Travel
How Carnival Brought Joy Back to St. Lucia and the Caribbean After Hurricane Beryl
Hurricane Beryl was a big and destructive storm that struck the Caribbean in June and July. Forming as a tropical storm in late June, Beryl quickly strengthened right into a Category 2 hurricane because it moved westward across the Atlantic. In early July, it made landfall on several Caribbean islands, including Saint Lucia and Dominica, between July 2 and 4.
The hurricane’s strong winds, reaching 110 mph, and heavy rains caused severe flooding and landslides, particularly in Dominica, where many areas were rendered inaccessible by damaged roads and debris. The storm also led to widespread power outages and damage to infrastructure, including homes and public buildings.
In Saint Lucia, coastal areas experienced significant storm surge and flooding that destroyed businesses and disrupted every day life. As Beryl continued its path, it also affected parts of Puerto Rico and the northern Leeward Islands, exacerbating existing threats in those regions.
Hurricane Beryl was no match for the strength, perseverance and determination of the Caribbean people. Carnivals across the Caribbean went ahead as planned. From the Spice Mas in Grenada to the Carnival in St. Lucia, the spirit of celebration was unstoppable. Saint Lucia Tourism and Carnival participants spoke with BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP about your experiences.
“As the head of promoting in Saint Lucia Tourist authorities “Carnival played a key role in reviving the island’s spirit following Hurricane Beryl, especially given its effects felt throughout the region. The festival acted as a vibrant symbol of resilience and unity, bringing locals and tourists together in celebration. It provided a much-needed boost to the island’s economy and morale. National activities, private events, colourful parades and the energetic Dennery Segment and Soca music helped restore a sense of normalcy and joy, proving that even in the face of adversity, Lucian Carnival remains a source of strong cultural heritage and happiness,” said Jenelle Ernest, Head of Marketing at the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.
She continued: “Carnival, to me, is so much more than just a festival; it is a profound expression of cultural identity and community spirit. It is a time when people come together to celebrate life, music and tradition in a way that transcends everyday concerns. The vibrant costumes, infectious rhythms and collective energy capture the essence of our shared heritage and joy. It is a reminder of the power of unity and the importance of celebrating our roots, which is both refreshing and deeply meaningful. Carnival is all about it – the culture, the people, the vibes.”
When asked how we are able to further enhance the profile of Saint Lucia Carnival and other events, she replied, “A series of ongoing efforts are needed to promote Saint Lucia Carnival and similar festivals across the Caribbean.”
She explained: “First, investing in high-quality marketing and branding campaigns to showcase the unique aspects of each Carnival is key. Building partnerships with international travel and tourism agencies, as well as celebrities and influencers, has helped us reach a wider audience. Finally, fostering collaboration between international Carnivals and Caribbean islands to create joint marketing strategies and shared events has helped to strengthen Saint Lucia’s appeal as a Carnival destination.”
Carnival enthusiast Mellisa Deandre has traveled the world attending carnivals from Brazil to Trinidad and Tobago. She explains, “One of the many reasons I love carnival is that it gives everyone, from lawyers to construction workers, a chance to let loose and enjoy beautiful music, people and culture. I travel with a group of people from both the Caribbean and beyond, who are doctors, entrepreneurs, politicians and more – who use carnivals as a way to take their minds off work and immerse themselves in something much bigger. Being here in St. Lucia was exactly what I needed after witnessing the devastation wrought by Beryl. Carnival is a celebration of freedom from oppression that everyone can enjoy!”
Between the vibrant and loving culture of Saint Lucia and Caribbean carnivals abroad, joy seems to be the theme. As the Caribbean islands proceed to grapple with climate change brought on by many larger nations, tourism officials and carnival enthusiasts agree on one thing: strengthening and protecting carnivals around the world is imperative to proceed bringing joy to the islands that deserve it most.
Travel
Luxury travel group for black women shutters, customers have not received their refund yet
After a luxury travel group for Black women shut down just days before an upcoming trip, customers are left wondering what happened to the cash they spent.
The now-defunct group “Ladies and Luggage” has abruptly canceled a visit to Dubai that was scheduled for this week. One woman, Virginia Gasber, sent a travel agent nearly $11,000 for the experience.
“I’m disappointed that the trip was canceled and I’m disappointed that she’s giving us a hard time about the money.” expressed Gasber to.
More women, including retiree Deborah Wells, spent 1000’s on business trips on the agency. This could be Wells’ second trip with the group she once considered a “sisterhood.”
Wells explained: “It was a sisterly bond. And now you can imagine your sister saying, “We’re not doing this anymore.” Wait, what?”
However, Ladies and Luggage owner Davia Woods posted a lengthy video on Facebook explaining their sudden closure. While expressing that it intends to repay all customers, refunds will not come as quickly as expected.
In a follow-up email, Woods explained that predatory lending, an “unexpected” tax break and the departure of a business partner had created quite a few financial challenges for the tour group. She also added that she would notify individuals who purchased insurance about reporting claims.
Woods also said she was unaware of the questionable business practices resulting in the financial collapse.
“Unfortunately, material details regarding the company and its operations have not been disclosed to me, and these undisclosed issues have ultimately contributed to the challenges we currently face,” Woods wrote on this news site. “I work closely with my attorney to follow up with each client individually, ensuring that each claim is reviewed and each person receives complete treatment.”
However, it’s unclear when or if the cash will likely be returned.
“But you’re not telling me how to get my money back,” Wells continued. “We have a steady income and are making payments on these promised great locations. And here we are.”
Still, the agency’s lawyer stressed that the clients’ money had indeed been used for “appropriate expenses.” However, there’s currently no deadline for refunds.
Travel
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After a luxury travel group for Black women shut down just days before an upcoming trip, customers are left wondering what happened to the cash they spent.
The now-defunct group “Ladies and Luggage” has abruptly canceled a visit to Dubai that was scheduled for this week. One woman, Virginia Gasber, sent a travel agent nearly $11,000 for the experience.
“I’m disappointed that the trip was canceled and I’m disappointed that she’s giving us a hard time about the money.” expressed Gasber to.
More women, including retiree Deborah Wells, spent 1000’s on business trips on the agency. This can be Wells’ second trip with the group she once considered a “sisterhood.”
Wells explained: “It was a sisterly bond. And now you can imagine your sister saying, “We’re not doing this anymore.” Wait, what?”
However, Ladies and Luggage owner Davia Woods posted a lengthy video on Facebook explaining their sudden closure. While expressing that it intends to repay all customers, refunds won’t come as quickly as expected.
In a follow-up email, Woods explained that predatory lending, an “unexpected” tax break and the departure of a business partner had created quite a few financial challenges for the tour group. She also added that she would notify individuals who purchased insurance about reporting claims.
Woods also said she was unaware of the questionable business practices resulting in the financial collapse.
“Unfortunately, material details regarding the company and its operations have not been disclosed to me, and these undisclosed issues have ultimately contributed to the challenges we currently face,” Woods wrote on this news site. “I work closely with my attorney to follow up with each client individually, ensuring that each claim is reviewed and each person receives complete treatment.”
However, it’s unclear when or if the cash can be returned.
“But you’re not telling me how to get my money back,” Wells continued. “We have a steady income and are making payments on these promised great locations. And here we are.”
Still, the agency’s lawyer stressed that the clients’ money had indeed been used for “appropriate expenses.” However, there may be currently no deadline for refunds.
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Travel
This is what happened when Iceland introduced a 4-day working week
Iceland welcomed the concept of a four-day working week, and as a result the country’s economy is booming– CNN reported.
This decision helps Iceland get ahead of other countries since the shorter working week didn’t end in a lack of staff’ wages. Over 50% of the country’s workforce accepted the offer of shorter working hours in 2020-2022. However, two think tanks – the UK Autonomy Institute and the Icelandic Association for Sustainable Development and Democracy (Alda) – said the figure was higher than 2024. “This study shows a real success story: shorter working hours have become common in Iceland… and the economy is strong in many respects,” Alda researcher Gudmundur D. Haraldsson said in a statement.
In 2023, Iceland showed faster economic growth in comparison with most European countries – growth of 5% – a huge increase in comparison with 2% in 2006-2015. The unemployment rate was also among the many lowest in Europe, showing a “strong indicator of economic vitality.” The IMF’s World Economic Outlook report shows that the rate of interest stays stable at 3.4%, just over half the typical for advanced European economies. Interest rates are expected to rise to three.8% in 2024 and 2025.
Years earlier, between 2015 and 2019, two large studies were conducted by which public sector staff worked 35-36 hours a week without taking a pay cut. With 2,500 participants, representing over 1% of the country’s working population on the time, most had previously worked 40 hours a week. The goal was to take care of or increase productivity while improving work-life balance.
The data showed that productivity remained the identical or increased in most work environments, while worker well-being increased “dramatically” on several measures starting from stress and burnout to health and work-life balance.
According to Live Now Fox, researchers analyzed the outcomes of a labor market survey conducted by the Institute for Social Science Research on the University of Iceland within the hope of gaining insight into work patterns, the work environment and the explanation why people leave paid work. It found that 62% of people that worked short-time between 2022 and 2024 were more satisfied with their working hours, while only 4% of staff were more dissatisfied.
78% of respondents stated general satisfaction with the presented working time.
As a results of the trial, Icelandic trade unions negotiated reduced working hours for tens of hundreds of their members across the country.
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