Your 5-minute tour of regional chaos, served with rum punch 🌴

🇯🇲 JAMAICA: $6.7 BILLION AND COUNTING

The IMF Executive Board approved US$415 million for Jamaica under its Rapid Financing Instrument’s large natural disaster window. This brings the total international support package for Hurricane Melissa recovery to a whopping US$6.7 billion over three years.

The Numbers:

  • US$415 million — IMF emergency assistance (approved Jan 16)
  • US$1 billion — World Bank
  • US$1 billion — Inter-American Development Bank
  • US$200 million — Caribbean Development Bank
  • US$1 billion — CAF Development Bank

The Damage: Hurricane Melissa (Category 5, October 28, 2025) killed at least 45 people and caused an estimated US$8.8 billion in damage.

PM Holness’ Take: Called the support package “unprecedented.”

What’s Next: Jamaica is launching RE-LEAF, planting 300,000 seedlings between January and June 2026. Because nothing says “recovery” like seedlings.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Airlines announced it will suspend Puerto Rico and BVI routes in 2026 as part of its Barbados hub overhaul. Passengers affected: a lot.

🇻🇪 MADURO UPDATE: “I AM STILL PRESIDENT”

Two weeks after the U.S. military extracted Nicolas Maduro from Caracas in a Delta Force raid, the deposed Venezuelan leader continues his legal drama from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

In Court (January 5): Maduro told Judge Hellerstein: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country.”

The judge cut him off.

His Defense Strategy: Attorney Barry Pollack is arguing that Maduro should have sovereign immunity as a head of state. The U.S. doesn’t recognize him as president, so… good luck with that.

Back in Caracas: Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as acting president. She initially vowed to fight American aggression, then posted a statement inviting the U.S. to “collaborate” on an “agenda of cooperation.”

Trump’s Response: “We’re in charge.”

The Charges: Narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering. Could face life in prison.

Next Hearing: March 17.

🇭🇹 HAITI: TPS TERMINATED, CHAOS CONTINUES

The Trump administration is moving to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants in the United States. A federal court hearing continued this week as affected families wait for the decision.

Meanwhile in Haiti:

  • Bishop Pierre-André Dumas has withdrawn from a proposed national mediation process
  • The Transitional Presidential Council’s immunity expires February 7
  • Elections pushed to… eventually
  • Carnival continues anyway

The Travel Advisory: Governments continue to warn against non-essential travel. Royal Caribbean has cancelled all 2026 visits to Labadee.

🇹🇹 TRINIDAD: NEW PM, NEW PROBLEMS

Stuart Young is now Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and CARICOM has issued congratulations.

What He Inherits:

  • Rising crime concerns
  • US visa restrictions affecting Caribbean nationals
  • Caribbean Airlines suspending routes
  • An economy trying to diversify from oil & gas

The Visa Situation: The US has paused immigrant visas for Caribbean nationals from multiple countries starting January 21. Non-immigrant visas (tourist, student, business) remain unaffected — for now.

🇧🇧 BARBADOS: ELECTIONS STILL HAPPENING

PM Mia Mottley dissolved Parliament and elections are set for February 11. Nominations close January 27.

The BLP continues to attract defectors, including a former DLP minister. The opposition is watching their bench shrink in real-time.

The Caribbean Court of Justice: President Justice Winston Anderson completed an official visit to Barbados from January 15-20.

🌎 REGIONAL: US VISA CRACKDOWN CONTINUES

Caribbean countries affected by the US immigrant visa pause (started January 21):

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The Data: According to US statistics, Caribbean immigrant households receiving public assistance ranges from 33.9% (Barbados) to 52.3% (Haiti). These numbers are influencing “public charge” assessments.

PM Holness’ Message: Urged Jamaicans to focus on building a future at home.

🏏 CRICKET CORNER

West Indies preparing for Afghanistan T20I series in Dubai ahead of the T20 World Cup (starts February 7 in India and Sri Lanka).

Barbados Women continue strong in the CWI T20 Blaze Championships.

✈️ TRAVEL NOTES

  • Caribbean Airlines: Suspending Puerto Rico and BVI routes, overhauling Barbados hub
  • Royal Caribbean: No Labadee visits for all of 2026
  • US Visa Processing: Immigrant visa pause indefinite while vetting procedures reviewed

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country.” — Nicolás Maduro, January 5, 2026, from a Manhattan courtroom, wearing orange jail slippers

That’s your Caribbean in 5 minutes. Jamaica’s getting billions, Maduro’s getting a jail cell, and the visa line just got longer. Proceed accordingly.