im going.Next parade we need some photography
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Essential Afro-Latino/ Caribbean Current Events
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just bought my flight last minute
Caribbean Tourism Sets New Performance Records
Published On: Wed, Feb 17th, 2016
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – For the first time ever since the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) began keeping records, the Caribbean outperformed every major tourism region in the world in setting new arrival and spend records in 2015 while exceeding expectations.
International tourist trips to the region grew by seven per cent to 28.7 million visits, much higher than the projected four to five per cent growth. Visitors spent an estimated $30 billion, a 4.2 per cent rise over the $28.8 billion spent in 2014.
“So 2015 was the second year in a row that the region has done better than the rest of the world, and the sixth consecutive year of growth for the Caribbean,” the CTO’s secretary general Hugh Riley revealed today in announcing the record performance at a news conference at CTO headquarters, streamed live to a global audience that spanned the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and as far as Asia.
Mr. Riley attributed the growth to improved global economic conditions in the marketplace; a boost in consumer confidence, particularly in the United States; falling oil prices; rising seat capacity and persistent marketing by CTO member countries and their partners.
The CTO reported growth in all the major markets – the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and South America – with the intra-regional market performing better than it has ever done before.
“Despite concerns about the cost of travel within the region, the intra-Caribbean travel recorded its best performance since we started keeping records. In 2015, traffic from the Caribbean market accounted for six per cent of total arrivals into the region, with 1.7 million visits among the various states, an increase of 11.4 per cent over the previous year,” the CTO secretary general said.
The US, which remains the Caribbean’s primary market, accounting for about 50 per cent of arrivals, grew an impressive 6.3 per cent to 14.3 million visits.
The Canadian market grew by 4.5 per cent to 3.4 million; Europe accounted for 5.2 million visits, a 4.2 per cent jump over the previous year and South America continued its rapid growth, generating 2.1 million visitors, an 18.3 per cent jump over 2014.
Of the 5.2 million European visited, 1.1 million came from the United Kingdom, which recorded a 10.4 per cent rise.
“The European market made significant gains in 2015, with its best performance in seven years. For the first time since 2008, total arrivals from Europe reached the five million mark, a rise of 4.2 per cent compared to 2014. The UK was one of the dominant performers, growing by a healthy 10.4 per cent to 1.1 million visitors. Arrivals from Germany recorded an even better 11.5 per cent rise, while France was relatively flat, increasing by 0.8 per cent.
“Needless to say, we are very pleased with the Caribbean’s performance of stayover arrivals in 2015. In each Quarter the region recorded at least six per cent growth over the corresponding quarter for 2014; and each month in 2015 was better than the same month the previous year.
“Still, the Caribbean cannot be complacent. We must continue to grow our traditional markets, strengthen emerging ones and penetrate new sources as we target the 30 million arrivals mark we set some years ago. Our efforts to improve our product quality, enhance our marketing, grow our rate base, increase our profitability, and constantly offer excellent value for money, must continue,” Mr. Riley advised.
The CTO secretary general also announced growth in the cruise sector, although at a slower rate of 1.3 per cent, with 24.4 million cruises in Caribbean waters.
He said the outlook for 2016 was positive with tourist arrivals expected to increase by 4.5 to 5.5 per cent, while cruise is estimated to record one to two per cent growth, as summer redeployment of ships continues.
Click Tag(s) for Related Articles:
Caribbean Economy Region Tourism
Caribbean tourism sets new performance records
Published On: Wed, Feb 17th, 2016
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – For the first time ever since the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) began keeping records, the Caribbean outperformed every major tourism region in the world in setting new arrival and spend records in 2015 while exceeding expectations.
International tourist trips to the region grew by seven per cent to 28.7 million visits, much higher than the projected four to five per cent growth. Visitors spent an estimated $30 billion, a 4.2 per cent rise over the $28.8 billion spent in 2014.
“So 2015 was the second year in a row that the region has done better than the rest of the world, and the sixth consecutive year of growth for the Caribbean,” the CTO’s secretary general Hugh Riley revealed today in announcing the record performance at a news conference at CTO headquarters, streamed live to a global audience that spanned the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and as far as Asia.
Mr. Riley attributed the growth to improved global economic conditions in the marketplace; a boost in consumer confidence, particularly in the United States; falling oil prices; rising seat capacity and persistent marketing by CTO member countries and their partners.
The CTO reported growth in all the major markets – the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and South America – with the intra-regional market performing better than it has ever done before.
“Despite concerns about the cost of travel within the region, the intra-Caribbean travel recorded its best performance since we started keeping records. In 2015, traffic from the Caribbean market accounted for six per cent of total arrivals into the region, with 1.7 million visits among the various states, an increase of 11.4 per cent over the previous year,” the CTO secretary general said.
The US, which remains the Caribbean’s primary market, accounting for about 50 per cent of arrivals, grew an impressive 6.3 per cent to 14.3 million visits.
The Canadian market grew by 4.5 per cent to 3.4 million; Europe accounted for 5.2 million visits, a 4.2 per cent jump over the previous year and South America continued its rapid growth, generating 2.1 million visitors, an 18.3 per cent jump over 2014.
Of the 5.2 million European visited, 1.1 million came from the United Kingdom, which recorded a 10.4 per cent rise.
“The European market made significant gains in 2015, with its best performance in seven years. For the first time since 2008, total arrivals from Europe reached the five million mark, a rise of 4.2 per cent compared to 2014. The UK was one of the dominant performers, growing by a healthy 10.4 per cent to 1.1 million visitors. Arrivals from Germany recorded an even better 11.5 per cent rise, while France was relatively flat, increasing by 0.8 per cent.
“Needless to say, we are very pleased with the Caribbean’s performance of stayover arrivals in 2015. In each Quarter the region recorded at least six per cent growth over the corresponding quarter for 2014; and each month in 2015 was better than the same month the previous year.
“Still, the Caribbean cannot be complacent. We must continue to grow our traditional markets, strengthen emerging ones and penetrate new sources as we target the 30 million arrivals mark we set some years ago. Our efforts to improve our product quality, enhance our marketing, grow our rate base, increase our profitability, and constantly offer excellent value for money, must continue,” Mr. Riley advised.
The CTO secretary general also announced growth in the cruise sector, although at a slower rate of 1.3 per cent, with 24.4 million cruises in Caribbean waters.
He said the outlook for 2016 was positive with tourist arrivals expected to increase by 4.5 to 5.5 per cent, while cruise is estimated to record one to two per cent growth, as summer redeployment of ships continues.
Click Tag(s) for Related Articles:
Caribbean Economy Region Tourism
Caribbean tourism sets new performance records
Just subscribed to that channel, good stuff. Particularly the AA Woman in Belgium one.
Barbados bags Best Caribbean Destination 2016 award
CARIBBEAN360 FEBRUARY 22, 2016
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday February 22, 2016 – Barbados has been voted Caribbean Best Destination 2016 in recognition of outstanding performance and partnership by Expedia, the largest retailer of travel products in the Caribbean.
The award, which was presented during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in The Bahamas, was a continuation of Barbados’ recent winning streak and marked the seventh international award Barbados has received over the past year.
The island was also dubbed Best Destination by Caribbean Journal, and ranked third among the islands of the Caribbean by TripAdvisor in 2015.
Telegraph readers also voted Barbados the best destination in the Caribbean for family holidays, best Caribbean beach holiday destination, best destination for activity and adventure holidays, and best destination for wedding and honeymoons.
The island has also been shortlisted in the destination category for the Routes Americas 2016 Marketing Awards, according to South Florida Caribbean News.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) CEO, William Griffith, said the latest award from Expedia was testament to the collaborative efforts local industry partners have been making on behalf of the island.
He added that it was a clear manifestation of the significant work being done by the entire BTMI leadership team in the major markets of the UK, USA and Canada.
“Each award we have received over the past 12 months has been confirmation for us that we are moving in the right direction with our destination marketing and product development, which continues to be a team effort across the public and private sector,” he said.
“It is also great momentum as we draw closer to our 50th anniversary of Independence and we have already begun to share the excitement with all of our partners.”
Barbados’ tourism decision-makers are reportedly continuing to work toward ensuring the sector’s continued recovery, with 2015 being heralded as a record year for air arrivals.
Several hotels underwent renovations in 2015 with new properties such as Sandals and Sugar Bay providing the latest in all-inclusive accommodation.
Efforts are also underway to enhance the variety and quality of product offerings available to cruise and long-stay visitors through the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA).
With the winter season in full swing, select hotels are partnering with the BTMI to offer 50 percent discounts through the Brilliant Barbados 50 travel sale, moreover.
Demetrius Canton, Director for the Caribbean at Expedia, commended the island’s tourism partners on their well-deserved win.
“It’s an honour to confer this award on Barbados,” he said. “The island continues to be a leader in providing unforgettable, value-for-money travel experiences and we’ve seen the demand for holidays to Barbados continue to grow. It is truly well-deserved.”
Expedia Inc., which features some of the world’s leading online travel brands, including Travelocity, Hotels.com, Trivago and Orbitz, registered US$55 billion in bookings and 188.2 million room nights in the first three-quarters of 2015.
Barbados bags Best Caribbean Destination 2016 award | Caribbean360
CARIBBEAN360 FEBRUARY 22, 2016
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday February 22, 2016 – Barbados has been voted Caribbean Best Destination 2016 in recognition of outstanding performance and partnership by Expedia, the largest retailer of travel products in the Caribbean.
The award, which was presented during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in The Bahamas, was a continuation of Barbados’ recent winning streak and marked the seventh international award Barbados has received over the past year.
The island was also dubbed Best Destination by Caribbean Journal, and ranked third among the islands of the Caribbean by TripAdvisor in 2015.
Telegraph readers also voted Barbados the best destination in the Caribbean for family holidays, best Caribbean beach holiday destination, best destination for activity and adventure holidays, and best destination for wedding and honeymoons.
The island has also been shortlisted in the destination category for the Routes Americas 2016 Marketing Awards, according to South Florida Caribbean News.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) CEO, William Griffith, said the latest award from Expedia was testament to the collaborative efforts local industry partners have been making on behalf of the island.
He added that it was a clear manifestation of the significant work being done by the entire BTMI leadership team in the major markets of the UK, USA and Canada.
“Each award we have received over the past 12 months has been confirmation for us that we are moving in the right direction with our destination marketing and product development, which continues to be a team effort across the public and private sector,” he said.
“It is also great momentum as we draw closer to our 50th anniversary of Independence and we have already begun to share the excitement with all of our partners.”
Barbados’ tourism decision-makers are reportedly continuing to work toward ensuring the sector’s continued recovery, with 2015 being heralded as a record year for air arrivals.
Several hotels underwent renovations in 2015 with new properties such as Sandals and Sugar Bay providing the latest in all-inclusive accommodation.
Efforts are also underway to enhance the variety and quality of product offerings available to cruise and long-stay visitors through the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA).
With the winter season in full swing, select hotels are partnering with the BTMI to offer 50 percent discounts through the Brilliant Barbados 50 travel sale, moreover.
Demetrius Canton, Director for the Caribbean at Expedia, commended the island’s tourism partners on their well-deserved win.
“It’s an honour to confer this award on Barbados,” he said. “The island continues to be a leader in providing unforgettable, value-for-money travel experiences and we’ve seen the demand for holidays to Barbados continue to grow. It is truly well-deserved.”
Expedia Inc., which features some of the world’s leading online travel brands, including Travelocity, Hotels.com, Trivago and Orbitz, registered US$55 billion in bookings and 188.2 million room nights in the first three-quarters of 2015.
Barbados bags Best Caribbean Destination 2016 award | Caribbean360
When it comes to successful black nations how come no one mentions the Bahamas? It has a very high GDP per capita and when I went there it was quite stable. I know the population is small, but still...
Local - 24 February 2016, 7:55 AM
Amnesty slams Dominican Republic on ‘many unlawful killings'
Juan Almonte Herrera. Photo amnistia.ong
London.- Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday denounced unlawful killings and delays to comply with the law to regularize the situation of Haitians in Dominican Republic and the entry into force of the law that lifts the ban on abortion, EFE reports.
In its annual report on human rights worldwide, the organization said no legislation was passed to protect the rights of women and LGBTI, noting the "152 homicides at the hands of security forces between January and September" (2015).
"Many killings occurred in circumstances suggesting they may have been unlawful," says the document, it said Congress hadn’t approved by year end a bill on "comprehensive" to reform the police of the Dominican Republic, a country with 6% more murders from January to September compared to the same period in 2014.
The human rights group said no progress has been made in the investigation into the forced disappearance of three men, Gabriel Sandi Alistar, Juan Almonte Herrera and Randy Gonzalez Vizcaino last seen when they were in police custody in July 2009, September 2009 and December 2013, respectively."
AI also notes that there was no progress to restore the Dominican nationality to people who had been stripped of it "arbitrarily and retroactively" in 2013.
"Many people of Haitian descent remain effectively stateless despite the enforcement of a law whose purpose was to address that situation."
"Dozens of Dominicans of Haitian descent were detained arbitrarily and threatened with expulsion to Haiti as 'irregular' migrants" although in the vast majority of cases, the authorities released them after verifying that they were born in the Dominican Republic,” the report says.
Amnesty slams Dominican Republic on ‘many unlawful killings'
Amnesty slams Dominican Republic on ‘many unlawful killings'
Juan Almonte Herrera. Photo amnistia.ong
London.- Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday denounced unlawful killings and delays to comply with the law to regularize the situation of Haitians in Dominican Republic and the entry into force of the law that lifts the ban on abortion, EFE reports.
In its annual report on human rights worldwide, the organization said no legislation was passed to protect the rights of women and LGBTI, noting the "152 homicides at the hands of security forces between January and September" (2015).
"Many killings occurred in circumstances suggesting they may have been unlawful," says the document, it said Congress hadn’t approved by year end a bill on "comprehensive" to reform the police of the Dominican Republic, a country with 6% more murders from January to September compared to the same period in 2014.
The human rights group said no progress has been made in the investigation into the forced disappearance of three men, Gabriel Sandi Alistar, Juan Almonte Herrera and Randy Gonzalez Vizcaino last seen when they were in police custody in July 2009, September 2009 and December 2013, respectively."
AI also notes that there was no progress to restore the Dominican nationality to people who had been stripped of it "arbitrarily and retroactively" in 2013.
"Many people of Haitian descent remain effectively stateless despite the enforcement of a law whose purpose was to address that situation."
"Dozens of Dominicans of Haitian descent were detained arbitrarily and threatened with expulsion to Haiti as 'irregular' migrants" although in the vast majority of cases, the authorities released them after verifying that they were born in the Dominican Republic,” the report says.
Amnesty slams Dominican Republic on ‘many unlawful killings'
How the Colombian Government Keeps Afro-Colombians Poor
02/05/2016 | Brian Finnegan
The country's armed conflict has been used by the Colombian government for decades to systematically deny basic labor and human rights. This crisis disproportionately impacts the Afro-Colombian population. A recent trade union delegation to the nation documented how Afro-Colombians have been excluded from economic growth. Despite acknowledging the persistence of racial discrimination and the historic causes of the marginalization, poverty and vulnerability experienced by Afro-Colombians, the government has not taken effective action to address these systemic problems.
Afro-Colombians are about one-quarter of the entire population, yet nearly 80% of Afro-Colombians live in poverty, more than 30% have no water and sanitation services, and their infant mortality rate is more than three times the national average. Limited access to land is a key factor in this disparity. Such displacement has accelerated since passage of the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement, which increased agro-industrial and mining projects on the Pacific coast.
As the U.S. government continues to support and critically engage with Colombia, U.S. policy and resources must be leveraged to broaden the post-conflict society to include workers and communities that so often are excluded. In a post-conflict society, the Colombian army and police—especially the riot police (ESMAD)—must not be sent to resolve land, labor and other social conflicts without first exhausting other options. The ESMAD frequently has been used to repress peaceful protest by students, trade unionists, Afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples, farmers, displaced persons, journalists and ordinary citizens not involved in demonstrations. ESMAD has intervened in labor disputes on a regular basis, leaving many workers with permanent disabilities. Members of ESMAD have been criminally charged with at least 20 extrajudicial executions, 780 arbitrary arrests, 3,000 injuries and 80 cases of torture. Such practices have no place in a democratic society.
President Obama will have an important opportunity to raise these concerns during Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ visit to Washington this week. In unison with our partners in Colombia, the AFL-CIO supports the peace negotiations and again stresses that worker and human rights issues must be addressed to build a lasting and sustainable peace inclusive of the interests of all workers, Afro-Colombians and indigenous communities. Any sustainable solution to the crisis in Colombia must include respect for workers' rights, access to decent work and a commitment to shared prosperity.
Real change requires a change in practices: the U.S. and Colombian governments must stop looking the other way when employers violate the law. We have communicated to the Obama administration our support for high-level engagement, but also that cooperation between Colombia and the United States must address concerns that largely have been neglected over the 15 years of Plan Colombia.
How the Colombian Government Keeps Afro-Colombians Poor
02/05/2016 | Brian Finnegan
Afro-Colombians are about one-quarter of the entire population, yet nearly 80% of Afro-Colombians live in poverty, more than 30% have no water and sanitation services, and their infant mortality rate is more than three times the national average. Limited access to land is a key factor in this disparity. Such displacement has accelerated since passage of the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement, which increased agro-industrial and mining projects on the Pacific coast.
As the U.S. government continues to support and critically engage with Colombia, U.S. policy and resources must be leveraged to broaden the post-conflict society to include workers and communities that so often are excluded. In a post-conflict society, the Colombian army and police—especially the riot police (ESMAD)—must not be sent to resolve land, labor and other social conflicts without first exhausting other options. The ESMAD frequently has been used to repress peaceful protest by students, trade unionists, Afro-Colombian and indigenous peoples, farmers, displaced persons, journalists and ordinary citizens not involved in demonstrations. ESMAD has intervened in labor disputes on a regular basis, leaving many workers with permanent disabilities. Members of ESMAD have been criminally charged with at least 20 extrajudicial executions, 780 arbitrary arrests, 3,000 injuries and 80 cases of torture. Such practices have no place in a democratic society.
President Obama will have an important opportunity to raise these concerns during Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ visit to Washington this week. In unison with our partners in Colombia, the AFL-CIO supports the peace negotiations and again stresses that worker and human rights issues must be addressed to build a lasting and sustainable peace inclusive of the interests of all workers, Afro-Colombians and indigenous communities. Any sustainable solution to the crisis in Colombia must include respect for workers' rights, access to decent work and a commitment to shared prosperity.
Real change requires a change in practices: the U.S. and Colombian governments must stop looking the other way when employers violate the law. We have communicated to the Obama administration our support for high-level engagement, but also that cooperation between Colombia and the United States must address concerns that largely have been neglected over the 15 years of Plan Colombia.
How the Colombian Government Keeps Afro-Colombians Poor
Barbados>>
News > Latin America
Indigenous, Afro-Colombians Want Mining Included in Peace Talks
Indigenous Colombians marched through the country seeking land restitution in 2008. | Photo: AFP
Published 23 February 2016
Authorities in the peace negotiations need to protect the territories across the country that will become vulnerable once fighting ends.
Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in Colombia are demanding mining and resource extraction be included in the country's peace talks. According to the communities, acres of land will become available if the rebels lay down their arms — territory that should be protected.
Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, as well as human rights groups that defend them, say that once the government and the FARC sign a final peace deal their territory will become vulnerable, according to Gimena Sainchez-Garzoli, senior analyst from the Andes desk of the Washington Office on Latin America.
IN DEPTH: The Colombian Peace Process Explained
The government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are expected to sign a final peace deal in March. At this time, at least 14 percent of Colombia's territory, close to 8 million hectares, that is currently controlled by the FARC is expected to become free if the rebels lay down their arms and end their defensive, said reports by El Espectador.
This territory is at risk of being taken over by criminal groups or exploiters of natural resources, particularly mining companies.
As a result, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in the country, which have historically been displaced from these territories, are saying that the issue should be included in the peace talks, demanding that these lands be protected and restored.
RELATED: Anti-Blackness in Latin America Is Real: Colombian Hip-Hop Band
Land reform and redistribution was one of the first agreements made between the government and the FARC when they began peace negotiations in Cuba over three years ago, however according to Sanchez-Garzoli, the deal in itself is not sufficient.
“The agreements look at the topics in general, but do not address the issues of collective and differentiated rights of Afro and Indigenous communities,” she said, adding that the community authorities need to be consulted and involved in the implementation process of the agreements made in the peace process.
Sanchez-Garzoli said that if the communities themselves are not included in the final implementation of the peace agreements, the peace deal itself is at risk since two of the causes of the conflict are inequality and the struggle for land in the country.
The government and the FARC have been undergoing peace talk since 2012 in an effort to stop the over 50 decades of fighting that has killed over 220,000 people and displaced or disappeared millions more.
Tags
Colombia South America FARC Colombia peace process
El Espectador-Proceso de Comunidades Negras
by teleSUR / kb-CM-mk
Indigenous, Afro-Colombians Want Mining Included in Peace Talks
Indigenous, Afro-Colombians Want Mining Included in Peace Talks
Indigenous Colombians marched through the country seeking land restitution in 2008. | Photo: AFP
Published 23 February 2016
Authorities in the peace negotiations need to protect the territories across the country that will become vulnerable once fighting ends.
Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in Colombia are demanding mining and resource extraction be included in the country's peace talks. According to the communities, acres of land will become available if the rebels lay down their arms — territory that should be protected.
Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, as well as human rights groups that defend them, say that once the government and the FARC sign a final peace deal their territory will become vulnerable, according to Gimena Sainchez-Garzoli, senior analyst from the Andes desk of the Washington Office on Latin America.
IN DEPTH: The Colombian Peace Process Explained
The government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are expected to sign a final peace deal in March. At this time, at least 14 percent of Colombia's territory, close to 8 million hectares, that is currently controlled by the FARC is expected to become free if the rebels lay down their arms and end their defensive, said reports by El Espectador.
This territory is at risk of being taken over by criminal groups or exploiters of natural resources, particularly mining companies.
As a result, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities in the country, which have historically been displaced from these territories, are saying that the issue should be included in the peace talks, demanding that these lands be protected and restored.
RELATED: Anti-Blackness in Latin America Is Real: Colombian Hip-Hop Band
Land reform and redistribution was one of the first agreements made between the government and the FARC when they began peace negotiations in Cuba over three years ago, however according to Sanchez-Garzoli, the deal in itself is not sufficient.
“The agreements look at the topics in general, but do not address the issues of collective and differentiated rights of Afro and Indigenous communities,” she said, adding that the community authorities need to be consulted and involved in the implementation process of the agreements made in the peace process.
Sanchez-Garzoli said that if the communities themselves are not included in the final implementation of the peace agreements, the peace deal itself is at risk since two of the causes of the conflict are inequality and the struggle for land in the country.
The government and the FARC have been undergoing peace talk since 2012 in an effort to stop the over 50 decades of fighting that has killed over 220,000 people and displaced or disappeared millions more.
Tags
Colombia South America FARC Colombia peace process
El Espectador-Proceso de Comunidades Negras
by teleSUR / kb-CM-mk
Indigenous, Afro-Colombians Want Mining Included in Peace Talks
Bahamas shyts on its Haitian immigrants I heard
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/w...up-as-bahamas-tightens-immigration-rules.html
NATU
Dios Patria y Libertad
Yeah, fukk countries who protect their borders and enforce their immigration laws. Only USA and the countries of Europe have the right to do so!!