Month: July 2020

Aquaculture & aquaponics becoming mainstream in Dominica

PRESS RELEASE – The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Blue and Green Economy Agriculture and National Food Security of Dominica continues to explore new ways and alternative methods to agriculture while addressing climate resiliency within the fisheries sector.

Through the UN FAO (Climate Change) CC4FISH Project, which includes the development of the aquaculture industry and introducing the wider population to the concepts of aquaponics, on Monday, June 22, 2020, a nutrient film technique (NFT) aquaponics system was installed within the water feature of the Government Headquarters building.

The water feature is quite spacious, and a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) aquaponics system was designed within it. Aquaponics involves the soil-less culture of crops, fertilized by fish waste water. The NFT system comprises large PVC pipes, with holes to accommodate plants grown in cups or net pots. Water is then pumped through the pipes, directly supplying the roots of the plants with the requisite nutrients for growth. The continuous flow of water ensures that the roots of the plants are adequately oxygenated.

The materials for the demonstration NFT system were locally sourced and cost approximately 300 XCD. It was installed by an FAO consultant and two fisheries officers. The plants stocked into the system were provided by the Division of Agriculture’s Plant Propagation Unit.

The Government Headquarters building in Roseau contains a water feature complete with ornamental plants and fish including 10 large koi. Given that the building houses eleven (11) ministries/offices and is visited by a wide cross-section of people on a daily basis, it provided the ideal location for a demonstration aquaponics system on the island.

The post Aquaculture & aquaponics becoming mainstream in Dominica appeared first on Caribbean News Now!.

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Belize Is Reopening for Tourism in August

 

Belize will open its international airport on August 15, 2020, as part of the country’s five-phase re-opening strategy for tourism.

The opening of Belize City’s Philip Goldman International Airport will kick off Belize’s third phase of re-opening, allowing for further travel relaxation and open entry for chartered flights, private aviation and limited re-opening of international leisure travel with approved hotels.

Belize Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Heredia, has approved enhanced health and safety protocols which serve as the foundation for the destination’s newest “Tourism Gold Standard” Recognition Program for hotels, restaurants and tour operators.

“With Belize having such low population density and being just a short flight away from most major US cities, the destination is well poised for post-Covid-19 travel,” the Belize Tourism Board said.

This nine-point program seeks to enhance the tourism industry’s health and safety standards by adapting new behaviors and procedures to ensure both employees and travelers are confident in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s tourism product.

Hotels will enforce social distancing and the use of face masks while in public spaces.

Other measures will include the promotion of online check-in and check-out, hand sanitizing stations across the property, enhanced room cleaning and sanitization of public spaces, daily health checks for guests and employees and designated isolation rooms for suspected COVID-19 cases.

The opening of hotels will be in a phased approach, with the first grouping of hotels being those that have achieved the Tourism Gold Standard Certificate of Recognition  and those that provide all-inclusive service to guests.

New capacity restrictions have been set for all tourism sites to ensure social distancing can be maintained.

Smaller tour group numbers will limit the number of persons on site and there will be enhanced sanitization of tour equipment.

All travelers to Belize will be required to adhere to health and safety measures implemented by the Government of Belize, which include social distancing, hand sanitization, proper hygiene and the wearing of face masks in public spaces.

Passengers traveling to Belize will be required to download the Belize Health App and complete the required information prior to boarding the flight to Belize.

A QR code with a unique ID number will be allocated to each passenger, and will be used for contact tracing while in Belize.

Passengers are encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of travel to Belize, and those that provide certification of a negative test result will be allowed immediate entry via a “fast track” lane.

Passengers that do not provide a negative COVID-19 test must test upon arrival at their own expense.

A negative result will allow entry, while a positive result will place the passenger in mandatory quarantine for a minimum period of fourteen days at their expense.

The post Belize Is Reopening for Tourism in August appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Island Life

AMResorts’ Colette Baruth on What’s Next for All-Inclusive

 

This story is part of Caribbean Journal Invest, the authority on Caribbean hotel, real estate and tourism business news. Join to access this and other great features, including our biweekly newsletter. Subscribe to Read More.

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Puerto Rico’s Troubled Utility Is A Goldmine For U.S. Contractors

… the expense of the Puerto Rican people,” said Ángel Figueroa … Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico.”
Tom Sanzillo, the finance … bad happens to the Puerto Rican people, some big lucrative … bad happens to the Puerto Rican people, some big lucrative …

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EIN PR news, Island Life

Virtual Hand-Over Ceremony for CARICOM Chairmanship

(Barbados GIS) – Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will host a special conference on Friday, July 3, which will see Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley handing over the reins to incoming chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

 The Twentieth Special Meeting of CARICOM will be held via video conference throughout the region beginning at 10:00 a.m.

CARICOM Heads decided at their Ninth Special Meeting in April this year to stage the handing-over ceremony at the beginning of July.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Forty-First Regular Meeting of Heads of Government to be rescheduled to September 2 and 3 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

During Friday’s virtual meeting, CARICOM leaders are expected to also address a number of procedural matters.

As CARICOM Chairman, among other things, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley hosted the 31st Intersessional Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, from February 18 to 19 in Barbados, and held a number of Special Meetings in March and May to map out a strategy to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. 

In addition, as Conference Chairman, Ms. Mottley was able to facilitate a high-level meeting between CARICOM Heads of Government and owners/chairmen of leading cruise lines to discuss mutual matters of interest. 

The relationship which was established between the cruise ship principals and the Conference of Heads enabled the members of the Community to have frank and cordial discussions with cruise industry representatives about the impact of COVID-19 on cruises in and around the Caribbean. 

Prime Minister Mottley also has lead responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy in the region’s quasi cabinet.

The Caribbean Community has 15 member states – Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. 

It also has five associate members – Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In other news:

CARICOM’s statement on Guyana elections

The post Virtual Hand-Over Ceremony for CARICOM Chairmanship appeared first on Caribbean News Now!.

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