Regional

CORONAVIRUS CASES TOP 200,000 IN THE CARIBBEAN

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Confirmed Caribbean coronavirus cases as of October 4:   Dominican Republic- 113,926 cases, 2128 deaths, 89,635 recovered  Puerto Rico- 25,034 cases, 686 deaths   French Guiana- 10,029 cases, 67 deaths, 9665 recovered  Haiti- 8811 cases, 229 deaths, 6949 recovered   Jamaica- 6795 cases, 119 deaths, 2345 recovered   Cuba- 5809 cases, 122 deaths, 5145 recovered   Guadeloupe- 5528 cases, 57 deaths, 2199 recovered   Suriname- 4924 cases, 106 deaths, 4723 recovered   Trinidad and Tobago- 4741 cases, 81 deaths, 2843 recovered   Bahamas- 4409 cases, 96 deaths, 2375 recovered   Aruba- 4074 cases, 30 deaths, 3474 recovered   Guyana- 3005 cases, 85 deaths, 1907 recovered    Belize- 2131 cases, 29 deaths, 1346 recovered   Martinique- 1543 cases, 21 deaths, 98 recovered   US Virgin Islands- 1327 cases, 20 deaths, 1265 recovered   Turks and Caicos- 695 cases, 6 deaths, 651 recovered   Sint Maarten- 678 cases, 22 deaths, 572 recovered   … Continued

FIRE ENGULFS FORT MYLNER SHOPPING CENTER IN STT!

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ST. THOMAS — Fire broke out overnight Sunday at the Fort Mylner shopping center on St. Thomas and has apparently engulfed a significant portion of the strip mall. Located across the parking lot from the Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants and to the southeast of Banco Popular, the series of businesses which included … Continued

OVER 4000 LBS OF COCAINE SEIZED AT SECTOR SAN JUAN

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St. Thomas Source The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez on Friday offloaded more than 4,000 pounds of cocaine, 61 pounds of amphetamines and six suspected smugglers at Sector San Juan following two separate interdictions in the Caribbean Sea. The seized illegal narcotics have a wholesale value of more than $48 million, … Continued

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez (WPC-1114) offloaded 62 bales of cocaine weighing 1,981 kilograms and one 28-kilogram bale of amphetamines at Sector San Juan Oct. 2, 2020, following two separate interdictions of smuggling go-fast vessels in the Caribbean Sea. The HNLMS Groningen carried out the most recent interdiction Sept. 28, 2020, while the cutter Heriberto Hernandez carried out the other interdiction Sept. 26, 2020. Federal law enforcement agents received custody of the $48 million drug shipment and six male-suspected smugglers apprehended in both cases. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ricardo Castrodad)

TOURISM SECTOR SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY ACCESS TO COVID VACCINE

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The Prime Minister of Barbados has called on governments in the Americas region to ensure citizens employed in the tourism sector have priority access to the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Prime minister Mia Mottley, who co-chairs the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Americas Cruise Task Force, made the call as she addressed the 58 Directing Council of … Continued

KOFFEE IS NOW JAMAICA’S AMBASSADOR FOR MASTERCARD!

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Mastercard today announced that it is partnering exclusively with Grammy winning reggae artiste, Koffee, as its official brand ambassador in Jamaica. Under this partnership, Koffee and Mastercard will build awareness about digital payments and educate consumers and merchants about the convenience, wide acceptance, and safety and security features of Mastercard electronic payments options. “Koffee is … Continued

USVI BOARD OF EDUCATION BLOCKS DEPT. OF EDUCATION FROM SUSPENDING GRADING EVEN AS HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS LACK EQUIPMENT TO LEARN VIRTUALLY

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VI CONSORTIUM The USVI Department of Education on Wednesday said it would move forward with grading even as department officials on Wednesday testified that hundreds of students have indicated they lack the tools — including laptops and internet — necessary to learn virtually. D.O.E. had failed to secure enough Chromebook laptops in time to cover … Continued

FIRST WEEK OF USVI REOPENING “EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL” SAYS TOURISM COMMISSIONER

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VI Consortium While the first week of the return of leisure travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands has been “extraordinarily successful”, according to V.I. Department of Tourism representatives, the territory continues to urge compliance with the stringent protocols and guidelines that have been established to help curb the spread of Covid-19 Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte … Continued