CaribPR Wire

CARIBPR WIRE, MIAMI, FL, Weds. July 10, 2024: Datapro, a leading provider of core banking systems and digital solutions, recently collaborated with Mastercard to expand the integration of Mastercard Cross-Border Services, a solution within the Mastercard Move portfolio of money transfer solutions. The collaboration will provide Datapro’s customers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with access to fast, transparent, and convenient cross-border payment experiences.

Increasingly, consumers are looking for ways to send money across the globe quickly and securely. In fact, delivery speed, security, receipt confirmation and the ability to use an app are the top factors driving choice of online solutions, according to Mastercard’s latest Borderless Payments Report. To accelerate innovation and respond to consumer needs, Datapro removes the technical barriers to implementation that financial institutions may currently face when adopting new payment solutions.

“We are incredibly excited to collaborate with Mastercard in order to bring new digital payment solutions to customers across the region,” said Ignacio Blanco, CEO of Datapro. “Datapro has a solid track record of success within Latin America and the Caribbean for more than 45 years. This collaboration is a strong testament to Datapro’s ongoing commitment to supporting financial institutions in driving innovation and providing impactful digital solutions to their customers.”

Mastercard Cross-Border Services enables participating financial institutions across the world to offer their customers international payments in more than 60 currencies to over 100 markets covering 90% of the world’s population. As part of the Mastercard Move portfolio, the service offers users flexibility in how funds are received with full transparency and predictability over transaction status and delivery time. End points can include bank accounts, mobile wallets, cards, and cash payout locations.

“As the global economy evolves, people should be able to move money however they want and whenever they want. This requires an enhanced suite of services to ensure funds move quickly, seamlessly, and safely. By connecting Datapro’s platform to Mastercard Cross-Border Services, their customers will have access to seamless cross-border transfers underpinned by the reliability of the Mastercard network”, said Walter Pimenta, Executive Vice President, Commercial Payments and New Flows, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The collaboration will be effective across Latin America and the Caribbean, where Datapro will expedite the integration process for financial institutions with Mastercard’s Cross-Border Services. The collaboration features advanced data integration, business rule management, and API orchestration for financial institutions. This approach provides an agile and streamlined implementation, removing the common hurdles of technical integration and lengthy onboarding processes.

About Datapro Inc.
Datapro is a leader in core banking and digital banking technology, with more than 100 customers in over 20 countries. Our vision is to be recognized as the architects of the banking evolution towards a digital world. We have been helping financial institutions across Latin America, the Caribbean, the US and the EU for the past 45 years to modernize their infrastructure and to deliver innovative digital solutions to their customers. In 2021, Datapro was acquired by Vencora, which is part of Constellation Software Inc. (CSU – TSE).

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. © 2024 Mastercard. Cross-Border Services (part of the money movement portfolio known as Mastercard Move) may be provided by Mastercard Transaction Services Corp. through its subsidiaries and affiliates. In some jurisdictions services may be provided by subsidiaries or affiliates that hold licenses to engage in money transmission. For a list of those jurisdictions, see b2b.mastercard.com/licenses. Terms and conditions apply.

Services are subject to availability and certain restrictions, and Mastercard reserves the right to change, from time to time, in Mastercard’s sole discretion, the design, operation and functionalities of, and services comprising, the Cross-Border Services. Alternate designs, operations and functionalities of, and services comprising, Cross-Border Services may be available, from time to time, to participants on separate terms outside of what is represented here. The availability, operations and functionalities of, and services comprising, Cross-Border Services may vary by location.

Mastercard makes no representations as to any aspect of the service provided by third parties.​

Mastercard Cross-Border Services is a suite of products offered in the US by Mastercard Transaction Services (US) LLC u/a/n New York Bay Remittance, NMLS ID# 900705, licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services, or through its licensed subsidiaries.

About Mastercard Move
Mastercard Move provides banks, non-bank financial institutions, direct disbursers, and their customers with a fast, secure money transfer solution, domestically and internationally. The portfolio reaches more than 180 countries and 150+ currencies, with access to over 95% of the world’s banked population.

Mastercard Move enables customers to enhance their money transfer offerings and maximize revenue by giving end users transparency and choice: specifically, by enabling trackable payments, visibility of fees, estimated delivery times and, depending on the market, the option to receive payouts to bank accounts, digital and mobile wallets, card and cash.

The portfolio includes Mastercard Cross-Border Services and Mastercard Send.

Copyright © 2024

Datapro y Mastercard se unen para ampliar las oportunidades de pagos transfronterizos en América Latina

CARIBPR WIRE, MIAMI, FL, Weds. July 10, 2024: Datapro, proveedor líder de sistemas bancarios centrales y soluciones digitales, colaboró ​​recientemente con Mastercard para ampliar la integración de Mastercard Cross-Border Services, una solución dentro del portafolio de soluciones de transferencia de dinero de Mastercard Move. La colaboración permitirá a los clientes de Datapro en toda América Latina y el Caribe acceder a experiencias de pago transfronterizas y nacionales rápidas, transparentes y convenientes.

Cada vez más, los consumidores buscan formas de enviar dinero a través del mundo de manera rápida y segura. De hecho, la velocidad de entrega, la seguridad, la confirmación de recibo y la posibilidad de utilizar una aplicación son los principales factores que impulsan la elección de soluciones en línea, según el último Informe de Pagos sin Fronteras de Mastercard. Para acelerar la innovación y responder a las necesidades de los consumidores, Datapro elimina las barreras técnicas de implementación a las que las instituciones financieras pueden enfrentarse actualmente al adoptar nuevas soluciones de pago.

“Estamos increíblemente entusiasmados de colaborar con Mastercard con el fin de llevar nuevas soluciones de pago digital a los clientes de toda la región”, mencionó Ignacio Blanco, CEO de Datapro. “Datapro tiene una sólida trayectoria de éxito en América Latina y el Caribe desde hace más de 45 años. Esta colaboración es un fuerte testimonio del compromiso continuo de Datapro de apoyar a las instituciones financieras para impulsar la innovación y ofrecer soluciones digitales impactantes a sus clientes”.

Con los Mastercard Cross-Border Services las instituciones financieras participantes en todo el mundo pueden ofrecer a sus clientes pagos internacionales en más de 60 divisas y más de 100 países que cubren el 90% de la población mundial. Como parte del portafolio de Mastercard Move, el servicio ofrece a los usuarios flexibilidad en cómo se reciben los fondos, con total transparencia y previsibilidad sobre el estado de la transacción y el tiempo de entrega. Los puntos finales pueden incluir cuentas bancarias, cuentas bancarias, billeteras digitales, tarjetas y efectivo.

“A medida que evoluciona la economía mundial, la gente debe poder mover dinero como quiera y cuando quiera. Esto requiere un conjunto de servicios mejorados para garantizar que los fondos se muevan de forma rápida, fluida y segura. Al conectar la plataforma de Datapro a Mastercard Cross-Border Services, sus clientes tendrán acceso a transferencias transfronterizas sin interrupciones respaldadas por la confiabilidad de la red Mastercard”, comentó Walter Pimenta, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Pagos Comerciales y Nuevos Flujos para América Latina y el Caribe.

La colaboración será efectiva en toda América Latina y el Caribe, donde Datapro agilizará el proceso de integración de las instituciones financieras con los servicios de Mastercard Cross-Border Services. La colaboración incluye integración avanzada de datos, gestión de reglas de negocio y orquestación de API para instituciones financieras. Este enfoque proporciona una implementación ágil y simplificada, eliminando los obstáculos comunes de la integración técnica y los largos procesos de incorporación.

Copyright © 2024

CARIBPR WIRE, New York, NY, Fri. May 24, 2024: Guyana-born, Caribbean American entrepreneur and advocate, Felicia J. Persaud, is among the just announced inaugural honorees of the Caribbean POSH ICON WOMAN Awards.

Persaud, the founder of CaribPR Wire, Invest Caribbean, News Americas and Hard Beat Communications, is one of only four Guyanese nominated for this year’s awards and the only one in the category of Entrepreneurship and Business Excellence.

The Inaugural Caribbean Posh Icon Awards, founded by Caribbean Posh Magazine, is a new yet significant part of the Caribbean Posh Weekend Event and is designed to celebrate and empower Caribbean women.

“Our aim is to build a space that amplifies the way Caribbean women are celebrated and recognized for their achievements,” commented founder Janette Brin.

“It’s truly an honor to be among the many amazing Caribbean women who have made the list of top nominees for the inaugural, Caribbean POSH ICON WOMAN Awards, set for Caribbean American Heritage Month in the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of the Caribbean Posh Weekend,” said Persaud. “Being recognized by your own community and especially fellow Caribbean women entrepreneurs as amazing as Janette, makes it incredibly more special.

To vote for Persaud Click HERE and scroll down to the Entrepreneurship and Business Excellence section.

Persaud is also an award-winning Caribbean immigrant journalist, news editor, columnist and advocate, renowned for her impactful contributions across multiple industries. A staunch advocate for the Caribbean Diaspora, she spearheaded the Carib ID movement in 2008, leading the charge of ensure Caribbean nationals were able to count in the US Census. Her relentless advocacy over 12 years resulted in Caribbean nationals and immigrants being able to register their ancestry on the 2020 census forms. She continues her passionate advocacy for immigration reform, contributing a weekly column to the historic Amsterdam News.

Her expertise on the Caribbean has led to esteemed recognition through interviews on major media platforms such as AP, CNN, BBC, and The New York Times, alongside a listing in the US State Department Speakers Database as an expert on the Caribbean.

The Caribbean Posh Weekend is one of the most empowering event for Caribbean and Caribbean American women that has been held since 2017 in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. This year’s weekend is set for June 28-30, 2024. This highly anticipated event will bring together women in business from across the region to foster sisterhood, collaboration, and celebration. The Caribbean Posh Icon Woman Awards will also honour the esteemed Dr. Yvette Noel-Schure of Schure Media Group, as the inaugural award recipient of the Pioneering ICON.

In addition to the Icon Woman Awards, Caribbean Posh Weekend features many other exciting highlights. The event offers vendor and partnership opportunities, allowing businesses and organizations to showcase their products and services to a diverse audience. This is a chance for entrepreneurs to connect with potential customers and collaborators, expanding their reach within the Caribbean community. See more at caribbeanposh.com/wkd.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An image for use with this story is available HERE

WEB Aruba’s Recip Phase IV Plant

WEB Aruba’s Recip Phase IV Plant

CARIBPR WIRE, ORANJESTAD, Aruba, Fri. May 17, 2024: Technology group Wärtsilä and Water – En Energiebedrijf Aruba N.V. (WEB) will celebrate the final takeover of Recip Phase IV, a 102 MW dual-fuel power plant on the Caribbean island of Aruba. The celebration marks the completion of four power plant projects with Wärtsilä delivered over the past 20 years. Wärtsilä supplied these plants on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. WEB’s baseload power production is based on an all-Wärtsilä generating fleet totalling 194 MW.

In 2017, WEB began an earnest effort to diversify its fuel mix with liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Recip Phase IV power plant features six Wärtsilä 18V50DF dual-fuel engines which can operate on both liquid and gaseous fuels, allowing for the transition to cleaner fuels. Initially, the plant will operate on heavy fuel oil (HFO) and transition to LNG as it becomes available on the island. The increased efficiency and transition to LNG will reduce overall emissions from the WEB generating complex.

As WEB continues to add renewables to the island, the flexibility provided by Wärtsilä’s faststarting and stopping engines will enable optimal use of these intermittent resources while ensuring system stability. Renewables, such as wind and solar, are highly variable in their energy production. The flexibility provided by Wärtsilä engine technology will allow for increased adoption of renewables while avoiding grid instability and blackouts, renewable curtailment, and higher system costs.

WEB Aruba has selected the most efficient assets to complement renewables as WEB works to build a reliable, renewable energy future for Aruba. Wärtsilä’s engine power plants have replaced older units with more efficient and flexible generation. The fuel flexibility provided by dual-fuel engines adds resiliency to the company’s system while also allowing for the transition to cleaner fuels and lower emissions.

“We are excited to partner with utilities like WEB who are actively making the energy transition happen. As the Caribbean region works to decarbonise electricity generation, it is crucial to increase system flexibility to manage cost, maintain reliability and optimally enable renewables to perform,” said Jon Rodriguez, Director, Engine Power Plants, North America at Wärtsilä Energy.

The final takeover signing ceremony will take place at the WEB Aruba on 17 May, 2024.

© Wärtsilä Corporation

All Wärtsilä releases are available at www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded. Use of the image(s) is allowed only in connection with the contents of this press release. Wärtsilä images are available at www.wartsila.com/media/image-bank.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief

Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises 79 GW of power plant capacity, of which 18 GW are under service agreements, and over 125 energy storage systems, in 180 countries around the world.

www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals in more than 280 locations in 79 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

www.wartsila.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5f722d11-e606-4a9c-9ad8-6554fecdc533

Aruba Utility celebra adquisición final de cuarta central eléctrica Wärtsilä en 20 años de asociación

Central Recip Fase IV de WEB Aruba

Central Recip Fase IV de WEB Aruba

CARIBPR WIRE, ORANJESTAD, Aruba, May 18, 2024: El grupo de tecnología Wärtsilä and Water – En Energiebedrijf Aruba N.V. (WEB) celebrará la adquisición final de Recip Fase IV, una central eléctrica de biocombustible de 102 MW en la isla caribeña de Aruba. La celebración marca la conclusión de cuatro proyectos de centrales eléctricas con Wärtsilä entregados en los últimos 20 años. Wärtsilä suministró estas centrales sobre una base de ingeniería, adquisición y construcción (EPC). La producción de energía de carga base de WEB se basa en una flota generadora totalmente Wärtsilä totalizando 194 MW.

En 2017, WEB inició un serio esfuerzo para diversificar su mezcla de combustibles con gas natural licuado (GNL). La central eléctrica Recip Fase IV presenta seis motores de biocombustible Wärtsilä 18V50DF que pueden operar con combustibles líquidos y gaseosos, lo que permite la transición a combustibles más limpios. Inicialmente, la central operará con fuelóleo pesado (HFO) y hará la transición a GNL a medida que esté disponible en la isla. El aumento de la eficacia y la transición al GNL reducirán las emisiones generales del complejo generador de WEB.

Mientras WEB continúa la adición de energías renovables a la isla, la flexibilidad proporcionada por los motores de rápido arranque y parada de Wärtsilä permitirá la utilización de estos recursos intermitentes al mismo tiempo que asegura estabilidad del sistema. Las energías renovables, como eólica y solar, son altamente variables en su producción de energía. La flexibilidad proporcionada por la tecnología del motor Wärtsilä permitirá mayor adopción de energías renovables mientras que evita inestabilidad y apagones de red, reducción de energías renovables y mayores costos del sistema.

WEB Aruba ha seleccionado los activos más eficaces para complementar las energías renovables mientras que WEB trabaja para construir un futuro de energía renovable confiable para Aruba. Las centrales eléctricas de motores de Wärtsilä han reemplazado las unidades más antiguas por una generación más eficaz y flexible. La flexibilidad de combustible proporcionada por los motores de biocombustible agrega resistencia al sistema de la empresa al tiempo que permite la transición a combustibles más limpios y menores emisiones.

“Estamos muy contentos de asociarnos con empresas de servicios públicos como WEB que hacen que la transición energética ocurra de manera activa. Mientras la región del Caribe trabaja para descarbonizar la generación de electricidad, es crucial aumentar la flexibilidad del sistema para administrar los costos, mantener la confiabilidad y permitir que las energías renovables funcionen de manera óptima”, dijo Jon Rodríguez, director de centrales eléctricas de motores, América del Norte en Wärtsilä Energy.

La ceremonia final de firma de adquisición tendrá lugar en WEB Aruba el 17 de mayo de 2024.

© Wärtsilä Corporation

Todos los comunicados de prensa de Wärtsilä están disponibles en, www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases y en news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation, donde también se pueden descargar las imágenes. El uso de la (s) imagen(es) solo está permitido en conexión con el contenido de este comunicado de prensa. Las imágenes de Wärtsilä están disponibles en www.wartsila.com/media/image-bank.

Wärtsilä Energy en resumen

Wärtsilä Energy lidera la transición hacia un futuro energético cien por ciento renovable. Ayudamos a nuestros clientes y al sector de energía a acelerar sus procesos de descarbonización a través de nuestras tecnologías líderes en el mercado y experiencia en sistemas de energía. Nuestras soluciones incluyen centrales eléctricas de motores flexibles, tecnología de almacenamiento y optimización de energía y servicios para todo el ciclo de vida de nuestras instalaciones. Nuestros motores están preparados para el futuro y pueden funcionar con combustibles sostenibles. Nuestra trayectoria incluye 79 GW de capacidad de central eléctrica, de los cuales 18 GW están bajo acuerdos de servicio y más de 125 sistemas de almacenamiento de energía distribuidos a 180 países en todo el mundo.

www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä en resumen

Wärtsilä es un líder mundial en tecnologías innovadoras y soluciones de ciclo de vida para los mercados marino y energético. Enfatizamos la innovación en tecnología y servicios sostenibles para ayudar a nuestros clientes a mejorar continuamente el rendimiento ecológico y económico. Nuestro equipo dedicado y apasionado de 17.800 profesionales en más de 280 ubicaciones en 79 países da forma a la transformación de la descarbonización de nuestras industrias en todo el mundo. En 2023, las ventas netas de Wärtsilä alcanzaron un total de 6.0 mil millones de euros. Wärtsilä cotiza en el Nasdaq Helsinki.

www.wartsila.com

Una foto asociada con este comunicado de prensa está disponible en https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d064225e-1fa8-4ab6-8c4f-4f074209da20/es

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In its continued thrust to improve financial inclusion and expand remittance services to Jamaicans across the world, VM Money Transfer Services (VMTS) has entered a strategic partnership with TerraPay, a global money movement organization.

VMTS facilitates money transfer services globally to customers sending money to Jamaica from Europe, the UK, United States, Canada, the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos. With this new agreement, VMTS now gains access to TerraPay’s robust online platform, enabling hassle-free cross-border transfers for customers sending and receiving money across approximately 31 markets globally.

CEO of VM Money Transfer Services Limited, Michael Howard, welcomes the boost that this partnership will bring to the agency’s operations. He shared, “Purposeful partnership is an integral part of VM Money Transfer’s mission as we seek to continuously improve service delivery to our clients. We are excited about this recent collaboration as, with TerraPay’s extensive network, we have the opportunity to significantly broaden our reach and potentially tap into new markets, all while keeping our clients supported and empowered with convenient and secure channels for their money transfer needs.”

The agreement was signed between the two entities in March 2024, and Juan Luis Hernandez, TerraPay’s Senior Regional Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, who visited Jamaica for the occasion, shares the enthusiasm. Hernandez commented, “We are delighted to partner with VM Money Transfer Services to drive innovation and efficiency in cross-border remittances. Together, we aim to provide a superior remittance experience for Jamaicans worldwide, strengthening connections with their loved ones and contributing to the economic development of Jamaica.”

Along with the expanded service through TerraPay, VMTS customers can continue to enjoy the flexibility and convenience of having their funds deposited directly to their Jamaican bank account through VMTS’ Direct to Bank Service. Clients can also collect their remittances in Jamaica from VM Money Transfer’s over 70 sub-agents, 8 VM Money Express locations and 16 VM Building Society branches Islandwide.

For queries, please reach out to Juveria Samrin at [email protected]

About TerraPay:

TerraPay simplifies global money movement – by providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 31 global markets and enabling payments to 144 receive countries, 210+ send countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making moving money everywhere instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses – ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces – while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Bangalore, Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Hague, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg

CARIBPR WIRE, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Dec. 07, 2022: Saint Kitts and Nevis is boosting its local hospitality and tourism sector with investments received through its citizenship by investment programme.

This is according to the recently elected Prime Minister of the twin-island federation who concluded a four-day visit to Dubai, from 29 November to 3 December 2022.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew was in the state to engage with important stakeholders including high-level government officials, international investors, government-approved agents and promoters, who play a vital role in promoting and supporting the country’s recently upgraded citizenship by investment programme.

With the country’s citizenship by investment programme undergoing a facelift, Prime Minister Drew said the changes to the programme were not just superficial but would ensure that the programme achieved what it was designed for – strengthening St Kitts and Nevis’ economy.

Traditionally, the economy of the two-island state has depended on the growing and processing of sugar cane, but the impact of decreasing world prices on this commodity over the last few decades has moved the government’s attention to tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking.

Tourism is the mainstay of St Kitts and Nevis’ economy, with the United States, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago being some of its trop trade partners. The travel and tourism sector accounted for one-tenth of the gross domestic product (GPD) in St Kitts and Nevis in 2021 and it is estimated that roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009.

With a revamped citizenship by investment programme that will be underpinned by better legislative and administrative oversight, Prime Minister Drew said he was confident that the programme would have even more impact on the country’s tourism sector.

The new cabinet aims to ensure that the destination continues to make strides towards the full resumption of tourism activity, including the return of airlift and cruise ship arrivals, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of the people of the Federation.

St Kitts and Nevis is committed to enhancing its tourism presence and strengthening the economic impact of the tourism sector.

Recently during November this year, Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, made its inaugural call to Port Zante in St Kitts and Nevis.  The ship from the Royal Caribbean Group brought along nearly 6,500 guests and over 2,000 crew members.  This cruise call has also been the fifth inaugural cruise call to St Kitts and Nevis since October 2022.

This year, on November 26, a superyacht named Evrima made its inaugural visit to the island sporting the finest amenities and affluent guests. Evrima accommodates 298 guests and is the first of the yachts to be introduced for the new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection line. This event maintained St Kitts and Nevis’ reputation as an exclusive destination.

According to the CIA World Factbook, tourists, mainly Americans, come to the island via cruise ships via Port Zante in Basseterre, air travel via Robert L Bradshaw International Airport, and the private airport and private dock for private yachts. St Kitts and Nevis is also home to Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The country’s citizenship by investment programme has been instrumental in bringing globally renowned brands such as the Park Hyatt Hotel that has recently been launched in Christophe Harbour in Banana Bay. The country will be looking to use its revamped citizenship by investment programme to develop its hospitality sector further which is a major drawcard not just for tourists, but investors looking for legitimate offshore real estate products to buy into.

Part of the change process has seen consultations with various stakeholders in the St Kitts and Nevis CBI unit who will closely now monitor and ensure that real estate projects funded by the CBI programme are completed.  To this end, the government is also seeking out reliable and trustworthy developers who are ready to put capital behind creative and strong projects that will further enhance St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment offering.

St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme stands as the oldest and one of the most trusted programmes of its kind. Since 1984, it has allowed investors and their families to legally obtain citizenship of one of the Caribbean’s most idyllic locations.

St Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment programme has been pivotal in developing other important sectors such as healthcare, business, and education in the nation. With the help of the tourism industry and the citizenship by investment programme, the country has witnessed socio-economic development at a significant pace. Funds generated by the citizenship by investment programme will continue to aid the country in paving the path of development efficiently. Spending on infrastructure has made the country unrecognisable from only 20 years ago – for example there is a thriving cruise ship port complex, and new roads have been built to take pressure off traffic in Basseterre.

Prime Minister Drew was accompanied by a delegation including Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism, Attorney-General, Garth Wilkin; Cabinet Secretary Dr Marcus Natta; Sylvester Anthony and Veira Galloway.

CARIBPR WIRE, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Mon. Nov. 21, 2022: The twin federation of St Kitts and Nevis has had a long and fruitful relationship with Canada and the two nations continue to develop initiatives that strengthen relations.

From 5 to 7 December 2022 the government of Canada will provide biometric processing of visa applications in St Kitts and Nevis. This comes as positive news as nationals of St Kitts and Nevis are normally required to travel abroad to centers in Barbados, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, or even Trinidad and Tobago, to have their biometric information collected for Canadian visa applications.

The processing will be conducted by Canadian officials and this special arrangement is aimed at visa applicants that fall within one of the following categories:

1. St Kitts and Nevis nationals who anticipate travel to Canada;
2. Persons who have already applied online or by mail for a visa, work or study permit or for
   permanent residence for Canada and have received their Biometric Instruction Letter; and
3. Nationals of other countries residing in St Kitts and Nevis are also required to provide their biometric information for planned travel to Canada.

When applying for a Canadian visa, whether for visitation, work, study, or for residence purposes, nationals of St Kitts and Nevis, as well as nationals from other countries, must provide biometric information such as fingerprints and an identity photograph.

Visa applicants are encouraged to complete an online visa application as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of this December opportunity. This could be of benefit to applicants planning to travel for educational purposes, business, tourism, family reunifications, and more.

Monday, November 28, 2022, is the last day to schedule an appointment for the available period in December. Appointment requests that are received after this date will not be accommodated unless appointments that have already been made are cancelled and a booking space becomes available.

Visa applicants must have a scheduled appointment and must bring along the required Biometrics Instruction Letter to their appointment. Officials will not collect applications or biometric information from applicants who have not received this letter.

The schedule for the collection of biometric information collection will take place from 08:30 to 17:30 on Monday to Wednesday, 5 to 7 December 2022, at the St Kitts Marriott Resort. Directions to the precise location within the hotel will be provided upon arrival.

In order to book an appointment for biometrics collection, please write to [email protected].

The governments of Canada and St Kitts and Nevis partner on a number of important issues, with an emphasis on matters of economic resilience and climate. St Kitts and Nevis has a High Commission in Ottawa and a consulate in Toronto, while Canada is represented in St Kitts and Nevis by the High Commission of Canada in Barbados, all of which help to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

According to the government of Canada, Canada’s merchandise exports to St Kitts and Nevis totaled CA$5.2 million and merchandise imports from St Kitts and Nevis totaled CA$2.9 million in 2021. During this period, Canada’s main exports to St Kitts and Nevis included live animals and animal products, food products, and metals.

Even before the recent COP27, Canada announced the CA$100 million pledge for Caribbean Reconstruction and Economic and Climate Resilience to support St Kitts and Nevis and the region in reconstruction and climate resilience, following the disastrous 2017 hurricane season in the Caribbean. According to the Canadian government, this included strengthening natural disaster planning and response through organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

At the CARICOM Intersessional Meeting in February 2020, Canada announced an additional CA$61.5 million in new commitments for resilience, technical assistance, and education exchanges for the Caribbean. This includes, for example, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism, which provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including St Kitts and Nevis, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate-resilient communities, and reduce gender and economic inequalities.

Canada is the largest contributor to the International Monetary Fund’s Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre, which has provided technical assistance to St Kitts and Nevis in internal audit, and tax and customs administration.

St Kitts and Nevis also works closely with Canada in multilateral domains such as the Commonwealth, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organization of American States (OAS), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

St Kitts and Nevis also benefits from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, and Canada’s partnership with non-governmental organizations and regional institutions, such as St Kitts and Nevis-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank. Canada represents St Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean nations on the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Many investors from Canada and other wealthy nations have participated in citizenship by investment programme offered by the government of St Kitts and Nevis. This programme is the oldest and one of the most trusted programmes of its kind in the world. Since 1984, it has allowed investors and their families to legally obtain citizenship in one of the Caribbean’s most idyllic places. Through this programme, foreign investors to St Kitts and Nevis can obtain citizenship for life, with the right to live and work in the island country, the ability to share citizenship with future generations, and taking advantage of having more global mobility. St Kitts and Nevis also offers investors a fair tax regime, with no worldwide income, inheritance, or gift tax for tax residents.

There are two main ways in which an applicant can apply for citizenship under St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme: by donating to the country’s Sustainable Growth Fund or by investing in pre-approved real estate.

The country’s CBI programme is also undergoing an upgrade under the leadership of the new St Kitts and Nevis prime minister, Dr. Terrance Drew. The new changes will ensure strengthened legislative and administrative oversight of the programme to ensure that it meets the needs of a changing investor whilst also being beneficial to the local citizens. Prime Minister Drew is determined to retain the country’s CBI status – which is one of the best in the world.

CARIBPR WIRE, Basseterre, Aug. 24, 2022: The Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis tops this year’s CBI Index rankings for offering one of the best citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes in the world.

St Kitts and Nevis was rated against 12 other countries with operational CBI programmes, which, in 2022, include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

The CBI Index, published by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners, is a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global CBI programmes across a diverse range of indicators and its purpose is to provide a rigorous and systematic mechanism for appraising programmes in order to facilitate the decision-making process for individuals considering them, and to bring value to the CBI industry

The primary methodological objective of the CBI Index is to isolate pillars that measure CBI programme features and jurisdictional desirability. The nine pillars that constitute this year’s CBI Index include: Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and, Certainty of Product.

The country received full marks – 10 out of 10 in the Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product pillars.

The Mandatory Travel or Residence pillar examines the travel or residence conditions imposed on applicants both before and after the granting of citizenship.

St Kitts and Nevis, along with the rest of the Caribbean countries, does not have any travel or residency requirements for CBI applicants. This makes it easy for busy entrepreneurs to continue running their businesses and still be eligible to get their second citizenship while not having to fulfil any minimum stay requirements.

St Kitts and Nevis scored top marks for the Citizenship Timeline pillar – which looks at the average time taken for citizenship to be secured by the applicant – due to the Accelerated Application Process where for an additional fee, an applicant can obtain their citizenship within a maximum of 60 days instead of the standard processing time of approximately three months.

Ease of Processing measures the end-to-end complexity of the CBI application process. St Kitts and Nevis makes the process of obtaining citizenship easy and straightforward, the country has an official government website and a dedicated CBI unit. It has also done away with burdensome application requirements such as interviews, language, culture or history tests, proof of minimum business experience and evidence of the purchase of tangible or intangible assets.

The overall effortlessness of the application process is a particularly important component, and the promise of a smooth, hassle-free process can generate readiness to engage with a programme.

One of the areas where Caribbean nations really differentiate their programmes, is the area of due diligence. St Kitts and Nevis’ due diligence process is multi-faceted and is undertaken by the country’s CBI unit, law enforcement and external third-party due-diligence agencies from the UK and USA. This ensures that the process is stringent and comprehensive, applicants are required to provide either fingerprints or a biometric passport, police certificates from both an applicant’s country of residence as well as their country of citizenship and comprehensive supporting information in respect of an applicant’s source of funds.

The CBI Index recognises that the rise of increasingly complex family relationships is driving investors to seek programmes that allow for a more diverse range of family members to be included under a primary application. St Kitts and Nevis retains a perfect score for their family friendliness as, in addition to a main applicant, they allow the applicant’s spouse, children under 18 and over 18 in certain circumstances, siblings, parents and grandparents of both the main applicant or their spouse to be included in an application.

St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programme is one of the oldest in the industry, having been established in 1984, it assures investors of a certainty of product. The CBI Index measures certainty across five different dimensions: longevity, popularity and renown, stability, reputation, and adaptability – aspects which St Kitts and Nevis’ programme can tick off confidently.

In the 2022 CBI Index, the Freedom of Movement pillar measures the relative strength of each country’s citizenship based on three equally weighted factors: the number of destinations to which a country’s passport allows travel without restriction, the number of prime business hubs to which it provides access, and the degree to which a given citizenship provides settlement rights in other nations. St Kitts and Nevis scored a seven out of 10 in this area as it offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries.

The Minimum Investment Outlay pillar measures one of the most practical and foremost considerations of CBI: how much capital is required for the investor to become an eligible applicant for the programme of their choosing.

St Kitts and Nevis offers one of the most affordable routes to alternative citizenship, and even though it ended its limited time offer of US$150,000 for a family of four at the end of December 2021, it did not impact its score, five out of 10, as the scores are based on minimum investments for a single applicant.

The St Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is a family-friendly route for those looking for a reputable and trusted programme that prioritises both applicants and its citizens – the stringent due diligence process upon application ensures that only honest hard-working families are approved. The citizenship can also be passed down to future generations, giving investors who want to leave a legacy, peace of mind.

Download the full CBI Index here, to get further insights into the CBI industry and a full evaluation of the CBI programmes of the 12 other jurisdictions in the rankings.

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• St Kitts and Nevis Infographic

CARIBPR WIRE, Roseau, Aug. 23, 2022: The Commonwealth of Dominica came out tops in the annual CBI Index, a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes across a diverse range of indicators.

The CBI Index is intended as a practical tool to compare CBI programmes as a whole and specific aspects of each programme. These aspects are reflected by the CBI Index’s nine pillars which Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product.

Number one for six consecutive years, Dominica beat 11 other nations with active citizenship by investment programmes and scored full marks in the areas of Minimum Outlay, Mandatory travel or residence, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product.

These nations include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

“For the last 29 years we have ensured that our CBI programme really meets the needs of an ever-changing global investor. We’re proud to yet again be ranked as one of the best CBI offering in the world and look to increase our scores across all nine pillars next year,” commented Dominica’s Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit.

Dominica continues to be on a concerted drive to offer investors – through its Economic Diversification Fund and government-approve real estate options – a reliable safe haven amidst the constant global upheavals. Accompanied by a robust due diligence process, Dominica uses a multi-layered process in partnership with third-party due diligence firms from the USA and the UK, investors can be confident that they are buying a product that will enhance their portfolio.

Dominica’s scoring in the nine pillars:

Freedom of Movement: Dominica scored seven out of 10 as the country offers visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 14 countries across the world, including the globe’s most sought-after business hubs.

Freedom of movement within and between countries is paramount to global investors seeking second citizenship and this year, the Index placed emphasis on the total number of countries and territories that can be visited without applying for a visa.

Standard of Living: Dominica scored five in this area due to its low average expected years of schooling, but it must be noted that the country has the highest life expectancy at 78.2 and a perfect freedom score when compared to Egypt, Jordan, St Kitts and Nevis and Vanuatu – who also shared the same score.

Minimum Investment Outlay: Dominica received a perfect score of 10 here as the minimum investment outlay for their CBI programme is only US$100,000 per applicant, one of the lowest citizenship investment outlays in the industry.

Mandatory Travel or Residence: As last year, Dominica kept its score of 10 out of 10 as the country does not require mandatory travel or residence in the country for processing its citizenship application.

Citizenship Timeline: Dominica scored a nine in the citizenship timeline pillar. The pillar accesses the duration to get the application processed.

Ease of Processing: The citizenship by investment unit of Dominica continues to make the application process straightforward and more robust, helping the country secure a score full marks in this area.

Due Diligence: Dominica is recognized for its stringent and comprehensive due diligence checks on applicants seeking second citizenship and once again retained the score of 10 for due diligence processing. The country requires the provision of either fingerprints or a biometric passport and has robust external due diligence procedures that are undertaken by internationally renowned third-party due diligence firms.

Family: As Dominica allows main applicants to add additional dependents under a single application, once again making it easy to bring in additional family members, the country scored 10 under this pillar.

Certainty of Product: Dominica, along with St Kitts and Nevis, attained a perfect score for Certainty of Product Pillar thanks to the programme’s longevity, popularity, renown, stability, and adaptability. The CBI Index also lauded Dominica for its transparent two-track investment routes.

Regarded as an industry voice and reputable benchmark for CBI programmes across the globe, this year’s CBI Index offers readers a glimpse of the possibility that could in the CBI industry should all relevant parties cooperate.

The current turmoil has certainly brought a negative spotlight to the investment migration industry and overlooked the fundamentals of CBI – offering honest, hardworking families and entrepreneurs to explore and participate in meaningful global opportunities, especially where they have been let down by their own home countries.

Findings in the CBI Index state that in 2023, it is predicted over 125,000 millionaires will look to relocate to more secure and attractive destinations around the world and this trend is expected to continue and increase to 2030. Political fragmentation, instability, social polarisation are some of the reasons why investors look for second citizenship options.

It is for this reason that countries like the Commonwealth of Dominica are a popular investment choice, offering political and economic stability, a currency pegged against the US-dollar and, even more appealing is an eco-conscious government working its way to be carbon-neutral and sustainable.

“People who invest in our programme can be 100% sure that they are also investing in a country that cares about the planet and one that is taking tangible, measurable steps to protect the planet,” continues Prime Minister Skerrit.

The CBI Index is the world’s most definitive guide on citizenship by investment and is published today by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners.

Download and read the full report here.

Bluefin and Powertranz, who already provide the first and only integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and PCI-validated P2PE in the Caribbean, can now support J.E.T.S. debit card

CaribPR Wire, Hamilton, Bermuda and Atlanta, GA, Thurs, June 9, 2022: Bluefin, the leading provider of data and payment security technologies including PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions, and Powertranz, the local leader in Card Present gateway/payment processing for the Caribbean, announced support of local Jamaican debit card, J.E.T.S., together with the first secure, self-integrated contactless kiosks with validated P2PE for the market.

The companies introduced the first self-integrated contactless kiosk solution for the Caribbean last year that includes Bluefin as the validated P2PE provider, PowerTranz as the Card Present gateway/payment processor, and NRT kiosks that utilize Advanced Mobile Payments’ 6500 unattended devices.

Bluefin, Powertranz and NRT teamed with acquirer Scotiabank to develop a solution for C&W Communications, the leading telecommunications and entertainment provider in the Caribbean, which included developing the payment application, integrating the device in the kiosk software, and certifying the device with Fiserv for Mastercard, VISA, Discover and AMEX.  C&W Communications operates over 100 NRT-Opal bill payment kiosks in 14 countries in the Caribbean.

Now the solution supports the J.E.T.S. MultiLink debit card in Jamaica, a critical part of the financial landscape. J.E.T.S. Limited is an electronic banking service company operating Jamaica’s national debit card network whose registered service brand is “MultiLink”.  All J.E.T.S. member institutions, as Issuers, offer their customers access to cash from their own accounts through the MultiLink Network whether at Automated Banking Machines or at Point of Sale terminals.  MultiLink supports over 1 million users who use it to draw more than $85 Billion per year.

“We are thrilled to support the Jamaican MultiLink debit card,” said Chris Burns, CEO of Powertranz. “This is a popular card in Jamaica and it was especially important for C&W to have a chip and pin solution to accept all card payments including the J.E.T.S. multilink debit card at the kiosks.”

C&W and its partners are deploying 50 self-service kiosks across Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, and will continue to deploy additional self-service kiosks across their respective Caribbean markets.

The solution will also support Trinidad and Tobago LINX debit cards later this month.  InfoLink Services, the LINX debit card switch operator, is a joint venture between the four major financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago, and was created to provide a local debit card switching infrastructure. The LINX debit chip card is a co-branded LINX/Visa debit card.

Sherie Forden, Senior Manager, C&W B2C OMNI Channels Eco-Systems said: “We are excited about this partnership with Bluefin and Powertranz. Customers love the ease and convenience of paying via debit card and this initiative will enhance the self-serve experience for FLOW customers who use our kiosks for their Bill Payments and to Top Up their mobile phones.”

“The complexity of a multi-country adoption of a uniform payment solution which supports a transnational utility service provider, an international financial institution, a local-centric payment gateway & processor, and a global Payment Council Industry certified data security provider offers a best of breed partnership to bring integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and validated P2PE to the Caribbean market,” said Eldred F. Garcia, VP of Security Solutions, Bluefin. “We are very excited to bring the much-needed installation of self-serve kiosks backed by validated PCI-validated P2PE with the inclusion of local debit to this market.”

About Powertranz

Powertranz is a sophisticated Card Present payment platform provider that processes integrated Point of Sale transactions, including EMV and PCI Validated Point to Point Encryption (P2PE), in Bermuda and the Caribbean marketplace. Powertranz is the first provider of PCI Validated P2PE in the Caribbean via its partnership with Bluefin. The company is based in Bermuda, along with its sister company, First Atlantic Commerce. For more information, please visit https://firstatlanticcommerce.com/powertranz/.

About Bluefin

Bluefin is the recognized integrated payments leader in encryption and tokenization technologies that protect payments and sensitive data. The company’s product suite includes solutions for contactless, face-to-face, call center, mobile, Ecommerce and unattended payments and data in the healthcare, higher education, government, and nonprofit industries. The company’s 200 global partners serve 20,000 enterprise and software clients operating in 47 countries. For more information, visit https://www.bluefin.com/.

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GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Channel Capital Cayman, an offshore governance services business based in the Cayman Islands is pleased to announce that it has been issued with a Companies Management License by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) and it is now offering its investment fund fiduciary services to investment vehicles domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

Located in the Cayman Islands and UK, each member of Channel Capital Cayman acts as a fund director and is regulated by CIMA. The team of directors initially includes Mark Cook, Carl Brenton and Katherine Youhanna, and offers decades of professional governance experience to select fund boards.

The Cayman Islands is a world leader in the establishment of offshore investment funds due to its tax-neutrality, stable economy, sophisticated banking sector, and professional financial services industry. Approximately 70% of non-US domiciled alternative investment funds managed by US SEC-registered advisors are domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

Executive Director at Channel Capital Cayman, Mark Cook, said: “The Cayman Islands remains by far the most popular jurisdiction for global hedge, private equity and infrastructure funds. The Cayman Islands Government and CIMA have developed a strong regulatory framework for the investment funds industry, and we are confident that the Cayman Islands will continue to be a leading funds jurisdiction.”

“Having been involved in the industry since 2008, we know first-hand the vast range of compliance and governance issues boards have to navigate. The independent director services we provide allows for a flexible and tailored approach to fund governance through each stage of an investment fund’s life cycle. Our platform ensures necessary compliance with regulation is satisfied but with an emphasis on reducing the administrative burden faced by those in the fund governance space and we look forward to expanding our team of likeminded fund directors,” said Mr Cook.

About Channel Capital

Established in 2013, Channel has 47 employees across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Grand Cayman, and currently partners with eight investment management firms. Channel provides incubation, distribution, operational and responsible entity services to a select group of investment management firms and their clients across the institutional, family office, high net worth and advisor-led investor space. Channel’s subsidiary entity, CIML, provides responsible entity services to a limited set of funds. https://www.channel.capital

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CARIBPR WIRE, HELSINKI, Finland, April 26, 2022:  The technology group Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract to supply and install a 46 MW dual-fuel power plant to the Caribbean Island of Antigua. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) order was placed by Antigua Power Company Limited (APCL), an independent power producer. The order was entered into Wärtsilä’s order book in January 2022. The plant will operate primarily on regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The project combines a power plant and an LNG gas terminal, storage and regasification facility. APCL won the bid for this project on an international tender held by the tender board of Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). The LNG gas terminal project is being developed by U.S.-based Eagle LNG in equal partnership with APCL, with APUA as the gas purchaser. The project involves installation of a small-scale LNG storage and regasification terminal which will supply the fuel for the new power plant.

The island of Antigua and Barbuda has taken the lead in utilising environmentally sustainable fuel for power generation, and this will be the first project of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean region where an LNG terminal will be coupled to a Wärtsilä power plant. This integrative plant concept is expected to become a model for other island utilities in the Caribbean as the acceptance of LNG fuel increases in line with efforts to reduce emission levels. Wärtsilä has an installed base of power plants in the region with a combined capacity of more than 3300 MW.

“There is a need to provide additional generating capacity along with the island’s growth in demand for electricity. At the same time, some of the existing power production facilities would soon need to be replaced due to age and the increased focus on more environmentally sustainable systems. Having had good experience with Wärtsilä in the past, we see their dual-fuel power plant solution as the best answer to the island’s green energy plan and its current and future energy requirements,” explained Mr Aziz Hadeed, head of the Hadeed Group of Companies, the parent company of APCL.

Jon Rodriguez, Director, Power Plants, North America, Wärtsilä Energy, responded by saying: “The integration of this new power plant with an LNG terminal is a clear demonstration of Wärtsilä bringing its technological know-how and experience to assist its customers in making use of more environmentally sustainable fuels. We have earlier carried out four successful projects with APCL and we are delighted to have again been selected for this important project. I believe it comes as an endorsement of both the Wärtsilä technology and the sales support capabilities we have throughout the Caribbean.”

The plant will operate with five Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines capable of operating with both gas and light fuel oil. This flexibility is combined with high efficiency across the entire load range. The fast-starting capability means that the engines can reach full power within five minutes, enabling them to provide efficient grid balancing capacity as the adoption of renewable energy from wind and solar increases. Notably, these engines could be an ideal platform for future decarbonisation strategies by making use of carbon free fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia.

The plant is expected to become operational in Q3, 2023. It will supply electricity to APUA for distribution to the national grid. The decision to use regasified LNG, the cleanest of all fossil fuels, will result in about 40% less carbon production and is in step with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and APUA’s plan to reduce its environmental footprint.

Learn more about Wärtsilä engine power plants.

All Wärtsilä releases are available at https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonisation by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world.
https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/304ee94d-6454-4ec1-8a28-2173fdb1c776

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Central de energía de Wärtsilä acoplada a terminal de GNL en Antigua podría convertirse en modelo para otras empresas de servicios públicos del Caribe

Firma de APCL

Sr. Francis Hadeed, director de APCL (derecha) y Rodney George, vicepresidente para la región del Caribe, Wärtsilä Energy, firmaron un acuerdo de EPC para la entrega de una central de energía de 46 MW para Antigua en noviembre de 2021.

Motores Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä suministrará e instalará una central de energía de combustible dual de 46 MW en la isla caribeña de Antigua. La central operará con cinco motores Wärtsilä 34DF.

CARIBPR WIRE, HELSINKI, Finlandia, April 27, 2022:  — El grupo tecnológico Wärtsilä fue adjudicado el contrato de suministro e instalación de una central de energía de combustible dual de 46 MW en la isla caribeña de Antigua. El pedido de ingeniería, adquisición y construcción (EPC) fue realizado por Antigua Power Company Limited (APCL), un productor de energía independiente. El pedido fue ingresado en el libro de pedidos de Wärtsilä en enero de 2022. La central operará principalmente con gas natural licuado regasificado (GNL).

El proyecto combina una central de energía y una terminal de GNL, almacenamiento y regasificación. APCL ganó la licitación para este proyecto en una licitación internacional realizada por la junta de licitación de Antigua y Barbuda en representación de la Autoridad de Servicios Públicos de Antigua (APUA). El proyecto de la terminal de gas GNL está siendo desarrollado por Eagle LNG con sede en Estados Unidos en igual asociación con APCL, con APUA como comprador de gas. El proyecto incluye la instalación de una terminal de almacenamiento y regasificación de GNL a pequeña escala que suministrará el combustible para la nueva central de energía.

La isla de Antigua y Barbuda tomó la iniciativa en la utilización de combustible ambientalmente sostenible para la generación de energía, y este será el primer proyecto de este tipo en la región del Caribe Oriental, donde una terminal de GNL se acoplará a una central de energía de Wärtsilä. Se espera que este concepto de central integradora se convierta en un modelo para otras empresas de servicios públicos de la isla en el Caribe, puesto que la aceptación del GNL aumenta de acuerdo con los esfuerzos para reducir los niveles de emisión. Wärtsilä tiene una base instalada de centrales de energía en la región con una capacidad combinada de más de 3300 MW.

“Hay una necesidad de proporcionar capacidad de generación adicional junto con el crecimiento de la demanda de electricidad en la isla. Al mismo tiempo, algunas de las instalaciones de producción de energía existentes tendrían que ser reemplazadas pronto debido a la antigüedad y al creciente enfoque en sistemas ambientalmente más sostenibles. Habiendo tenido una buena experiencia con Wärtsilä en el pasado, vemos su solución de central de energía de doble combustible como la mejor respuesta al plan de energía verde de la isla y sus requisitos energéticos actuales y futuros”, explicó el Sr. Aziz Hadeed, jefe del Grupo de Empresas Hadeed, la compañía matriz de APCL.

Jon Rodríguez, director de centrales de energía, América del Norte, Wärtsilä Energy, respondió: “La integración de esta nueva central de energía con una terminal de GNL es una clara demostración de que Wärtsilä aporta su conocimiento tecnológico y experiencia para ayudar a sus clientes a hacer uso de combustibles ambientalmente más sostenibles. Anteriormente hemos llevado a cabo cuatro proyectos exitosos con la APCL y estamos muy contentos de haber sido seleccionados nuevamente para este importante proyecto. Creo que viene como un respaldo de la tecnología de Wärtsilä, así como de las capacidades de soporte de ventas que tenemos en todo el Caribe”.

La central operará con cinco motores de combustible dual Wärtsilä 34DF capaces de operar tanto con gas como con fuelóleo liviano. Esta flexibilidad se combina con alta eficacia en todo el rango de carga. La capacidad de arranque rápido significa que los motores pueden alcanzar máxima potencia en cinco minutos, lo que les permite proporcionar una capacidad de equilibrio de red eficaz a medida que aumenta la adopción de energía renovable eólica y solar. En especial, estos motores podrían ser una plataforma ideal para futuras estrategias de descarbonización utilizando combustibles libres de carbono, como el hidrógeno y el amoníaco.

Se espera que la central entre en funcionamiento en el tercer trimestre de 2023. La central suministrará electricidad a APUA para su distribución a la red nacional. La decisión de utilizar GNL regasificado, el más limpio de todos los combustibles fósiles, resultará en alrededor de un 40% menos de producción de carbono y está alineada con el plan del gobierno de Antigua y Barbuda y APUA para reducir su huella ambiental.

Para más información acerca de las centrales de energía de motores de Wärtsilä.

Todos los comunicados de prensa de Wärtsilä están disponibles en https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases y en http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation, donde también se pueden descargar las imágenes.

Wärtsilä Energy en resumen
Wärtsilä Energy lidera la transición hacia un futuro con energía 100% renovable. Ayudamos a nuestros clientes en la descarbonización con el desarrollo de tecnologías líderes en el mercado. Estas cubren centrales de energía de balance habilitadas para operar con los combustibles del futuro, soluciones híbridas, tecnología de almacenamiento y optimización de energía, incluida la plataforma de gestión de energía GEMS. Los servicios de ciclo de vida de Wärtsilä Energy están diseñados para incrementar la eficacia, promover la fiabilidad y garantizar el rendimiento operativo. Nuestra trayectoria incluye 76 GW de capacidad de central de energía y 110 sistemas de almacenamiento de energía distribuidos a 180 países de todo el mundo.
https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä en resumen
Wärtsilä es un líder mundial en tecnologías innovadoras y soluciones de ciclo de vida para los mercados marino y energético. Enfatizamos la innovación en tecnología y servicios sostenibles para ayudar a nuestros clientes a mejorar continuamente su rendimiento ambiental y económico. Nuestro equipo dedicado y apasionado de 17.000 profesionales en más de 200 ubicaciones en 68 países da forma a la transformación de la descarbonización de nuestras industrias en todo el mundo. En 2021, las ventas netas de Wärtsilä alcanzaron un total de 4.8 mil millones de euros. Wärtsilä cotiza en el Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

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Company Leverages Jamaica to Accelerate Technology-Driven Job Growth and Strengthen its Base of Digitally-Enabled Blue Chip and New Economy Clients

New ibex Jamaica Customer Experience Delivery Center

ibex opens its Campus delivery center, its fifth location in Jamaica in five years.

CARIBPR WIRE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 02, 2021: ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a global leader in business process outsourcing (BPO) and end-to-end customer engagement technology solutions, today announced the opening of its new Campus location in the Sunshine City area of Portmore, Jamaica. The new facility will create 1,300 digitally-enabled jobs, bringing the company’s total employment on the island to more than 6,500 people.

“The tremendous growth being fueled by increased client demand, technology innovation and new wins with Blue Chip and New Economy customers has helped us create more than 1,500 jobs in Jamaica this year alone and placed the island at the center of the BPO 2.0 revolution,” said Jaime Vergara, senior vice president and Jamaica country manager, ibex.

“Not only has our growth accelerated economic development across Jamaica, but we are further positioning the country as a global shared services hub that is digitally transforming our clients’ customer experiences,” Vergara added.

Since opening its first site in 2016, ibex has invested more than $50M USD capital in Jamaica, increased employment from 200 jobs to more than 6,500, and enhanced the overall health and quality of life for its employees by investing more than $40M USD in annual salaries. With the opening of Campus, ibex now has a total of more than 5,000 seats in Jamaica across its five facilities in Ocho Rios, Portmore, and Kingston.   More than 500 of these positions will be utilized to support ibex’s rapid growth in the company’s insurance sector.

ibex is currently hiring both on-site and work-at-home positions with plans for additional growth by the end of 2021, this includes new job creation to address the company’s staff augmentation efforts for IT outsourcing (ITO) services.

The company will leverage its Wave X technology suite to quickly ramp agent proficiency and accelerate its speed-to-green delivery operations. This includes deploying ibex Training Simulator, a virtual solution designed to accelerate agent learning and enhance customer engagement across digital and traditional communication channels. The company will also leverage the ibex Work@Home technology suite to drive cost savings, accelerate productivity and enhance the customer experience (CX) for clients, while providing agents the ability to work at maximum efficiency regardless of location.

About ibex
ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage, and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global contact center of scale consisting of 31 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next-generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 24,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including its Wave X technology platform, to manage over 100 million critical customer interactions and driving a truly differentiated customer experience.  To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available HERE

ibex toma control del liderazgo del sector de externalización de procesos de negocios (BPO) en Jamaica - Abre su quinto sitio en cinco años

La empresa aprovecha su presencia en Jamaica para acelerar el aumento de empleos orientados a la tecnología y fortalecer su base de clientes digitalmente habilitados de Blue Chip y New Economy

CARIBPR WIRE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 02, 2021: – IBEX (NASDAQ: IBEX), un líder mundial en externalización de procesos de negocios (BPO) y soluciones de tecnología de participación del cliente de punto a punto, anunció hoy la apertura de su nuevo campus localizado en el área de Sunshine City de Portmore, Jamaica. La nueva instalación creará 1.300 empleos habilitados digitalmente, sumando el total de empleos de la empresa en la isla a más de 6.500 personas.

“El enorme crecimiento impulsado por el aumento de la demanda de los clientes, innovación tecnológica y nuevos éxitos con los clientes de Blue Chip y New Economy nos ayuda a crear más de 1.500 empleos en Jamaica solo este año y posicionó a la ista en el centro de la revolución de BPO 2.0″, dijo Jaime Vergara, vicepresidente senior y gerente de país de Jamaica, IBEX.

“Nuestro crecimiento además de acelerar el desarrollo económico en toda Jamaica, también posiciona aún más al país como un centro global de servicios compartidos que transforma de forma digital las experiencias de consumo de nuestros clientes”, agregó Vergara.

Desde la apertura de su primer sitio en 2016, ibex invirtió más de $ 50 millones en capital en Jamaica, aumentó el empleo de 200 a más de 6.500 puestos, y mejoró la salud y calidad de vida en general de sus empleados con una inversión de más de $ 40 millones en salarios anuales. Con la apertura del Campus, el IBEX hoy cuenta con un total de más de 5,000 puestos en Jamaica en sus cinco instalaciones en Ocho Ríos, Portmore y Kingston.   Más de 500 de estas posiciones se utilizarán para apoyar el rápido crecimiento de IBEX en el sector de seguros de la empresa.

iBEX actualmente está contratando para posiciones tanto en las instalaciones como para trabajar en el hogar con planes de crecimiento adicional para finales de 2021, esto incluye la creación de nuevos empleos para abordar los esfuerzos de aumento de personal de la empresa para servicios de externalización de TI (ITO).

La empresa aprovechará su conjunto de tecnología Wave X para aumentar rápidamente la capacidad del agente y acelerar sus operaciones de entrega de velocidad verde. Esto incluye la implementación de ibex Training Simulator (simulador de capacitación), una solución virtual diseñada para acelerar el aprendizaje de los agentes y optimizar la participación del cliente a través de canales de comunicación digitales y tradicionales. La empresa además aprovechará el conjunto de tecnología ibex Work@Home para impulsar ahorro de costos, acelerar la productividad y optimizar la experiencia del consumidor (CX) para los clientes, mientras que ofrece a los agentes la capacidad de trabajar con máxima eficacia independientemente de la localización.

Acerca de Ibex
IBEX ofrece externalización de procesos de negocios (BPO) innovadores, marketing digital inteligente, tecnología de adquisición en línea y soluciones de participación del cliente de extremo a extremo para ayudar a las empresas en la adquisición, participación y retención de clientes valiosos. Hoy, ibex opera un centro de contacto global de escala que consiste de 31 instalaciones de operaciones en todo el mundo, al mismo tiempo que implementa tecnología de última generación para impulsar experiencias de clientes superiores para muchas de las empresas líderes mundiales en los sectores minorista, comercio electrónico, atención médica, tecnología financiera (fintech), servicios públicos y logística.

ibex aprovecha su diverso equipo global de más de 24.000 empleados junto con tecnología líder en el sector, incluida su plataforma tecnológica Wave X, para la gestión de más de 100 millones de interacciones decisivas con los clientes e impulsar una experiencia de cliente verdaderamente diferenciada.  Para más información, visite nuestro sitio web ibex.co y conéctese con nosotros en LinkedIn, Facebook y Twitter.

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CaribPR Wire, MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 08, 2020: The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBA) (the “Fund”) today announced its quarterly distribution pursuant to the Fund’s managed distribution policy (the “MDP”) and reported the results of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Quarterly Distribution:

The Fund today declared the following distribution pursuant to the MDP:

The primary purpose of the MDP is to provide stockholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each quarter (currently set at the annual rate of 15% of the Fund’s net asset value as determined on March 31, 2020 and payable in quarterly installments). The Fund cannot predict what effect, if any, the MDP will have on the market price of its shares or whether such market price will reflect a greater or lesser discount to net asset value as compared to prior to the adoption of the MDP. The quarterly distribution for the Fund’s second fiscal quarter constitutes the fifth consecutive quarterly distribution under the MDP.

The $0.15525 per share amount announced today reflects a distribution of 3.36% based upon the market price per share of the Fund and 2.64% based upon the net asset value per share of the Fund, each as of November 30, 2020. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.

Results of 2020 Annual Meeting:

In addition, the Fund held its annual stockholder meeting on November 12, 2020 (“Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the Fund’s stockholders re-elected Mr. Thomas J. Herzfeld as Class III Director of the Fund, for a term of three years. Mr. Herzfeld is Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and President and Chairman of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (“THJA”), and a Portfolio Manager of the Fund.

Details regarding the Managed Distribution Policy:

Under the MDP, the Fund will distribute all available investment income to its stockholders, consistent with its investment objective and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the Board. If sufficient investment income is not available on a quarterly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return capital to its stockholders in order to maintain its managed distribution level. The Fund is currently not relying on any exemptive relief from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund may make additional distributions from time to time, including additional capital gain distributions at the end of the taxable year, if required to meet requirements imposed by the Code and/or the 1940 Act. Please note that for stockholders enrolled in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”), the distribution will be reinvested in additional shares of the Fund as described in the DRIP.

The Fund expects that distributions under the MDP will exceed investment income and available capital gains and thus expects that distributions under the MDP will likely include returns of capital for the foreseeable future. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of a stockholder’s investment is paid back to the stockholder. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income.’ Any such returns of capital will decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to maintain the level of distributions called for under its MDP, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current quarterly distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income, net realized capital gains and return of capital. All amounts are expressed per common share.

No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.

The amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the Board. The MDP is subject to ongoing review by the Board to determine whether it should be continued, modified or terminated. The Board may amend the terms of the MDP, suspend the MDP, or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s stockholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interest of the Fund or its stockholders. The amendment or termination of the MDP could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares.

With each distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income, the Fund will issue a notice to stockholders and an accompanying press release that will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to stockholders are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during its full fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send stockholders a Form 1099-DIV for the respective calendar year that will tell them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Stockholders should consult their tax advisor for proper tax treatment of the Fund’s distributions.

About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.

TJHA, founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds. The Firm also specializes in investment in the Caribbean Basin. The HERZFELD/CUBA division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. serves as the investment advisor to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. a publicly traded closed-end fund (NASDAQ: CUBA).

More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release, and other statements that Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (“TJHA”) or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or TJHA’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. TJHA and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and TJHA and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, particularly with respect to Cuba and other Caribbean Basin countries, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or TJHA, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or TJHA or the Fund; (9) TJHA’s and the Fund’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of TJHA electing to provide support to its products from time to time; and (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on TJHA’s website at www.herzfeld.com/cuba, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on TJHA’s website is not a part of this press release.