Caribbean round-up: Antigua's deportee terms, BA boost for Barbados, new Cuba curbs and Jamaica drought

Antigua and Barbuda

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has proposed restricting a possible third-country transfer agreement with the United States to nationals of CARICOM member states, excluding Haiti, as well as Brazil and Colombia. Nationals of any other country would require prior written approval.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said his government had revised Washington's terms and was awaiting a response. He stressed the nationality restrictions were part of a counterproposal not yet accepted.

The draft would exclude Antiguan and Barbudan nationals, minors and people with known criminal histories other than US immigration violations, and limit transfers to seven people every three months. Mr Browne did not explain why Brazil and Colombia were included and Haiti excluded.

Barbados

Barbados has welcomed British Airways' decision to increase seat capacity to the island by 70 per cent for the 2026/2027 winter season, with an increase of more than 100 per cent planned for next summer.

"This speaks to the demand that exists for travel to Barbados and the region," said Andrea Franklin, chief executive of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. The agency said the schedule could add more than 120,000 seats a year, largely through a year-round Gatwick service starting October 25.

Cuba

The United States has introduced new financial and travel restrictions on Cuba, reversing Biden-era measures that gave Cuban private entrepreneurs greater access to the US banking system. US banks can no longer open or maintain accounts under that authorisation, and some educational and professional travel is limited.

The immediate impact may be limited, as few Cuban entrepreneurs had benefited. The measures came a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "The truth is Cuba has already fallen."

Jamaica

Jamaica's water crisis is worsening, with 107 of the National Water Commission's 405 systems experiencing drought conditions. Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda warned that some communities may face a day-on, day-off supply.

He said the government had begun emergency procurement of 5,000 water tanks, including 1,000 for early childhood institutions, 1,000 for farmers and tanks for households with persons with disabilities, with the remaining 2,000 to be distributed based on assessments by water agencies.