This Caribbean Hotel Takes The 8th Spot For Best In The World

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Black Immigrant Daily News

By NAN Staff Writer

NEWS AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 30, 2022: A resort in the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM), has made it into this year’s Top 10 Best in the world, according to TripAdvisor. It is the only Caribbean hotel to make the top 10, top 15 and top 20.

The Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort in the Central American CARICOM nation of Hopkins, Belize was ranked in the Top 8 best hotels worldwide by travelers as TripAdvisor unveiled its ‘Travelers Choice 2022 Best of The Best.’

The Hamanasi is a boutique resort located at Sittee River Road, Hopkins, Stann Creek and nestled between the lush Maya Mountains and the turquoise Caribbean Sea.

It is a naturally secluded, casually elegant eco-resort that offers spacious private tree houses, beach front rooms and suites with AC, private porches and gorgeous hardwood furnishings.

Travelers say it’s a place you can get in touch with yourself and experience the resort’s own nature preserve full of turtles, fish, birds, and tropical vegetation.

Hamanasi is set on 45 acres amid a coastal forest and has a full-service restaurant, bar, pool, lush gardens and a PADI 5-star Marine Facility and dive program. Visitors are close to explore the Mayan ruins, Jaguar Preserve, caves, jungle rivers and rain forest waterfalls.  It offers all-inclusive packages.

“The service is really amazing. We thought they had all been sent to charm school. We’ve recommended this place to our friends and even our enemies,” a visitor wrote according to TripAdvisor’s reviews.

Guests fly from the international airport to the Dangriga Airstrip, which takes approximately 20 minutes, typically in a 14-passenger plane. Staff will be waiting to greet guests and transfer them to the Hamanasi Resort. 

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TRINIDAD-TRADE-TTMA welcomes MOU between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica

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The content originally appeared on: Cana News Business

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Grote voorzichtigheid geboden bij onweersbuien

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

door Arjen Stikvoort PARAMARIBO — “Hoewel bliksem niet in de top tien staat van doodsoorzaken in Suriname, is alertheid toch

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Cayman group to acquire Republic subsidiary

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

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Stuart Dack, CEO of Cayman National Corporation, and Nigel Baptiste, president and CEO of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, shake on an agreement to merge the operations Republic Bank (Cayman) Ltd with Cayman National Bank and Cayman National Securities Ltd. –

The Cayman Islands banking and securities operations of Republic Financials Holdings Ltd (RFHL) are to be acquired, via a merger, by two subsidiaries of Cayman National Corporation (CNC), pending regulatory approvals, it was announced on Monday.

In a statement, CNC said Cayman National Bank (CNB) will merge with Republic Bank (Cayman) Ltd. Also, Cayman National Securities Ltd will take over the securities operations of Republic Cayman.

Once finalised, the remaining entities will be Cayman National Bank and Cayman National Securities.

“The merger of these entities rationalises operations in the Cayman Islands and creates efficiencies, with no loss of service to clients or displacement of staff. All Caymanians at (Republic) will continue to be employed within the Cayman National Group following the completion of the mergers,” the CNC statement said.

It also quoted Stuart Dack, CEO of CNC, who said, “We believe this transaction will add great value to the Cayman National Corporation Group” and that the group looked forward to welcoming Republic’s Cayman clients and staff.

Nigel Baptiste, RFHL president and CEO, said the merger brings the TT group “one step closer to streamlining our operations in the Cayman Islands.”

“This move will enable the RFHL Group to enhance the experience of the existing clients of Republic Bank (Cayman) Ltd by providing access to a wider array of products and services, and eliminating some of the duplication that currently exists across both entities.”

In the coming weeks, Republic Cayman will provide clients with information about the proposed merger, which will be announced once approved by regulators.

In March 2019, RFHL acquired a majority interest – 74.99 per cent – in CNC for US$198 million via its Barbados banking subsidiary.

Its then chairman Ronald Harford said the acquisition of CNC “will allow us to combine and leverage the talents of our two world-class organisations. We are particularly eager to learn from Cayman National’s experience in international financial services and serving high net worth clients.”

At the time, the deal moved RFHL’s asset base to US$12 billion. Earlier this month, RHFL announced TT$1.15 billion in profit for the nine-months ending June 30.

CNC, established in 1974, reported net income of US$11.2 million for the six-month period ending March 31 – down four per cent for the same period a year ago.

Publicly traded on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange, CNC comprises – Cayman National Bank Ltd, Cayman National Fund Services Ltd, Cayman National Securities Ltd, Cayman National Bank (Isle of Man) Ltd and Cayman National Trust Company (Isle of Man) Ltd, and Cayman National (Dubai) Ltd.

Republic Cayman was established in 1992 and holds a trust licence and an unrestricted Class B banking licence under the Banks and Trust Companies Law of the Cayman Islands.

It also holds a mutual funds licence and is a registered excluded person for purposes of the Securities Investment Business Law of the Cayman Islands.

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U.S. Coast Guard Offloads $3.1M In Cocaine Seized In The Caribbean – St. Lucia Times News

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The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Legare and Caribbean Corridor Strike Force agents offloaded 330 pounds (150kgs) of seized cocaine last week in San Juan, Puerto Rico, following the interdiction of a smuggling vessel near the Caribbean island.

A U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan Facebook post said the seized contraband has an estimated wholesale value of approximately $3.1 million.

According to the Coast Guard, eight men apprehended in the case claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.

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The men are facing federal prosecution in Puerto Rico for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Aboard a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States.

The charges carry a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life.

The drug bust occurred during the late night hours of August 16, 2022.

At the time the aircrew of a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine multi-role enforcement aircraft detected a 25-foot suspect vessel north of Isabela, Puerto Rico.

During the interdiction, the smugglers jettisoned multiple bales of suspected contraband into the water.

The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle stopped the suspect vessel, apprehended eight men, and recovered five bales of the jettisoned cargo.

Law enforcement officials transferred the seized contraband and the apprehended men to the cutter Legare for their transport to Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the interdiction was due to multi-agency efforts.

The efforts involved the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), the Caribbean Border Interagency Group, and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.

Photos courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

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Contraloría revela deficiencias en la Oficina Educativa de Arecibo

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

Un informe de la Oficina del Contralor reveló que el Departamento de Educación pagó $418,596 en servicios de agua y luz, que no fueron utilizados en el 90 por ciento de las escuelas cerradas en la región educativa de Arecibo.

“El análisis de una muestra de 10 de las 61 escuelas cerradas entre el 2017 y 2018, indicó que la suspensión de la energía eléctrica se produjo hasta 11 meses posteriores a los cierres y la suspensión del servicio de agua potable hasta 23 meses después. La auditoría de cinco hallazgos señala que los directores y los consejos escolares no cumplieron con los trámites correspondientes para el cierre de las cuentas bancarias de las escuelas, contrario a las Directrices para el Cierre de Cuentas emitidas en el 2017. En una escuela se certificó la emisión de un cheque por $4,834 pero la escuela receptora no evidenció el uso de dichos fondos. En las escuelas restantes la documentación de cuentas bancarias no estuvo disponible”, reza el comunicado.

Además, en el informe resaltan que, al visitar las escuelas, estas se encontraban vandalizadas y rodeadas por animales, equipo deteriorado y desperdicios, lo que no permite maximizar el desarrollo del plantel para otros fines.

Por otra parte, se indica que se “observaron cajas de expedientes de estudiantes y exempleados apilados sin clasificar ni inventariar, en un área húmeda y sin ventilación en dos escuelas que servían de almacén […] La auditoría devela también, que la Oficina Regional de Arecibo, no tuvo un encargado de propiedad del 2018 al 2019, no contaba con los inventarios físicos anuales de los años fiscales del 2017 y 2018, y otras deficiencias relacionadas con la propiedad”. 

Para acceder al informe, acceda a  www.ocpr.gov.pr.

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Senadora radica medida que propone pasar a municipios 5% del 7% del “room tax”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

La líder de la Comision de Cultura y Turismo en el Senado, Ada García Montes, radicó el P. del S. 936 con el propósito de allegar un 5% de un 7% del impuesto sobre el Canon de Ocupación por Habitación (conocido como el “room tax”) a los municipios que son sede de alquileres a corto plazo, como los existentes bajo plataformas como Airbnb y HomeAway.

“La radicación del Proyecto del Senado 936, hace justicia a los municipios quienes destinan más fondos para las áreas de seguridad y salubridad con el fin de manejar adecuadamente el impacto del aumento en alquileres a corto plazo en sus respectivos pueblos.  Esto significaría una redistribución del impuesto actual sin que represente aumento del canon por ocupación de habitación. Destinar fondos del impuesto sobre el canon de habitación o Room Tax sirve de aliciente al presupuesto municipal. Todos somos testigos del aumento en alquileres a través de plataformas digitales como las conocidas Airbnb y otros. Estos generan un aumento en en las visitas que reciben los municipios, lo cual requiere mayor seguridad, entre otros, sin embargo, los alcaldes carecen de fondos económicos para manejar estas y otras situaciones”, informó la legisladora.

Según la medida, que busca enmendar la Ley 272-2003, datos de la Organización de Mercadeo de Destino (DMO, por sus siglas en inglés) indican que a mediados del 2021, la demanda por este servicio aumentó un 85%. 

Aunque representa un buen aire para las economías municipales, García Montes explicó que, a su vez, los ayuntamientos han invertido adicionalmente en otros servicios, como la seguridad y la limpieza y ornato.

“Ese 7% busca aliviar las cargas administrativas de la Oficina de Turismo, garantizar un mayor cumplimiento por parte de los anfitriones y aumentar el capital disponible para reinvertirlos estratégicamente. Turismo mantiene este tipo de acuerdo con varias plataformas, lo que resultó en generar sobre $20 millones. Luego de conocer estos datos entendemos prudente que parte de ese dinero se envíe a los municipios para que fortalezcan la seguridad, la infraestructura vial y mejoren la iluminación, entre otros”, expresó Garcia Montes.

El presidente de la Asociación de Alcaldes y primer ejecutivo de Villalba, Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, favoreció la movida en medio de otras amenazas económicas que enfrentan actualmente los municipios.

“El proyecto 936 propuesto por la senadora representa un posible alivio para los municipios quienes enfrentamos el alza en hospederías individuales sin recibir fondos para el mantenimiento en carreteras, seguridad y servicios”, reiteró el alcalde.

Lea la medida: p del s impuesto habitaciones para municipios 7-jul-2022 sen. ada i. garcía

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César Vázquez confirma pudiera haber primarias para la gobernación en Proyecto Dignidad

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Radio Isla TV

El presidente del partido Proyecto Dignidad, César Vázquez Muñiz, confirmó entre risas que, de cara a las elecciones del 2024, pudiera enfrentarse en una primaria con Ada Norah Henriquez, quien fuera candidata a la comisaría residente en el 2020 por el partido.

“De nosotros dicen muchas cosas. Yo no sé qué va a pasar, Penchi […] Si se cumple con el sistema alterno nuestro, pudiera haber primarias”, indicó Vázquez Muñiz en entrevista en Tiempo Igual, espacio en el que tampoco descartó que haya más aspirantes.

“Ella en algunos momentos ha dicho que estaría disponible, como lo ha dicho media humanidad. En Proyecto Dignidad, a mí no me importa, al final del día, quién gane. Yo lo que quiero es que Puerto Rico vuelva a tener un gobierno honesto, independientemente de quién sea el candidato”, expresó el doctor.

El pasado lunes 22 de agosto, la senadora por dicho partido, Joanne Rodríguez Veve, confirmó en Pega’os en la mañana que no aspirará al cargo de primera mandataria.

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The SVG Sailing Association has completed its second 7-week sailing program

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: NBC SVG

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Association has completed its second 7-week sailing program for sailors at Petit Bordel, Blue Lagoon Marina, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island.

Over 70 new and experienced sailors took part in the event which included camps, clinics and racing events organised by the Association’s Coaching team.

The program taught sailing skills within the communities with the aim to have fun, but also to discover talent to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at regional and international competitions, and to gain vocational qualifications for careers in the yachting industry

At Blue Lagoon, Mayreau and Bequia the objective was to work to encourage better techniques, help with rigging, and to develop new racing tactics.

At Petit Bordel, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island the Programme provided the opportunity for participants to practice basic sailing skills.

This year’s programme was supported by Barefoot Yacht Charters, the Bryan Adams Foundation, Kestrel Worldwide Shipping, and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Association will next hold a Fun Regatta at Blue Lagoon Marina on 10th September.

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The Leeward islands are the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 Champions

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: NBC SVG

The Leeward Islands Under-19s held on with one wicket remaining, to win Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 Championship in a roller coaster three-day final against Barbados at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex here in St Vincent and the Grenadines last Saturday.

Left-handed allrounder, Nathan Edwards was unbeaten with 11 off 55 balls in over 90 minutes as he played a defensive masterclass for to help Leeward Islands hold on in their second innings on 51-9 to avoid being dismissed and denied Barbados Under-19s the title in dramatic fashion.

On last Saturday’s final day of the 3-day match, the Leeward Islands Under-19s resumed their 1st innings on 172-4, 107 runs behind Barbados Under-19s 1st innings total of 279-8 declared.

Before being dismissed in the 98th over, the experience of overnight batsman, Carl Bowen-Tuckett shone through in a crucial and composed innings of 68 off 200 balls with two boundaries to anchor the Leeward Islands Under-19s ahead of his team declaration on 250-8 to enable the team to earn key batting points for scoring 250 and facing 98 overs.

Although Barbados Under-19s held a 29-run lead, the Leeward Islands Under-19s had closed the points gap due to accumulated fast bowling and batting points accumulated.

That small lead on 1st innings for Barbados Under-19s became insignificant when Edwards trapped opener, Achilles Browne without scoring with the second delivery. Medium pacer, Chamiqueko Landerfort took 4-16 off 6 overs with 1 maiden as Barbados collapsed to 76-9.

In the final analysis, to win the match the Leeward Islands Under-19s were required to chase the 106 to win or just bat out the final session. On the other hand, Barbados Under-19s had to get all 10 wickets.

The Leeward Islands Under-19s started to wobble   When fast bowler, Johan Layne took a wicket in the first over of Leeward Islands Under-19s run chase started to wobble. Left-arm, leg-spinner, Nathan Sealy seemed to bowling Barbados Under-19s to victory with an inspired spell of 6-10, but one final twist occurred.

Sealy dropped Edwards at first slip off left-arm, leg- spinner, Devon Stevenson, a wicket which would have won Barbados the title. In the end Edwards and last man Onaje Armoy survived the final stages to win the championship for the Leeward Islands.

Edwards had a great all-rounder tournament. He scored 133 runs at an average of 44.33 and took 12 wickets at 15.25.

The final scores: Barbados Under-19s 279-8 declared, and 76-9, the Leeward Islands Under-19s 250-8 declared and 51-9.

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