Pulse of the Caribbean

#80 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 1 Week of July 21

• Pulse of the Caribbean

Share episode

Caribbean nations are making headlines with significant legal, technological, and policy developments across the region. From Barbados to Puerto Rico, countries are advancing their economies through innovative approaches while addressing social issues through legislative reforms as highlighted in the latest Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup. 

  • Barbadian businessman Charles Lewis has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Meta for disrupting his global digital business operations
  • Puerto Rico investing $10 million in drone infrastructure for agriculture and public safety
  • St Kitts and Nevis advances geothermal power project with multinational corporations bidding for exploration drilling
  • Dominican Republic's Crisol oil brand secures placement in over 800 Walmart stores 
  • Grenada changing age requirements for marriage
  • St Kitts and Nevis sharing successful crime reduction strategies with Anguilla

Listen online at www.pulseofthecaribbean.com or your favorite streaming platform.

Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribean.com. If you have an interest in sponsoring our podcast, email us at  biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

Speaker 1:

This is the Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup. Now today's Caribbean News Headlines.

Speaker 2:

This podcast is brought to you by Victory Run Walk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Accommodations are now available. Register for the 5K, 10k and Half Marathon Labor Day weekend, august 30th, st Thomas, us Virgin Islands, and Diamond Key. Marina, yosvendike, british Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 1 for the week of July 21st. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines.

Speaker 2:

We start our report in Barbados. Charles Lewis, a Barbadian known as Charlie Spice, and his US-registered digital business, spice Holdings, have filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc, requesting $50 million in compensation damages. Lewis, whose Barbados legal representation comes from in chambers, alleges that the tech giant, which owns Facebook and WhatsApp, immediately suspended and deleted a number of Spice Holdings important business accounts, seriously disrupting the company's worldwide operations. The impact accounts connected to InstaJobs Live. Instajobs Live, a platform that connects recruiters and employers through real-time live streaming. The businessman went on to say that InPoscom and KodoExchangecom, two other platforms owned by Spice Holdings, have also been impacted by this action by Meta. In a complaint, meta is charged with wrongful interference with prospective economic advantage. Wrongful interference with prospective economic advantage, negligent infliction of economic and reputational harm, breach of implied contract and good fate, and unfair and deceptive commercial practices.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop is Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico will be the first US state or territory set to implement a drone infrastructure for agriculture. State or territory set to implement a drone infrastructure for agriculture, disaster response, environmental monitoring, public safety and smart city planning. As reported by News Is my Business. Wang Padilla, founder of CSO Technology Partners, said that the $10 million island-wide project will begin by the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2026. The project, known as Grid of Autonomous Vehicles, yielding a mesh, will employ 30 drone pilots and data workers to operate 200 autonomous drones and 100 command centers. It will comprise 50 precision agricultural drones. In conjunction with the Ponce-based Caribe Drones, cso is building the grid and developing software and apps. The grid will be deployed in San Juan, mayaguez Arecibo Technology and Research Trust, in San Juan University of Puerto Rico, in Mayaguez Inter-American University, in Arecibo, university of Puerto Rico in Ponce and Ana G Mendez University in Gurabo to create the regional hubs. No-transcript.

Speaker 2:

Next up, we head to Nevis. Bidding for the exploration drilling phase of the geothermal power project in Sinkits and Nevis has begun, according to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission. An OACS commission study states that five multinational corporations have competed for this program. On Nevis, a key component of the Federation's Sustainable Island State Agenda, the announcement stated that Iceland Drilling Company, marriott Drilling Consortium Drilling, ormat Technologies Inc. And IPS USA made proposals. The statement states this is a huge step towards energy independence, resilience and a greener future for St Kitts and Nevis, an OACS member state. Pending the winning bid, hamilton Estate geothermal drilling activities for the geothermal plant and electric turbine operations will begin in early 2026.

Speaker 2:

Now on to the Dominican Republic. In a huge milestone for industry in the Dominican Republic, mercosid, part of the CID group, one of the largest Dominican Republic manufacturing conglomerates, announced that over 800 Walmart stores in the eastern United States will sell its Crisol oil brand. A strategic alliance with Ibera Foods at the 2025 National Supermarket Association trade show led to this expansion. Crisol, a Dominican Republic staple, now enters one of the world's most competitive retail markets. As Mercosur expands internationally, the product is likely to appeal to Hispanics, but Walmart's huge retail network is expected to bring a wide variety of US consumers. Grupo Cid's display of products at the National Supermarket Association International Sales and Trade Show is now boosting its US retail ties Next up.

Speaker 2:

Grenada changes minimum age requirements for marriage. After this this is the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 1 for the week of July 21st. After members of both House of Parliament in Grenada adopts the 2025 Marriage Amendment Bill, which is scheduled to be tabled and go through the first parliamentary phase when the lower house meets on July 24th, the marriage age will be raised from 16 to 18 years of age. According to the bill's explanatory notes, this bill seeks to amend the Marriage Act, chapter 184, the principal act, to raise the minimum age at which a person may wed from 16 to 18 years of age and to remove any exceptions thereto, with consequential amendments to related regulations. At the moment, parents or guardians can consent to a child who is 16 years of age or older getting married. Under the Marriage Act, the marriage age will begin at 18, which is the civil legal responsibility under the 2011 Age of Civil Responsibility Act of Grenada, after the modification is authorized and takes effect. Currently, in Grenada, a special marriage license is granted to people who are residing in the country If they are younger than 18, they must show proof that they have approval from their parents or guardians for the special marriage license and here is our final note hosted a high-level team meeting with a delegation from Anguilla, led by Anguilla's Premier, cora Richardson-Hodge, to discuss the Federation's creative and successful crime reduction strategy.

Speaker 2:

Anguilla is seeking to adapt crime prevention, rehabilitation and violence reduction best practices through regional knowledge sharing. In the interactive session, prime Minister Drew presented St Kitts and Nevis' multifaceted crime reduction strategy, emphasizing a holistic, data-driven approach that approaches violence as a public health concern. Collaboration between ministries, communities, law enforcement and mental health specialists have been crucial. The prime minister said this has led up to a 75 percent drop in violent crime and the lowest homicide rate in 25 years in Sinkits and Nevis since August 2024. The Angolian delegation thanks Sinkits and Nevis for sharing its experience. Prime Minister Drew pledged to help regional partners adapt Caribbean-specific solutions.

Speaker 2:

This podcast has been brought to you by Victory Runwalk, sponsored by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Accommodations are now available. Register for the 5K, 10k and Half Marathon Labor Day weekend, august 30th. St Thomas, us Virgin Islands and Diamond Key Marina, yosvendike, british Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Have news and information you'd like to share with us? Send news releases to news at pulseofthecaribbeancom and if you're interested in advertising on our podcast, email us at biz B-I-Z at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 1, for the week of July 21st. Here's a shout out to our listeners in the British and US Virgin Islands and in Washington DC. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

Speaker 1:

For more Caribbean news stories and information, visit us online at pulseofthecaribbeancom. If you found value in this podcast, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and thank you in advance for choosing Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup as your source for Caribbean-centered news.