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Jamaica.
New Air Routes and a $5 Billion Tourism Plan
At the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s 2026 Caribbean Travel Marketplace, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, stated that the Jamaican tourism sector is poised for major expansion thanks to new air routes and $5 billion in hotel investments. Not to mention the upcoming regional aviation summit, notes the Caribbean National Weekly in an article on the subject. Jamaica recorded over one million visitors and approximately $956 million in foreign exchange earnings during the first quarter of 2026, a sign of a strong recovery just six months after Hurricane Melissa struck. The Canadian airline Porter Airlines will launch new nonstop direct flights from Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, and Hamilton, adding nearly 5,000 seats for the winter season. Additional growth in air traffic is expected from Latin America via Wingo, while Virgin Atlantic will continue to expand its routes from the United Kingdom, it was announced. In addition, the government has unveiled a significant expansion plan for the country’s hotel sector, with the planned construction of 15,000 to 20,000 new rooms over the next five to ten years. These developments represent an estimated investment of $5 billion.
Antigua and Barbuda.
Spanish as a second official language
A few weeks after being re-elected for a fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda in early legislative elections, Gaston Browne announced following the weekly cabinet meeting that Spanish would become the country’s second official language. This announcement is part of “a new government policy aimed at developing multilingual education and strengthening regional and international ties,” according to a ministerial statement reported by the Caribbean press. “The government believes that strengthening Spanish language skills among citizens and residents will improve communication, regional integration, tourism, trade, and workforce competitiveness, while enhancing Antigua and Barbuda’s ability to collaborate more effectively with Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the statement said.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Board has established an advisory committee “to capture the Quebec and Canadian markets,” reports the Travel Pulse Québec website. The committee is composed of experienced and dedicated travel advisors from across the country. The goal is to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s presence in the Canadian market. “Recent initiatives also include the appointment of a Quebec-based trade representative and the intensification of public relations efforts, which are increasing the destination’s visibility in Canada,” notes Travel Pulse.
Saba.
The oil field will not be developed
An oil field with an estimated capacity of nearly 500 million barrels has been discovered near Saba. However, according to an article on the “Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties” website, there will be no oil extraction near Saba. The Minister for Climate and Green Growth, Stientje van Veldhoven, made this statement during the parliamentary debate on government measures aimed at mitigating the consequences of rising oil and fuel prices. Member of Parliament Frederik Jansen (Forum for Democracy) questioned the minister about the presence of the oil field, which could be exploited in the event of a fuel shortage. “I would like to know if the minister is willing to commission a study on oil extraction off the coast of Saba, which is, after all, a Dutch municipality,” he asked. Stientje van Veldhoven replied: “Numerous studies have been conducted on this subject. No extraction plan has ever been drawn up by the parties involved. These were commercial entities. Furthermore, the oil field is located right next to a protected coral reef. Thus, from both an economic and ecological standpoint, no possibility for oil extraction near Saba has been identified.” The debate is therefore closed. For now.
Cuba.
CMA-CGM and Hapag-Lloyd suspend their deliveries
On May 1, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding sanctions to any foreign company operating in key Cuban sectors, such as cargo shipping. By using infrastructure such as ports and logistics terminals controlled by the Cuban military conglomerate, international shipping companies are therefore exposing themselves to retaliation from Washington, such as restrictions on access to the U.S. market, difficulties in dollar transactions, or insurance issues, explains RFI in an article published on May 18. As a result, the two global shipping giants, CMA-CGM (France) and Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), have announced the complete suspension of their shipments to Cuba. At the same time, the Trump administration is ramping up pressure for regime change, reports the daily Le Monde. Notably by raising the possibility of military intervention. Regarding this possibility, on Monday, May 18, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez stated that such an undertaking would lead to “a bloodbath with incalculable consequences.”
Puerto Rico.
A $11.4 million budget to strengthen the drinking water network
According to an article in the San Juan Star, Governor Jennifer González Colón, accompanied by Gabriella Boffelli, executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), announced last week that the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has awarded $11.4 million in new funding under the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) program. These funds will be used to address the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to degradation—as well as other emerging contaminants in Puerto Rico’s drinking water system. The EC-SDC program represents a $1 billion national investment aimed at helping communities address emerging contaminants in drinking water, explains the San Juan Star. In Puerto Rico, the funds will be used to conduct water quality testing and monitoring, identify contamination from emerging chemicals, develop long-term solutions, improve and modernize drinking water infrastructure, and support water supply systems and private wells in vulnerable communities. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has announced the lifting of certain restrictions on “forever chemicals” in drinking water—substances that authorities had deemed carcinogenic and likely to cause other serious health problems, according to the New York Times.
Dominican Republic.
Free Trade Zones: $2.8 Billion in Exports
Dominican Today reports on an announcement by the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE) highlighting that exports from the Dominican Republic’s free trade zone sector totaled $2.8 billion during the first four months of 2026. This represents a 4.3% increase compared to the same period the previous year. This growth represents $115.2 million in additional export revenue. Medical and pharmaceutical products led the sector with $966 million in exports, according to The Dominican Today. They were followed by tobacco and tobacco products ($461.2 million). Other sectors, such as metals and fabricated metal products, commercial activities, and chemicals, recorded strong growth, reflecting “the ongoing diversification and increasing sophistication of the country’s industrial base,” the article’s author notes.
St. Kitts and Nevis Becomes a Home Port for Cruise Lines
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is moving closer to one of its stated goals: to become a major Caribbean destination for cruise ships. It is doing so by becoming a homeport. As a result, residents and visitors to the islands can now book cruises departing from Saint Kitts and Nevis. The homeport concept differs significantly from the traditional cruise model, where ships make brief stops and passengers spend only a few hours ashore, explains the Saint Kitts Observer. Under this new arrangement, Saint Kitts and Nevis will serve as a point of departure and arrival for cruises, allowing passengers to embark and disembark within the Federation. The first cruises departing from the home ports will be operated by P&O Cruises aboard its ships, the Arvia and the Iona. The itineraries will include stops in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Curaçao, Tortola, Saint Martin, Castries, Bridgetown, and Fort-de-France, Prime Minister Terence Drew said.
Anguilla.
Two new vessels to strengthen maritime surveillance
As part of a new partnership between the British government and the government of Anguilla to better protect the coastline, the British government is funding the purchase of two new patrol vessels. This will strengthen maritime patrols, interdiction, and border security, the Governor’s Office explained in a May 15 press release. The expanded Marine Unit will draw on the expertise and operational support of the Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF), Immigration, and Customs, ensuring that the vessels are integrated “into a multi-agency operational model.” The two vessels are expected to be operational in early 2027, which will bring about a significant change in Anguilla’s ability to protect its maritime borders and respond to serious and organized crime.
In addition, the Anguilla government plans to increase police recruitment using the £4 million in security support that the British government has provided to Anguilla since 2024.
U.S. Virgin Islands.
Political Ads Banned in Historic Districts
A very local project has been stirring up public debate in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the past few weeks. The sharp rise in fuel prices? A little, inevitably. But it is a public consultation on the installation of a nine-meter-long illuminated billboard by a private company in downtown St. Thomas, on Weymouth Rhymer Highway, that has captured people’s attention. While Public Works Commissioner Derrick Gabriel stated that, personally, he did not approve of the project, comments on social media are overwhelmingly negative, according to an article in the St. Croix Source. To address some of the criticism and other discontent, candidates for public office were reminded that political advertising is strictly prohibited in the historic districts of the U.S. Virgin Islands, including St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. However, advertising “in general” is expected to soon flood the historic districts with light. A—bad?—sign of the times.
