From Port-Au-Prince To Harlem: How A Haitian Immigrant Handbag Maker Became A Viral Fashion Phenomenon

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Dec. 23, 2025: In a moment when Haitian immigrants are often discussed through the lens of crisis, deportation, or policy debates, Pierre Laborde, a Harlem-based Haitian born designer, is quietly rewriting that narrative – one handcrafted handbag at a time.

Haitian immigrant bag marker Pierre Laborde whose bags have gone viral featured in NY Times

Laborde, a Haitian immigrant and self-taught luxury bag maker, has become an unlikely viral sensation, drawing long lines, sold-out drops, and social media frenzy for his vividly colored, meticulously crafted handbags. Recently featured by The New York Times, Laborde’s story is not just about fashion – it is about Caribbean creativity, immigrant perseverance, and the power of cultural craft in the diaspora.

A Haitian Creative Journey Rooted In Craft

Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Laborde immigrated to New York shortly after finishing high school, carrying with him a deep love for fashion shaped by Haiti’s tradition of tailoring and personal style. Long before TikTok and viral drops, he was altering fabrics, experimenting with color, and imagining bags that stood apart from mass-produced luxury.

“In Haiti, all my clothes were tailor-made,” Laborde has said, noting that fashion was always personal, expressive, and intentional. That philosophy now defines his handbags — bold, tactile pieces that resist trends and mass replication.

Years Of Quiet Hustle Before The Spotlight

For nearly a decade, Laborde sold his bags at the Grand Bazaar on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, often enduring weeks with few or no sales. He balanced odd jobs, studied fashion design one class at a time at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and turned his Harlem apartment into both workshop and showroom.

There were moments, he admits, when continuing felt impossible.

But persistence – a familiar trait in Caribbean immigrant stories – carried him forward.

A Viral Moment Meets Community Demand

Everything changed when a TikTok video urging viewers to “blow this man’s brand up” circulated late last year. Without major marketing, investors, or fashion-house backing, Laborde’s work found its audience organically. Shoppers began lining up hours early. Drops sold out in minutes. Crowd control systems had to be introduced to keep things orderly.

His bags, now priced between $295 and $1,200, remain handmade, limited, and deeply personal – each reflecting a commitment to craftsmanship rather than scale.

More Than Fashion: A Diaspora Success Story

What makes Laborde’s rise particularly significant is its timing. Haitian immigrants in the U.S. are currently facing heightened scrutiny, the loss of legal protections, and widespread misinformation. Against that backdrop, his success challenges narrow narratives and highlights the economic, cultural, and creative contributions Haitians bring to American life.

His story echoes a broader Caribbean truth: that migration is not merely movement born of hardship, but also a transfer of skill, vision, and cultural capital.

Redefining Luxury Through Caribbean Hands

Laborde’s handbags are not produced in factories or driven by seasonal trends. They are shaped by lived experience, patience, and artistic integrity – values deeply rooted in Caribbean making traditions.

As customers continue to applaud him at market tables and online drops sell out within minutes, Laborde remains grounded.

“There were times I went home with zero dollars,” he has reflected. “So this is overwhelming.”

For many in the Caribbean Diaspora, it is also affirming – a reminder that behind viral moments are years of unseen labor, and behind every “overnight success” is a long immigrant journey worth telling.

Why Guyana Has Become a Core Growth Engine For Massy Group

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By Keith Bernard

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Dec. 22, 2025: On December 18th, 2025, Massy Group released its Management Discussion and Analysis of its Fiscal 2025 operations, which I performed a quick analysis focusing on its Guyana business.

Guyana’s growing importance to Massy Holdings Limited became unmistakable in FY2025, marking a clear progression from its already positive performance in FY2024. While Guyana had been recognized as a high-growth market in the prior year, FY2025 demonstrated that this growth is no longer merely potential but a material contributor to Group results. Strong economic expansion translated into higher consumer demand, improved volumes, and rising profitability, particularly within Integrated Retail and Gas Products. The delivery of double-digit profit growth in gas operations and solid retail performance highlights how Guyana has moved beyond incremental gains seen in FY2024 to become a dependable driver of earnings.

Equally important is the strategic shift that occurred in FY2025. Where FY2024 was characterized by consolidation and groundwork, FY2025 reflected decisive investment in capacity, including new distribution infrastructure to support rapidly expanding demand. Improved governance, forecasting, and working-capital discipline further strengthened cash generation and operational predictability.

In conclusion, taken together, these developments underscore Guyana’s transition from a promising growth story in FY2024 to a central pillar of Massy’s earnings momentum and future expansion strategy in FY2025 – an evolution that deserves broader attention as a case study in how targeted investment and disciplined execution can unlock sustained economic value.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Keith Bernard is a Guyanese-born, NYC-based analyst and a frequent contributor to News Americas. 

New Caribbean Artist Rising: Lylo Gold Breaks Genre Boxes

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By Madelyn Herrera

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Dec. 22, 2025: When Lylo Gold released her debut album ‘Lylo Land,’ she entered the industry at a moment when Black and Caribbean artists were still being boxed into genres that often reflect race more than sound. The London-based artist, who has Jamaican and African roots, is using the project to challenge how her music is categorized and heard.

Caribbean roots artist Lylo Gold

Breaking Genre Boundaries

As an artist with a Caribbean background, she feels like her music is at risk of being put into a box where she can only delve into one sound. She doesn’t want to be defined by one label or genre just because of her roots.

When I asked her if her sound was influenced by her background, she answered: “Whether or not it’s R&B or it’s reggae or it’s hip-hop, it doesn’t really matter because the essence and the spirit of the music is you.”

“Wherever I am, my Black heritage, my African heritage, my Caribbean heritage and all the people that came before me will always exist in everything I do. From the way that I sing, to the way that I write, to the way that I look at the world,” Gold added.

Black music has evolved in hundreds of ways over centuries. It has always been about blending, bending, and reinventing sound to reflect lived experience and history. From ska and lover’s rock to soul, funk and hip-hop, Caribbean and African diasporic artists have shaped nearly every major genre of modern music.

Gold refuses to accept a label assigned to her because she is Black. Her stance is part of a much longer story in which Black artists have pushed modern music forward in countless ways.

“It’s weird that you need to know when the artist is Black instead of simply acknowledging that the music is Black,” she says. “I think that’s the issue I have with the way African Caribbean music is portrayed.”

For Gold, the problem lies in how Black and African Caribbean music is often pigeonholed into being Afrobeat or reggae, when in truth, all of it belongs to a broader Black musical heritage.

When I asked her why she thinks this is an issue in the music industry, her response was clear: “The categorization of our music is really lazy.”

The mislabeling of Black artists might seem minor in the grand scheme, but that is exactly the problem. Lylo explains, “It’s just a way of limiting the culture to whatever people are comfortable with. And people are comfortable with Black artists making R&B.”

Questions around categorization resurfaced publicly following Beyoncé’s historic wins for Cowboy Carter in 2025. Shortly afterward, the Recording Academy announced changes to its country album categories, introducing distinctions such as Best Contemporary Country Album and Best Traditional Country Album. While the Academy did not explicitly link the decision to Beyoncé’s success, the timing sparked widespread debate within the industry about who is allowed to occupy certain genres and how boundaries are enforced.

Reflecting on that moment, Gold points to a familiar pattern. She notes that when Black artists reach levels of commercial or critical success traditionally dominated by white artists, the standards often shift. “Every time Black people enter that realm,” she says, “it feels like the goalpost moves.”

Lylo’s perspective is informed by years of academic study and deep engagement with music history. During her university years, where she specialized in music, she began to recognize how deeply Caribbean and African cultures are embedded across global genres. From Korean pop and Japanese pop to reggaeton and hip-hop, many contemporary sounds trace their roots back to Jamaican and African musical traditions.

She points to artists like Jimi Hendrix and Big Mama Thornton who have shaped rock and roll. Because music has blended so much today with genres like trap and soul mixing freely, Gold believes that categorizing music is no longer as important as it once was.

Lylo Land And Her Legacy

Lylo Gold is not just critiquing the past and present, she’s creating with her own voice. Her latest release Lylo Land tells a story of heartbreak, healing and self-love. The songs on this album are a blend of influences from across genres, tied together by a distinctive story and theme.

“I was obsessed with how the songs flow and tell a story. It’s about acceptance, growth, and choosing to love again,” she says.

Her music also carries a sense of spirituality, as she believes we are all touched by music in some way. “Everything matters,” she says. “Sometimes I write songs I think are cringe, but I trust that authenticity and vulnerability, because it touches people.”

Her song ‘With You’ celebrates choosing someone and choosing love, which feels refreshing in a landscape where many artists focus on toxic relationships. “It’s so nice to delve into the idea of love. And I think Black girls need to delve into it. So much of our music is toxic love,” she says.

Beyond romantic love, Gold also turns inward. In her song ‘Found Love,’ she explores self-love, a message she hopes resonates with all women, but especially with Black women, as a Black woman herself.

She says, “I am allowed to be a person like everybody else instead of it always being, ‘she’s a strong Black woman.’

I am strong when I need to be strong and I am also lovable when I need to be lovable and soft and emotional and all these other things. Why are we only allowed to have three characteristics?”

Gold allows her fans to feel and resonate with her music however they want. She says, “My job as an artist isn’t to police or decide what people should feel.”

That sense of freedom is at the heart of everything she is creating. She is not just redefining Caribbean sound, she is expanding it, pushing it forward and refusing to let the industry decide where she belongs.

Future Projects

Now that her album Lylo Land is out, she is focused on her next big project beyond the music scene. She is also involved with Hype and Genius, a social enterprise focused on providing resources for emerging creators.

The organization runs programs and music camps and after securing new funding, it plans to invest one hundred thousand pounds into sixty UK artists over the next two years. The aim is to offer paid opportunities, community employment and industry-led masterclasses for artists who often lack access to these spaces.

And when asked about her future in music, Gold says, “I want to make a reggae project. I want to make R&B projects. I want to continue to write all of the things that I do, because all of those exist within who I am. And I just think there is no limit.”

As she moves into this next phase, her focus remains on exploring the full range of her sound and the cultural influences that shape it. Where that leads her is still unfolding, but she is clear on one thing: the music she wants to make will not be confined to the categories the industry has relied on for decades.

Check out her music HERE

Let Caribbean Leadership Shine

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By Dr. Isaac Newton

News Americas, New York, NY, Thurs. Dec. 18, 2025: The recent decision by President Donald Trump to impose U.S. visa restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica should not be read as an ending, but as a diagnostic moment. Power has a way of speaking in policy rather than poetry, and when it does, small states are forced to interpret the subtext. The question is not whether the Caribbean has been treated fairly, but whether Caribbean leadership is prepared to respond with clarity rather than reflex.

FLASHBACK – US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for a meeting with House leadership on the military strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, December 16, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Visa restrictions are not moral judgments. They are administrative signals shaped by data, trust, and institutional confidence. The real work therefore sits closer to home than to Washington. Leadership must focus on tightening governance systems, aligning regulatory practices, strengthening verification processes, and communicating seriousness through action rather than press statements. International confidence is rarely negotiated in crisis; it is accumulated through quiet consistency.

The vulnerability exposed here is not size but fragmentation. When responses are uncoordinated and reforms are delayed, small states appear uncertain even when they are capable. The global environment rewards countries that plan ahead, manage risk deliberately, and engage partners with preparation instead of protest. Strategic leadership requires foresight, not improvisation.

The Caribbean holds tangible strengths: location that matters, people who adapt quickly, and histories that have sharpened judgment. What remains is the disciplined translation of these assets into durable institutions and credible public administration. Modern sovereignty is not performed. It is practiced daily through reliability, competence, and measured decision-making.

This moment offers a choice. Remain trapped in explanation, or move decisively into reform. Travel restrictions may slow movement, but they do not define destiny. The Caribbean’s future will be shaped by leaders who think beyond reaction, govern beyond excuses, and build systems that work regardless of external pressure. Leadership, when it is deliberate and grounded, becomes its own form of access.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Isaac Newton is a strategist and scholar trained at Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia. He advises governments and international institutions on governance, transformation, and global justice, helping nations and organizations turn vision into sustainable progress.

Bridges Under Strain: Diplomacy, Due Process And The Caribbean U.S. Compact

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By Dr. Sheila Newton Moses

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Dec. 18, 2025: The United States’ recent expansion of travel restrictions to 39 countries has quietly but significantly drawn several small Caribbean states, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, into a policy framework justified by security, documentation integrity, and immigration compliance. Their inclusion raises a fundamental question for diplomacy. By what measurable standards were these countries assessed, and how were those standards applied?

Two US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys depart at Mercedita International Airport on December 16, 2025 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Aircraft movements and coordinated exercises were observed throughout the day as part of heightened regional military readiness linked to ongoing operations at US military bases and maritime security efforts in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump administration is conducting a military campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, deploying naval and air forces for what it calls an anti-drugs offensive. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)

Categorized under partial restrictions, these nations are neither deemed hostile nor unstable. Yet their placement alongside vastly different geopolitical contexts invites scrutiny of both the criteria used and the transparency of the process. In international affairs, ambiguity itself carries consequence.

For Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, the implications extend beyond travel. Their economies are deeply interconnected with the United States through tourism, education, financial services, and remittances. Even a technical perception of elevated risk can undermine investor confidence, disrupt travel flows, and weaken diaspora engagement.

Antigua and Barbuda shares a particularly strong human bond with the United States. Many Antiguans and Barbudans are second and third generation American citizens, woven into U.S. civic, professional, and cultural life. Restrictions that complicate travel for family, study, or business risk straining not only economic ties but the social fabric linking these nations.

This moment also prompts diplomatic inquiry. Were bilateral consultations undertaken before the restrictions were imposed? Was there technical engagement or remediation to address U.S. concerns in advance? Historically, U.S. Caribbean relations have rested on cooperation and shared security interests, including counter narcotics efforts, maritime safety, disaster response, and regional stability. These are not distant partners but neighbors connected by maritime borders, economic interdependence, and decades of coordinated security dialogue.

At its core, this development tests the strength of a long standing relationship. While every sovereign nation has the right to secure its borders, effective diplomacy depends on clarity, engagement, and proportionality, especially among trusted partners. The central question is not whether security matters, but how it is pursued. Collaborative benchmarks and transparent dialogue can address concerns without eroding goodwill.

As Caribbean governments seek clarification and the United States advances its objectives, the durability of this relationship will depend on whether diplomacy once again leads the process, ensuring that longstanding bridges of partnership are preserved rather than weakened.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Sheila Newton Moses is a global consultant, educator, and writer specializing in policy, governance, and institutional accountability. Her interdisciplinary training informs rigorous, evidence grounded analysis that advances equity, collaboration, and durable public trust.

The Setai Expands Global Footprint With New Luxury Resort In St. Maarten, The Setai St. Maarten

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News Americas, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, Thurs. December 18, 2025: The Setai Hotels, one of the world’s most celebrated names in luxury hospitality and Toronto-based Altree Developments, a leader in international real estate, today announced a strategic partnership and the next chapter in its global expansion.

Vie L’Ven is evolving into its next chapter through a new partnership with The Setai, the globally celebrated hospitality brand known for its refined approach to service and design. The primary hotel will now debut as The Setai St. Maarten, a luxurious 205-key and private villas set along the pristine shores of Indigo Bay. This collaboration marks The Setai’s highly anticipated Caribbean debut and a major step in the brand’s continued growing international portfolio. Expanding beyond its established destinations in the U.S. and the Middle East, this partnership brings together The Setai’s legacy of refined hospitality with Altree’s vision for world-class residential development, merging two forces known for excellence in design, service and craftsmanship. Construction is underway, with completion expected for 2028.

​​“We are thrilled to bring The Setai to the shores of St. Maarten, a destination that perfectly complements our vision of timeless luxury and cultural inspiration,” said the Nakash Family, owners of The Setai. “This project marks an exciting next chapter for our brand as we continue to grow globally, always guided by the principles of authenticity, sophistication, and unparalleled guest experience.”

Committed to redefining Caribbean luxury, the concept for The Setai St. Maarten has been brought to life by renowned partners Studio Munge, HKS Architects and Leading Hotels of The World, all of whom have been recognized globally for their dedication to creating world-class properties.

The Resort offerings will remain anchored with signature amenities that will include a beach club with dedicated cabanas and butler service, a Les Clefs d’Or concierge team, three pools, including an adults-only oasis, a 30,000 square foot Destination Spa, tennis and pickleball courts, on-beach water sports, a children’s playroom, childcare programs and access to a protected nature reserve.

Extending this same standard of excellence to its culinary program, the resort will feature five restaurant concepts, including Ocean Grill Beach Club and Jaya, both inspired by the acclaimed culinary concepts of The Setai, Miami Beach.

Zev Mandelbaum, President and CEO of Altree Developments, shared, “From the very beginning, our vision has been to create something extraordinary for the island. Teaming up with the Nakash family to bring The Setai’s first Caribbean property to life allows us to honor St. Maarten’s beauty and distinct character while shaping a new level of hospitality for the region.”

Blending The Setai’s renowned standard of luxury with the natural beauty of the Caribbean, the resort will feature both residential and hotel accommodations. The Setai St. Maarten will offer an array of spacious one to four-bedroom layouts, spanning from approximately 620 to over 2,000+ square feet and dual key residence options expanding up to 6,000 square feet.

The debut of The Setai St. Maarten marks a defining moment for the island, introducing a level of craftsmanship and service that will position St. Maarten among the world’s most distinguished luxury destinations.

For The Setai St. Maarten sales inquiries, contact Sales Representatives:

Anne-Wytske Hoekstra (annewytske@thesetaistmaarten.com)

Shirley van der Borden (shirley@thesetaistmaarten.com)

You can also call +1-721-544-1545, visit thesetaistmaarten.com, or tour the model suite at the presentation gallery on Indigo Bay Boulevard, St. Maarten. You can find The Setai St. Maarten on Instagram and Facebook.

About Altree Developments

Altree Developments is a leader in the international real estate landscape, rooted in a 70-year multi-generational family legacy in the development industry. Under the visionary leadership of Zev Mandelbaum, Altree is redefining urban living by transforming strategic residential and commercial sites into leading destinations. With an admirable portfolio that includes ultra-luxury condominiums and expansive master-planned communities, Altree’s influence stretches across some of the most coveted addresses in Canada, America, and now, Saint Maarten. Driven by an unwavering commitment to innovation and luxury, Altree’s projects are designed to stand the test of time, offering unparalleled value and shaping the future of urban living. For more information, visit altreedevelopments.com.

About The Setai Hotels

The Setai Hotels is a collection of privately owned hotels that represent a vision of unprecedented luxury and service, with a calm and serene ambiance at the heart of each property. The hotels offer connectivity to their host cities while also creating a discreet escape and utmost privacy for its guests. Its Miami Beach flagship holds membership with The Leading Hotels of the World; is recognized as an AAA Five Diamond hotel and Michelin Guide Key holder; and has been awarded in the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as by the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award consecutively since 2015. In 2018, the brand introduced the luxury, sophistication and renowned service to Tel Aviv as a LHW hotel in the historic old Jaffa region, followed by a third location in the Sea of Galilee. Looking ahead, the Setai St. Maarten is anticipated to open in 2028 as a LHW property. For more information, visit thesetaihotel.com.

Jamaica To Host Official Celebration Honoring The Life Of Reggae Icon Jimmy Cliff

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News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tues. Dec. 16, 2025: Jamaica is preparing to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of reggae legend, The Honorable Jimmy Cliff, OM, with an official national tribute that will reflect the joy, music, and cultural impact that defined his career.

FLASHBACK – Jimmy Cliff performs on stage at Bestival 2018 at Lulworth Estate on August 4, 2018 in Lulworth Castle, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, announced that the farewell will be an “Official Celebration of a well-lived life,” honoring the wishes of the iconic singer, who made it clear he did not want a somber or traditional funeral service.

“Jimmy didn’t want a sad or somber occasion,” Minister Grange said. “He wanted a celebration of his life, and we are honoring his memory and his wishes.”

OFFICIAL CELEBRATION

The Official Celebration of the Life of Jimmy Cliff will take place on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, beginning at 3:00 p.m., a change from the previously announced 10:00 a.m. start time.

According to Minister Grange, the celebration will be centered on the music that defined Jimmy Cliff’s global legacy. Approximately 20 of his most beloved songs will be performed by some of Jamaica’s leading entertainers, highlighting the artist’s enduring influence on generations of musicians and fans worldwide.

Scheduled performers include Dwight Richards, Tessanne Chin, Nadine Sutherland, Beenie Man, Alaine, Duane Stephenson, and Jimmy Cliff’s daughter, Lilty Cliff, who will join in honoring her father’s musical journey.

The celebration will also feature tributes from officials of state, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, underscoring Jimmy Cliff’s significance not only as a cultural icon but as a national figure whose work helped shape Jamaica’s global identity. International tributes will be delivered via video by fellow reggae luminaries Ziggy Marley and Shaggy.

Minister Grange encouraged members of the public to attend with the spirit of celebration in mind. “We invite Jamaicans to come prepared to celebrate the life and enduring impact of Jimmy Cliff on Jamaica, as well as on global culture and entertainment,” she said.

Jimmy Cliff, whose career spanned more than six decades, was one of reggae’s earliest international ambassadors, breaking barriers with classics such as Many Rivers to Cross, The Harder They Come, and You Can Get It If You Really Want. His work not only helped bring reggae to the world but also amplified themes of resilience, justice, and hope.

The legendary singer passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 81, leaving behind a musical legacy that continues to inspire artists and audiences across continents.

Wednesday’s celebration is expected to be both a powerful tribute and a joyful reflection of a life dedicated to music, culture, and the soul of Jamaica.

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Caribbean Growth Outlook For 2026-2027

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By NAN Business Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Dec. 16, 2025: The outlook for Caribbean growth for 2026 and 2027 points to a widening divide between resource-driven growth and tourism-dependent economies, according to new projections from the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, (ECLAC) and the World Bank.

ECLAC forecasts average growth of 8.2% for the Caribbean in 2026, largely driven by Guyana’s continued oil expansion. The World Bank projects 5.7% growth for the broader Caribbean economies. However, when Guyana is excluded, growth across the rest of the subregion is expected to slow sharply to approximately 1.7%, underscoring the region’s structural vulnerabilities.

Guyana is projected to remain the fastest-growing economy in the Caribbean, with the World Bank forecasting 15.7% GDP growth in 2026, fueled by sustained investment in hydrocarbons. By contrast, several tourism-dependent economies face more moderate or fragile trajectories. The Bahamas is expected to experience slower growth amid relatively stagnant stayover tourism, while Jamaica may face economic contraction in early 2026 following the impact of Hurricane Melissa on tourism and agriculture.

ECLAC

ECLAC warns that the region remains highly exposed to external shocks, including slower U.S. economic growth, rising energy and transportation costs, high public debt levels, and increasing climate-related risks. While service exports are expected to remain resilient, uncertainty in global trade, commodity price volatility, and delayed interest rate cuts by major central banks pose downside risks.

The outlook reinforces the need for Caribbean economies to diversify beyond tourism, strengthen resilience, and expand into higher-value sectors such as energy, logistics, food security, and digitally delivered services.

Projected GDP Growth Rates for Selected Caribbean Economies (2026–2027)

Ranked from Highest to Lowest (2026)

RankCountry2026 Growth (%)2027 Growth (%)1Guyana23.024.32Dominican Republic4.24.43Dominica3.42.84Grenada3.42.75Suriname3.33.56St. Vincent and the Grenadines2.92.77St. Lucia2.31.98Barbados2.01.79Jamaica1.71.610Trinidad and Tobago1.33.211Bahamas1.21.312Belize1.11.1

Source: World Bank

In the Caribbean, growth is forecast at 5.8% in 2026, led overwhelmingly by Guyana’s oil sector expansion. Excluding Guyana, regional growth is expected to slow to approximately 3.1% in 2026, highlighting the increasing divergence between resource-driven economies and tourism-dependent states.

Felicia J. Persaud, CEO of Invest Caribbean, reacting to the World Bank’s Global Economic forecast data, said: “The time to invest in the Caribbean is now – and the data clearly supports it. For too long, the region has been underestimated. The numbers show a Caribbean that is resilient, investable, and increasingly central to global growth and capital flows.”

Caribbean Competition – Weak Competition Is Holding Back Growth In The Caribbean And Latin America – IDB

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By NAN Business Editor

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Mon. Dec. 15, 2025: Caribbean Competition is weak and holding back growth across the region as well as in Latin America, according to a new flagship report released by the Inter-American Development Bank, (IDB). The report, titled Markets for Development: Improving Lives through Competition, forms part of the IDB’s Development in the Americas series, which uses rigorous data and economic analysis to outline policy priorities to boost prosperity in the region.

Competition As A Driver of Growth

FLASHBACK – People travel by bus during a nationwide blackout in Santo Domingo on November 11, 2025. Santa Domingo found itself without electricity Tuesday as the Dominican Republic’s energy company announced a blackout of unspecified scope, caused by a “transmission system failure.” (Photo by Eddy Vittini / AFP) (Photo by EDDY VITTINI/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the report’s central findings is that markets in Latin America and the Caribbean are, on average, about four times more concentrated than those in advanced economies – meaning fewer dominant firms control larger portions of goods and services. This market power translates into higher markups, limited consumer choice, and slower productivity growth, according to the Bank.

If markets across the region operated with the same level of competitive intensity as in advanced economies, the IDB estimates per-capita output (GDP per person) could rise by about 11%, while income inequality might shrink by around 6%.

Strong competition is shown to benefit not only consumers through lower prices but also workers through higher real wages and expanded employment opportunities.

Business Environment Challenges

The report highlights several structural barriers that hinder competition, including:

Market Fragmentation: High logistics costs and poor connectivity within and between markets make it harder for firms to scale and compete.

Regulatory Complexity: Excessive or poorly designed regulations discourage new entrants and protect entrenched incumbents.

Weak Institutions: Many competition authorities in the region have limited resources or independence, reducing their ability to enforce fair market rules.

These conditions contribute to the so-called “missing middle” — a shortage of medium-sized enterprises that, in more competitive economies, help drive innovation and job creation.

Implications for Businesses and Consumers

For business leaders, the findings point to a pressing need for reforms that unlock competitive pressures:

Reducing red tape and simplifying market entry

Investing in infrastructure that lowers transaction costs

Strengthening antitrust enforcement and regulatory oversight

Lower market concentration could empower small and medium-sized firms to grow, broaden supply chains, and stimulate innovation across sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and health care.

Consumers in Latin America and the Caribbean currently face markups that are estimated to be higher than in advanced markets, while workers in many sectors see wages that reflect a weaker competitive environment.

Policy Priorities and Reforms

The IDB calls on governments to pursue reforms that balance regulation with competition enhancement. Priority areas include:

Modernizing competition laws

Investing in logistics and digital connectivity

Empowering competition agencies with greater independence

Streamlining business regulations to reduce barriers for new entrants

According to the report, countries that adopt such policies may attract more domestic and foreign investment, improve productivity, and create better-paying jobs.

A Roadmap For The Region’s Future

Although Latin America and the Caribbean have achieved macroeconomic stability in recent decades, long-term productivity growth has lagged behind global peers. The IDB report provides a data-driven blueprint focused on competition as a central engine for economic dynamism – offering a new lens for policymakers and business leaders seeking to unlock latent growth potential.

For markets across the hemisphere, encouraging fair competition is not just an economic ideal – it may be the most practical path to inclusive growth and heightened prosperity in the coming decade.

Islands On The Brink: Caribbean Leaders Demand A Fairer Climate Future After COP30

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By Dr. Sheila Newton Moses

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Dec. 15, 2025: After COP30’s bold promises and polished declarations, the Caribbean has delivered a sobering reminder the world cannot ignore. Small island states sit on the frontlines of the climate crisis, yet remain among the last to access the resources meant to protect their Climate Future.

FLASHBACK – An aerial view shows damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, in Westmoreland, Jamaica, on October 31, 2025. At least 19 people in Jamaica have died as a result of Hurricane Melissa which devastated the island nation when it roared ashore this week, a government minister told news outlets late October 31. (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

On November 26, 2025, Island Innovation convened a high level virtual press briefing to examine what COP30 achieved and what it failed to deliver. The message from Caribbean leaders was unmistakable climate ambition without access is meaningless.

The panel brought together leaders from across the region and beyond, including Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, the British Virgin Islands Permanent Secretary for Environment, senior climate finance experts, and international development practitioners. Together, they painted a picture of nations rich in resilience but constrained by global systems unfit for climate reality.

COP30’s headline pledge of 1.3 trillion dollars annually by 2035 was welcomed. Still, leaders stressed that money promised is not money received. Small island states face complex application processes, restrictive eligibility rules, and delays that undermine urgent action. For Overseas Countries and Territories, many of which are excluded entirely from major climate finance mechanisms, access remains elusive.

Dr. Mohammad Rafik Nagdee of CCREEE was clear governments with limited technical capacity cannot be expected to navigate funding systems designed for far larger economies. Without simplified and predictable pathways, climate finance becomes an illusion rather than a solution.

Jamaica’s experience after Hurricane Melissa illustrates the stakes. Losses exceeded 30 percent of GDP, wiping out years of progress in a single storm. While Jamaica benefitted from catastrophe bonds, insurance instruments, and national savings, most Caribbean nations lack these financial buffers. Without fair international support, extreme weather will continue to reverse development gains across the region.

The British Virgin Islands offered a model of climate leadership through the creation of the first Climate Change Trust Fund among Overseas Countries and Territories. Capitalized at approximately 5.5 million dollars, the Fund enables faster and more direct access to climate resources. It demonstrates that regional solutions can succeed when global systems fall short.

Yet, many territories remain excluded altogether. Mr. Ahab Downer of the Green Overseas GO Program warned that vulnerability is still not the primary criterion for climate support. His program strengthens energy transition and disaster preparedness across multiple territories, but technical assistance cannot replace systemic access to finance.

Leaders also emphasized the role of nature as critical infrastructure. Jamaica’s large scale mangrove restoration project protects coastlines, sustains fisheries, and stores carbon. In the Caribbean, ecosystems are not luxuries. They are defenses.

The Caribbean is not asking for charity. It is demanding justice. Island nations bear little responsibility for global emissions, yet pay the highest price. As climate impacts accelerate, delay becomes its own form of harm.

Island Innovation continues to elevate these voices through its Island Voices at COP platform. The call from the Caribbean is simple and urgent climate finance must be fair, accessible, and grounded in reality. Anything less leaves islands on the brink, and the world on notice.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Sheila Newton Moses is an international education consultant and thought leader on leadership, innovation, and human development in emerging economies.