1. HAITI — Tense Elections, Precarious Security
The Haitian Armed Forces are preparing to deploy some 400 troops by mid-April to consolidate the positions retaken by the National Police in downtown Port-au-Prince. The electoral process is moving forward despite the uncertainty: 282 political parties have now been approved to participate in the upcoming elections, while civil society actors are warning of threats to the credibility of the vote. Juno7 🔗 Le Nouvelliste
2. CUBA — Tourism in Shambles, Jet Fuel Shortage
On March 29, 2026, Air France announced the suspension of its service to Cuba, joining Air Canada and Air Transat, after the Cuban government reported a shortage of jet fuel at its airports. The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts a 7.2% contraction in Cuba’s GDP in 2026, representing a cumulative decline of 23% since 2019, amid a collapse in tourism and a tightening of the U.S. embargo. 🔗 CiberCuba
3. GUYANA — The region’s oil powerhouse
The Guyanese economy is expected to grow by 16.2 % in 2026, driven by the oil and gas sector, with average production estimated at 840,000 barrels per day, according to Finance Minister Ashni Singh. The year 2026 is shaping up to be another milestone, with full production at four oil fields operated by the Stabroek consortium, which includes ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC. Coface 🔗 Zonebourse/Reuters
4. JAMAICA — Reconstruction following Hurricane Melissa
The Bank of Jamaica now expects a full recovery within two to three years following Hurricane Melissa—a more optimistic timeline than the three to four years initially projected—thanks to a faster rebound in the agriculture, electricity, and telecommunications sectors. For fiscal year 2025–2026, GDP is expected to contract by 1 to 3 %, followed by projected growth of 1 to 3 % in the following fiscal year. The Caribbean Camera 🔗 The Caribbean Camera
5. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — Easter at Full Capacity
With Holy Week just a few days away, hotel occupancy in the Dominican Republic has exceeded 84 %, with 201,889 tourists arriving by air during this period—a record high compared to previous years. The country is solidifying its position as the second-most popular destination in Latin America, having welcomed more than 11.6 million international tourists in 2025—a 4.3 % increase over 2024. Le Chotouristique 🔗 Real Estate
6. TOBAGO — Landslide victory for the TPP, debate over autonomy
Farley Chavez Augustine’s Tobago People’s Party (TPP) won all 15 seats in the Regional Assembly in the January 12, 2026, election. The party’s leader expressed his intention to hold a referendum on the island’s autonomy, a proposal that has sparked legal debate, as the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago does not provide for a referendum mechanism without a prior amendment by the national Parliament. Wikipedia 🔗 French Wikipedia
7. BARBADOS — Historic Debt Reduction, a Budget for Resilience
According to Barbados’s Minister of Finance, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio fell to 93.3 % in January 2026, down from 178.9 % in 2017, confirming the debt reduction trajectory initiated in recent years. Investment in tourism is expected to experience one of its largest expansions in decades, with nearly $1 billion earmarked for new hotel projects in 2026. Coface 🔗 Directorate General of the Treasury (France)
8. CARIBBEAN — Modest regional growth, with the exception of French Guiana
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) forecasts regional GDP growth of just 1.1 % in 2026, excluding Guyana, as service-based economies remain dependent on tourism and construction. The BDC’s director of economic research emphasized that in a more uncertain and fragmented world, «regional cooperation is not only desirable—it is absolutely essential.». Jamaica Observer 🔗 Jamaica Observer
9. HAITI — Elections: 282 parties, a budget of $250 million
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has drawn up a budget of nearly $250 million to organize the upcoming elections in Haiti, where 282 political parties have been approved. The UN is supporting the process by facilitating national dialogue and the constitutional framework, with a view to municipal, legislative, and presidential elections that Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has pledged to hold before the end of the year. UN News 🔗 UN Info
10. CUBA — Washington is banking on economic opening
According to a report by The Atlantic, the Trump administration’s strategy toward Cuba goes beyond mere political pressure and is said to aim at facilitating a transition that would allow for a massive influx of U.S. capital into the tourism, infrastructure, and real estate sectors. Analysts compare this approach to a «restructuring» of the Cuban economy—similar to a controlled bankruptcy process—aimed at integrating the island into the U.S. economic sphere. CiberCuba 🔗 CiberCuba
