs that have unsettled markets worldwide and affected several Commonwealth countries directly. "This is no...
The ALIS CALA conference is recognized as the premier event for hotel investment professionals focused on the Caribbean and Latin American markets. Scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 1 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, ALIS CALA brings together a powerful mix of investors, owners, developers, tourism officials, and industry leaders. The event represents a newly unified...