The future of the Caribbean hinges on its capacity for innovation and is key to sustainable growth. One has to get used to it that the new normal will not be the same as the old normal in every way. Prioritizing proactive, strategic innovation initiatives is essential. The benefits and impact of innovation in economic development are:It boosts productivity as the implementation of new technologies and processes enables increased efficiency and output. It drives growth as it facilitates...
The Caribbean is being stuck with economies that are over-proportionally depending on revenue from tourism and related activities. No, this is not just about hurricanes. If it wasn’t the weather, then it was the Covid virus or a recession. It is an economy that was directed in an unsafe direction.What was in the past is history and what evolved over the years shall not be judged. There is no time for blame games and this is not around politics or politicians from the past until today. It is not...
The history of the Arawak people is significant, as they were among the first indigenous groups to encounter Columbus. They established a robust agrarian society rooted in communal living in the Caribbean long before the arrival of Spanish explorers. Nevis Peak, also known as Mount Nevis, is centrally located within the geography of the island. It dominates the Nevisian skyline and is known for its frequent distinctive cloud cover. This volcanic landmark highlights a history of the na...
When virtue and modesty enlighten their charms, the luster of these beautiful Caribbean islands is brighter than the stars of heaven, and the influence of their powerful magnetism is in vain to resist.I’m talking about Ouanalao and Oualie as the indigenous Arawak people called them. But what the heck. What’s in a name? To give it a Shakespearian feel. Which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. You will know them as St.Barth and Nevis. Historians believe th...
Today it was officially announced that Dudley Didges will be St.Tosia's new Minister of Civil and Other Aviation. The island doesn't have an airport, but it has vision, which is quite refreshing and contrary to other islands in the Caribbean that have an airport but no vision.In his inaugural address, the Honorable Didges revealed that he is planning on first building a 45ft/15mtr control tower. When asked by a reporter of the St.Tosia Courier why he intends to build a control tower when there i...
Yes, a golden opportunity for those who are smart. The key is to transform into treasure what most consider to be a nuisance and litter that is wrecking the region’s tourism-centered economies. Where others see it as a problem, the brainy and wise ones see it as an opportunity to turn it into a sustainable solution and treat sargassum as a resource to benefit from rather than just trash left to rot or dispose of. What smells like rotten eggs can be smelled like something else: opportunity of har...
Large-scale conferences have been around for quite a while now. Because of their scale, these events leave little room for meaningful networking opportunities, tailored experiences, and learnings that come mainly from peer mentorship and the exchange between driven business professionals. What makes CARIBAVIA different?On the contrary, the boutique-style CARIBAVIA Summit and Retreat sets the tone of community building in a small setting where everyone feels included and comfortable to conne...
An independent source recently compared three potential future aviation/airline models for the entire Caribbean. The conclusion was as follows:The CARIBAVIA Alliance approach—starting with summits, then evolving into a Caribbean Airlift Council, training institute, and knowledge hub—has the highest likelihood of sustainable success. It balances feasibility, stakeholder engagement, and a strategic pathway toward deeper integration, making it the strongest candidate to advance Caribbean aviation...
When Ministers attend an industry conference, it is usually formal and decorous and just for an hour as to show that they have other more important things on their mind. And their short attendance comes over like a favor. They may even attend the lunch. But then they sneak out.Last week at CARIBAVIA on St.Barth I experienced something noteworthy, seldom, and had the privilege to meet someone distinctly else: Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez – Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Invest...
Passenger or tourism taxation is ‘swamp taxation’ because no one besides the tax receiver wants it, and it sucks. Tourists may opt for visiting a different island destination that doesn’t have the taxes, yet does have the same sun, the beaches and the palm trees. Plus, the new discovery may even have more to offer and is worth a repeat visit. Competition in double degree. The taxations were done in several locations, not just the Caribbean. The tax was expected to raise a high amount of governme...
Initiator at CARIBAVIA and RIVIERAVIA conferences.
A Specialist in Strategic Communication – i.e. communicating essential information to selected audiences and to ensure that the communication is noticed by the senses, sticks in the mind, and affects the thinking, behavior, or activities of the audience.
Combine this with his current activities as event organizer, award judge, author, editor, columnist, copy writer, and you may conclude that he is a source of power for corporate communication.
