Your 5-minute satirical summary of Caribbean news. We read the regional papers so you don’t have to! 🌴
🗳️ BARBADOS: Mottley Rings the Bell for Round Three
Prime Minister Mia Mottley has called a snap election for February 11, 2026 — a full year before she needed to.
Why the rush? Because when you’ve won 30-0 TWICE, you don’t wait around for the opposition to figure out how to win a seat.
The BLP has completed its slate of 30 candidates. Parliament dissolved January 19. Nomination Day is January 27. And the Democratic Labour Party? They’re led by Ralph Thorne, a man who defected from the BLP in 2024.
The Math:
- 2018: BLP wins 30-0
- 2022: BLP wins 30-0
- 2026: BLP wins… well, you do the math
Mottley told supporters to “rest up” because when she calls, she wants to hear: “Prime Minister, we are ready. We are RED and READY.”
The Opposition’s Problem: It’s hard to campaign when you don’t have a single seat in Parliament. The DLP is what political analysts call “in fundamental disrepair.”
Fun Fact: Mottley is being viewed as a leading candidate to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General. Win Barbados three times, then run the world. Why not?
✈️ US VISA CRACKDOWN: Birth Tourism in the Crosshairs
Bad news for Caribbean moms who wanted to deliver in Miami:
The US is cracking down on “birth tourism” from Caribbean nations including:
- Barbados
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Jamaica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Dominica
- Grenada
Starting 2026, pregnant travelers can expect:
- More rigorous visa interviews
- Deeper examination of “travel intent”
- Questions about medical plans and maternity costs
- Potential delays in processing
Translation: If you’re visibly pregnant and applying for a tourist visa, you better have a VERY convincing reason why you need to see Mickey Mouse in your third trimester.
The Bigger Picture: This is part of broader US immigration enforcement. Citizenship-by-investment programs are also under scrutiny. The days of easy Caribbean-to-America travel may be changing.
✈️ CARIBBEAN AIRLINES: More Cuts, More Chaos
Caribbean Airlines is having a rough 2026:
Routes Suspended:
- Trinidad to Tortola
- Trinidad to San Juan
- Dominica to Puerto Rico
- Multiple connections affected
The Big One: Caribbean Airlines is closing its Barbados operational hub in February 2026. Aircraft and crew moving to Trinidad.
What This Means: Longer connection times, more complex routing, higher fares on reduced competition routes.
The Silver Lining? Budget carrier Avelo Airlines is expanding into the Caribbean with flights from New Orleans, Tampa, and Providence to Cancún, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic.
Translation: Caribbean Airlines shrinking while American budget carriers growing. The regionalization of Caribbean air travel continues to struggle.
🇻🇪 VENEZUELA FALLOUT: Tourism Takes a Hit
The US-Venezuela conflict is affecting Caribbean tourism:
Countries Feeling the Pain:
- Jamaica
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad and Tobago
The Issues:
- Venezuelan airspace closed
- Flight disruptions and rerouting
- Increased travel uncertainty
- Some tourists reconsidering plans
Trinidad Specifically: Not directly involved, but proximity to Venezuela has raised border security concerns and shaken tourist confidence.
The Reality: Caribbean tourism was booming entering 2026, but geopolitical instability can change things quickly. The US FAA has banned commercial flights over Venezuelan airspace.
🏝️ REGIONAL QUICK HITS
Jamaica:
- IMF approved US$415 million emergency financial assistance
- Still recovering from Hurricane Melissa impact
- US travel advisory lowered to Level 2 (improvement!)
Trinidad:
- PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar says “no international law was breached” by cooperation with US on anti-drug operations
- CCJ President visiting for official business
West Indies Cricket:
- Afghanistan series coming up as T20 World Cup warmup
- World Cup starts February 7 in India and Sri Lanka
Caribbean Sailing:
- Caribbean Multihull Challenge VIII started January 28!
- St. Maarten hosting the “happiest regatta in the Caribbean”
📊 CARIBBEAN SCOREBOARD
| Country | What’s Happening | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Barbados | Election Feb 11 | 🟢 Mottley cruising |
| Jamaica | IMF assistance | 🟡 Recovery mode |
| Trinidad | Airline hub loss | 🟡 Adjusting |
| Guyana | Budget bonanza | 🟢 Oil money flowing |
| Venezuela | Still chaos | 🔴 No change |
🎭 CARIBBEAN CORNER
You know Caribbean politics interesting when:
- Barbados Opposition has ZERO seats
- Guyana Opposition Leader might get extradited to the US
- Trinidad trying to stay neutral while cooperating with everybody
Democracy in the Caribbean be like: “We have elections! The results are… predictable.”
That’s your Caribbean wrap!
Barbados voting, airlines cutting, US tightening, and the region keeps spinning.
Stay tuned, stay informed, and if you’re pregnant — maybe don’t plan that Miami trip right now.
— The Guyana Brief Team 🌴
Regional news with Caribbean flavor. Subscribe at guyanadailybrief.com