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

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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.

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. May 26, 2026: The Caribbean has a capital problem – and this week, the world is paying attention. IDB Invest’s Sustainability Week 2026 opens today in Bridgetown, Barbados – the first time this flagship private investment forum has ever been held in the Caribbean. Prime Minister Mia Mottley, IDB Invest CEO James Scriven, Caribbean Development Bank President Daniel Best, and executives from global banks and financial institutions are all in the room. The message is clear: the Caribbean is open for serious investment.

But here’s what too few people are talking about – the businesses and projects that need to be ready when that capital comes looking. That’s exactly the gap AI Capital Exchange was built to close.

Powered by Invest Caribbean, AI Capital Exchange is the region’s first AI-driven debt capital pre-qualification platform, or the Whale Filter. Before a borrower ever reaches an institutional lender, the platform screens against real lending criteria, identifies gaps, and either connects Bank-Ready borrowers directly to capital – or tells them exactly what they need to fix before they apply.

No more wasted deal flow. No more unqualified applications clogging lender pipelines. Just clean, investment-ready deals.

This week, while the world’s attention is on Caribbean capital, the question is – is your business or project really capital raise and bank-ready? Without this education and knowledge, all the talk shops in the world won’t help, said Felicia J. Persaud, founder of Invest Caribbean and AI Capital Exchange.

Developers and owners can take the Capital Readiness Check and find out in minutes before entering the Exchange.

Loan options include loans for US, Caribbean, and globally in commercial real estate, expansion capital, renewable energy, tech loans, senior debt, bond market capital raise, infrastructure, equipment, healthcare and financial loans. For businesses seeking US commercial real estate financing, AI Capital Exchange’s partner is also now offering no and low-documentation loans up to $1 million nationwide, with an application-only path up to $500,000 – no bank statements or tax returns required. Prequalify at investcaribbeannow.com/ai-capital-exchange/us-puerto-rico-loans.

As Persaud summed it up, “The capital is there – the question is how many are ready to access it.”

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Commentary By Arthur Piccolo

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. May 25, 2026: The island nations of the Caribbean basin have long been viewed as the least important region on Earth. That can change dramatically in the coming years and beyond. Yes, because of AI and its very big problem, many more data centers. The Caribbean should stop thinking of itself only as a place the world visits and start imagining itself as a place the world runs through. For generations, the region has been sold through beaches, resorts, cruise ships, music, sunlight, and escape.

Those assets still matter. But in the age of AI, they are no longer the only game. Artificial intelligence needs data centers. Data centers need power, cooling, fiber, land, security, and political agreements. The Caribbean has sun, wind, endless seawater, strategic geography, ports, cable routes, and many small, often uninhabited islands or underused coastal sites that are not right for housing or conventional industry but can become valuable nodes in a new intelligence economy.

The opportunity is not to cover the Caribbean with machines. It is to build a Caribbean AI Archipelago: a sovereign-country network of carefully selected compute hubs, energy systems, submarine fiber-optic cables, cable landing stations, and resilient island infrastructure. No cables, no archipelago. The data centers are the visible structures; the cables are the nervous system. With high-capacity links to the United States, Latin America, and island-to-island routes. With them, the Caribbean can become the world’s great digital corridor of the future.

Yes, the complete cost over a decade will be enormous. Any idea what it would cost to launch thousands of data centers into orbit?  That is, in fact, good news; hundreds of AI companies are flooded with billions of dollars in investment. For them to succeed, the one thing they all need and will need is more data centers.

The first move should be practical: a conference on the concept, then create the Caribbean AI Archipelago Initiative, bringing together island governments, AI companies, data-center developers, power firms, cable operators, development banks, universities, and environmental experts.

Over the years, the Caribbean can build a network of easily financed specialized AI facilities and several major regional hubs. Done right, the islands would no longer sit at the edge of the world economy. They would operate their intelligence AI layer.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Arthur Piccolo is the President of the Bowling Green Association of New York and a frequent contributor to News Americas