The Eastern Caribbean island of Barbuda is looking to become a 100 percent green energy island.

That’s the plan behind the proposed Green Barbuda Energy project, which, if approved, would be supported by a regional grant from the government of the United Arab Emirates.

The project aims to move Barbuda away from fossil fuels and toward a mix of renewable energy technologies, primarily solar and wind power, backed up by modern battery storage.

Antigua and Barbuda government officials pitched the plan this week in a meeting with a representative of Masdar of the UAE to discuss the plans.

The UAE is funding a $50 million regional grant called the UAE – Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, with a number of Caribbean countries having already submitted requests.

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, would manage the technical implementation of the project.

A UAE team recently visited the APUA electricity plant in Codrington to obtain data on energy usage and visited possible sites for installation of green fuel facilities.

The post Barbuda Is Looking to Go 100 Percent Green appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Attorneys acting for an investor have filed another Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) claim against UBS Financial Services Incorporated of Puerto Rico and UBS Financial Services, Inc. (UBS) for $15 million in the wake of Puerto Rico’s recent bankruptcy filing.

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Global coffee giant Starbucks is set to open its first-ever stores in Jamaica.

The company has entered into a geographic licensing agreement with Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited, a consortium led by the Margaritaville Caribbean Group.

The agreement gives Caribbean Coffee Traders the exclusive rights to own and operates Starbucks locations in the country.

The first Starbucks is slated to debut in Montego Bay, making Jamaica the company’s 17th market in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

“Jamaica is a country blessed with a rich culture and heritage, particularly with its locally-grown and world renowned Blue Mountain coffee, which Starbucks has sourced as a specialty offering for over 40 years,” said Ricardo Rico, Starbucks general manager and vice president for Latin America operations. “We are delighted to build on this legacy and continue our expansion into the Caribbean by introducing the Starbucks Experience in Jamaica for the first time. As we position the brand for continued growth, we are proud to add Caribbean Coffee Traders to our strong network of licensing partners and leverage their proven market capabilities to reach new customers.”

Caribbean Coffee Traders is a joint venture between Ian Dear, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville Caribbean Group and Adam Stewart, who is also Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resorts International.

“We are thrilled to welcome Starbucks, a globally recognized brand, to Jamaica. Leveraging our knowledge of the local market, we will deliver upon the Starbucks Experience and create a global platform for Jamaica’s locally-grown and Blue Mountain coffee.” said Ian Dear, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville Caribbean Group. “Our organizations share similar values, including our dedication to the customer experience, commitment to our crew members, and responsible corporate citizenship.”

The post Starbucks Is Coming to Jamaica appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Royal Caribbean is returning to the Port of New Orleans after a three-year hiatus.

The cruise line has repositioned its Vision of the Seas cruise ship for the 2018-2019 winter season.

The 915-foot ship will sail seven-night itineraries to destinations across the Bahamas and the Yucatan Peninsula beginning Dec. 15, 2018.

Before moving to New Orleans, the ship will sail 16-night voyages through the Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles and then from Los Angeles to New Orleans.

Royal also announced that its Mariner of the Seas ship would be returning to the United States in 2018 to homeport in Miami.

Royal Caribbean recently made our list of the top all inclusive cruises and cruise options.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — UBS Financial Services Inc. and UBS Financial Services of Puerto Rico (UBS) have been ordered to pay several investors in Puerto Rico millions of dollars in compensation by several Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panels for losses the investors…

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