US Military

Caribbean Brief: Jamaica's Hurricane Budget, T&T Radar Gone, Guyana Plays Football & The US Removes Military Gear from Tobago

Monday, March 30, 2026 | Caribbean Brief

Jamaica Tables a Hurricane Budget

Jamaica’s Finance Minister Fayval Williams has opened the 2026–2027 budget debate, navigating a JA$1.4 trillion national budget with a hole left by Hurricane Melissa — which struck in October 2025 and wiped out an estimated 40% of GDP. New taxes are on the table for the first time in ten years, including a levy on sweetened beverages expected to generate JA$10.1 billion. Williams noted it took a Category 5 hurricane for the government to introduce new taxes. Jamaica is rebuilding. The math is difficult.

🌴 Caribbean Daily Brief – Tuesday, February 17, 2026

US blows up another boat in the Caribbean (133 dead now). Iran-US nuclear talks show progress in Geneva. Barbados FM challenges US due process. Mottley pushes electoral reform. Jamaica’s students stranded in Cuba. Aer Lingus launches first direct Caribbean flights.

Caribbean Daily Brief: US Strikes Boats Near Venezuela, Jamaica Gets $415M Emergency IMF Loan, and T&T Says Airspace is Fine

🌴 Good Morning, Caribbean! Here’s your regional roundup for Sunday, February 8, 2026.

🚢 US MILITARY DESTROYING BOATS IN THE CARIBBEAN — AT LEAST 80 DEAD

The biggest story in the region remains the US military’s ongoing operations near Venezuela. Since September, American forces have destroyed multiple vessels in international waters, killing at least 80 people in what Washington calls anti-drug-smuggling strikes. The most advanced US aircraft carrier is now stationed in the Caribbean Sea, with nearly a dozen Navy ships and 12,000 personnel deployed to the region.

Caribbean Daily Brief — US Warships Still Blowing Up Boats, Barbados Heads to Polls, Jamaica Gets IMF Lifeline, and the Region Wonders What Happened to Sovereignty

The US military campaign in Caribbean waters has killed over 117 people, Barbados elections are 8 days away, Jamaica secured $415M in IMF emergency aid, Trinidad’s PM praised the boat strikes, and CARICOM can’t agree on anything except that things are complicated.