Barbados The Barbados Government is moving to establish an agricultural insurance framework and is urging farmers and commercial agricultural producers to participate in a survey. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Security said the feedback will help ensure farmers’ experiences, needs, and concerns are reflected in the development of the policy. All information collected will remain confidential. The proposed model is parametric insurance, which differs from traditional indemnity-based insurance. "Traditional insurance generally requires losses to be assessed and verified before compensation is paid, a process which can sometimes take months. Parametric insurance, however, is triggered when predetermined conditions are met, such as specified rainfall levels or wind speeds associated with a weather event." The ministry said eligible policyholders can receive payouts once the agreed trigger is reached, without the need for traditional loss assessments or verification. "This can significantly reduce the time between a qualifying event and payment, helping farmers access financial support and restart operations more quickly," it said, urging "all farmers and persons engaged in commercial farming activities in Barbados to participate in the survey and have their voices included in this important process." Caribbean The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) will launch the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Research Forum during this year’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Guyana. Scheduled for October 6 under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive,” the three-hour forum will promote tourism research, innovation and evidence-based decision-making. It will bring together researchers, academics, tourism professionals, destination representatives, development partners and students to share findings and develop practical solutions to the region’s key tourism challenges. "The Caribbean Tourism Research Forum reflects CTO's commitment to ensuring that the future of Caribbean tourism is informed by credible research, regional collaboration and practical application," said Aliyyah Shakeer, CTO's director of research. "By creating stronger connections between researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, we can better equip our destinations to make informed decisions that support a smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism industry." The CTO said the forum will feature two research showcase sessions. The first, “Emerging Research from Caribbean Universities,” will present recent and ongoing studies, while “Research in Practice: Applied and Destination Insights” will highlight research addressing tourism policy, planning, markets, and destination management. Topics will include changing visitor trends, tourism demand, sustainability, climate resilience, community tourism, workforce development, AI, digital transformation, destination competitiveness, economic impact,t and product development. Guyana The Guyana Government is taking steps to strengthen electricity supply as unusually high temperatures linked to El Niño push electricity demand to record levels. Prime Minister Mark Phillips said prolonged hot and dry conditions have placed extra pressure on the national grid. He added that the Government is working with Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to ensure sufficient generation capacity and reserves for households and businesses. "Because of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, there is a phenomenon that results in unusual weather patterns throughout the world and, as it relates to Guyana, we are already experiencing an unusual dry season," Phillips said. Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar said electricity demand recently reached a record 242.64 MW and added that demand could rise to about 266 MW between August and October due to higher temperatures, housing expansion, and increased commercial and industrial activity. "Now, the increase is due to one, the weather, the hotness of the temperature, increased housing expansion in the country, commercial operations, as well as industrial customers," Indar said. To meet rising electricity demand, the Guyana Government aims to increase available generation capacity to about 280 MW. An additional 5 MW from the power ship is expected to come online, while a 4.5 MW engine will return to service and another 5.5 MW engine is undergoing an overhaul. The Government is also encouraging sawmills to operate outside peak periods and asking government agencies to switch off lights and air-conditioning after hours. GPL will continue monitoring demand and generation to maintain a reliable electricity supply during the hotter months. Haiti Japan and the Organization of American States (OAS) recently signed an agreement providing Haiti with a US$3 million grant to support voter registration ahead of the country’s first general elections in more than a decade. According to the OAS, the funding will assist the Haitian government in updating voter lists and acquiring 350,000 blank identification cards as preparations for the elections continue. Gang violence has forced a record 1.5 million Haitians from their homes, with many fleeing without identification cards and other essential documents amid attacks by armed groups in Port-au-Prince and other areas. The OAS said the grant will also help clear the backlog of people awaiting identification, expand services in rural areas and strengthen electricity and internet connectivity at decentralised offices. Haiti’s government launched the voter registration process in Port-au-Prince last month, despite gangs reportedly controlling around 70% of the capital’s territory. The first round of elections is set for Dec. 13, but experts warn that continued gang violence could cause the vote to be postponed again. Haiti has been without a president since Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021. Moïse had assumed the presidency after winning the November 2016 elections. Jamaica CARPHA, in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency and Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, completed a two-week mission to strengthen the country’s response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The team assessed surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, workforce development, and health information systems. Recommendations focused on improving coordination, strengthening surveillance and laboratory systems, developing the workforce and using AMR data more effectively to guide public health action. Speaking on behalf of CARPHA, Dr Lisa Indar, Executive Director, commended Jamaica's commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance. "Jamaica has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing its national antimicrobial resistance agenda and has made significant investments in strengthening laboratory and surveillance capacity. This assessment reflects the value of collaborative partnerships in identifying practical, evidence-based actions that will further strengthen national systems and contribute to improved health security across the Caribbean." Senior Technical Advisor at CARPHA and Mission Lead, Mohamed Elsherbiny, emphasised the importance of taking a systems approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance. "The recommendations developed during this mission focus on strengthening Jamaica's national systems rather than individual facilities. By bringing together stakeholders from across the health sector, we have identified practical actions that will improve coordination, surveillance, laboratory services and the use of data to support informed decision-making. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Ministry as these recommendations are translated into action," Elsherbiny said. Jamaica’s Ministry of Health welcomed the assessment and pledged to work with CARPHA and national partners to implement its recommendations. The mission was carried out through CARA, a CARPHA-UKHSA partnership funded by the UK Government, and supports CARPHA’s broader efforts to strengthen AMR surveillance, laboratory capacity and regional cooperation across the Caribbean.