News Americas, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, July 08, 2026: L’Oréal Caribe and the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean announce the opening of the 2026 call for applications for the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program, an initiative that recognizes and supports outstanding women researchers from the region by awarding two $15,000 USD grants to advance the development of their scientific research.

The call for applications will be open from May 19 through August 14, 2026, and is intended for women scientists from the Caribbean who are pursuing doctoral studies, conducting postdoctoral research, or are in the early stages of a scientific research career within the program’s eligible STEM disciplines.

The program is part of the renowned global L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science movement, created to promote women’s participation in scientific research and help reduce the gender gaps that continue to persist in STEM fields. In the Caribbean, the initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Caribbean Academy of Sciences and the Caribbean Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“At L’Oréal Caribe, we firmly believe that science needs the talent, creativity, and leadership of women to address the challenges of today and the future. Through For Women in Science, we seek to increase the visibility of and support women researchers who are generating knowledge and innovation with an impact on our region and the world,” said Liana Camacho, Market Vice President of L’Oréal Caribe.

Eligible candidates must conduct research in areas such as formal sciences, life and environmental sciences, materials science, engineering, and technological sciences. The awards seek to provide financial support and recognition to women who contribute to scientific advancement across different fields of knowledge and whose research helps drive solutions to some of the main challenges facing the region.

“UNESCO works to recognize and promote the talent of women in science, foster diverse perspectives, and break down the barriers that limit their professional development,” said Audrey Azoulay, General Director of UNESCO.

In its 2025 edition, the program recognized Jamaican scientists Dr. Lori-Ann Fisher and Dr. Arianne Brown Jordan for research addressing important health and environmental challenges. Dr. Fisher conducts research on genetic factors associated with liver diseases, while Dr. Brown Jordan studies the presence of bacterial diseases in water systems serving vulnerable communities. Their research highlights the impact of Caribbean women scientists in generating knowledge and solutions for the region.

Globally, women continue to face significant challenges in the scientific field. According to UNESCO data, women represent approximately one-third of researchers worldwide. Although Latin America and the Caribbean have a higher representation of women in science than the global average, significant challenges remain regarding access to funding, visibility, and leadership opportunities in scientific research.

Interested applicants can review the complete eligibility requirements and submit their applications through the For Women in Science application platform https://www.forwomeninscience.com/challenge/show/167 . The deadline to apply is August 14, 2026.

About L’Oréal Caribe

L’Oréal is recognized as the world’s leading beauty company, with a broad portfolio of brands distributed across four main divisions: Consumer Products, Professional Products, L’Oréal Luxe, and Dermatological Beauty. From its offices in Puerto Rico, L’Oréal Caribe oversees operations across 25 Caribbean islands, with the mission to create the beauty that moves the world: beauty that is inclusive, ethical, generous, and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With a portfolio of 31 international brands and ambitious sustainability goals under our L’Oréal for the Future program, we strive to offer everyone, everywhere, the best in quality, efficacy, safety, transparency, and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in all its infinite forms.

For more information, visit L’Oréal Caribe’s official website: https://www.loreal.com/en/caribe/

By News Americas Business Editor

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, June 12, 2026: For hotel owners, resort developers, and commercial property operators across the Caribbean and Latin America, a costly window is closing – and most are not moving fast enough to take advantage of it. The global commercial real estate market is navigating what industry analysts are calling the 2026 debt maturity crunch. The question now is refinancing or not?

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, approximately $875 billion in commercial real estate loans – representing 17 percent of all outstanding commercial mortgages – are scheduled to mature in 2026. Some industry estimates put the figure closer to $1 trillion when accounting for loans extended from 2024 and 2025 now crowding into this year’s refinancing window.

For the hospitality sector specifically, the pressure is acute. Hotel mortgage spreads have widened to 375 basis points over comparable treasuries as of Q4 2025, according to PwC’s US Hospitality Directions report – compared to just 225 to 250 basis points for multifamily and industrial assets. That gap represents a hospitality-specific premium that is testing refinancing strategies across the sector globally, including across Caribbean and Latin American markets.

The rate shock compounds the challenge. The average interest rate on commercial real estate loans being originated today runs approximately 6.24 percent, compared to 4.76 percent on older debt now coming due – a spread of 150 basis points or more, according to Banyan Commercial Capital. For a Caribbean hotel or resort carrying $10 million in older debt, that difference represents hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional annual debt service if the refinancing window is missed.

“Owners who wait until the last minute may find themselves with far fewer options,” warned a 2025 analysis by InvestingInCRE. “Start the refinancing process nine to 12 months before maturity. Lenders are overwhelmed with applications. Waiting until 90 days out is a mistake.”

For Caribbean and Latin American property owners, the calculus is more complex – and the opportunity is greater for those who move early.

Unlike U.S.-based borrowers who can access conventional bank refinancing channels, Caribbean and Latin American hotel and commercial property owners frequently face a documentation mismatch that disqualifies them from traditional lenders – despite owning significant equity in their assets. A resort developer in the Dominican Republic who purchased beachfront land in cash, or a commercial property owner in Kingston or Panama City carrying older high-rate debt, may have exactly the profile institutional lenders are seeking — but no clear path to reaching them.

Permanent financing for hospitality assets starts at $1 million with leverage up to 75 percent and amortizations up to 30 years, according to Commercial Real Estate Loans — with options spanning CMBS, life company loans, bank loans, and small balance instruments depending on the property profile and borrower’s financial position.

That gap between qualified Caribbean and Latin American borrowers and available institutional capital is precisely what AI Capital Exchange was built to close. The Miami-based platform, powered by Invest Caribbean, uses AI-driven pre-qualification to screen hotel and commercial property owners against real institutional lender criteria — identifying refinancing opportunities in under 30 minutes and connecting qualified borrowers directly to matched lending partners.

“The borrowers who benefit most from refinancing are the ones who come to the table before they have to,” said Felicia J. Persaud, Founder and CEO of AI Capital Exchange. “When you have equity in place, clean financials, and time on your side, lenders compete for your business. When you’re in distress, you take whatever rate is offered.”

For Caribbean and Latin American hotel and resort operators, the message from the data is unambiguous: the refinancing window is open, institutional appetite for hospitality assets with strong equity positions is real, and the cost of waiting is rising every month.

The 2026 maturity wall will not wait.

To explore refinancing options for your hotel or commercial property, visit: https://www.investcaribbeannow.com/ai-capital-exchange/caribbean-loans

RELATED: Caribbean Real Estate Is A $1.87 Trillion Market – So Why Are Caribbean Developers Still Getting Rejected For Funding?

By Staff Reporter | NewsAmericasNow.com

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Weds. June 10, 2026: During Caribbean American Heritage Month, few stories capture the spirit of Caribbean immigrant entrepreneurship quite like that of Khadejah Davis and Jamel Douglas – the Jamaican immigrant duo who have quietly built one of the most remarkable franchise empires in American business.

First-generation entrepreneurs. Multi-million dollar operators. History makers. Twice over. Davis and Douglas made history as the first US franchise owners of Juici Patties – the iconic Jamaican fast-food chain founded in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica in 1980 by a 16-year-old entrepreneur named Jukie Chin. Now they are making history again as the first-ever franchisees of Slutty Vegan – the Atlanta-based plant-based burger chain that has become one of America’s most talked-about food brands.

The Juici Patties Story

When Juici Patties began its expansion into Florida, Davis and Douglas stepped forward – and changed Caribbean food history in the United States. Their flagship location in Lauderhill, South Florida – at 5419 N University Drive – generated over $1 million in sales in just 90 days, according to reporting on their launch. A Brooklyn, New York location in Flatbush followed – bringing authentic Jamaican patties to one of the largest Caribbean diaspora communities in the United States.

The business partnership was built on deep cultural roots and market knowledge. Davis is a restaurateur of Jamaican descent with previous experience operating a Jamaican cuisine restaurant. Douglas – also Jamaican-born – owns an accounting and insurance firm and has been a lifelong Juici Patties devotee.

“It’s not just a venture of the heart, we’re very familiar with the market and know that patties are a must-have in Florida,” Douglas told Our Today, as quoted in the publication.

Their success is part of a broader Juici Patties expansion plan targeting 40 new locations across Florida. The pair plan to add four more Juici Patties restaurants to their growing portfolio.

Now – Slutty Vegan

Having conquered Jamaican patties in America, Davis and Douglas are now turning their franchise expertise to plant-based burgers. Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan has signed franchise agreements with the duo to operate new locations in Atlanta and Washington DC – adding experienced multi-unit operators to the brand’s expanding network as it grows beyond its Georgia roots.

Slutty Vegan founder and CEO Aisha “Pinky” Cole Hayes – who recently joined the cast of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta – was deliberate in her selection of franchisees.

“Atlanta is where Slutty Vegan was born, and we’re planting deeper roots here while establishing our presence in DC,” Cole Hayes said, as quoted in the franchise announcement. “I was intentional about partnering with operators who understand our business and the culture because this is bigger than the burgers. We’re creating opportunity, legacy and proving what’s possible when you never give up.”

The road to this moment has not been without turbulence for Slutty Vegan itself. Cole Hayes temporarily lost ownership of the business in early 2025 following significant cash-flow pressures before reacquiring the company through restructuring. The franchise expansion with Davis and Douglas represents the brand’s most visible growth move since that period.

Khadejah Davis – More Than A Franchisee

Davis’s story is one of the most extraordinary in Caribbean-American entrepreneurship – and it extends far beyond the restaurant industry.

A former registered nurse turned entrepreneur, Davis holds a BFA in Acting from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica – the first and only performing arts college of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. She wrote, produced, and starred in the acclaimed one-woman show SHADE – which explored her Jamerican identity and the challenges of growing up Jamaican-born in America – performing it at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

She has since authored the Multipreneur’s Playbook and works as a franchise coach helping other women build wealth through business ownership. From registered nurse to playwright to multi-million dollar franchise operator – Davis is the embodiment of what Caribbean Heritage Month exists to celebrate.

A Legacy Of Firsts

Together, Davis and Douglas have built what they describe as a legacy of firsts – and they show no signs of stopping.

First US Juici Patties franchisees. First Slutty Vegan franchisees. Multi-state operators. Multi-million dollar revenue. And a broader mission to prove that Caribbean immigrant entrepreneurs can build generational wealth through franchising. For the Caribbean diaspora watching from New York, South Florida, Atlanta, and beyond – their story is both inspiration and instruction. The empire, as they put it, has just begun.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a move to highlight the strategic importance of the Jamaican market within the Caribbean and the country’s growing role in regional trade and investment, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank or the Bank) (www.Afreximbank.com) undertook an inaugural roadshow in Kingston, Jamaica, on 2 June 2026.

Organised under the theme, “Empowering Jamaica’s Growth: Catalysing Trade, Investment and Industrialisation through Tailored Afreximbank Solutions,” the roadshow built on the momentum generated by Jamaica’s signing of Afreximbank’s Partnership Agreement in July 2025 and the subsequent approval by the Bank’s Board of Directors of a US$5 billion financing facility for the Caribbean, including Jamaica.

The roadshow attracted strong participation from Jamaica’s business community. It provided an opportunity to raise awareness of Afreximbank’s mandate, mission and vision among key stakeholders in Jamaica, including government representatives, private sector leaders and financial institutions. It also served as a platform to introduce the Bank’s suite of financing, trade facilitation and investment solutions to the Jamaican market for the first time.

In addition, the engagement enabled the Afreximbank delegation to gain valuable insights into Jamaica’s trade and development priorities, investment opportunities, financing needs and business environment. These interactions have further strengthened the Bank’s understanding of the Jamaican market and will help inform the development of tailored solutions to support the country’s economic growth and trade ambitions.

The keynote address was delivered by Hon. Fayval Williams, Minister of Finance and the Public Service. In her remarks, Minister Williams stated: “We understand that, for more than three decades, Afreximbank has been delivering financing solutions that support trade and drive economic growth across Africa. Its reach now extends beyond the continent’s shores, with the Bank establishing a growing presence in the Caribbean. It is clear that the partnership between Afreximbank and Jamaica continues to strengthen. I therefore encourage all Jamaican institutions represented here today to deepen their engagement with Afreximbank so that, together, we can unlock greater opportunities for two-way trade and investment between Jamaica and Africa.”

Also, speaking at the event, Mr. Eric Monchu Intong, Afreximbank’s Group Managing Director, Client Relations and Regional Office Operations, highlighted the Bank’s experience in supporting tourism and hospitality development across Africa and the Caribbean. He said: “At Afreximbank, we believe that industrialisation is the foundation of sustainable trade and economic transformation. To trade successfully with Global Africa, we must first produce. Through investments in industrial parks, special economic zones and local manufacturing, Jamaica has an opportunity to reduce import dependence, increase value-added exports, create jobs and strengthen its economic resilience. This approach has delivered results across 18 African countries, where Afreximbank has supported the development of industrial parks and special economic zones through initiatives such as its US$450 million global credit facility with ARISE IIP, alongside critical trade finance support to businesses across the continent. We believe these lessons and solutions can be adapted to support Jamaica’s industrial growth ambitions and unlock new opportunities for trade, investment and economic development.”

Afreximbank remains committed to supporting increased intra-Caribbean and Africa-Caribbean trade by improving access to trade finance, investment capital and advisory support. The roadshow underscored the Bank’s commitment to advancing the Global Africa agenda and strengthening economic and commercial ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and. Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

RELATED: Afreximbank Deepens Commitment to Economic Progress in The Bahamas

By Business News Editor | NewsAmericasNow.com

News Americas, HAMILTON, Bermuda, Fri. May 29, 2026: Something significant just happened in Caribbean banking – and most people across the region have no idea yet.

Canada’s Imperial Bank of Commerce – one of the largest and most powerful financial institutions in North America – has agreed to sell its entire Caribbean banking operation to a Bermuda-based bank in a deal worth over 1 billion dollars. The transaction, announced this week, will reshape how millions of Caribbean families, businesses, and governments bank across 10 island nations.

But behind the press releases and congratulatory statements, several questions are going unanswered. Why is one of Canada’s biggest banks walking away from the Caribbean after decades of dominance? Why is a Bermuda institution emerging as the region’s new banking giant? And what does all of this mean for the ordinary Caribbean consumer whose account, mortgage, and savings are caught in the middle of a billion-dollar transaction they never voted for?

The Deal – What We Know

Bermuda-based Butterfield Bank has agreed to acquire CIBC Caribbean – the regional subsidiary of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, headquartered in Barbados and operating across 10 Caribbean countries – for approximately US$1.794 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, unanimously approved by Butterfield’s board of directors, Butterfield will pay US$1.09 billion in cash and approximately US$703 million in Butterfield shares – equivalent to US$1.14 per CIBC Caribbean share – to acquire CIBC’s 91.7 percent controlling stake in the regional bank.

Butterfield will then launch a mandatory takeover bid for the remaining 8.3 per cent of shares held by minority shareholders. Upon completion — expected in the first half of 2027 – CIBC will retain an estimated 22 per cent ownership stake in the combined entity and the right to appoint two directors to Butterfield’s board.

The combined institution will hold approximately US$29 billion in assets – making it one of the largest banking entities operating exclusively across Caribbean and international financial centre markets.

Question 1: Why Is The Canadian Bank Walking Away?

CIBC has operated in the Caribbean for decades through its regional subsidiary. CIBC Caribbean, headquartered in Barbados, has built deep relationships across 10 island economies – relationships that took generations to establish and that Caribbean families and businesses have relied upon.

So why is Canada’s fifth-largest bank selling now? And for $1.79 billion? The official statements offer warm words about strategic alignment and shared values -but no clear answer to the fundamental question of why a bank with decades of Caribbean history and billions in regional assets is choosing this moment to exit.

Global banking trends offer some clues. Large international banks have been quietly retreating from smaller, higher-risk markets for years — a process known in the industry as de-risking. Caribbean nations have faced the consequences of this trend acutely, with correspondent banking relationships severed and international financial access restricted across the region. CIBC’s exit – however it is dressed up in merger language – fits that broader pattern.

The question is whether the Caribbean is losing a partner – or being sold to one.

Question 2: Why A Bermuda Bank?

The buyer in this transaction is not a Caribbean institution. Butterfield Bank is headquartered in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory that, while geographically in the Atlantic and culturally connected to the Caribbean, operates under a fundamentally different regulatory and economic framework than CARICOM member states.

Butterfield has built its reputation in international financial centers – Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, Switzerland, andSingapore. Its expertise is in wealth management and private banking for high-net-worth clients, not retail banking for the everyday Caribbean consumer.

The question that Caribbean governments, regulators, and consumers should be asking is straightforward: why was no Caribbean-owned institution in a position to make this acquisition? Why, in 2026, is the answer to Caribbean banking consolidation a Bermuda bank backed by US$700 million in subordinated debt financing -rather than a regionally owned, regionally governed financial institution?

The answer says something uncomfortable about the state of Caribbean-owned capital and the region’s capacity to control its own financial destiny.

Question 3: What Happens To Your Money?

For the millions of Caribbean families who bank with CIBC Caribbean across Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and six other territories – the most immediate and personal question is the simplest one: what happens to my account?

The official answer from both institutions is: nothing changes immediately. CIBC Caribbean chief executive officer Mark St Hill said the merger brings together two organisations with shared values and a common focus on relationship banking, as quoted in official statements. Butterfield chairman Michael Collins described it as combining “two storied and complementary banks” with “time-honoured customer relationships,” as quoted in official statements.

But billion dollar transactions do not happen without consequences for ordinary consumers. Branch networks get rationalized. Fee structures get realigned. Product offerings get standardized. Staff get restructured. The question is not whether these changes will come – it is when, and whether Caribbean regulators will be watching closely enough to protect consumers when they do.

Question 4: What Does This Mean For Caribbean Capital Markets?

One genuinely promising development buried in the transaction details is Butterfield’s announced intention to pursue additional stock exchange listings – on the Barbados Stock Exchange, the Bahamas International Securities Exchange, and the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange -— pending regulatory approval.

If executed, this would give Caribbean retail investors direct access to shares in one of the region’s largest banking institutions – a meaningful step toward the kind of Caribbean capital market deepening that economists and policymakers have long called for. But listings are intentions, not guarantees. And the history of foreign financial institutions making promises to Caribbean markets at the point of acquisition – only to quietly walk them back once the regulatory approvals are secured – is long enough to warrant skepticism alongside cautious optimism.

The Bottom Line

A $1.79 billion deal has just reshaped Caribbean banking. The region’s largest combined banking institution – with $29 billion in assets across 10 countries – will now be controlled from Bermuda, not Barbados. Canada’s biggest bank is walking away. And Caribbean consumers, businesses, and governments are about to navigate a transition that nobody asked them about.

RELATED: Caribbean Real Estate Is A $1.87 Trillion Market – So Why Are Caribbean Developers Still Getting Rejected For Funding?