By Dr. Isaac Newton

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. April 7, 2025: The world’s biggest economies are locked in a financial war. The U.S., China, Europe, Mexico, Canada, and other nations are imposing high taxes – called tariffs – on each other’s goods. These battles may seem far away, but they hit home when prices for food, gas, and household items rise in the Eastern Caribbean.

Despite these global shocks, the EC dollar has remained stable for nearly 40 years, holding its value at 2.7 to 1 against the U.S. dollar. But with inflation creeping up and economic uncertainty growing, can this small yet resilient currency continue to stand strong?

Inflation occurs when money loses its buying power. Imagine walking into a supermarket with the same $100 you had last year, only to find that it buys you less food. That’s inflation in action. When major economies raise tariffs, the cost of imports increases, making life harder for families already struggling to make ends meet.

Another challenge is external shocks—unexpected events that shake the economy. Some are natural, like hurricanes that destroy crops and drive up food prices. Others are financial, such as a crash in the U.S. banking system that weakens the U.S. dollar. Since the EC dollar is tied to the U.S. dollar, any trouble in the American economy can indirectly affect the Caribbean.

So, how can the region protect itself? Leaders must think ahead. Instead of relying heavily on oil, governments should invest more in green energy, such as solar and wind power, while also exploring new technologies from Africa. Innovations like biofuel from waste and hydro-powered farming are reducing costs and increasing energy security in several African nations—solutions the Caribbean can adopt.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) must also maintain strong financial reserves—a large savings pool that serves as a financial cushion during tough times. Just as families save for emergencies, the ECCB must ensure that enough foreign currency and gold reserves are available to protect the EC dollar’s value.

On a personal level, people must take control of their financial future. This means not just saving money but also investing to generate returns. Instead of keeping all their cash in a regular bank account, individuals should explore investments like mutual funds, stocks, or even starting a small business. Multiple streams of income—from real estate and online trading to agriculture and freelancing—can provide financial security.

For those looking to earn extra, side hustles like baking, tutoring, graphic design, and selling handmade crafts can create additional income. Even small steps, like growing food in a backyard garden, can reduce expenses and make households more resilient.

The Eastern Caribbean has weathered economic storms before and emerged stronger each time. Our people are no strangers to resilience—we have rebuilt after hurricanes, adapted to global financial crises, and found ways to thrive in the face of hardship. But survival is not enough. To secure our financial future, we must shift from merely reacting to crises to actively preparing for them. Smart leadership, forward-thinking policies, and personal financial discipline can ensure the EC dollar remains a pillar of strength.

Instead of fearing the unknown, we should embrace the power of preparation. My teachers used to say, “Previous preparation prevents poor performance,” and the wise elders in my village often reminded me, “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” So why not plan ahead, invest wisely, and create multiple streams of income? Faith in God provides peace of mind, but faith without action is powerless. Now is the time to make wise financial decisions—because the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Isaac Newton is a Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia-trained scholar, a global economic strategist, and a governance expert. A prolific author, he has spent decades advising world leaders on financial resilience and sustainable development. Passionate about empowering people to take charge of their economic future, he believes that smart planning, bold innovation, and a deep faith in God can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

News Americas, New York, NY, April 4, 2025: As U.S. President Donald Trump put in place steep tariffs on imports from numerous countries globally, including several Caribbean nations, the spotlight is once again on the Caribbean’s trade relationship with the United States. Amid rising concern, many are now asking: what exactly does the Caribbean export to the U.S.?

Here’s a look at what various Caribbean nations send to the United States.

Guyana

Facing the harshest blow with a 38% tariff – the highest of any Caribbean country – Guyana’s exports to the U.S. reached $3.51 billion in 2023, a massive rise from just $255 million in 2018. Blindsided by the steep 38% tariffs imposed by the United States on its exports, the Government of Guyana is now seeking clarity and relief through diplomatic engagement with U.S. officials.
Key exports include:

Crude Petroleum – $3.1 billion

Gold

Rice

Fish

Timber

Sugar, molasses, and rum

Aluminum ore and ships

Barbados

In 2024, Barbados exported $102.46 million worth of goods to the U.S., including:

Beverages, spirits, and vinegar – $22.5 million

Mineral fuels and oils – $18.6 million

Precious stones and metals – $12.4 million

Haiti

With over 80% of its exports heading to the U.S., Haiti’s top exports are apparel-related:

Knit T-shirts – $419M

Knit sweaters – $152M

Men’s suits and shirts – over $100M combined

Total exports to the U.S. – $844M

The Bahamas

In 2023, The Bahamas exported $3.01 billion, led by:

Refined petroleum – $1.35B

Passenger and cargo ships – $512M

Raw aluminum and crustaceans

Jamaica

In January 2025 alone, U.S. imports from Jamaica included:

Aluminum ore – $5.54M

Cassava, sauces, baked goods, and seasonings

Sint Maarten

Exports to the U.S. valued at $2.74M in 2023 included:

Scrap iron

Recreational boats

Jewelry

Hard liquor and flavored water

Turks and Caicos Islands

In 2023, the U.S. imported $5.51M in goods such as:

Molluscs – $1.66M

Crustaceans – $1.47M

Semiconductor devices

Antigua & Barbuda

Exported $17.2M in 2023, with highlights including:

Paintings – $4.84M

Electrical transformers – $2.64M

Saint Lucia

Exported $7.53M in 2023, with top items being:

Processed fruits and nuts – $1.42M

Scrap copper and hard liquor
However, exports have declined from $47.1M in 2018.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

With $16.4M in U.S. exports in 2023, main products were:

Measuring instruments – $4.51M

Electrical control boards and transformers

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

U.S. imports in 2024 reached $8.4M, with exports such as:

Bananas, arrowroot, and coconuts

Fish, seafood, textiles, and rum

Bermuda

Exported $5.9M to the U.S. in 2023, down from $13.8M in 2018. Top exports:

Hard liquor – $2.02M

Scrap iron and paintings

Cayman Islands

Exports totaled $13.3M in 2023, including:

Broadcasting equipment – $5.24M

Scrap iron and measuring instruments

Suriname

In 2023, the U.S. imported $87.8M in goods, led by:

Fish fillets – $24.8M

Fresh and frozen non-fillet fish

Guadeloupe & Martinique

Both French territories export primarily bananas, rum, and sugar, with Martinique also sending sailboats to the U.S.

Trinidad and Tobago

Exported $3.26B to the U.S. in 2023. Top products:

Crude petroleum – $1.15B

Iron reductions – $593M

Petroleum gas – $539M

Belize

Sent $86.2M in exports to the U.S. in 2023, including:

Refined petroleum – $20.4M

Molasses – $18.6M

Raw sugar – $11.1M

These figures highlight the vital economic ties between the U.S. and the Caribbean. As the threat of higher tariffs looms, many regional leaders and businesses are closely watching developments and preparing to navigate the potential economic impact of Trump’s proposed trade measures.

NASSAU, The Bahamas, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) announced today that BGC will begin work this week on its $130 million upgrade of the grid system on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas, as well as take over responsibility for the island’s long-term maintenance of all poles, wires and substations. Structured as a market-leading public-private partnership, the transaction that created BGC has allowed for the significant infusion of capital and grid expertise into the nation’s most populous island, where the rate of electricity demand growth has been unprecedented over the past few decades.

“This is a very exciting time for The Bahamas,” said J. Eric Pike, Chairman of the Board at BGC. “We’ll be upgrading and storm-hardening 32 miles of transmission lines and load balancing across the eastern half of the island to provide more reliable and stable power to all residents and businesses in New Providence. The new lines will also be able to carry more power, so there will be much less energy lost as power is carried long distances across the island.”

BGC’s upgrade activities for the grid will result in a more affordable, reliable and resilient energy system overall. However, the benefits do not end there.

“Because we’ll soon be managing and coordinating all grid activity on New Providence, BGC will be able to do the vast majority of its work on energized lines. That means that New Providence’s electricity customers will no longer experience as many planned outages even while the work is happening,” said Pike.

In addition, the ability to work on energized lines will be one of several training opportunities offered by BGC to new employees.

“Working on the electrical grid is such a rewarding career because its uninterrupted service is what keeps every home, school and business running,” said Mei Shibata, a Board Director at BGC. “BGC welcomes the opportunity to train BPL transmission, substation and distribution employees looking to give energized work a try, as well as all young Bahamians wanting to join BGC to do meaningful hands-on work through their careers and grow with the company,” she said.

BGC will be providing project updates on its Instagram and Facebook pages, and posting job opportunities on its LinkedIn page.

About Us
Bahamas Grid Company (BGC), established in 2025 through a public-private partnership, is a wires company that operates and manages the transmission and distribution system (T&D System) – i.e., the poles, wires and substations that distribute power – across the island of New Providence in The Bahamas.

Island Grid is a grid solutions developer and provider with a combined 60+ years of experience in energy strategy, grid engineering, construction, maintenance and storm-hardening experience. Island Grid is providing BGC with management and systems expertise, employee training and community engagement in this initiative.