Pulse of the Caribbean

#81 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 2 Week of July 21

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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The Caribbean region continues to navigate a complex mix of political challenges, environmental leadership, cultural preservation, and policy reforms as highlighted in the latest Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup. 

  • US moves to deport Haitian nationals with permanent residency status for allegedly contributing to the country's instability,
  • Newly appointed US Ambassador Henry Wooster returns to Port-au-Prince pledging foreign assistance 
  • Major immigration reforms in the Cayman Islands will require foreign spouses longer before becoming Caymanian
  • Guyana's President Irfaan Ali leads the Global Biodiversity Alliance launch, showcasing his country's preservation of 85% of its forests
  • The Bahamas advances legislation to establish a National Junkanoo Authority 
  • Nevis will host the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen pageant on August 4th with contestants from several Caribbean nations 

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 at VictoryRunWalkVIcom 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 Roundup. Episode 2 for the week of July 21st. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report at the US State Department. We start our report at the US State Department.

Speaker 2:

Haitian nationals with permanent residency status in the United States have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences. Reginald Boulouse. On Monday, neither the identities of the Haitian nationals to be deported nor the number to be removed from the United States were disclosed. According to the Miami Herald, boulouse, 69, is a physician, businessman and significant political influencer in Haiti who was born in the United States. According to US Immigration and Custom Enforcement, balooz was taken into custody for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act by allegedly aiding in Haiti's instability. The US Immigration and Custom Enforcement statement said specifically, officials determined that he engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to Haiti's destabilization. In other news regarding Haiti, henry Wooster, the recently appointed US ambassador to Haiti has returned to Port-au-Prince and pledged to strengthen the US-Haitian alliance at what he describes as a critical juncture for the nation. As a critical juncture for the nation, wooster, who served in Haiti from 1998 to 2000, says he adds personal connection and experience to his present position as the US embassies charge the affairs in Haiti. Wooster is excited to return to a nation he has pleasant memories of. In his inaugural speech to the Haitian people, Wooster devoted a large amount of his speech to security issues. He underlined that addressing the issue of criminal gangs is of uttermost importance, acknowledging their ongoing threat, worcester pledged foreign assistance to help Haiti regain security and stability.

Speaker 2:

Our next stop is the Cayman Islands. Foreign nationals married to locals in the Cayman Islands will have to wait over two decades for our Caymanian status under major Cayman Island immigration law reforms. The Cayman Islands immigration minister, Michael Miles, made comments on several talk shows about the revisions which are likely to be published next month and introduced to the Cayman Island Parliament in September. These planned immigration law changes in the Cayman Islands will affect everything from status to the point system for a residency petition, making them the most substantial in decades. The most important changes will affect those who marry locals, as their route to Cayman status will now take longer. New spouses will have to wait seven years to apply for a permanent residency certificate. Under the proposed legislation, that's a major change from the law's 12 months. Foreign couples must marry for 22 years before becoming Kamanian. Right-base expatriates must apply for permanent residency and remain on the islands for 15 years before applying for status. The administration has not announced a timeline extension.

Speaker 2:

Next up, we head to Guyana. Guyana's President, ifram Ali, will lead the Global Biodiversity Alliance's launch from July 23rd to July 25th in Georgetown, guyana. Many global political leaders, international organizations, business enterprises, academic institutions, indigenous and local communities and civil society will join the Global Alliance. They aim to create measurable solutions that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable usage as a global development pillar. President Ali called Guyana a biodiversity powerhouse, citing its vast and unspoiled ecosystems that match giant nations. Guyana preserves approximately 85 percent of its forested lands, supporting robust and connected ecosystems even as the globe battles with biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

Speaker 2:

Guyana boasts well over 1,200 bird species, 225 mammal species like jaguars and huge river otters, and about 8,000 plant species, many native to the ancient Guyanese Shield. Environmental success is due to the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, which integrates sustainability into national development objectives. It is noted that rapid species extension rates are at 10 to 100 times higher than natural baselines. Pollination, pure water and fertile soil are threatened by deforestation, habitat loss and climate change. Due to wetland shrinking 35 percent since 1970, two billion plus people now have less safe water and higher disease risk. Guyana collaborates with Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, conservation International, the World Bank, the governments of Brazil and other states, indigenous communities and private sector green finance partners to lead biodiversity conservation. President Ali is encouraging the world to learn from Guyana's experience, emphasizing that economic progress, social inclusion and ecological integrity can coexist.

Speaker 1:

Next up, the Bahamas set to establish a national Junkanoo authority.

Speaker 2:

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Speaker 2:

This is the Pulse of the caribbean news roundup, episode 2 for the week of july 21st. The national junkanoo authority of the bahamas bill, which would establish a permanent agency to regulate, promote and develop junkanoo, was released for a consultation by the Bahamas Ministry of Youth, sports and Culture. The government stated that the legislation is part of a transformative effort to charge the future of June Canoe. It is stated that the National June Canoe Authority of the Bahamas Bill 2025 establishes a permanent organization to govern, promote and grow Junkanoo as a national institution that exists year-round. This project supports the government's blueprint for change, which promotes culture and history as a cornerstone of national development and its commitment to economic empowerment and advancement in the Bahamas. For evaluation and feedback, the ministry shared the draft legislation with the National Junkanoo Committee, junkanoo Corporation of New Providence, grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation and the other family islands, junkanoo associations and cultural organizations. The bill acknowledges that Junkanoo has advanced from a parade into an international cultural industry, according to the Bahamas Youth, sports and Culture Minister, mario Boleg. He said this bill is about proper structure, strategic investment and sustainable growth. And here's our final note. And sustainable growth. And here's our final note.

Speaker 2:

Nevis will host the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen pageant as a part of its Culturama on August 4th. Contestants will come from St Lucia, nevis, belize, the US Virgin Islands, st Kitts and Nevis, guyana, st Vincent and the Grenadines, turk and Caicos and Dominica Shaquanda Holder from Guyana is the current Miss Caribbean Culture Queen. Dominique Trotman from Antigua and Barbuda plays first runner-up in the previous pageant. To learn more about the Queens, visit the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen pageant Facebook page to meet the Queens in the Get to Know you interviews page. To meet the queens in the get to know you interviews.

Speaker 2:

This podcast has been brought to you by victory run walk, sponsored by the us virgin islands department of tourism. Accommodations are now available. Register at victory run walk vicom 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. Have an interest in sponsoring our podcast? Email us at biz at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean. Caribbean News Roundup, episode two for the week of July 21st. Here's a shout out to our listeners in Curacao, kenya and Massachusetts. 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.