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U.S. Virgin Islands. Carnival Trumps Taxes
The Virgin Islands Consortium website announced in an article published on April 13 that the government is set to issue $15 million in income tax refunds next week. Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach emphasized the importance of these payments for families facing rising living costs. “This payment is also part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reduce its tax refund obligations ahead of the St. Thomas Carnival,” the article states.
Saba. Black Rocks Port Construction: Concerns for the Marine Environment
According to a March 30 Saba News article, turbidity levels around the Black Rocks Port project (JSB 1540) are being closely monitored following observations of murky waters in late March. “The Saba Public Entity acknowledges the public’s concern regarding the fragility of the island’s marine environment and is striving to provide clear information on the causes of this turbidity and the immediate measures taken to address it,” writes Saba News. The author of the article notes that excavation work for the port project is underway. During this phase, natural materials from the seabed—including boulders, rocks, sand, and fine silt particles—are being dredged. “These materials are being reused for the construction of the inner core of the breakwater and for the creation of temporary dams necessary for dredging the basin,” he notes. During this process, some very fine particles from the seabed were resuspended in the water. These light silty sediments were then carried westward by coastal currents, forming a visible plume along the coastline.” Since the fine suspended particles could harm the health of the corals, the government immediately contacted the contractor, who halted the work. “The excavation method has since been modified,” Saba News reports. Fine materials are now filtered onshore to prevent them from contaminating seawater.” Saba News adds: “Environmental protection remains a top priority for the Black Rocks Port project. Last year, more than 1,000 corals located directly within the project area were successfully transplanted to a peripheral site east of the port area.”
Saint Kitts and Nevis. Agreements with Guyana to Strengthen Agriculture
In early April, three memorandums of understanding covering cooperation on non-lethal defense and security, agriculture and food security, and the modernization of public administration were signed by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew, during an official visit to Guyana. “This signing marks a significant step forward in cooperation between the two Caribbean nations, building on a longstanding relationship rooted in a shared history, regional solidarity, and ties between the peoples,” notes the Caribbean National Weekly. Regarding agriculture and food security, Terrance Drew emphasized the need to strengthen local production and reduce dependence on external markets, particularly in light of rising global food prices. He discussed opportunities for Saint Kitts and Nevis to benefit from the development of Guyana’s agricultural capabilities, while improving domestic production through knowledge transfer and technical assistance. “There is much to learn, but also many opportunities,” he told the CNW. “We want to buy food products from the region—why import them?” Additionally, the prime minister formalized Saint Kitts and Nevis’s membership in the Global Alliance for Biodiversity, an international initiative launched by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
Jamaica. Potential 7-billion-barrel oil field discovered
The Jamaica Observer and the Caribbean National Weekly (CNW) report on the announcement by British oil company United Oil and Gas of the discovery of a potential oil field containing seven billion barrels in Jamaican waters. United Oil & Gas plc revealed that it has completed the analysis of samples collected from the seabed under the Walton-Morant license, an area long considered to hold potential oil and gas reserves. According to CNW, United Oil & Gas analyzed 42 sediment cores collected from the ocean floor during its recent geochemical seabed exploration campaign. The analysis detected C4 and C5 hydrocarbons, including butane and pentane, in several samples. These heavy hydrocarbons are generally associated with thermogenic gas, notes CNW, which forms deep underground under the effects of heat and pressure over millions of years. This distinction is important because thermogenic hydrocarbons are more commonly associated with oil and gas deposits, whereas biogenic gas typically forms closer to the surface and is less likely to indicate significant oil resources. According to the company’s CEO, Brian Larkin, these results confirm the possible existence of an active petroleum system off the coast of Jamaica.
Anguilla. Temporary Waiver of Customs Duty Calculation Fees
The government of Anguilla, through the Customs Department, has just implemented a “temporary relief” measure aimed at reducing the cost of imported goods. Thus, effective April 10 for a period of three months, transportation and insurance costs will be excluded from the calculation of customs duties on a portion of imports. “This initiative is part of the government’s broader response to ongoing global geopolitical developments and their impact on the cost of living,” an official statement noted. Goods imported before April 10 are not eligible for this measure, regardless of whether they were entered, valued, or cleared after that date. For consumers, this means that customs duties will be calculated solely based on the cost of the goods. Transportation and insurance costs will not be included in the calculation of duties during this period for eligible imports. This measure aims to reduce the overall cost of imported goods and provide relief to households and businesses.
Haiti. Thirty Dead in a Stampede at a Tourist Site
According to the major Haitian daily Le Nouvelliste, a stampede followed by a crowd surge that occurred on Saturday, April 11, at the Citadelle Laferrière tourist site resulted in the deaths of thirty people. The tragedy was confirmed to Agence France-Presse by Haiti’s Minister of Culture and Communication, Emmanuel Ménard. The accident occurred during traditional festivities held at this 19th-century fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at an altitude of 900 meters within a national park 15 kilometers south of Cap-Haïtien, the country’s second-largest city after the capital, Port-au-Prince. Le Nouvelliste reports that only one entrance was accessible when a scuffle broke out between those trying to enter and those trying to exit. This led to the deadly stampede. Numerous injuries were also reported.
Dominica. Extended Tax Relief
Due to rising oil prices, transportation costs, and the cost of many basic goods caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced earlier this week at a press conference that the tax measures already in place to mitigate the rising cost of living would be extended. Thus, the government intends to extend the exemption from value-added tax (VAT) and import duties on a range of essential goods until next July. “We are, in many ways, innocent victims of a conflict for which we are not responsible, but we must not remain passive in the face of its consequences and must protect our citizens,” the prime minister stated in the Caribbean National Weekly.
Saint Martin. The Collectivity aims to redefine its tax system
In an article published on April 9, our esteemed colleague at 97150 reports on the initial efforts by the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Martin to redefine the contours of its tax system, simplify the General Tax Code, and optimize tax revenue. “The goal is to modernize a system that has become obsolete and is now deemed unsuited to the realities of the territory,” writes Ann Bouard. “On the drawing board for several years, the reform is expected to be implemented for the first time in 2027, twenty years after the change in status.” Taxation accounts for 85% of the Collectivité’s resources, or approximately 150 million euros, notes our colleague. “But the assessment highlights several weaknesses,” she adds. “Outdated IT tools, unreliable data, control difficulties that facilitate fraud, as well as a tax framework that is sometimes unclear and ill-suited to a fragile economic fabric largely composed of micro-enterprises. "The priority will therefore be to modernize a system that has become overly complex—with no fewer than a dozen different software programs used by the public finance department, as noted by 97150—to arrive at a single, unified platform. Furthermore, the reform also aims to support local businesses “by simplifying tax regimes, making taxation more transparent, and directing tax incentives toward priority sectors, subject to commitments (employment, training, investment, environmental transition),” the article states.
Guadeloupe. Man in his 60s shot dead by a gendarme
A man in his sixties was shot and killed by a gendarme on Sunday, April 12, in the late afternoon, on Rue Duchassaing in the town of Le Moule. According to initial reports from our colleagues at La 1ère, the gendarmes were called around 6 p.m. to respond to disturbances on the public street. Upon their arrival, the man, armed with a knife, reportedly attempted to attack them. A gendarme reportedly used a Taser, but this was not enough to subdue the man in his sixties. A gendarme drew his weapon and fired three shots at the man. The man did not die immediately from his injuries. According to La 1ère, local residents who witnessed the scene then shouted insults at the gendarmes present at the time of the incident. The officer who fired the shots was taken into custody. An investigation has been launched to determine whether the use of a firearm was justified. The victim is described by La 1ère as “a familiar figure in the neighborhood” who was seen daily near the bakery. Marginalized after a series of personal and professional problems, he reportedly suffered from psychological issues, according to our colleagues in Guadeloupe.
Sint Maarten. Carnival in Full Swing
From April 10 through May 5, parades, concerts, and numerous other events will mark the 55th edition of the Sint Maarten Carnival. Thirty-one days of festivities, with the full program available on the organizers’ website (sxm-carnival.com). “On the music front, six international concerts will punctuate the festivities,” writes 97150. “A highlight for fans of Caribbean sounds: the return of the Soca Rumble. A tribute concert will be dedicated to Leroy ‘King Beau Beau’ Brooks, celebrating his musical legacy. Finally, DJ Takeover will present a show featuring local DJs.”
