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Anguilla. Illegal Fishing: Fish Seized and Distributed to Hospitals and Schools
Approximately 359 pounds (about 163 kg) of fish, seized from a vessel registered in Saint Martin suspected of illegal fishing in Anguilla’s waters, were donated to local organizations. This information was reported on October 26 by the Anguilla Focus website. Among the recipients are Princess Alexandra Hospital, Anguilla Community College, the Zenaida Haven Juvenile Rehabilitation Center, the White Cedar Girls’ Home, and various healthcare facilities, the article states. Students in the food and nutrition class at Albena Lake-Hodge Secondary School also received fish, which will be used for hands-on cooking projects. The fishing vessel, approximately 8 meters long and registered in Saint Martin, was intercepted on September 24 around 3:45 p.m. near Anguillita, after being spotted heading south from Dog Island. A search revealed a cargo of fish, but no firearms or illicit substances, the Royal Anguilla Police Force stated at the time in a press release. In a statement released on October 23, the Department of Natural Resources clarified that the vessel was using fish aggregating devices (FADs) on the high seas without the required licenses or permits. No legal action has been taken in this case. Nevertheless, the Department of Natural Resources’ statement notes: “This incident marks the beginning of a graduated and measured response to illegal fishing, whether by foreign vessels or others. Any future violations will result in prosecution under Anguilla’s current fisheries laws.” In a more recent incident, a fishing vessel registered in the Dominican Republic was seized, and its captain was fined.
U.S. Virgin Islands. A Failing Power Plant Leaves St. Thomas Plagued by Repeated Outages
It certainly seems that electricity generation facilities are reaching the end of their useful life on several Caribbean islands. For months now, there have been few weeks in which the Virgin Island Consortium has not reported various and varied malfunctions in the U.S. Virgin Islands. For example, for about ten days now, the news site has reported that the islands of St. Thomas and St. John are still experiencing a 3- to 5-megawatt shortfall in electricity production. This is despite the return to service of a generating unit at the Randolph Harley power plant. As the Consortium explains, electricity demand in the St. Thomas and St. John district continues to exceed available generation capacity. The damaged unit was repaired thanks to the import of essential replacement parts from Tyler, Texas, and Missouri. Nevertheless, WAPA (V.I. Water and Power Authority) Executive Director Karl Knight explained that the agency is facing challenges related to generators and fuel supply for certain industrial customers. To manage this shortage while awaiting the repair of another Wärtsilä engine (the same brand as the two main units at the EDF power plant in Saint Barth), WAPA is asking its customers to reduce their electricity consumption over the next two weeks. A case of déjà vu, isn’t it? The Consortium notes that Karl Knight hopes another Wärtsilä unit can be brought back online during this period, thereby providing additional capacity to the grid. However, he clarified that longer-term repairs remain necessary. It should be noted that the shortfall in electricity generation has also affected the territory’s water distribution system, whose operation—for the production and delivery of drinking water—depends on electricity. It seems that, in many respects, St. Thomas and St. Barts are closely linked…
Grenada: Elections Under Observation
General elections will be held in Grenada on Thursday, November 5. On this occasion, the Organization of American States (OAS) will deploy an election observation mission. This deployment follows the agreement signed by OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, and Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Tarlie Francis, during a ceremony held at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. (United States). The Caribbean National Weekly notes that Albert Ramdin praised Grenada’s commitment to democracy and the strength of its electoral processes, emphasizing the importance of credible elections, regardless of a country’s size. The mission is expected to produce a report detailing its observations and recommendations, aimed at strengthening Grenada’s democratic institutions and electoral processes. The OAS has been observing electoral processes in Grenada since 1984. The mission scheduled for November 5 will mark the organization’s ninth election observation mission in this Caribbean country.
Jamaica. Restrictions on Overseas Travel for Government Officials
According to reports in the Observer and the Caribbean National Weekly (CNW), the Jamaican government has imposed a moratorium on official travel abroad throughout the public sector, effective until March 31, 2027. Such travel is now limited to essential activities only, as the country seeks to focus its resources on recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. The directive, issued by Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell in a memo dated October 21, applies to ministers, senior officials, board members, as well as executives and employees of ministries, departments, agencies, and public bodies. The CNW specifies that these restrictions apply regardless of how the travel is funded, whether it is paid for by taxpayers or by external organizations. Trips that have already been approved but not yet taken must also be reviewed, as prior authorization does not automatically exempt them from compliance with this moratorium. “The memo states that the country’s reconstruction and recovery program requires considerable financial, technical, and administrative resources, making strict budgetary discipline and the prioritization of expenditures essential,” the CNW emphasizes.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 47 Years of Independence
On Tuesday, October 27, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines celebrated the 47th anniversary of its independence from Great Britain. This Eastern Caribbean nation gained independence on October 27, 1979, becoming the last of the British Windward Islands to take this step.
Saint Lucia. Tax Exemptions for “Christmas Barrels” Starting in November
The St. Lucia Times has published an article on a government measure exempting “Christmas barrels,” which will allow residents to import certain goods without having to pay value-added tax (VAT) or customs duties. This will be in effect from November 1 through February 2027. These measures also provide for a total (100%) exemption from customs duties on personal effects, food products, clothing, toys, and other eligible everyday consumer goods. The Times notes that electronic devices are excluded from these exemptions. The program is limited to two barrels per household, with the estimated value of eligible goods capped at 3,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars per barrel, or just over 996 euros.
Dominican Republic. Electricity Costs, Outages: Solar Power Gains Ground
In an article published on October 25, *Dominican Today* highlights that, since 2024, the National Energy Commission (CNE) has reported that approximately 15,400 users of the national power grid have been using solar panels to convert sunlight into energy for their homes or businesses. According to the leading company that sells solar panels in the country (Green Deport Electricos), this number has been steadily increasing over the past twelve months. This is notably “thanks to the guarantee of a reliable electricity supply and improved personal finances, in the short, medium, and long term,” says Pascual Morillo, the company’s CEO, as quoted by Dominican Today. Nevertheless, the CEO qualifies this by noting that grid connection and the net metering mechanism require technical plans, certifications, and authorization from electricity distributors (EDES). These companies must, in fact, monitor and determine the amount of energy that solar panels will feed into the grid, based on household consumption, Dominican Today explains. Pascual Morillo adds that rates depend on the customer’s needs. A basic kit, typically consisting of panels, a battery, and an inverter—enough, for example, to power a fan and a television—costs about 45,000 Dominican pesos (approximately 659 euros). However, if the user wishes to become completely independent from the power grid and has higher consumption, the investment can exceed 600,000 (8,786 euros) or even reach 800,000 Dominican pesos (11,715 euros).
Montserrat. CARICOM on the Volcano
On October 16, 2026, the Secretary General of CARICOM (Caribbean Community), Dr. Carla Barnett, and her delegation made an informative visit to the Montserrat Volcanological Observatory (MVO), St. George’s Hill, the buried town of Plymouth, and the Montserrat National Trust. This visit provided the delegation with a unique opportunity to learn more about Montserrat’s volcanic history, the ongoing monitoring of volcanic activity, and the impact of the volcanic crisis on the island. For the record, in July 1995, the La Soufrière volcano entered a period of intense eruptive activity that continued until 2013. In June 1997, an eruption devastated W.H. Bramble Airport. A new series of eruptions that occurred between August 4 and 8, 1997, led to the destruction of Plymouth, the capital, which was 80% covered in ash and permanently abandoned. The eruption on June 25, 1997, claimed the lives of 19 people. After the capital was destroyed, nearly two-thirds of Montserrat’s 13,000 residents fled to neighboring islands or to the United Kingdom. The rest migrated to the northern part of the island, to an area protected by the Center Hills range. The British government offered 41 million pounds in repatriation aid, and a ship was dispatched to evacuate residents to other Caribbean islands. Due to the intense activity of La Soufrière, the population fell from approximately 13,000 in 1994 to 5,800 in 2008. The tourism industry has been completely wiped out. As a side note, the artist Jimmy Buffett wrote a song in 1979 referencing La Soufrière titled “Volcano.”
Saint Martin
Passenger Traffic at Princess Juliana Airport
Arrivals at Princess Juliana Airport exceeded 771,100 visitors in the first nine months of 2026, representing a 21% increase (+134,606 passengers) compared to 2025, according to the Soualiga Post. North America remains the leading market, accounting for nearly two-thirds of travelers (86.5% of whom are Americans). Europeans account for one-quarter of arrivals, split mainly between French (38.6%) and Dutch (36.3%) travelers.
IEDOM Economic Report
The Institute for the Economy of the Overseas Departments (IEDOM) presented Saint Martin’s 2025 economic report. Driven by tourism (2.6 million visitors), the economy remains dynamic and attracts investors. While the construction sector is slowing down following the completion of post-Irma reconstruction, three major infrastructure projects planned through 2027 (port expansion, electricity, and waste management) are expected to support the territory’s growth.
Cash Flow
As reported by the Soualiga Post, the Issuing Institute for the Overseas Departments (IEDOM) transferred 166.4 million euros in banknotes to the Northern Islands in 2025, a 14% decrease from the previous year. Conversely, the return of banknotes to Guadeloupe increased to 220.1 million euros. The institute also notes that the U.S. dollar accounts for about one-third of cash payments in Saint Martin, compared with just 5% in Saint Barthélemy.
Community Cleanup at Tintamarre
Clean Saint-Martin and the Nature Reserve will organize their very first cleanup operation on Tintamarre Islet on Sunday, November 8. The goal will be to remove marine debris from the beach in order to preserve the site. Volunteers will be transported there by boat at a reduced rate (€10), and the event will conclude with a friendly barbecue.
