… three years since the Puerto Rican government acknowledged it was … bonds issued by the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation … when it passed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic … to market participants about Puerto Rico’s eventual ability to …

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By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor PARAMARIBO, Suriname — The National Assembly of Suriname on Thursday gave approval for the country to join the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Investments and Export credits (ICIEC) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) by 26 votes. These two organisations are part of the Islamic Development […]

The post Suriname parliament approves expansion of Islamic Bank cooperation appeared first on Caribbean News Now.

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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The board of directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a policy-based loan of US$75 million to the government of Barbados. The loan is part of wider coordinated assistance provided by international financial institutions to the government, to support the implementation of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) Plan. […]

The post CDB approves US$75 million loan to support Barbados economic recovery appeared first on Caribbean News Now.

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The Caribbean his heating up for the winter season, and that’s being buoyed by a truly impressive lineup of hotel relaunches, from boutique St Barth stays to venerable Anguilla retreats.

And whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving getaway or looking to sneak in a shoulder season Caribbean vacation, there’s always something new to experience in the Caribbean.

This month’s Places to Vacation takes you from the rebirth of the island of Barbuda, which was almost entirely destroyed in last year’s Hurricane Irma, to one of our favorite iconic Caribbean hotels in Jamaica.

So where are you headed? Here are seven great options for your next Caribbean trip.

The South Coast of Barbados Yes, the Platinum Coast is the island’s capital of luxury and elegance, the heart of Barbados tourism. But there’s another side to Barbados, hip and energetic, bustling and effortlessly cool: the South Coast. At its core? The St Lawrence Gap, one of the Caribbean’s most fun-filled strips, now home to a major new hotel: the transformed Sea Breeze Beach House, an all-inclusive that is setting a new standard of cool for this coast.

Barbuda Wait — Barbuda is back? Well, an island that was pristine before last year’s storms is making its rebound — and at the centerpiece of the Barbuda build-back is the Barbuda Belle, a boutique beachfront escape that was the island’s leading place to stay before Irma — and reopens this month.

Grand Cul de Sac, St Barth There are already so many terrific St Barth hotels that are back on line: Pearl Beach, Les Ilets de la Plage, Le Village … But the autumn season is seeing a hotel renaissance in one particular corner of the island: the turquoise seas of Grand Cul de Sac. This month will have seen the returns of two world-class hotels: Le Sereno and Le Barthelemy, two of the best boutique beach hotels you’ll find, well, anywhere. So what are you waiting for?

The British Virgin Islands While the BVI’s magnificent tourism turnaround has been well-documented in these pages, there’s yet another reason to plan your return to the archipelago: the BVI Food Fete, one of the region’s tastiest culinary festivals that turns the entire BVI into an island-hopping foodie frenzy, from the Anegada Lobster Festival to the Cooper Island Rum Festival.

Montego Bay, Jamaica There was nowhere more chic in the jet-set days of Caribbean travel — but the iconic hotels that made Montego Bay a world-renowned playground in the first place are even more glamorous and charming today. That’s nowhere more true than the Half Moon resort, the sprawling beach-filled hotel that’s home to spectacular guest rooms, impeccable Jamaican service and one of the Caribbean’s few destination golf courses. Oh, and it’s about to debut a massive transformation project that will take the hotel to an entirely new level.

Maundays Bay, Anguilla The Caribbean capital of beaches has embarked on its own tourism recovery effort — but no reopening will be more important than the relaunch of the Belmond Cap Juluca, the island’s signature hotel and one of the Caribbean’s halo hotels, which makes its return to Maundays Bay after a sweeping renovation and expansion project, on Nov. 17.

Caravelle Peninsula, Martinique If you’ve been to Martinique before, you know just how diverse a destination this French Caribbean island is. If you haven’t, well, it’s time to start planning your getaway. One of our recent favorites? The lush, under-the-radar Caravelle Peninsula, home to some of the island’s most marvelous views and its hottest boutique hotel, the Half Moon

The post From Barbados to Barbuda, 7 Caribbean Vacations for November appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

Norwegian has officially relaunched its array of nonstop flights to one of the Caribbean’s most fascinating destinations: the French Caribbean island of Martinique.

The European low-cost carrier is operating flights for the winter season from a number of hubs across the United States to Martinique, highlighted by six-times-weekly service from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Martinique, which launched on Monday.

That means a range of decidedly affordable flights that make Norwegian the best way to fly to Martinique right now.

Norwegian is also operating flights between Fort Lauderdale and Fort-de-France on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with the four-times-weekly service set to resume on Wednesday.

Both frequencies represent an expansion of Norwegian’s service, with initial projections of four and two frequencies from New York and Fort Lauderdale, respectively.

Both services are crucial pathways for the French Caribbean island, which has emerged in recent years as a hotspot for sophisticated travelers seeking exquisite gastronomy, raw natural beauty and the Napa Valley of Caribbean rum.

Looking for a place to stay? The island has some great options, from the classic Hotel Bakoua in the tourist hub of Trois-Ilets to the up-and-coming boutique French Coco on Martinique’s Caravelle peninsula.

Another top hotel is La Suite Villa, a Trois-Ilets favorite that was one of the winners in the recent Caribbean Boutique Hotel Awards.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with a villa, either.

— CJ

The post The Best Way to Fly to Martinique Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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