NASSAU, Bahamas -- Murders in The Bahamas have increased by 39 percent between January 1, 2017 and August 20, 2017, compared to the same period last year. There have been 89 murders for this year. As of August 20, 2016, there were 64 murders. Three killings were recorded...

MIAMI, USA -- In the opaque world of diplomatic passport sales, it is definitely caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). Last year, a Ukrainian businessman*, who is linked to Dubai, and who wanted to buy a diplomatic passport from a cooperating Caribbean country, contacted citizenship consultants...

MIAMI, USA -- An Air Force Reserve Unit Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigating the remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey on Sunday found that the system still lacks a well-defined centre of circulation, and so far there is no indication of winds to tropical storm force.

MIAMI, USA -- A US Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found that the tropical system moving into the Eastern Caribbean had become Tropical Storm Harvey on Thursday afternoon. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados and...

MIAMI, USA -- Thursday morning satellite imagery showed that shower activity associated with a low pressure system centered about 550 miles east of the Lesser Antilles had become better organized overnight, and buoy data indicates that the circulation is becoming better defined.

MIAMI, USA -- The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami is continuing to track three tropical systems with the potential to impact the Caribbean during the next several days. A low pressure system located about 900 miles east of the Lesser Antilles continues to produce...

MIAMI, USA -- With Hurricane Gert located several hundred miles west of Bermuda but likely to pass well to the north of the island, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami is tracking three new tropical systems in the Atlantic. An elongated area of low pressure located more than 1,000 miles east...

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti -- Last week, Marie Margareth Fortuné, the director general of the Haitian State Lottery (LEH), paid a two-day visit to the Dominican Republic to learn about operations in the gambling industry and draw on good practices from its neighbours. In addition to a visit to the...

HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- The famous Varadero tourist resort in the western Cuba province of Matanzas has upgraded its international healthcare center now offering specialized medical services. The cutting edge technology providing the new services includes a biochemical analyzer  providing fast...

WASHINGTON, USA -- The Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), on behalf of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, has established a strategic partnership with Cooperativa Nacional de Educadores, RL (“COOPENAE”), a leading savings and credit cooperative in Costa Rica...

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Jamaica has appointed Adriana La Valley as its new chief of operations (COO), with effect from August 1, 2017. With over 20 years of international experience in development financing, La Valley takes up the position after serving...

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Vincentian song writer Adonis Browne, aka ‘Major Dan’, is making waves by elevating Caribbean music in Northern Ireland. ‘Baby Gyal’ -- Major Dan’s latest single -- was released at a private launch at Dukes Hotel with special guest speaker Dr Christopher Stange...

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Just over seven years ago, Jamaican security forces entered the troubled West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens, in search of alleged drug don Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who was wanted for extradition to the United States. During the security operations...

MIAMI, USA -- A tropical wave has emerged off the west coast of Africa and is forecast to move westward over the next couple of days and merge with a broad area of low pressure located southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHS) in Miami...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Diplomatic Security Service’s Regional Security Office at the United States embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, collaborated with the Royal Barbados Police Force in a two-year joint investigation of Barbadian fugitive Hainsley Browne, accused of defrauding elderly...

GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- As part of its plan to break away from being a subscriber-only newspaper to a standard print tabloid for ordinary vendor resale from September, one of our regional republishing partners, the Guyana Guardian, has strengthened the quality of its news content by adding some...

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (SKNIS) -- Minister of tourism, Lindsay Grant, welcomed more than 30 investors from Taiwan who are currently in St Kitts and Nevis to showcase their products and services, as well as to seek opportunities to invest in the federation. “We are very thrilled that you would have made...

MIAMI, USA -- The US Coast Guard Cutter Seneca crew transferred 151 Haitian migrants on Friday to the Royal Bahamian Defence Force. The transfer is a combination of two separate interdiction cases in which Coast Guard aircrews and cutter crews located and rescued these migrants.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- Following a recent call by local media for “public inquiries” into allegations against unnamed “ministers and high officials” Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that local law enforcement authorities are investigating the involvement...

ROSEAU, Dominica -- The Bellevue Chopin modern housing development project in Dominica has now entered an exciting stage where visitors and the intended residents can see real tangible progress being made, with new structures rising from the ground, and at last start...

MIAMI, USA -- Tropical Storm Franklin moved across the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday bringing heavy rain to northern Belize and area of Mexico. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.

MIAMI, USA -- Tropical Storm Franklin formed in the northwest Caribbean late Sunday night and is expected to strengthen some more before landfall. A hurricane watch is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Chetumal to Punta Allen. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for...

CASTRIES, St Lucia -- On Friday, the prime minister of Saint Lucia, Allen Chastanet, discussed his vision for the island generally and his approach to tourism, crime and the Leahy Law in particular, in an exclusive interview with Caribbean News Now. This followed the signing on Thursday...

CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Ritz Carlton, the luxury hotel subsidiary of Marriott International, on Thursday signed an operating agreement with Range Developments and the government of Saint Lucia to operate the planned new resort development at Black Bay on the southern tip of the island.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- the board of directors of regional air carrier LIAT has confirmed the appointment of Julie Reifer-Jones as chief executive officer, the airline’s first female CEO. Reifer-Jones is a graduate of The University of the West Indies, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants...

BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment (CBI) programme was recently ranked second best in the world behind only Dominica, and while chief executive officer of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Les Khan, is proud of this achievement, he strongly believes the...

NEW YORK, USA -- The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) announced on Tuesday that the Central Bank of Belize has adopted its sanctions screening solution to combat financial crime. The industry utility enables banks to take a proactive approach in building...

ST THOMAS, USVI -- The US Virgin Islands is leading the way to modernize communications for its public safety community. On Tuesday, Governor Kenneth Mapp announced his decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the territory’s public safety...

ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- Following last week’s conviction in US federal court in New York of Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng on bribery charges involving Antigua and Barbuda’s former UN representative, John Ashe, the Antigua Observer, in an editorial entitled “Who are the interlocutors?”, has called for...

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The board of directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding to the government of Grenada to enhance the compliance of its fresh fruits and vegetables subsector with internationally recognised food safety management systems (FSMS).

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Strengthening synergies between the tourism and art and craft sectors is one of the keys to bolstering incomes from Caribbean tourists, while supporting local artisans. This was one of the observations made at an expert group meeting held on 26 July 2017 at the...

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Due to what the airline described as operational limitations, Avianca has decided to suspend flights between Bogota and Barbados indefinitely. The airline said it is making all efforts to serve travelers with reservations on canceled flights and provide them a solution.

LONDON, England -- London’s Mail on Sunday newspaper has reported that Commonwealth secretary general, Dominica-born Baroness Patricia Scotland, has come under renewed pressure after one of her close allies was stripped of his Antigua and Barbuda knighthood.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- By means of a proclamation dated July 21, 2017, the governor general of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, has annulled eight knighthoods conferred in controversial circumstances in November 2014.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said on Wednesday night that he is “disturbed” that some people believe politicians in The Bahamas are above the law and should not be held accountable for alleged misconduct while in office. “It is unfair and unjust for politicians...