WASHINGTON, USA — US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders on Friday rejected proposed legislation to put the US territory under the control of a congressionally-appointed financial control board, calling on Congress to stop treating Puerto Rico like a colony.

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By Alexander Britell

June is nearly upon us, meaning it’s time for another Caribbean island. With the mercury rising, we recommend you try the wonderful French Caribbean destination of St Martin next month. For just one half of a small island, French St Martin is a remarkably diverse destination, excelling in so many different fields — it’s almost certainly the culinary capital of the Caribbean, but it’s so much more, from top-level beaches to fascinating art galleries to, well, just about whatever you’re looking for. Here are some things you need to know before you go.

Where to Stay

One of the most charming things about St Martin is its broad stock of lovely small hotels. There are no megaresorts, just well-designed boutique hotels (and some medium-sized ones) oozing with personality. The destination’s best all-around hotel is the beloved Grand Case Beach Club, minutes from bustling Grand Case (ground zero for culinary exploration). For a full-fledged luxury experience, there’s La Samanna on spectacular Long Bay, while honeymooners and romantics should head to Le Karibuni (above), a tiny hillside lodge that has its own beach bar on the offshore Pinel Island.

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It’s one of the burgeoning hotel development hubs of the region: the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

And now the area has another new hotel, with the debut of InterContinental Hotels Group’s new Holiday Inn Express Barranquilla Buenavista.

The 18-floor, 154-room hotel is the newest addition to a coastal city that has been seeing increased interest and development by hotel firms, with new properties including a Four Points By Sheraton that debuted last year.

That was boosted last year by the launch of new American Airlines flights between Miami and Barranquilla.

It includes a rooftop pool.

The hotel is located in one of the more exclusive areas of Barranquilla, the Buenavista neighborhood.

The project is the brainchild of Grupo Contempo SAS, and is managed by OXO Hotels, franchised by IHG.

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NEW YORK, USA — Holders of bonds issued by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico (GDB) on Friday filed an amended complaint in the US District Court in Puerto Rico challenging the constitutionality of certain aspects of the legislation passed in April and amended in May.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

United Airlines is continuing its expansion in the Caribbean region.

The carrier will be launching new flights from Houston to St Thomas beginning as early as next week, according to the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

Above: Magens Bay in St Thomas

The carrier will also be launching daily flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to St Thomas beginning this summer.

The new flights come as United has been ramping up its Caribbean service to match similarly rapid network expansions by carriers like Southwest Airlines, Delta and JetBlue.

Earlier this month, United announced that it would be adding a second nonstop flight on Sundays to the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire.

At the beginning of the year, United began operating flights between Chicago and St Lucia on Saturdays,  along with Newark-St Lucia flights on Sundays.

That’s in addition to new service from both Washington Dulles and Chicago to Grand Cayman.

All of the flights operate on Boeing 737 aircraft.

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