Catherine Morris
Covers:
Health and wellness, travel, tourism, business, the environment
Writer, journalist, Northern Irish expat.
Articles by Catherine Morris
Sun, Sand and Smart Cities
Imagine a city that talked to itself. Garbage bins that alert the council when they need to be emptied, road sensors that tell drivers about available parking spots or suggest ways to avoid traffic, digital kiosks that sync with phones to rate nearby restaurants, LED streetlights that brighten when there’s a crowd, and dim if no-one’s around. This futuristic vision has become a reality around the world as population growth and technological advances combine to make cities smarter.
The Rise of Female STEMpreneurs
The number of women entrepreneurs in the traditionally male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is on the rise throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Attendees at a Sustaining Women in STEM Roundtable, hosted by NASA in November 2019.
10 Things To Expect In The COVID Economy
The current Coronavirus outbreak has generated a wealth of doomsday headlines and, as the world hovers at the precipice of a global recession, Caribbean economies face a dark future. There are bright spots, however, as tough times foster a spirit of regional cooperation, innovation and resilience. Here, STAR Businessweek presents a balanced view of what likely lies ahead for small island nations and how the region can expect to be transformed by the present crisis.
Residency by Investment Around the Region
Last year Anguilla became the latest Caribbean jurisdiction to offer Residency by Investment. RBI schemes are often seen as a more palatable middle ground to their CBI counterparts – inviting overseas investment without having to hand out passports in return.
Digital real estate: how Caribbean islands can cash in on their country codes
Every Caribbean country has its own unique footprint on the internet, thanks to its domain name. Saint Lucian sites are instantly recognisable from their ‘.lc’, Jamaica is identified by ‘.jm’, and Grenada by ‘.gd’. Known as country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs), there are more to these handles than just a convenient means of finding your way around the web.
Foreign buyers spur real estate growth
“Saint Lucia offers equal parts beauty and mystique and captivates anyone who sets foot on its coastline” Whether hunting for their dream beach house, looking for a reliable investment or planning the perfect retirement hideaway, Caribbean real estate has always been a draw for overseas buyers.
UAE supports regional renewables
Innovative renewable energy projects around the region got a much-needed funding boost recently as the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (UAE-CREF) unveiled its latest beneficiaries. The Fund, which is in its third cycle, is providing US$ 50mn to projects in 16 Caribbean nations to help them meet their renewable goals through bankable projects capable of delivering tangible results.
The problem with Transparency International’s Corruption Index
Global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) recently released the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and it was largely good news for the Caribbean. The report, which ranks 180 countries and territories, placed most Caribbean nations towards the top of the charts with the region’s best-performer, the Bahamas, ranked at 29. Saint Lucia was the fifth least-corrupt country in the region, tying with Dominica in 48th place.
Blacklist reshuffle: The Caribbean responds as the EU revises its tax haven list
The European Union revised its dreaded tax haven blacklist last month and while many Caribbean countries were spared, others were caught in the crosshairs as the taxation watchdog sought to name and shame those it deems non-compliant. The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes has four new additions: the Cayman Islands, Palau, Panama and the Seychelles.
CDB remains optimistic despite regional downturn
Caribbean Development Bank President Dr Wm Warren Smith delivers his remarks at the 2020 news conference (Photo courtesy Caribbean Development Bank) Regional economic growth took a tumble in 2019 but there are signs that the Caribbean will have a better year in 2020, according to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) which held its annual news conference earlier this month.
Hotelier calls for clarity on tourism tax
Local hotelier Sanovnik Destang, Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts, agrees with the rationale of the new tourism tax but calls on the government to enact legislation in a timely fashion and through meaningful stakeholder consultation As tourism gears up for a new tax, a concerned hotelier is calling for clarity ahead of the April 1 implementation deadline.
Global Competitiveness wanes as world economies struggle
The top ten most competitive economies, according to the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report (Image courtesy WEF) More than a decade after the global financial crisis, the world’s economies are still not meeting competitiveness benchmarks and are failing to reap the rewards of the fourth Industrial Revolution, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s 2019 Global Competitiveness Report.
Preparing for post-Cotonou trade
Post-Cotonou negotiations were high on the agenda as ACP dignitaries met for the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Kenya in December 2019 (Photo courtesy ACP} Trade and development in the Caribbean is nearing a crucial deadline. Time is running down on the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA), a landmark piece of legislation signed two decades ago that forged important political and economic links between Caribbean, African and European nations.
CARICOM’s big wins: Tracking its Progress over the Last Decade
Students celebrate after taking part in a CARICOM animation workshop in Guyana, November 2019 (Photo courtesy CARICOM) CARICOM has set itself an ambitious agenda for 2020, one that looks both inward and outward as it seeks to resolve regional issues while deepening international relationships. Among the areas of focus going forward are building greater ties with African nations, solving the longstanding problem of poor inter-island transportation and enhancing regional connectivity.
Caribbean Financial Action Task Force Reports Grim Findings
Left to right: Daniela Tramacere, EU Ambassador to Barbados, Dawne Spicer, Executive Director, CFATF and Andrew Frection, Project Manager, CFATF meet at the CFATF XLVIII Plenary in Barbados (Photo courtesy CFATF) The latest report from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) is grim reading.
Disaster area: Will 2020 bring more extreme weather events?
The Caribbean may be known for its sun but, as anyone who lives in the region knows, the weather forecast can often turn sinister. Flooding, tsunamis, tropical storms, earthquakes and hurricanes are all an unfortunate part of island life, making the Caribbean one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world.
Caribbean Banking in 2020: Wendy Delmar — CEO, Caribbean Association of Banks | The St. Lucia STAR
Entering a new year, the regional banking sector is still an industry under siege. External threats such as de-risking, blacklisting and volatile global financial markets continue to exert pressure on bankers while advances in technology provide both new opportunities and new risks. Despite the foreboding climate, Wendy Delmar, CEO of the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) is optimistic.
Cruising into 2020: What’s ahead for the giants of the seas
Carnival’s biggest and newest ship, the Mardi Gras, is set to debut in November 2020 (Photo courtesy Carnival Corporation) 2020 will be another year of smooth sailing for the cruise industry as an estimated 32 million passengers take to the seas. As the sector soars, leading players are making their mark with innovative environmental practices, robust competition from new markets and bigger and better ships.
Saint Lucia Set To Embrace Electric Vehicles
Saint Lucia will look at developing a network of charging stations to facilitate electric vehicles It’s unlikely that Saint Lucians will ever see Elon Musk cruising around Castries in a Tesla, but electric vehicles will be making their way onto the island’s roads in the near future under a new US$ 33mn initiative that aims to transform transportation.
Caribbean Growth Prospects in 2020
ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena presents findings from the Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2019 report (Photo courtesy ECLAC) The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has released its outlook for the region’s growth in 2019, and what it can expect in 2020. Here STAR Businessweek breaks down the top ten takeaways from ECLAC’s Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2019.
AMERICAN SANCTIONS ARE MAKING CIPs WARY
Caribbean passports are in high demand among Iranian investors. (Photo courtesy pixabay) Iran’s murky history of state-sponsored terrorism is well-known and the world is once again watching a dangerous game of geopolitical brinkmanship between the US and the Iranian regime, following the US drone strike that killed Iranian general Soleimani and Iran’s subsequent, but supposedly accidental, shooting down of a passenger plane. For its part, the Caribbean has an uneasy relationship with Iran.
BPO market welcomes regional big-hitter
A rendering of itelbpo’s Saint Lucia site. (Photo courtesy itelbpo) The Caribbean’s largest homegrown BPO provider is opening the doors on a new facility in Saint Lucia this spring in a landmark investment that will provide hundreds of local jobs and further promote the island as a booming BPO hub. itelbpo Smart Solutions, headquartered in Jamaica, is adding Saint Lucia to its portfolio with a 20,000 sq ft site in Vieux Fort, near Hewanorra Airport.
St. Lucia’s New Tourism Tax: How does it stack up to other destinations?
Barbados introduced a trio of taxes in 2018. (Photo courtesy homeaway.com) Caribbean tourism is a highly crowded marketplace and destinations walk a fine line between collecting the maximum tourist dollars and pricing themselves out of the market.
Preparing for the digital workplace
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, Minister for Education Dr Gale Rigobert and Permanent Secretary of Youth and Sports Mr. Benson Emile hosted a December luncheon with the new executive of the National Students Council (Photo courtesy Office of the Prime Minister) As the Caribbean looks ahead to what’s in store for 2020, stakeholders are realising that saying goodbye to one decade means preparing for the next.
Travel Trends to Watch in 2020: Industry leaders share their predictions
The older generation will travel more this year, according to industry research (Photo courtesy pixabay.com) When it comes to predicting the next big thing in the ever-changing tourism industry, traveller data can give destinations a useful heads-up. And knowing what’s coming is vital for the Caribbean which is the most tourism-reliant region in the world.
ACHIEVEMENT TOURISM: Why the next generation of travellers is all about goals
Gaining a diving certification is a common goal for Caribbean tourists taking advantage of the region’s crystal clear waters (Photo courtesy Caribbean Tourism Organisation) Tourism is an ever-changing business. While vacationers used to be content with lounging on a beach, rum cocktail in hand, they are now more aware, more demanding and more conscious of their impact – forcing operators in the space to keep a close eye on trends and niches.
10 New Year’s Resolutions for the Caribbean
Greater representation on the world stage will benefit the region next year (Photo courtesy United Nations) New Year is typically a time of reflection and, although many resolutions inevitably fall by the wayside, January is a good month to take stock, identify problem areas and commit to positive progress. The Caribbean has plenty of challenges ahead and island stakeholders would do well to ponder the way forward.
Disease Resilience
A banana plantation affected by fusarium wilt TR4 (Photo courtesy OECS) When the Caribbean talks resilience, it’s usually in relation to hurricanes or external economic shocks. What gets less attention, but can be just as destructive, is disease.
New Bar Association President Sets Transformative Agenda
Members of the Bar Association of Saint Lucia The Bar Association of Saint Lucia has a new president at the helm, veteran attorney Renee St. Rose who hopes to usher in a new era of transparency, communication and accountability in a bid to make justice more accessible for all Saint Lucians. Delivering change St. Rose was formally elected as Bar Association President in September after winning almost 90 per cent of the vote among its membership.
Breaking the language barrier
Director of Alliance Française of Saint Lucia Evelyne Gasse (second from right) with the French Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Serge Lavroff (left) and Mayor of Port of Spain Joel Martinez (centre) at the launch of ‘Jour du Prof de Français’ (Photo courtesy Evelyne Gasse) There are six official languages in the Caribbean including Creole, French, Spanish and Dutch.
Geopolitics in 2020
The White House may welcome a new administration next year with US elections slated for November 2020 (Photo courtesy the White House/Andrea Hanks) “The only constant in life is change.” In today’s turbulent world the words of Greek philosopher Heraclitus have never been more apt. Elections, shifting global alliances, redrawn trade lines and a slowing global economy – 2020 will be a year of change and the Caribbean must evolve and adapt accordingly.
US LENDS SUPPORT AS CARIBBEAN BATTLES DE-RISKING
The November de-risking roundtable with the US House Committee on Financial Affairs brought together members of the US Congress, US banks and heads of Caribbean governments including Prime Minister Chastanet and Nigel Clarke, Finance Minister of Jamaica. (Photo courtesy CARICOM) CIBC announced in November that it would offload its majority share in CIBC FirstCaribbean in a deal worth just under US$ 800mn.
10 ISSUES SET TO SHAPE THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN IN 2020
Renewable energy sources, such as solar, will dominate energy conversation in 2020. (Photo courtesy pixabay.com_ Lingering issues, new challenges and global uncertainty – the coming year is set to bring both change and opportunity for the Eastern Caribbean. STAR Businessweek shares its predictions for what lies ahead. (1) GREEN AND BLUE GROWTH Eastern Caribbean states will play to their strengths in 2020 with a renewed emphasis on the economic power of their natural resources.
The Caribbean’s Shadow Economy
Chart showing the progression of the global informal economy over the last three decades. Photo courtesy IMF The Caribbean has one of the largest informal economies in the world, encompassing street vendors, unregistered businesses and craft workers. While this untaxed and unregulated marketplace provides jobs and incomes for impoverished communities, it also leaves them vulnerable to crime and exploitation as well as hampering domestic development. What is the informal economy?
From BPO to KPO: how Saint Lucia can grab new opportunities in the outsourcing space
Kirk Laughlin, Founder and Managing Director of Nearshore Americas. Photo courtesy Nearshore Americas Over the past few years Saint Lucia has been quietly and successfully positioning itself as a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) hub, encouraging firms such as OJO Labs, Digicel, Ark Teleservices and KM2 to house operations on the island.
Could digital taxation solve the Caribbean’s debt
The Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting was held in Washington D.C. on October 17, 2019. (Photo courtesy The Commonwealth) With the rise of the digital economy, transactions have gone transnational. While this is good for consumers it’s not so positive for legislators, regulators and governments seeking to manage and tax this form of virtual commerce.
What will it take to revive the region’s fashion industry
Renowned designer Naeem Khan led the closing show at Dominicana Moda. (Photo courtesy Dominicana Moda) A recent push to develop the Caribbean’s creative industries has seen musicians, artists and film-makers become the face of economic diversification in the region. But there’s one important creative sub-sector that risks being sidelined in the drive to embrace the arts – fashion. Caribbean designers have long struggled to get their creations in the public eye, and on the shelves.
JetBlue Eyes Caribbean Growth
The Caribbean accounts for a third of JetBlue’s total network. (Photo courtesy JetBlue) JetBlue, one of the Caribbean’s longest-serving and largest-capacity airlines, posted bullish third quarter results last month despite challenging headwinds from the Latin American and Caribbean region, and said it is looking to grow its Caribbean presence heading into 2020.
Making Waves: Saint Lucian sailing company blends tourism and training
James and Pepsi Crockett, the husband and wife team behind Saint Lucia’s award-winning sailing charter company Jus’ Sail, have witnessed some very special moments over the years: the young groom-to-be who popped the question aboard Jus’ Sail’s traditional sloop, Good Expectation; the cancer survivor who celebrated his recovery against the backdrop of a Caribbean sunset; the wedding at sea that Pepsi, a licensed marriage officer, officiated.
Fostering filmmakers
Davina Lee directs actors during the filming of The Knot. (Photo courtesy OECS) The Caribbean has always enjoyed a close relationship with the silver screen, providing a tropical backdrop to some of the most famous movies in history, but now islanders are getting in on the act and helping the region transition from simply being part of the scenery to providing the talent behind the camera.
The Caribbean’s Geography Problem
A typical Caribbean scene that could be anywhere in the islands. (Image courtesy PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay) Thirty countries, more than 7,000 islands and a kaleidoscope of cultures – the Caribbean is hard to define and difficult to pin down. Aside from the logistical difficulties of supporting and maintaining regional infrastructure in such a disparate setting, the Caribbean’s unique geography poses a huge marketing problem that heavily impacts its biggest industry.
Inside St. Lucia’s Country Financing RoadMap
The CFR is a collaborative effort between the Saint Lucian government and the World Economic Forum (Photo courtesy World Economic Forum) When the Saint Lucia’s prime minister addressed the United Nations in late September he focused heavily on an issue that has long been a concern of Caribbean nations – obstacles to sustainable development.
St Lucia teams up with cruise giants
Prime Minister Chastanet signed the MOU during a ceremony on October 21 at the annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Photo courtesy Carnival Corporation) Saint Lucia has joined forces with two of the world’s biggest cruise companies in a move that government hopes will further boost the already thriving tourism sector, create scores of new jobs and lay the groundwork for bigger and more innovative ships to dock at the...
A history of hurricanes: The evolution of the Caribbean’s storm response strategy
The first recorded hurricane in the Caribbean hit Hispaniola in 1495, during Christopher Columbus’ second voyage to the island. Described as “violent” by the Europeans, the storm rattled the fleet but was nothing new to the indigenous Carib and Taino people who named it “huracan”.
Bad romance: Weddings and honeymoons dominate St Lucia’s tourism but is it time to shake up the matrimony market?
Saint Lucia has been voted ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’ ten times by the World Travel Awards, and is on track to take that honour once more after being nominated again this year. In 2018 romance accounted for almost 24,000 stay-over arrivals and was the third largest niche behind holiday/leisure and visiting family or relatives.
High fliers – the Caribbean’s private jet sector continues to soar | The St. Lucia STAR
When high net worth individuals travel, they travel in style. Private jets are the transport of choice for the world’s wealthy and these super rich flyers are jetting into the Caribbean in droves — providing a boost not only to the tourism sector, but also the aviation market. Flying in According to analyst firm Knight Frank, author of the annual Wealth Report, several of the most popular island locations for private jets are in the Caribbean.
How Airbnb took over the Caribbean
The Caribbean is in the midst of a battle for accommodation dollars. Hotel prices in the region have been rising steadily, putting them out of reach for some travellers. Enter Airbnb, which has been only too happy to fill the gap, forcing governments and tourism stakeholders to embrace the new reality of the shared economy and what that means for the Caribbean’s biggest industry.
Corporate Conscience
When Hurricane Dorian finally finished battering the northern islands of the Bahamas in September, the country was left unrecognisably devastated. The Grand Bahama and Abaco islands were hardest hit, flattened and flooded, leaving over 70,000 homeless and resulting in a death toll that is currently over 50 and rising.
Exiting the IMF: How Jamaica became the monetary fund’s new posterboy
After more than five decades of economic ups and downs, Jamaica’s rocky relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is drawing to a close. “Jamaica has reached a place where [the IMF] doesn’t need to be here all the time. We are taking the back seat and Jamaica is in the driver’s seat. We believe Jamaica is ready to exit the IMF and run its own business,” IMF Resident Representative Dr Constant Lonkeng Ngouana told a public forum in Kingston this summer.
Nurturing entrepreneurship in the Caribbean diaspora
Much has been made of the problems Caribbean entrepreneurs face in their home countries. From lack of finance to unreliable infrastructure, start-ups in the islands have a lot of hurdles to overcome if they are to monetise their aspirations. Entrepreneurs in the disapora occupy a different environment, but face similar challenges. With the right support, however, this economic powerhouse can be mobilised to help its members, their families and their communities back home.
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