Caribbean Panorama: Geopolitical Tensions and a Two-Speed Recovery
The last week of April projects a Caribbean immersed in stark contrasts. The region is facing a two-speed recovery, driven by oil in some countries and hampered by global uncertainty in those economies most dependent on tourism.
Haiti: A "Decisive Phase" Marked by Violence
Haiti is in what the UN describes as a "decisive phase." Gang violence continues to devastate communities. To address this emergency, the UN allocated $140.5 million in funds to provide vital aid to one million Haitians.
Regional Geopolitics: Guyana, Venezuela, and CARICOM Unity
The territorial dispute over the Esequibo has escalated within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Guyana's President, Irfaan Ali, formally demanded that the body respect his country's sovereignty, after Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, wore a brooch featuring a map that included the disputed region during an official visit to the Caribbean. In a swift response, CARICOM issued a statement warning that its platforms should not be used to legitimize territorial claims that are under consideration by the International Court of Justice, while reaffirming its support for Guyana's territorial integrity.
Regional Economy: Oil Sets the Pace
The regional economy presents an uneven picture. According to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), economic growth in the Caribbean, excluding Guyana, is projected to be just 1.1% in 2026. Including the oil-rich country, the figure soars to 6.2%. This forecast confirms the region's dependence on Guyana's dynamic energy sector, which contrasts with the weak performance of the rest of the economies, weighed down by climate instability and global uncertainty.
For its part, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) revised downward its growth projection for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2026, placing it at 2.2%, four-tenths of a percentage point lower than its previous estimate. The agency warns of a more complex external environment, marked by the conflict in the Middle East, which has already raised the price of oil by 74% since December 2025, and a slowdown among major trading partners. The recent departure of the United Arab Emirates from OPEC adds further uncertainty to global energy markets, directly impacting the costs of Caribbean islands.
The effects of this volatility are already being felt at the pump. In the Dominican Republic, for example, gasoline and diesel prices experienced new increases, with rises of between 7 and 9 pesos per gallon, as the international price of a barrel of oil peaked at $126 before falling back to $113.
Jamaica: A Tourism Sector Recovering, but with Reservations
Jamaica's tourism sector is struggling to consolidate its recovery following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in 2025. Despite having reached the figure of over one million visitors in the first quarter of 2026, industry insiders warn that global uncertainty and geopolitical conflicts are softening bookings and hotel occupancy rates. Although an increase in bookings has been recorded, the widespread perception among hoteliers is that demand is not as strong as it should be, forcing them to maintain aggressive pricing strategies.
Puerto Rico: A Call for Competitiveness
In Puerto Rico, attention focused on the 2026 Annual Convention of the Manufacturers Association (Asociación de Industriales), where its president, Rafael Vélez Domínguez, issued an urgent call for radical changes to the island's infrastructure and tax system. Under the motto "The Competitive Equation," a roadmap was outlined centered on four pillars: energy, human capital, government agility, and fiscal policy, seeking to drive economic development that is currently considered stalled by the fragility of the electrical grid and the high tax burden.
Caribbean Panorama: Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the Caribbean closes April 2026 deepening its contrasts: a region split between the burden of unresolved political and humanitarian crises and the challenge of navigating an increasingly stormy global economic climate.