Seismic Center Repeats Warning Of Major Earthquake
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, Monday May 14, 2012 – The magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded off the coast of Antigua last Friday (May 11) is a warning that the Caribbean should prepare for a much more severe earthquake to come.
This warning has again been sounded by the Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad and Tobago.
In confirming that an earthquake occurred 50 miles east of the Antigua and Barbuda capital around 5 a.m, seismologist Dr Joan Latchman reportedly stated that the region has not seen its largest earthquake for more than a century and, based on the historical data that indicated that the region has recorded a major earthquake every 100 years, the islands of the English-speaking Caribbean were overdue for one.
Dr Latchman has stated that the pattern in which earthquakes have occurred in the region has been consistent, although authorities cannot predict when and where it will happen.
This time last year the Trinidadian seismologist also warned residents of the region to brace for a major earth movement.
Speaking during a three-day visit to Nevis to make a presentation on disaster preparedness, Dr Latchman said Caribbean islands lie in an area of relatively high earthquake activity and that an earthquake of 8.0 could hit the Caribbean any day based on the patterns previously recorded.
According to the Seismic Research Centre, there have been a number of small earthquake activities taking place off Antigua & Barbuda although they have not been felt by residents.
Philmore Mullin, head of the National Office of Disaster Services has stated that Antigua & Barbuda would not only be very vulnerable to earthquakes but also tsunamis.
The region was earlier this month put on notice to prepare for tsunamis by the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO.
Seismic Center Repeats Warning Of Major Earthquake courtesy of Caribbean360.com
St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures Part 6
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St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures
St.Thomas USVI 2012 Carnival Pictures
St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures Part 5
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Photography by Two Step Video for Passport by Cutlass & Cane Clothing 678.663.4494
St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures
St.Thomas USVI 2012 Carnival Pictures
St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures Part 4
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Photography by Two Step Video for Passport by Cutlass & Cane Clothing 678.663.4494
St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures Part 1
St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration culminated this past weekend, and all we can say is that it was nice. The parade didn’t end until 9:00 pm that night and showcased costumes, presentation, and mas that left many saying Carnival was good this year. Below is part one in a series of imagery highlighting some of the 60 troupes that took part in this year’s celebration.
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StThomas 60th Carnival Celebration Pictures Part 1
United States Immigrants To Receive Lower Visa Processing Fees
In a move that is sure to be welcomed by some immigrants, the U.S. is set to lower some immigrant visa processing fees as of later this month.
The lower rates are set to be effective on April 13, 2012 and immediate relative and family preference and employment-based applicants are among the big winners.
According to the U.S. State Department, spouses, children and relatives filing for their immigrant relatives will now pay a processing fee of $230, a savings of $100 as the current fee is $330.
Employers filing for employees will now pay $405, saving them a whopping $315 as the current fee is $720. Others saving will be winners of the Diversity Visa Program and applicants who are filing to have their residency status returned. Those fees will be lowered from $440 to $330 for the diversity program and from $380 to $275 for the returning resident status applications.
All other immigrant visa application fees will be lowered from $305 to $220.
The decrease in fees will also apply to K or fiancé (e) visa applicants and those seeking treaty investor and trader visas or the E visa as they are commonly called. The K visa application fee has been lowered from $350 to $240 while the E visa filing fee will cost $270 now, down from $390.
However, there is no such good news for tourists and others seeking to travel to the U.S. Come April 13th, applicants for tourist, business, transit, crew member, student, exchange visitor, and journalist visas will have to shell out more per application. The fee will increase from $140 to $160 while applicants of Petition-based visas will now pay an application fee of $190 instead of $150. These visa categories include H (for temporary workers and trainees), L (for intra-company transferees), O (for aliens with extraordinary ability), P (for athletes, artists and entertainers), Q (for international cultural exchange visitors) and R (for religious occupations).
The State Department says the fee adjustments are necessary since it is required to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees. The non-immigrant visa fee increase, officials explained, will support the addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as additional staffing required to meet increased visa demand.
The US Embassy says the fee adjustments are the result of a December 2011 worldwide cost-of-service study conducted by the Bureau of Consular Affairs in the Department of State. More information on the fees can be found at fee on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov.
Meanwhile, .the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has begun accepting H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 cap. The congressionally mandated numerical limitation on H-1B petitions for FY 2013 is 65,000. Additionally, the first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the fiscal year cap.
U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers.
For more information on the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program and current Form I-129 processing times, visit www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283.
United States Immigrants To Receive Lower Visa Processing Fees courtesy of mnialive.com
Real Mas Carnival Trouple St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration
Real Mas Carnival Troupe presents Sweet Treats for St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration.
Vienna Tropicale by Real Mas Carnival Troupe
Costume Options:
Two-piece bikini | Boyshorts | Wholepiece | Monokini | Bustier | Tankini
Female Costume: $275
Costume Design and Production: Simone Edwards
Photographer: Simone Edwards
Model: Camelia Febres
MUA: Simone Edwards
Guavaberry Flambé by Real Mas Carnival Troupe
Two-piece bikini | Boyshorts | Wholepiece | Monokini | Bustier | Tankini
Female Costume: $275 | Male Costume: $150
Costume Design and Production: Simone Edwards
Photographer: Nicole Turner
Model: Kinila Callendar-Paige
MUA: Kinila Callendar-Paige
Lemon Lime Sorbet by Real Mas Carnival Troupe
Costume Options:
Female Costume: $300
Two-piece bikini | Boyshorts | Wholepiece | Monokini | Bustier | Tankini
Costume Design and Production: Simone Edwards
Photographer: Simone Edwards
Model: Renata Christian
MUA: Renata Christian
You can register for Real Mas Carnival Troupe here
Be sure to visit Real Mas Carnival troupe for more info and photos.
http://www.realmas.com/
Real Mas Carnival Trouple St Thomas 60th Carnival Celebration via Nicolecprince.com
Tobago The Number One In 10 Amazing Undiscovered Islands
Tobago comes in as number one in Yahoo’s 10 Amazing Undiscovered Islands. The entire list is described as “Quiet nights . . . lazy walks . . . spectacular sunsets to view à deux . . . genuine interaction with folks who actually live there . . . off-the-beaten-path islands offer secret spots and stunning surprises in every corner of the world.”
With a list of other exotic islands that includes, Phu Quoc Island Vietnam, Mnemba Island Tanzania, Kefalonia Greece and Roatán, Honduras, it is a good feeling to see a Caribbean gem top the list.
Yahoo describes Tobago as:
Tobago, Caribbean
For Eco-Rich Vacations
The tiny island of Tobago—unlike its boisterous cousin, Trinidad—is a Caribbean island made for travelers seeking peace, quiet, and time spent with pristine nature. Visitors can hire a guide and hike through the western hemisphere’s oldest protected rain forest, accompanied by song from some 58 different species of birds. The island is also ringed by shallow-water reefs, giving snorkelers, divers, or passengers in glass-bottomed boats the chance to spot some 300 types of coral, plus giant tube sponges, massive rays, graceful sea fans, and fish sporting more colors than Crayola.
Hike the trail along Tobago’s North Coast for great photos. Kids love to swim in the Nylon Pool, a fish-rich shallow area in the Lagoon. The hotels, including the award-winning Coco Reef Resort & Spa, have a delightfully local feel. It is said that Tobago cooks have “a sweet hand,” creating dishes that magically blend Creole, African and West Indian flavors, often complemented by good local rum. Best of all, Tobago is very eco-friendly. In 2007, the island won the “World’s Leading Green Destination” honor at the World Travel Awards.
Tobago The Number One In 10 Amazing Undiscovered Islands courtesy of Yahoo.com
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
American Eagle Leaving Puerto Rico
American Eagle is reportedly planning to cease its operations in Puerto Rico next spring as part of efforts to cut $75 million in costs as it navigates through bankruptcy.
American Eagle employs some 150 people on the island, who were alerted to the looming shutdown by the Association of Flight Attendants, according to press reports.
American Eagle, American Airlines, and parent company AMR Corp. filed for bankruptcy in November.
AMR Corp. has delayed a planned spinoff of its regional airline, American Eagle. The holding company for that airline, AMR Eagle Holding Corp., the parent of San Juan-based Executive Airlines, which operates American Eagle’s flights in the region, also filed for bankruptcy.
American Airlines and American Eagle have been paring service through San Juan in recent years. American Eagle has slashed its workforce in its Caribbean hub from 500 to 150 employees over the past decade.
American Eagle has implemented deep cuts in its flights from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in recent months, dropping from 70 daily flights to roughly two dozen.
The carrier’s direct flights from its San Juan regional hub include Tortola, Santo Domingo, Fort-de-France, Punta Cana,, St. Lucia, Pointe-a-Pitre, St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica , Santiago, Grenada, La Romana , Barbados, St. Thomas and St. Croix.
American Eagle Leaving Puerto Rico courtesy of Caribbeanbusiness.pr
MTV The Real World To Film 27th Season In St Thomas USVI
Set to take place in the capital of the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, MTV’s “The Real World” begins production this month on the 27th season of the network’s longest running hit reality series. The upcoming season will once again bring together seven strangers who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey together as they work hard and play harder. The roommates will not only experience what a ‘real world’ paradise has to offer, but they will reside in a custom decorated home that is the perfect backdrop for fun in the sun. “The Real World: St. Thomas” is slated for premiere Summer 2012 on MTV.
“The US Virgin Islands—long a spring vacation spot for young people—has beautiful weather and a laidback Caribbean culture, making it the perfect environment for this year’s seven strangers to get to know each other and figure out their lives,” said Jonathan Murray, Creator and Executive Producer of ‘The Real World’ and Chairman of Bunim/Murray Productions.
“As a U.S. Territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands is an excellent choice for Season 27 of ‘The Real World.’ The roommates, and MTV’s viewers, get to experience the splendor of the Caribbean lifestyle, while MTV’s production expenditure is reinvested into U.S. economy,” said Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “Viewers of the show will get an opportunity not only to see the roommates settle into their new lives on St. Thomas, but also to follow their cultural experiences across the other islands that comprise the USVI – St. Croix, St. John and ‘the fourth Virgin’ – Water Island.”
MTV The Real World To Film 27th Season In St Thomas USVI Courtesy of Caribwall.com
Trinidad One Of The Top 10 Places To Celebrate Carnival
Coming in at # 3 in The top 10 places to celebrate list compiled by Reuters is Trinidad and Tobago’s annual carnival celebration. According to Reuters it’s vibrant history and French roots set the tone for Trinidad and Tobago’s most significant celebration each year: Carnival. The Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday draw the Caribbean destination’s population to the streets to show off elaborate costumes that groups take months to create. Bands compete against one another for the title of Band of the Year as individuals vie to become Calypso Monarch, one of the greatest honors in the country.
To see the complete listing please click here
Trinidad One Of The Top 10 Places To Celebrate Carnival Courtesy of Reuters Via Trinidad Carnival Daily.
Photo courtesy of Reuters/Andrea De Silva
US Announces Permanent Expedited Entry Program For International Travelers
WASHINGTON, USA — US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Monday announced the publication of a final rule that would establish Global Entry — a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) voluntary initiative, which allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers to streamline the international arrivals and admission process at airports for trusted travelers through biometric identification — as a permanent program.
“Global Entry expedites the customs and security process for trusted air travelers through biometric verification, while helping DHS ensure the safety of all airline passengers,” said Napolitano. “Making Global Entry permanent will improve customer service at airports across the country and enable law enforcement to focus on higher-risk travelers.”
Global Entry — currently available at 20 US international airports — allows pre-approved members a streamlined, automated alternative to regular passport processing lines. The program currently reduces average wait times by more than 70 percent, with more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry processed in under five minutes.
The final rule, published on Monday, sets forth federal regulations that replaces the current pilot with a permanent Global Entry program. The final rule provides CBP with the ability more to readily expand the program to additional US international airports. In addition, age eligibility criteria have changed to allow more families to enjoy the benefits of the program. Persons under the age of 18 who meet the general eligibility criteria and have the consent of a parent or legal guardian will now be eligible to participate in Global Entry.
Those members currently participating in the pilot will not experience a break in membership or need to re-apply when the program becomes permanent. Members currently participating in the pilot will have their time credited to the five-year membership as proposed in the rule.
At Global Entry kiosks, members insert their passport or lawful permanent resident card into a document reader, provide digital fingerprints for comparison with fingerprints on file, answer customs declaration questions on the kiosk’s touch-screen, and then present a transaction receipt to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers before leaving the inspection area.
To date, there have been approximately 1.8 million admissions with Global Entry by more than 260,000 members and more than 1 million trusted travelers receive Global Entry benefits. The program is available to US citizens and US lawful permanent residents, as well as Mexican nationals. Citizens of the Netherlands may also apply under a special reciprocal arrangement that links Global Entry with the Dutch Privium program in Amsterdam. Canadian citizens and residents may participate in Global Entry through membership in the NEXUS program.
For more information on this or other CBP Trusted Traveler programs, or for an application to enroll in the Global Entry pilot program, visit the CBP or Global Entry websites.
US Announces Permanent Expedited Entry Program For International Travelers courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
First Sleep School Opens In Grenada In The Caribbean
I’m not alone in having trouble sleeping. When stress levels are sky-high, technology has us on call 24/7 and working parents struggle to fit everything into their day, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t.
Unsurprisingly, 75 per cent of the workforce gets less than the recommended eight hours of sleep a night, according to a study by the Mental Health Foundation. Most of us will experience transient insomnia (a short bout of disturbed sleep lasting less than a week or two) at some point in our lives, caused by anything from stress, pregnancy or bereavement – or a chemical, such as excess alcohol. But when it becomes difficult to initiate or maintain sleep for two to four weeks, this is defined as acute insomnia.
‘How you behave in response to sleep determines your ability to sleep,’ says insomnia specialist Dr Guy Meadows. ‘Ask a normal sleeper what they do to sleep and they will say “nothing”. Ask an insomniac and they will give you a long list, including warm milk, hot baths and lavender on the pillow.’
Meadows, who thinks the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach to sleep problems isn’t working, is pioneering a new technique called acceptance and commitment therapy. ‘My approach to insomnia combines a sense of increased awareness, acceptance and a non- judgmental attitude,’ he says. ‘It’s about accepting then letting go of your insomnia in order to allow your brain’s natural ability to sleep to emerge by itself.’
Meadows runs a practice in Britain and has just launched Sleep School in the Caribbean (www.thesleepschool.org). My first thought was: ‘Why do I need to go halfway around the world to learn how to sleep?’ But when you add up the things we might do to relax and get a better night’s sleep – a massage, yoga and exercise classes, and possibly a sleep workshop – then factor in the cost of a week away, that cost soon adds up. Which is why the idea of Meadows’s Sleep School at a well-being retreat makes sense.
The Sleep School is run at the luxury holistic resort of La Source in Grenada – where it’s free to guests. The hotel’s philosophy is geared around wellbeing and relaxation, and guests can enjoy hourly activities and a free treatment each day.
‘What draws me to this type of holiday are the masterclasses,’ says Sally Lloyd, 35, a sales consultant from Maidenhead. ‘When I found out there was a Sleep School here it was a bonus as I suffer from transient insomnia.’
Read the rest of this entry »
Crucian Festival 2011 – 2012 Parade Pics
A snapshot of about 6.5 hours of revelers coming down the parade route for St.Croix’s Crucian Festival 2011 – 2012
St.Croix Carnival Pictures
Crucian Festival Picture Photography by Your Style Art Photography ph. 832.797.0498 or yourstyleart@gmail.com They are local…don’t mind the phone #.
The government of Antigua will look to repurchase two parcels of land around the country’s airport compound from a company owned by jailed Texas financier R Allen Stanford, according to Prime Minister Dr Baldwin Spencer.
Spencer said he had instructed the Antiguan Airport Authority to hold talks with company officials towards negotiating a reasonable sales price for the two parcels of land.
Stanford purchased 25.59 acres of government land around the airport compound in 2003 at a concessionary price of around $0.40 per square foot.
“Given the national interest at stake and the imminent commencement of construction works, I expect that the necessary cooperation and good faith on both sides will allow a settlement of this matter in the shortest possible time,” the Prime Minister said.
The country recently broke ground on a new terminal at VC Bird International Airport, a joint project with the Chinese government. It is slated for completion in 2013.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
Travel and Leisure Names St. Vincent One Of The Hottest Destinations For 2012
Travel and Leisure Names St. Vincent One Of The Hottest Destinations For 2012. A string of 32 islands just south of St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has long been an under-the-radar getaway for the jet-setting elite. But recent developments—including a $240 million airport set to open on St. Vincent next year—are making the region accessible to a broader audience.
Built on volcanic black sand, the new Buccament Bay Resort (St. Vincent; 877/502-2022; doubles from $1,024, all-inclusive, three-night minimum) has 90 light-filled villas that gaze out on a secluded white-sand beach. Twenty miles south, tiny Mustique remains a playground for the likes of Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger (and was a runner-up honeymoon pick for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).
A handful of new villas are now available to rent from the Mustique Company (villas from $7,000 per week), including the four-bedroom Mimosa, a contemporary affair with a pebbled infinity pool, private chef, and dedicated utility vehicle for exploring the isle. A more affordable option is the four-bedroom Liselund, on a hillside overlooking the sea. Nearby, the 44-year-old private-island resort of Petit St. Vincent (doubles from $1,050, all-inclusive) has reopened after a top-to-bottom makeover: 22 stone-walled, thatched-roof cottages are done up in earthy tones and driftwood palapas now line the beach. There’s also a waterside restaurant and a tree-house-style spa, where an open-air hot-stone massage is the perfect end to the day.
Courtesy of Travel and Leisure
US Congress Drops Bid To Restrict Travel and Remittances To Cuba
US Congress Drops Bid To Restrict Travel and Remittances To Cuba.
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) — A bid to restrict travel and remittances to Cuba proposed by congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL.) was dropped from the spending bill currently under discussion in the US Congress, following protests by organizations and Cuban-Americans in the United States, who overwhelmingly and strongly expressed their support of unlimited travel to the Caribbean nation.
The bid, introduced as a rider attached to the spending bill, aimed at returning travel and remittances to Cuba by Cuban-Americans to the level set by former president George W. Bush in 2008, when it only one trip was allowed every three years for “family reunifications,” while there would also be a cap on remittances of $1,200 per year and a tighter definition of “family.”
In exchange — pressed by the far-right and anti-Cuba legislators who backed Diaz-Balart’s bid — the Congressional leadership also agreed to drop a measure by Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) that would have eased a requirement that Cuba pay cash in advance when buying US goods permissible under the economic blockade imposed by Washington on the Caribbean country for almost 50 years.
Courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
St Kitts and Nevis Projects Positive Economic Growth In 2012
St Kitts and Nevis Projects Positive Economic Growth. In 2012 BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) — The Eastern Caribbean Central BANK (ECCB) is projecting a 1.5 percent growth rate in the St Kitts and Nevis economy in 2012.
Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas said that while growth will be flat for 2011, the economy could return to a positive growth path in 2012 when output is projected to expand by 1.5 percent.
He said the pattern is consistent with the trends observed in the OECS group.
“In 2010 the domestic economy contracted by 2.7 percent — a 3 percent improvement over the 5.6 percent decline recorded in 2009. During this year, steady recovery was experienced by both the manufacturing and tourism sectors, which are projected to grow by 6 percent and 5.9 percent respectively. However, this will be insufficient to offset the effects of the slow recovery being experienced by the construction sector and distributive trades,” said Douglas, as he delivered the 2012 budget address in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Summarizing the balance of payments account, which records all receipts and payments between the Federation and the rest of the world, Douglas noted that, in 2010, the current account deficit increased by 0.6 percent to $464.3 million or 25.5 percent of GDP at market prices. Read the rest of this entry »
