Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced a suspension of planned U.S. travel restrictions. He thanked American officials for pausing the proclamation after talks with the U.S. State Department and the embassy in Barbados. Skerrit said the news should relieve public anxiety, allowing the historically strong relationship with Washington to continue. He confirmed that Dominicans holding any valid American visa can still travel after the new year.
The now suspended order would have limited entry for nationals from Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda. It cited security concerns linked to citizenship by investment programs that do not require residency. The U.S. argued these schemes complicate vetting processes and could be misused...
Jamaican officials are reacting to a major U.S. drug policy shift with careful hope. The American executive order to reclassify marijuana to a lower risk category is seen as a meaningful step. State Minister Delano Seiveright from the Industry Ministry noted the decision carries broad possible effects. He said the real impact on banking rules, international investment, and scientific study will hinge on how the U.S. actually rolls out the new policy.
The order instructs the Attorney General to move cannabis from Schedule One to Schedule Three. President Donald Trump stated he signed it due to strong public demand, especially from patients with serious medical conditions. This change acknowledges accepted medical uses, unlike the old...
Antigua and Barbuda worked out a deal with the United States over new travel limits. The country's ambassador to the U.S., Ronald Sanders, stated that current valid American visas held by their citizens will remain fully functional. This includes common visa types for tourists, business travelers, and students. No visas issued before the end of the year will be canceled.
The agreement comes after a U.S. proclamation restricted entry for nationals from several countries. That order specifically named Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, citing security worries linked to their citizenship by investment programs. The rule aimed to suspend new immigrant visas and certain non-immigrant categories.
Ambassador Sanders met with State Department...
Barbados is pushing back hard against a new U.K. terrorism warning for the island. Foreign Affairs Minister Kerrie Symmonds said the advisory has no basis, calling the terror threat nonexistent. The U.K. Foreign Office advisory mentioned a global high threat, stating attacks could not be ruled out despite no recent history in Barbados. Minister Symmonds suggested the warning might stem from broader international tensions and divisive policies elsewhere, not local conditions.
The travel notice also covered violent crime risks like armed robbery and gang shootings. It advised precautions such as using licensed taxis and avoiding isolated areas after dark. Symmonds acknowledged this part of the report matched factual crime trends, noting...
CARICOM leaders are upset about a new U.S. travel rule affecting two member nations. The regional group expressed serious concern over the American proclamation placing partial entry limits on citizens from Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica. The Bureau of the Caribbean Community Conference of Heads of Government acknowledged a country's right to control its borders but stated the December 16 decision lacked prior discussion. They worry it will hurt legitimate travel and damage the economies of these small islands.
The U.S. policy, citing national security and vetting problems, restricts immigrant visas and ordinary tourist, student, and exchange visitor visas for those two countries. It also tells officials to...
Flair Airlines just started direct flights from Toronto to Montego Bay. This new route connects Toronto Pearson Airport with the popular Jamaican tourist spot. The company's CEO, Maciej Wilk, called it a key part of their plan for affordable and reliable travel. Jamaica's Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, welcomed the extra air traffic, especially after recent hurricane problems. Shane Munroe from MBJ Airports Limited noted it makes western Jamaica easier to visit.
The airline launched the service with an inaugural flight. It will run up to two times per week in each direction. Introductory ticket prices are around 191 Canadian dollars from Toronto and about 196 dollars for the trip back. Flair already flies to Kingston and says this...
Experts at a recent regional conference said early childhood development in Latin America and the Caribbean needs major upgrades. The panel, organized by the JN Foundation and the University of the West Indies School of Education with the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre, identified three big problems. They need more reliable funding, better data collection, and more inclusive support services for kids. World Bank economist Dr. Emre Ozaltin pointed out that money for these programs has to come from multiple sources to survive disasters. He suggested mixing government budgets with private partnerships and special taxes.
Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clark from UWI stressed the need for better program tracking to see what actually...
Gabrielle Henry, the current Miss Universe Jamaica, is back home recovering from major injuries. She got hurt after a bad fall at the international pageant in Thailand. The 28-year-old ophthalmology resident posted her first update since returning to Jamaica, thanking people for their support. She specifically mentioned medical staff in Thailand, the people who helped her travel, and Jamaican officials like Culture Minister Olivia Grange.
Henry fell through an opening in the stage during a preliminary event. Video of the incident spread online, showing her suddenly dropping out of sight. The Miss Universe organization reported her injuries included bleeding in her brain, cuts on her face, and a broken bone. She needed intensive care in...
Devin Di Dakta is planning a nine-night ceremony for his recently deceased father, Anthony Escoffery Clarke. The event will be held at Captureland in Highgate, Saint Mary. Clarke, who also went by nicknames like Soupy and Tall Man, was a major community figure. The artist called him his biggest supporter and a father figure to many students at Saint Mary High School. Devin shared the news on social media with a family photo, stating his father passed only a few days prior.
The dancehall musician, a Grammy-nominated and Billboard-charting artist, has been publicly engaged in a major lyrical clash. This feud started with Tommy Lee Sparta and Masicka. Despite that very visible career conflict, he has been privately coping with this family...
