Caribbean

April 11, 2008 -- Economies in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region have generally held up well so far in the face of recent global financial strains, according to the IMF's latest Regional Economic Outlook: Western Hemisphere, released today. Many countries in the region are benefiting from stronger fiscal and external positions and improved credibility of policy frameworks, said Mr. Anoop Singh, Director of the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department.    » read more »

- Nickelodeon Takes to the Seas on its First-Ever Cruise, Sailing August 2008
- Exciting Ports of Call Include Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Royal Caribbean's Private Beach Destination

Live Coverage February 2 – 7, 2008

January 10, 2008 -- ESPN Deportes and Cultiva Entertainment have reached an agreement that makes ESPN Deportes the exclusive Spanish-language home in the U.S. to the 2008 Caribbean Series when it is held in Santiago, Dominican Republic February 2 – 7.    » read more »

12 December 2007 -- Tropical Storm Olga has claimed the lives of at least eight people as it lashed the Dominican Republic Wednesday.

The northern province of Santiago in the Caribbean nation was hardest hit, with heavy rains causing the Yaque River to overflow its banks. In addition to widespread flooding, the storm is being blamed for several landslides.    » read more »

September 17, 2007 -- President George W. Bush today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Castries, Saint Lucia to attend the Funeral of The Right Honorable Sir John Compton, Former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, on September 18, 2007.

The Honorable Alphonso R. Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will lead the delegation.

Member of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Mary Martin Ourisman, United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Source: White House

WASHINGTON, September 4, 2007. The World Bank Group (WBG) mobilized close to US $8 billion financing to public and private sector projects and programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, aimed to address the persistent inequality in the region and foster sustainable growth during fiscal year 2007, ending June 30, according to figures released by the WBG today.

World Bank    » read more »

02 September 2007 -- Weather officials say Hurricane Felix has strengthened into a dangerous category five storm with maximum sustained winds of 270 kilometers per hour.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported early Monday the storm's eye was over the Caribbean about 625 kilometers southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Felix is moving northwest toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2007 – The September edition of the Pentagon Channel’s monthly documentary “Recon” will focus on the Coast Guard’s efforts in the Caribbean Sea’s most perilous waterway.

The show, titled “Perilous Passage,” will provide an inside look at the men and women of the Coast Guard who patrol Mona Passage, a treacherous 80-mile strait separating the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. Refugees crammed into tiny boats, known as “yolas,” risk their lives to navigate this passage.    » read more »

Says United Nations stands ready to support relief efforts

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the human and economic losses brought on by Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean. He extends his sincere condolences to those who lost family and friends.    » read more »

U.S. experts and 40 years of experience in Pacific contribute to effort

20 August 2007 -- Washington – An early warning system for tsunamis is taking shape in the Caribbean region, building on the island nations’ long experience in dealing with hurricanes, storm surge, volcanic eruptions and mudslides.    » read more »

8/18/2007 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Air Force Reserve Command's Hurricane Hunters are in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, flying state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft into Hurricane Dean in support of the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Dean blasted St. Lucia, uprooting trees, downing power lines and damaging homes and other structures Aug. 17 as it spun into the Caribbean on a track that could take it near Jamaica as a powerful storm.    » read more »

HURRICANE DEAN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 20A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007
200 AM AST SAT AUG 18 2007

...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR DEAN CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY
WHILE PASSING SOUTH OF PUERTO RICO...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM BARAHONA WESTWARD TO THE HAITI-DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC BORDER. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24
HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED
TO COMPLETION.    » read more »

16 August 2007 -- U.S. weather forecasters say hurricane Dean has strengthened into a Category Two storm as it spins rapidly toward islands in the eastern Caribbean with wind speeds of 160 kilometers per hour.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami upgraded the storm Thursday. It said the center of the hurricane should be near the Lesser Antilles islands by early Friday.    » read more »

BOGOTA, July 10, 2007 – Investing today in youth –especially those considered “at risk”– in Latin America and the Caribbean will be much more beneficial both socially and financially than facing the consequences of not investing, concludes a new World Bank report. The report states that over half of youth between ages 12 and 24 in the region are considered at risk.

The report, entitled The Promise of Youth: Policy for Youth at-Risk in Latin America and the Caribbean, recommends developing specific programs for these groups.    » read more »

WASHINGTON DC - 19 June 2007—For the first time ever, Heads of Government from fifteen Caribbean nations, policy makers, members from International Institutions, the academic community, the private sector, and people of the Caribbean and of the United States met today in Washington to examine the growth and development of the Caribbean Community and deepen US-CARICOM relations.

The agenda for three day summit includes such core issues such as trade, investment, tourism, crime and violence, and human development.    » read more »