… has jurisdiction over Puerto Rico.
President Barack Obama signed the Puerto Rico Oversight Management … mediators in discussions between the Puerto Rican government and its creditors about … status by Jan. 1, 2021. Puerto Rico Republican Jenniffer González-Colón, the territory …

Powered by WPeMatico

By Alexander Britell

For years, it was one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after private-island destinations, a rarefied retreat, a full-fledged oasis.

It was a different kind of private island resort — eco-conscious, historic, pristine and, well, endlessly charming.

A suite at Guana.

And now it’s making its triumphant return from Hurricane Irma, the latest in a wave of reopenings in the BVI, from Cooper Island to the Anegada Beach Club.

Guana Island, the historic private-island resort in the heart of the British Virgin Islands, is set to reopen on Aug. 1, a spokesperson for the property confirmed to Caribbean Journal.

Guana’s famous orchard has been restored and expanded.

The restoration of Guana has included refreshing the property’s 18 suite; cleaning the landscaping (and restoring the surrounding coral reef); expanding Guana’s renowned organic orchard and upgrading the island’s infrastructure — everything from adding a new water filtration system to running water and electric below ground.

The orchard, long one of the eco-conscious island’s hallmarks, has added three new greenhouses and even 100 chickens who supply eggs to Guana’s kitchen.

The Guana team even restored the historic Quaker settlement building.

It’s an important return for one of the British Virgin Islands’ signature places to stay — and one of the region’s most legendary hotel properties.

For more info, visit Guana Island.

— CJ

The post The BVI’s Guana Island Is Making Its Return appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

While Mandarin Oriental has been managing the Pink Sands Club since the end of 2017, it wasn’t until this week that the brand officially made its debut.

The property is now the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, the company’s first hotel in the Caribbean region.

The rebranding comes just days after Mandarin Oriental announced its plans for its second Caribbean project: the Mandarin Oriental, Grand Cayman, which is slated to debut in the Cayman Islands in 2021.

The Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, set in the heart of the Grenadines, has a mix of 26 suites and six villas.

Mandarin Oriental will also be branding and managing a portfolio of real estate units called the Residences at Mandarin Oriental, scheduled to come on stream in 2020.

The post Mandarin Oriental Brand Makes Its Debut in Canouan appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

… ; that one occurred last year. Puerto Rican health officials had enough information … Ponce Health Sciences University, in Puerto Rico; and Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi, an epidemiologist … should have been declared by Puerto Rican authorities without better baseline data …

Powered by WPeMatico

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since we first started the Best American Rums.

Now in its sixth edition, this July 4 tradition celebrates the best of American rummaking, something that has certainly come a very long way since 2013.

America is today seeing a rum renaissance, with more and more producers and distilleries popping up around the 50 states, a return for what was once a booming industry before Prohibition turned America’s rum world upside down.

There are exciting rums coming from all over, from traditional molasses-based rums to, yes, even American agricoles, to overproof juice and spiced rums.

Here are our 10 favorite rums made in America for 2018 (note: as has always been the case, we group rums in the USVI and Puerto Rico, rightly, as Caribbean rums. This list focuses on rums made in the 50 U.S. states).

Choose one to celebrate!

Siesta Key Rum (Florida) Still the leader, this Sarasota, Fla.-based boutique distillery has grown to become one of America’s most beloved rums, from its traditional spiced to its limited-batch expressions like the brand’s Toasted Coconut. It is as good as spiced or flavored rum gets. Period. (If you need more proof, it even took home the top honors against the best spiced rums in the Caribbean at this year’s Caribbean Rum Awards in Saint Lucia).

The post Rum Journal: The Best American Rums 2018 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico