Caribbean tourism is on the rebound and almost back to COVID-19 pre-pandemic levels.

This is according to President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig, as she delivered the State of the Industry and Region Address, at the second Caribbean Travel Forum, on Tuesday, at the Sandals Royal Resort, Maxwell, Christ Church.

Ms. Madden-Greig said that although the sector was almost back to pre-pandemic levels and global travel demand was robust post COVID-19, the industry was still in recovery mode.

“We are still in recovery as an industry because some of us are still struggling with the deferred loans and the lack of profitability for the last three years.  And while we are doing strong in terms of revenue growth, we still have debt to pay out.  So, we are recovering and recovering strong but we are not yet fully recovered from a financial point of view,” she stated.

In addition, Ms. Madden-Greig noted that the pace of recovery is still threatened by rising operation costs, increased airfares, climate change, connectivity, global competition, and labour shortages.  

“We know that this (labour shortage) is a challenge not only for tourism but for every sector and that’s a global challenge.  We have been working as CHTA with our regional partners at CTO and other universities to ensure we ramp up training and development of our nationals.”

On the issue of climate change and some of the efforts to combat the effects, she highlighted that the CHTA started working with the Nature Conservatory last year on a coral reef preservation and management guide.  

She said three weeks ago it was launched in Kingston, Jamaica, and in addition to Jamaica, the CHTA is working with Dominica and Haiti to ensure that coral reefs are protected in those areas which make up 60 per cent of the coral cover for the entire region.  The findings from the project would be used to drive other research and protection throughout the region.

The CHTA President also spoke of a tourism demand study conducted in Jamaica. She stressed that if the study is done across the Caribbean and not individually, it could look at demand, in terms of the supply of goods and services required in the industry as a region, and stakeholders would be able to see what could be done in terms of import substitution as a region.  

This, Ms. Madden-Greig said, would “help us to drive that tourism retention dollar to our nationals, and ensure that wealth creation for generations to generations is something that tourism is able to deliver”.

Other key points highlighted were:

• Aruba is leading the Caribbean in recovery;
• Barbados is among the top destinations with an upward occupancy trend;
• Intra-regional travel is on the decline;
• Sectoral linkages can be an area for growth opportunity;
• There are great partnerships to be had regionally, e.g. multi-destination packages, and
• Latin America is a crucial market for the Caribbean.    (PR/GIS)

Over 800 degrees, diplomas and certificates, across a range of disciplines, will be conferred on the class of 2022, when the Barbados Community College (BCC) held its 49th graduation ceremony, at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, on Saturday, November 5.

The ceremony, which will was held under the theme Living the Change: Navigating the Challenges, began at 5:00 p.m. Minister of Education, Technical and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, will deliver the feature address.

In total, 819 students graduated from the College’s various programmes, a majority – 196 with the Associate Degree in Applied Science, followed by 144 with Associate Degrees in Applied Arts and 142 with Bachelor’s Degrees. 

Additionally, 140 students graduated with the Associate Degree in Arts; 50 with the Associate Degree in Science and 36 with the Associate Degree in Arts and Science. Ninety-two students will also receive BCC certificates while 19 others will be given postgraduate diplomas.

The ceremony holds the distinction of being the first in the face-to-face format, as Barbados resumes normal operation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the BCC’s Registrar, Roger Worrell, this year’s celebration is “all the more special, given all that students and teachers; and by extension the entire country endured and overcame over the last two years”. (PR/GIS)

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada’s main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) won today’s general elections, according to preliminary results.

Snap general elections were held in Grenada on 23 June 2022. The incumbent Prime Minister Keith Mitchell sought a sixth term. National Democratic Congress (NDC) made a return to parliament after 9 years of absence, defeating the ruling party New National Party, which led to Dickon Mitchell becoming the Prime Minister-designate of Grenada. This is also the first election since 2008 where the NDC gained seats.

The NDC leader, Dickon Mitchell, 44, who took over the opposition party in October last year, defeated Foreign Affairs Minister Oliver Joseph  by a margin of 4,414 to 2,742 votes in  the St. David  constituency.

On Thursday, Mitchell, an attorney at law, successfully unseated Dr Keith Mitchell who was prime minister of Grenada for the past nine years.  

Mitchell, 75, who was hoping for a historic sixth term as prime minister was denied victory as the NDC took 9 of the 15 constituencies with the remaining going to the New National Party (NNP).  Prime Minister Keith Mitchell comfortably won his St. George North West seat. Mitchell, who called the general election ahead of the constitutional March 2023 deadline, polled 2,211 votes as against 773 for Jonathan LaCrette of the main opposition NDC.

The NDC has been declared victor in nine of the 15 seats, with the remainder going to the New National Party (NNP) of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell.

Several government ministers, including the Finance Minister Gregory Bowen; the Minister of Legal Affairs, Kindra Mathurin-Stewart; the Minister with responsibility for Forestry and Fisheries, Alvin Da Breo;  as well as the Minister for Infrastructure Development, Nolan Cox; and  Pamela Moses, the Minister for Information and Communications Technology, all lost their seats in the election.

In a message posted on its website, the NDC said “we are overwhelmed with gratitude and stand humbled before the Lord our God and you, the people of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique.

“Thank you from the bottom of each and every one of our hearts. This victory is not ours, but yours.

“Now, the hard work begins, but, first, join us…at La Sagesse Playing Field for a special victory celebration. Together, we are moving Grenada FORWARD.”

He said from Monday the government goes to work to rebuild and to start the process of transforming the country.

Layout of Representative Win

Mitchell outlined the first course of action: “Project number one I want us to start by getting the nutmeg plants, the clove plants, the cinnamon plants because project number one is we are going to replant all of the spices. Come Monday we are going to work.” 

He said once the Governor-General invites him to take the oath of office ‘we will put on the suit’ and once the suit goes on the NDC is going to fight and work for the people of Petite Martinique, Carriacou and Grenada.   

He said now is the time to start the transformation: “If we could transform the National Democratic Congress in eight months and legally, peacefully take the seat of power then we could transform the state of Petite Martinique, Carriacou and Grenada in five years, 10 years in 15 years.” 

Mitchell said the mission is to ensure the National Democratic Congress for the next 15 years transforms the lives of each and every citizen.