Français
Saint Lucia.
Uber in the government's crosshairs
Despite two warnings to cease its activities, which the authorities deem illegal, the government of Saint Lucia claims that the American ride-hailing company Uber continues to operate on the island. According to a report in the Caribbean National Weekly, Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire said the government had made it clear that any company entering the transport sector must comply with local laws and regulations. "We are awaiting a follow-up meeting to obtain clear indications of Uber's intentions," the minister said. "For the time being, it appears that they are continuing to offer their services in Saint Lucia, and just yesterday I sent them a second letter reminding them that they are operating illegally on the island." " In early February, Philip J. Pierre's government stated that it had "in no way approved, authorized, or encouraged Uber to operate in Saint Lucia," while the company's recent launch on the island was sparking growing public debate, according to CNW. The Minister of Tourism emphasized that Uber had not obtained a business license, registered with the tax authorities, or received certification before beginning to expand on the island. The government demanded that Uber cease all operations until the company was in compliance.
Bahamas.
"Alternative" financing for airport renovation
Last year, the government signed an agreement with Aerodrome Limited, Manchester Airport Group (MAG) Limited, and BHM Construction International UK to renovate Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA), which was severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian. It's a $200 million project, according to the Nassau Guardian. The problem is that the agreement, finalized after lengthy negotiations, has partially collapsed. This is mainly due to the fact that the financing that was to be provided by a group of Bahamian companies has not been released. As a result, the government is now looking for new financing, which Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper describes as "alternative." Michael Pintard, leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), criticized the lack of progress on the project in the Nassau Guardian. "The Labour Party promised a new domestic terminal and pre-clearance for US domestic flights by April 2025," said Michael Pintard. "There has been no groundbreaking, no visible progress, no answers. Every month of delay costs Grand Bahama jobs, investors, and tourism revenue. We still don't know the plans. We don't know the cost. We don't even know who will operate the airport once it is built." According to the Nassau Guardian, the government has not provided a specific timeline for the airport's reconstruction.
Jamaica.
$185 million in new taxes
Finance Minister Fayval Williams announced to the House of Representatives that the Jamaican government intends to introduce additional taxes for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. These are expected to bring in more than $185 million for the state. This decision follows the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa, which caused more than $8 billion in property damage, according to the Caribbean National Weekly. At the heart of this revenue plan is a new special consumption tax on non-alcoholic sugary drinks, which is expected to bring in $63 million in its first year of implementation. "The main objective of this measure is not only to generate revenue," insisted the Minister of Finance. "It also supports broader public health objectives," given that obesity and diabetes rates are high on the island. The tax increases will also apply to cigarettes, pure alcohol, digital services and intangible goods, the goods and services tax, and a review of tax breaks on motor vehicles for civil servants. The CNW points out that these are the first new taxes introduced by a government in ten years. "It took a Category 5 hurricane for this to happen," said the minister, adding that the government remains committed to increasing public sector wages and raising the income tax threshold to $12,145 as of April 1, 2026.
Saba/Sint Eustatius.
Air travel has become unaffordable
The surge in airfares between Saint Martin and the islands of Saba and Saint Eustatius is putting a strain on the daily lives of residents, writes Saba News, relaying the comments of Bram Strepel, Secretary of State for the Islands, who raised this issue on the social and professional network LinkedIn. "The exorbitant cost of these flights (more than $400 for a 12-minute flight) directly affects Saba and Sint Eustatius, impacting quality of life, tourism, the economy, and the healthcare system," the Secretary of State wrote in an online post. The issue has now been brought to the attention of The Hague, according to Saba News. Members of Parliament Heera Dijk and Tijs van den Brink have submitted official questions to the government regarding this situation. The two elected officials are asking what measures the government intends to take to ensure the accessibility of the islands, "especially since these air links fulfill an essential public service function." For his part, Bram Strepel says that despite growing political attention to this issue, there is still not enough sense of urgency. He points out that residents depend on these flights for access to medical care, education, and work. The island's elected officials are therefore calling for temporary measures pending the development of longer-term solutions, writes Saba News, which mentions the possibility of establishing a public service obligation system or other forms of financial support.
Virgin Islands (US).
Charters: competition from the British Virgin Islands is a cause for concern
The maritime industry in the US Virgin Islands is facing increasing competitive pressure from the British Virgin Islands, explains the Virgin Islands Consortium. According to Kennon Jones, executive director of the Virgin Island Professional Charter Association, the maritime industry risks "continuing its decline if policymakers do not take deliberate corrective action." Kennon Jones told the Government Operations Committee that delays in obtaining permits and infrastructure deficiencies are weakening the US Virgin Islands' maritime sector, while companies are relocating to the British Virgin Islands. More than 90 ships have already moved to the British neighbor in 2025. Kennon Jones said that plans to expand marinas and the airport in the British Virgin Islands are likely to widen the competitiveness gap. He also pointed to coastal zone management regulations, saying that the spending thresholds that trigger major permits have not been updated since 1979. He explained that building a "modest beach bar" or a dock costing tens of thousands of dollars could trigger the same permitting requirements as a multi-million-dollar cruise ship pier project. In an attempt to explain the inertia of the political class, one senator said that the changes demanded by professionals in the sector had already been discussed and had led to "heated controversy." Clearly, this did not deter officials on the British side.
Puerto Rico.
"Unborn child" recognized as a human being in the penal code
The San Juan Daily Star reports that Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed Senate Bill 923 into law last Thursday, amending Article 92 of the Penal Code to establish that the term "human being" includes "the unborn child" at any stage of gestation in the mother's womb. This legislation, initially filed under the reference number, became law after being signed by the governor, the article states. According to the official press release, this amendment complements the so-called Keyshla Madlane Act, which classifies the intentional and deliberate murder of a pregnant woman that also results in the death of the unborn child as first-degree murder. "This law aims to harmonize existing criminal provisions by expressly including the unborn child in the definition applicable to the articles of the Penal Code," notes the San Juan Star.
Dominican Republic.
Arrest of a DEA supervisor
Dominican Today reports on information revealed by the Associated Press concerning the arrest of one of the supervisors of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration, the US agency responsible for combating drug trafficking) in the Dominican Republic. The arrest took place last Thursday as part of an investigation into the embezzlement of funds from a US confidential informant visa program. The AP reported that the arrest came just hours after the Trump administration unexpectedly closed the Caribbean country's anti-drug office. While U.S. Ambassador Leah Campos did not provide any specific reason for the closure of the DEA office in Santo Domingo, she said she would not "tolerate corruption." The investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is currently ongoing.
Saint Martin.
"Provisional" budget guidelines
On Friday, February 13, the elected representatives of the Saint Martin Territorial Council debated the 2026 budget guidelines report. At the outset, President Louis Mussington emphasized the provisional nature of the report. In an article on the subject, 97150 explains: " The 2025 figures should be analyzed with caution, as a number of adjustments still need to be made to revenue, approximately €30 million, and approximately €6 million in expenditure, which makes these forecasts uncertain." The final budget will be voted on in June. While management efforts were noted during the council meeting, the Air Antilles case obviously raised some questions. As one elected representative pointed out, the Collectivité provided a €6 million advance on a current account, took out two loans of €10 million each and another loan of €3 million to ensure cash flow. "The receivership procedure certainly allows debts (incurred before January 2) to be frozen, but not canceled," says 97150.
Guadeloupe.
An uncertain sugar campaign
The sugar campaign is due to start on February 19 in Guadeloupe at the Gardel factory, but social negotiations are still at a standstill, explains RCI in an article published on February 16. It is specified that, with just a few days to go before the launch, the cane industry is starting "in a climate of persistent tension and agricultural uncertainty." Indeed, the unions and management have still not reached an agreement, despite five rounds of negotiations. According to RCI, the UGTG union accuses management of imposing a representative who is no longer mandated by any union, "a practice deemed illegal and intended to slow down discussions," RCI points out, adding: "The unions also denounce the failure to provide production data for the last three years, which they consider essential for serious negotiations." In 2025, nearly 300,000 tons of cane were not harvested. This represented heavy losses for the industry. This year, the management of the Gardel factory says it wants to produce 418,000 tons of sugar cane, while Marie-Galante should produce around 60,000 additional tons starting in March, according to RCI.
