World News

Jubilant sustainable tourism campaigners in Aruba are celebrating one of its leading resorts becoming the first carbon neutral hotel in the Caribbean.

This environmental global standard has been bestowed on the Dutch Caribbean island's Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, one of the leading adults-only properties on renowned Eagle Beach.

The award is a major coup for Aruba, which has a number of sustainable tourism initiatives in the pipeline and whose government has set a target of making the island fossil fuel-free by 2020.

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is featured by a number of UK tour operators, making it an easy option for UK travellers. With the property providing a net zero carbon standard, those guests leave no footprint, but can go home with a memorable, guilt-free vacation.

Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of Bucuti & Tara and passionate environmentalist, has steadfastly woven sustainable practices throughout the resort's policies and culture since opening in 1987. Recognised as the Caribbean's most eco-certified resort, Bucuti & Tara was the first ISO 14001 certified hotel in the Americas, the first in the Caribbean to achieve LEED Silver certification and has been named the World's Most Sustainable Hotel/Resort by Green Globe. Other awards include being named TripAdvisor's No. 1 Hotel for Romance in the Caribbean for 2018.

Biemans himself has received multiple awards as a green leader, including being the Caribbean Journal's Green Hotelier of the Year and last year he was the first-ever individual to receive Leader in Sustainability Gold Adrian Award from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and National Geographic Traveler, an honour previously only awarded to organisations. He is often called upon for public speaking engagements and expert insight about sustainability.

Initiatives at the Bucuti & Tara span the simple to the complex with every resort service being scrutinised and improved upon. Giving every guest a reusable water canteen has resulted in keeping 290,000 single-use plastic water bottles annually from landing in Aruba's landfill. Offering healthier portions provided guests with more sensible – and desirable - serving sizes, with a by-product of reducing food waste by 30 per cent. The resort installed the island's largest solar panel system - the maximum the government would allow.

Ewald Biemans explained: 'Our guests have chosen Aruba for our naturally beautiful beaches, stunning turquoise waters and the happy, healthy island community. We must protect and preserve our environment on a meaningful level to deliver this experience in the future.

'I believe the hard work, passion and dedication of our sustainability team to achieve carbon neutrality will inspire others to consider similar action.'

A giant rainbow flag draped from the heights of the biggest rainforest in captivity heralds Saturday's Proud Eden event at the Eden Project.

The 37m-long banner was unfurled from the top of the 50m-high Rainforest Lookout, which sits at the top of Eden's Rainforest Biome.

The flag is one of the largest in the world and has been loaned to Eden by Cornwall Pride, who used it as a star attraction for their recent Pride Parade through Newquay. It will now be moved to Mediterranean Biome at Eden where it will serve as the backdrop to the Proud Eden stage.

The grand celebration of LGBTQ culture takes place at the Eden Project on September 29 starting at 6pm.

The special evening will be packed with a diverse line-up of top performers, acclaimed speakers and a cutting-edge exhibition.

Kate Francis, Eden's programme producer, said: “How great to see the Cornwall Pride flag flying at Eden. This iconic symbol proudly flying in our Rainforest Biome is a stunning way to herald our Proud Eden event on Saturday.

“The event promises to be even more vibrant and diverse than last year, boasting a fabulous mixture of music, comedy and performance art."

Proud Eden is being staged in association with Penguin Pride and Gay Times and supported by Cornwall Pride which campaigns for equality and diversity in the county.

Headlining on the Penguin Pride Stage in the Mediterranean Biome is actress, musician and outspoken LGBT activist Heather Peace.

Heather has appeared in London's Burning, Ultimate Force, Lip Service and Waterloo Road and is also an accomplished singer with four jazz albums. She is a patron for Manchester Pride and the LGBT charity Stonewall.

With award-winning beaches, Aruba is a top choice for sun-worshippers. But for those who want to make even more of this Dutch Caribbean island's natural playground, there is an abundance of choice.

The island is widely recognised as a top diving and snorkeling destination but there's plenty of action above the surface, too, and if you've ever fancied conquering the waves on a surfboard, Aruba is the place for you!

With steady breezes, Aruba is also recognised as one of the best wind and kite-surf destinations in the Caribbean and whether you are an experienced surfer or an out and out beginner, you can join the action.

The island boasts a number of watersports companies offering lessons for beginners and friendly locals are always happy to pass on tips. Expect to pay in the region of US$95 (approx. £73) for a two and a half hour surf board lesson (based on minimum of two people), while board rental is around $35 (£27) for a full day.

Aruba's beaches can be roughly divided into two categories: idyllic on the island's west side and rugged on the east side. That means you will find beaches that are perfect for those who are learning to surf as well as beaches that will challenge even the professionals. These beaches are also worth a visit for those with no interest in surfing whatsoever. The acrobatic manoeuvres of the surfers in the waves offer impressive entertainment.

Among the most popular beaches are:

Malmok Beach: The most popular beach for beginners. Here you will find several surf schools and rental facilities. The beach itself is quite narrow but the clear water is shallow for the first 60 metres offshore.

Hadicurari Beach: Also called Fisherman's Huts, this is the surf mecca of Aruba. Every year in June or July, the prestigious Aruba Hi Winds World Challenge takes place here, the largest windsurfing competition in the Caribbean. But during the rest of the year the beach is a popular destination for water sports fans with their colourful sails and kites. The spectators on the beach also enjoy the aerial and water acrobatics of the pro surfers; some jump metres high above the waves.

Boca Grandi: On the most southern tip of Aruba's rugged east coast, this is a great beach for experienced surfers. Swimming is not recommended because of the strong currents and high waves, but skilled surfers will have a great time here. The beautiful beach near Aruba's second city of Saint Nicholas is worth a visit in its own right, if not as a spectator perhaps as a beachcomber - the rugged surf deposits a lot of coral, driftwood, and other small ocean treasures on the beach.

Award-winning American videographer Tim Blanton can walk freely without pain thanks to a successful bilateral knee replacement at Health City Cayman Islands, the popular tertiary care medical facility in the Caribbean.

Blanton had always been a very active man. As a professional videographer, he regularly filmed underwater videos for National Geographic, but for a few years his ability to dive in the ocean to get his shots was limited by serious arthritis in his knees, which gradually reduced his ability to walk even short distances.

His painful condition led him to consult with Dr. Alwin Almeida, Orthopedic Surgeon and specialist in joint replacement at Health City in Grand Cayman, who recommended bilateral knee replacement surgery.

"Six weeks ago I was barely able to walk, I could not go up or down stairs and I had some major problems with my knees. I had my double knee replacement at Health City; it's been an amazing experience beyond my wildest expectations. I saw world-class medical care from some of the finest doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, the medical staff, the administrative staff at Health City, they were outstanding," said Blanton, who resides with his wife Barbara in Roatán in the Bay Islands of Honduras.

Knee replacement surgery is necessary when medications and other support are no longer helping to relieve pain from severe arthritis. A prosthesis is then needed to replace the damaged tissue in the joint. The procedure relieves patients' pain and allows them to resume their normal activities.

Before having his surgery, Blanton went through the necessary preoperative checkups to determine if his case qualified for the total replacement of both knees.

"His knee joints were giving him considerable pain from arthritis. And he was seeking to find a place where he finally could have the surgery. When I checked his knees they were pretty bad, and he needed a knee replacement in both," Dr. Almeida recalled.

Blanton's surgery was performed in two stages, with each knee being operated several days apart. He achieved highly successful results and was able to return to Honduras two weeks after his second surgery. Six weeks after the knee replacements, Dr. Almeida traveled to Roatán for a post-operative checkup to make sure Blanton was recovering well.

He was delighted to find that his patient had made a full recovery, and could go up and down stairs, bend over and even walk short and medium distances without using a walker.

"I feel like a new man," declared Blanton.

Le Plaza Hotel's General Manager Marc Pierre-Louis hails Naomi Osaka's stunning victory at the US Open as "an achievement of which all Haitians should be incredibly proud."

Speaking in the euphoric aftermath of the 20-year-old's 6-2, 6-4 upset of 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams last weekend, the Haitian hotelier congratulated the first-time champion, whose father, Leonard Francois, is Haitian.

"Haitians all over the world, including here in Port-au-Prince, were watching the match and cheering throughout. Naomi played brilliantly to beat one of the greatest tennis players of all time, somebody whom she has idolized since childhood. That took nerves of steel," he said, while also highlighting the lifetime grit, tenacity and brilliance of Serena Williams, one of his favorite players.

"Naomi competed with confidence and all people of Haitian descent should be celebrating her victory," Pierre-Louis asserted.

While Osaka competes for Japan - the country of her birth and her mother's homeland - Pierre-Louis noted that the blossoming women's singles star is always quick to recognize her Haitian heritage, especially since she grew up with her Haitian grandmother in the United States.

"She is clearly proud of her Haitian heritage and it's inspiring to see her acknowledge it and its influence on her. The people of Haiti would be honored to welcome Naomi for a visit to celebrate our first Grand Slam champion properly, and for Haitian youth to be inspired by somebody they can identify with," he said.

Notable talents of Haitian heritage, including Bruny Surin and Barbara Pierre (athletics); Orlando Calixte (baseball); Joachim Alcine (boxing); and Vladimir Ducasse (American football), have achieved success in the sports world. "Because they represented other countries doesn't stop us from saluting them and sharing in their success," said Le Plaza's general manager.

"Naomi Osaka is the latest addition to this illustrious list and we'll continue to watch her progress," he affirmed.

A pioneering project to transform the lives of people in the Congo rainforest has secured a funding boost of £1.4million.

The University of Wolverhampton will work in five Congo Basin countries with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) as part of the project.

The £1.4m funding has been awarded to the University’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) by the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID).

University experts will support forest governance with partners in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo on the project for the next three years.

The project was launched in 2017 when CIDT secured funding of £5million from the European Union.

New match funding to the project from the UK Department for International Development will support partners to collaborate with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to ensure effective engagement and response from forest law enforcement agencies, law makers and judiciary.

The next phase of the Citizen Voices for Change (CV4C) project will be launched in October with a workshop in Congo Brazzaville.

Dr Aurelian Mbzibain, Programme Manager for the Citizen Voices for Change project, said: “We are delighted to have secured £1.4m from the Department for International Development for this important project in the Congo Basin.

“The aim of the project is to work in partnership with local organisations and communities to ensure private sector companies are working within their contracts and operating within EU timber regulations governing deforestation and legal exports.

“The new element of the project with partners Interpol focuses on effective engagement and response from forest law enforcement agencies, law makers and judiciary in national forest policy processes.

“This is a strategic new project component which will strengthen the role and visibility of the project and its partners in the region as champions of good forest governance.”

CHTA's involvement in CGI's deliberations followed closely on the heels of its announcement with nonprofit organisation, Tourism Cares, that their joint initiative - the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund - has raised more than US$275,000 in charitable donations to build long-term recovery and enhance the ability of hurricane-impacted destinations to rebound as quickly as possible. Donors' generosity has facilitated assistance to Caribbean nationals for training and education, restoring destination capacity, the physical restoration of tourism-related infrastructure, social enterprise development, job creation, hotel training, voluntourism, marketing and public relations support, and the environment.

Meanwhile, CHTA has produced a Disaster Preparedness Manual, which is in the process of being released to industry stakeholders. The purpose of the guide, financed by both the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund and Expedia, is to supplement local efforts to develop communications preparedness and the response and recovery process for CHTA members, national tourism organizations, and public and private sector industry stakeholders before, during and after a potential disaster.

Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, expressed his gratitude for a token presented to him by His Excellency Asif Anwar Ahmad, British High Commissioner to Jamaica and the Bahamas, during a recent courtesy call to the Minister’s New Kingston office.

During the meeting, the ambassador confirmed that he will make a presentation at the upcoming Tourism Resilience Summit, being hosted by Jamaica on September 13 at the University of West Indies.

The event is taking place under the theme “Tourism Resilience through Global Synergies,” and will address events that disrupt tourism, such as climate change, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, and cybercrime.

The summit will gather key global stakeholders and thought leaders at the University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica.

“This summit forms part of my ministry’s efforts to build resilience within the region and globally. Resilience building has become even more crucial in a world that is hyper connected and as such more susceptible to climate change, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism and cybercrime,” Bartlett said.

The summit will “seek to assess existing and emerging disruptions related to tourism management globally; examine the risk of these disruptions to the global tourism product; and identify a synergetic strategic and operational framework for mutual partnerships between and among major governmental, non-governmental and business entities to address as well as develop mitigation strategies for these global disruptions,” according to a statement from Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism.

The online registration to participate in Tenerife's Santa Cruz Maratón is now open. Taking place on 11 November, the fifth edition of the race follows four successful events, which saw increasing number of participants year on year. This year's race will see thousands of athletes heading to the streets of Santa Cruz, Tenerife's capital city, on Sunday 11 November for a fun sporting event, which is suitable for runners of all abilities. The Santa Cruz Maratón has once again seen record entry numbers, with 2,500 runners having already registered after just three days of registration opening!

The Santa Cruz Maratón boasts an enviable coastal and flat course with almost no incline, making it an ideal event for both amateur athletes who are looking to make a start in the running world and established runners looking for a challenge. The event features three different running categories: 42km race, 21km race and 8km race.

The flat course is considered one of the best in Spain, with every category guaranteeing athletes a spot of “sightseeing” during their race. The futuristic Tenerife Auditorium Adán Martin, the Market Nuestra Señora de África, the Tenerife Arts Space (TEA) and the García Sanabria Park will be some of the main tourist attractions of Santa Cruz that participants will pass on the course.

A University of Wolverhampton academic has taken his cyber security expertise to South America recently.

Professor of Cyber Security and Director of the University of Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), Prashant Pillai attended a Cyber Security Summit in Sao Paolo, Brazil and was one of a number of key speakers from around the world.

Nearly 200 people attended the global two-day conference which brought together industry professionals, thought-leaders, IT managers, government officials and analysts to focus on cybercrime, machine learning, identity fraud, the insider threat and security metrics.

Other noted speakers included David Brassanini, FBI Chief of Operations and Rafael Salema, Leader of the Cybernetic Exportation Team in the Brazilian Air Force.

Professor Pillai talked about the challenges and opportunities facing security for the critical national infrastructure, looking at threats faced by power, water and transport networks. He works with over 20 academics at the University who are researching Cyber Security, Data Science and Cyber Physical systems.

With almost 16 years’ research experience specialising in the areas of communication networks, cyber security and intelligent algorithms, Professor Pillai has led several projects funded by the European Union, Innovate UK, European Space Agency and the British Council.

He said: “The Summit was very well attended with delegates from the private and public sector, academia and armed forces giving an excellent platform to discuss the ever rising threats in the critical infrastructure area.

“This is a global problem faced by developed and developing countries. The WCRI specialises in security for critical national infrastructure with a current focus on detection, prevention and innovative solutions for large scale co-ordinated attacks on complex systems.”

Sri Lanka needs further help to strengthen its human rights promotion and protection. That's according to the country’s Human Rights Commission, which has called on the Commonwealth Secretariat for technical assistance.

Its Chair, Dr Deepika Udagama made the Commission’s request during a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, who is on her first official visit to the country.

Dr Udagama described the Secretariat as ‘an ally on human rights in Sri Lanka’ providing help with, among other things, models of reconciliation post-conflict, how to deal with torture, as well as advising it on civil and political rights.

During her three-year term as chair, which comes to an end later this year, Dr Udagama said that the Secretariat had assisted her commission immensely.

For example, it brought in experts to help the constitutional assembly on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights in the new proposed Bill of Rights. The Secretariat ensured that Sri Lanka participated substantively in the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, allowing the country to connect with other member state commissions. It also helped to get the Commission accredited.

But the Commission needed further help, she said.

“One thing is that the Commonwealth has developed very many good practices and standards on democracy and human rights. The Secretariat brings together countries from the Commonwealth, common legal traditions, common traditions of governance and democracy, so it's very important for the Secretariat to be engaged. It's mainly in the area of technical cooperation.

"Another [area] is about raising human rights awareness within the community, providing us with techniques that could be effective using technology for such purposes. There’s a lot that could be done.”

Secretary-General Scotland congratulated the Commission for being accredited ‘A’ status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. This means that Sri Lanka has complied fully with the United Nations Paris Principles, which provide the international benchmark by which national human rights institutions are accredited.

“This is excellent news for Sri Lanka’s government, its people and your Commission,” said the Secretary-General. “We focussed our efforts in supporting the Commission in regaining its ‘A’ status, but we should also credit President Maithripala Sirisena, who began the constitutional reform process in 2015. By strengthening the process of appointing members to independent commissions, including this one, the President enhanced transparency and accountability.”

The Secretary-General said that the Secretariat would continue to work in partnership with Sri Lanka when it came to human rights, as set out in the Commonwealth Charter.