NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas government has announced a two-week lockdown for Cat Island and North and Central Andros, effective 8.00 pm (local time) on Monday as the country moves to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris Friday called on the United States and other vaccine producing countries to ensure the equitable distribution of the vaccine needed to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COID-19) that has killed thousands of people in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Wednesday said Cabinet is to decide soon whether it will accept a recommendation from scientists to lower the alert level for some parts of the island as the seismic activity at the La Soufriere volcano remained low for yet another day.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Trinidad and Tobago government is expected to use its majority in the Parliament on Monday as it seeks a three-month extension of the state of emergency (SOE) imposed here on May 15 as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has infected to 18, 227 people and killed 341 since March last year.

BELMOPAN, Belize – The in-coming Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett, says one of her first priorities will be to extend outreach of the 15-member regional integration grouping as well as implementation across member states:

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities of the economies of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, St. Lucia and other small, tourism-dependent Caribbean countries.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Even as some Caribbean countries relax entry protocols for travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has strongly advised against going that route.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The President of the Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA), Robert ‘Sandy’ Sands, has welcomed plans by the Royal Caribbean to homeport in Nassau this summer, saying it will boost airlift, help fill hotel rooms, and provide opportunities for professional services, jobs, vendors as well as an uptick to a comeback economy.

KINGSTON, Jamaica– The Government of Japan is slated to give Jamaica a grant of US$1.22 million to support the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program that is now underway.

ROSEAU, Dominica – Dominica Monday observed its 25^th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Cuba by urging the United States to end the decades old trade and economic embargo against Havana.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) says US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed Mary Ida Townson as the US Trustee for Florida, Georgia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (Region 21).  

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Wednesday adopted a resolution in “solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as neighboring countries affected by the impact of the eruptions of the La Soufriere volcano”