Barbados -China Connection

With the Olympics just around the corner, recent news from China has unfortunately been about the earthquake disaster. There is something new, however, that will certainly be good for Caribbean travel. As Barbados pursues greater cooperation with China, the Caribbean country is preparing to open an embassy there as well as push tourism cooperation between the two nations. Prime Minister David Thompson announced this week that the mission in the Orient should be open before the end of the year. He said the move comes in light of the importance of China's relationship with Barbados and other parts of the Caribbean. As a nation, Barbados has done lots of trade with China and the island felt it was time to establish a permanent presence in China. Both countries have pledged to do more to enhance and develop tourism between the two countries. Over 41 million Chinese travelled last year and the Director of China's National Tourism Administration indicated that there are plans to send a tourism delegation to Barbados soon. In the meantime, Barbados is looking forward to welcoming a new wave of visitors from China. -Donna

Caribbean Carnival Comes to Atlanta

This past weekend, I happened to be in Atlanta with my husband while he was visiting his alma mater. We were driving on Peachtree Street when suddenly I heard the sound of music and caught a glimpse of costume. "It's Carnival!", I claimed. My husband wanted to know how I knew---but if you have ever been part of the sounds and sights of a Caribbean Carnival, you just know! The 20th Annual Caribbean Carnival got underway on May 24th in downtown Atlanta. The historic Auburn distrist was transformed into a mini Caribbean getaway with a variety of sights, sounds and tastes of the Caribbean, including a Parade of Bands. Over 20,000 reveled in this annual festival that pays homage to the vast range of people of the Diaspora who are rooted in a strong sense of pride in the rich Afro-Caribbean heritage. Of course, if you happened to miss the festivities, don't dispair! Carnival season is just heating up in the Caribbean. It is a great time to book a Caribbean Charter and experience the fun for yourself. If you want to learn more, see the article, "Celebrating Carnival While Caribbean Sailing" in our article archive. And, if you do get to be part of a Caribbean Carnival celebration, send us your photos. We would love to post them! - Donna

First Annual Fashion Week

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago have announced their first annual Fashion Week scheduled to unveil May 26-May 31, 2008. Top local and Caribbean designers will participate in daily runway shows featuring their work under various themes. Sponsored in part by the Tourism Development Company Limited of Trinidad and Tobago, Fashion Week is an event targeted at promoting the fashion identity of the entire region while helping to put existing and new and aspiring talent on display. Designers from Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Vincent will also be featured. There will also be a showcasing of collections from the icons - top Caribbean designers such as Sonia Mack, Pete Elias, Meiling, Claudia Pegus, Heather Jones and Francis Heady, who have received distinctive and acclaimed recognition in the fashion industry. Fashion Week was created to include all aspects of the fashion industry ranging from hair stylists, make-up artists, models and photographers to cosmetic producers and accessory manufactures. The event will also include musical performances, art displays and a showcase of past prize-winning Carnival costumes. I am forever looking for something wonderful to bring home from one of my Caribbean charters other than the duty free rum and jewelry. The Caribbean has many talented artists in myriads of forms including fabulous fabrics, model boats, glass sculptures, etc. I would encourage you to read my article, "Sun-sational Souvenirs: Shopping On Your Caribbean Charter" , located in our article archive, to see what is available. And, if you happen to be chartering in the Grenadines next week, hop over to Trinidad & Tobago and check out Fashion Week. I would love to hear your thoughts for my next shopping trip! - Donna

In a Word

A recent report on the BBC Caribbean asked some interesting questions based on a brief exchange between a reporter and US presidential contender Barack Obama. Touring a car factory in Detroit, Senator Obama was asked by a television news reporter what his plans were for American auto-workers. His response in part was: "Hold on a second sweetie...." which sparked a wave of reaction from those who felt the remark was out of place, from suggestions that he had overstepped his mark, was sexiest and politically incorrect. Some other people said it was much ado about nothing. This lead to a quite a discussion on terms of endearment. "Sweetie, Darling, Love, Luv, Doodoo, Dushi, Honey, Babes, and Baby are commonly used greetings in the Caribbean, largely by men to women - but also by women to men. The questions asked by the BBC Caribbean were: 1) Are such terms of endearment out of place in today's world? 2) Are they too suggestive and even impolite? and 3) Have they become politically incorrect? The response from many Caribbean listeners was overwhelming. They felt that Obama's comment was not at all offensive, and that in the Caribbean, these words are common vernacular greetings. So, I guess the bigger question is, endearment on whose terms? Can what is said be offensive in one situation or place (ie the US), but perfectly acceptable and even friendly in another (ie, the Caribbean)? All I know is that when I visit the various islands, I always try and put my best foot forward. I am a "charter ambassador" for the US. So, what are your thoughts on this matter? I would love to hear from you. Donna

Air Access To Dominica

Dominica still remains one of my Husband's favorite charter destinations. He even has gone so far as saying he wouldn't mind having a retirement house there some day. In the meantime, we are thinking of taking another charter there next summer and maybe heading to Martinique as well. If you have not been to Dominica, it is a Garden of Eden. Currently, if you don't want to sail there from Guadeloupe or Martinique, you can fly in, but it is a tiny airport! The Prime Minister has reiterated his government's committment to construct an international airport, but without outside help in funding the project, it will be years before that happens. In the meantime, the government is pursuing the development of the Melville Hall Airport as a short to medium response to inadequate air access into Dominica. My feeling is that it is much more fun to sail into Dominica with its lush tropical rainforest and towering volcanic mountains. Enjoy the photos! Donna

BVI -2008

Here are some photos of our trip to the British Virgin Islands. We chartered a boat for a week - and spent a week in a Villa on the island of Tortola. Our weather was great and we travelled with some awesome friends. We had a great time and can't wait to go back. This was our 25th Wedding Anniversay Celebration - it was perfect!!

BVI -2008
Apr 2, 2008
by Jamie & Donna

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Myetts - Cane Garden Bay

Mel - I thought you would get a kick out of these pics. This was our last night to celebrate on the island.

Myetts - Cane Garden Bay
Apr 2, 2008
by Jamie & Donna

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WINAIR TICKET INCREASE

Skyrocketing fuel prices have pushed regional airline WINAIR to put an additional charge on tickets that will make it a bit more expensive to travel on the carrier. As of May 1st, the carrier has added a US$12.50 fuel surcharge to one-way tickets on all flights and US$25.00 for round trips. A release from the company indicated that the new charge was due directly to the current market level of rising fuel prices. The increase will also affect resident ticket fees. Residents of St. Martin, Saba and Statia will have a US$5.00 added to their one-way tickets and US$10.00 to their round trips. WINAIR is a government owned regional airlines which operates flights between 10 destinations. It offers daily connections from the main gateway, the Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten or Antigua to the islands of Saba, Statia, St. Barths, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and Tortola. The airlines is a great way to island hop if you are limited on charter time but want to explore more islands. Donna

Telecommunications Easier In Nevis

Nevis has signed a memorandum of understanding with 21st Century Telecom. The high speed, fiber optic Caribbean telecommunications network will be setting up a corporate headquarters on Nevis. This cellular and internet project will create an incomparable high-tech communication company which will revolutionize the industry in the Caribbean. 21st Century telecom will introduce many new and exciting communication products to the island. Among the new products that will be available is cell phone usage for American visitors to Nevis. If you use Verizon, Alltell, Sprint and a host of other services, you will be able to use your own cell phones on Nevis, hassle free. 21st Century Telecom will also enable the island of Nevis to be fully wireless, so there would be no more high payments to internet service companies on Nevis. 21st Century Telecom has also indicated that it has licenses in Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts. So, now that it will be easier and cheaper to keep in touch with those "back home", what is your excuse for not booking a charter? Donna

New Focus on Faith Tourism

The Tourism departments of several of the Caribbean nations are constantly looking for new ways to promote the islands. Recent trends have included sports tourism (St. Kitts) as well as promotion of the film and music industry (Dominica, St. Vincent). Now, the newest trend to hit the islands is Faith Tourism. The faith tourism market is big business and one in which the Caribbean is attempting to make greater inroads. Faith tourism is considered one of the fastest growing segments of world tourism today and has grown beyond just a niche market. Today, it is a multibillion dollar industry that comprises its own niches such as conventions and meetings, leisure vacations, pilgrimage travel, crusing and retreats. From May 15-19Puerto Rico will host the Counterpart International's 12th Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism. (CMEx). Reporters, editors, young people, and marketing and development specialists from several islands will interact over 4 days with representatives of the hospitality sector, civil society and government to examine how tourism, including the faith tourism market, can improbe the health, wealth, environment and culture of various island destinations. The religious tourism and hospitality market has an estimated value of US$18 billion and includes 300 million annual travelers. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's Minister of Tourism said, "We are beginning to understand the dynamics of that marketplace and the power of religious tourism across the globe. It is a huge market sector that remains essentially untapped by the Caribbean." So, what are your thoughts on making the Caribbean a religious retreat destination? Any other ideas to capitalize on other tourist markets? Give us your thoughts. Donna

Banana Crisis

It's bad enough that the soaring cost of food is creating a crisis worldwide, but now another food crisis is hitting the Caribbean. The leaders of Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are meeting to find a resolution to the impass that is threatening to cripple the banana industries in the Windward Islands. The three countries each have a 12.5% stake in the Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company (WIBDECO) which is at the heart of the dispute. The bitter disputes between the St. Lucia Banana Corporation (SLBC) and the Dominica Banana Producers, Ltd. (DBPL) on the one hand and WIBDECO on the other, have left tons of bananas on their way to spoiling instead of on their way to the United Kingdom. At the heart of the dispute is the lucrative Fairtrade market that has provided banana farmers in the Windward Islands with guaranteed access to the shelves of top British supermarkets at a price sometimes 20-25% higher than for other bananas. Coming on the heels of the World Trade Organization's decision that removed preferential, duty-free access to European markets for Caribbean bananas, the export of bananas under the non-profit Fairtrade brand has been seen by many as a saviour for the regional industry since it guarantees farmers a premium for their product. While WIBDECO previously bought its bananas in Dominica and St. Lucia from the SLBC and DBPL as middle-men, it has now entered into a sales-purchase agreement to buy the bulk of its bananas directly from the Windward Island Farmers Association, a 4,000 plus strong farmer organization which is currently the only Fairtrade certified banana producer in the Windward Islands. According to the Fairtrade Labeling Organization, a Fairtrade certified banana producer can only export its Fairtrade bananas through a Fairtrade certified exporter- in this case WIBDECO. By implication, therefore, the only FLO certified supply chain for Fairtrade bananas from the Windward Islands as of today is fron the Windward Island Farmers Association as the producer to WIBDECO as the exporter. Now, both the SLBC and DBPL argue that without WIBDECO's trade, they will be forced out of business. According to figures from the International Monetary Fund, the St. Lucia economy benefited from an estimated US$17.8 million in foreign exchange earnings from bananas,while Dominica earned approximately US$7.5 million. What are your thoughts on this "banana crisis?" If you have been to these islands, you know how "big" the banana export business is to the economy of these nations. What are your thoughts? Donna