2021 in the Caribbean explained
The following lists events that happened during 2021 in the Caribbean.
Sovereign states
Cuba
See main article: 2021 in Cuba.
Raúl Castro (since 2011),[1] Miguel Díaz-Canel (since 19 April 2021)
Miguel Díaz-Canel (since 2019)[1]
Dominica
See main article: 2021 in Dominica.
Charles Savarin (2013-2023)[2]
Dominican Republic
See main article: 2021 in the Dominican Republic.
Luis Abinader (starting 2020)[3]
Haiti
See main article: 2021 in Haiti.
Jovenel Moïse (2017-2021)[4]
Trinidad and Tobago
See main article: 2021 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Paula-Mae Weekes (since 2008)[5]
Keith Rowley (since 2015)[5]
Commonwealth Realms
Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)[6]
Antigua and Barbuda
Rodney Williams (since 2014)[7]
The Bahamas
The Bahamas are in the Atlantic Ocean and are part of the West Indies, not part of the Caribbean, although the United Nations groups them with the Caribbean
Barbados
See main article: 2021 in Barbados. Barbados became independent from the United Kingdom in 1966
Sandra Mason (since 2018)[8]
Mia Mottley (since 2018)[8]
Grenada
Cécile La Grenade (since 2013)[10]
Jamaica
See main article: 2021 in Jamaica. Jamaica became independent in 1962[11]
Patrick Allen (since 2009)[11]
Andrew Holness (since 2016)[11]
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Tapley Seaton (since 2015)[12]
Saint Lucia
Neville Cenac (2018 - July 28, 2021)[13]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Susan Dougan (since 2019)[15]
Dependencies
British overseas territories
Head of the Commonwealth: Queen Elizabeth II[16]
Anguilla
Tim Foy (since 2017)[17]
Ellis Webster (since 2020)[17]
Bermuda
Bermuda is located in the Atlantic Ocean and is included in the UN geoscheme for North America[18]
John Rankin (since 2016)[19]
British Virgin Islands
See main article: 2021 in the British Virgin Islands.
Augustus Jaspert (since 2017)[20]
David Archer
Cayman Islands
Martyn Roper (since 2018)[21]
Montserrat
Andrew Pearce (since 2018)[22]
- Premier: Easton Taylor-Farrell (since 2019)[22]
Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, although the United Nations groups them with the Caribbean[18]
- Governor Nigel Dakin (since 2019)[23]
- Premier:
- Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson (until February 20)[23]
- Washington Misick (starting February 20)
France
Guadeloupe
- Governor: Philippe Gustin (since 2018)[25]
Martinique
- President of the Assembly of Martinique:Claude Lise (since 2015)[26]
Saint Barthélemy
- President of Territorial Council: Bruno Magras (since July 16, 2007)[27]
Saint Martin
- Prefect Anne Laubies (since 2015)
- President of Territorial Council Daniel Gibbs (since 2017)[28]
- First Vice President Valerie Damaseua (since 2017)[28]
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Monarch
King Willem-Alexander (since April 30, 2013)[29]
Aruba
Alfonso Boekhoudt (since 2017)[30]
Curaçao
Lucille George-Wout (since 2013)[31]
Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten became a self-governing constituent Kingdom of the Netherlands in October 2010.
Eugene Holiday (since 2010)[33]
Caribbean Netherlands
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba[29] [34]
United States
The
- President
- Donald Trump (until January 20)
- Joe Biden (starting January 20)
- Vice-president
- Mike Pence (until January 20)
- Kamala Harris (starting January 20)
Puerto Rico
See main article: 2021 in Puerto Rico.
Jenniffer González (since 2017)
United States Virgin Islands
Events
See also: COVID-19 pandemic in North America.
January and February
- January 3 – The alert level on Saint Vincent is raised to orange for La Soufrière volcano.[35]
- January 6 – Stacey Plaskett (D), Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Virgin Islands, said she sheltered in her office during the storming of the United States Capitol and avoided contact with Republican colleagues who refused to wear face masks.[36]
- January 8 – COVID-19 pandemic: Caymen Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Aruba get vaccines, but larger, independent countries do not.[37]
- January 18 – The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to deport a Paul Pierrilus, 40, to Haiti on January 19. Pierrilus was born in Saint Martin to Haitian parents and has lived in the United States since he was five; technically he is a stateless person since he is a citizen of none.[38] Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-NY) stopped the deportation at the last minute. 218,000 other stateless people live in the United States.[39]
- January 28 – A Venezuelan-flagged fishing boat is captured with 4.2 tons of cocaine in international waters east of Barbados.[40]
- January 29 – 647 Haitian nationals, 23 Cubans, and 19 migrants from African countries are stranded on a beach in Antioquia Department, Colombia, hoping to pass through the Darién Gap to Panama and the United States.[41]
- February 7 – Haitian Justice Minister Rockefeller Vincent says that a planned assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and an attempted coup d'état were frustrated. Twenty-three are arrested.[42]
- February 8 – Kristalina Georgieva of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Latin American and Caribbean economic activity will not return to pre-pandemic levels of output until 2023 and GDP per capita will catch up only in 2025.[43]
- February 9 – Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D) of the Virgin Islands makes history as the first non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives to serve as an impeachment manager.[44]
- February 19
- The Group of Seven (G-7) promises an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, although few details have been provided.[45]
- Agricultural workers in Martinique and Guadeloupe get a court hearing on a pesticide banned in France but used on the islands. The case was brought in 2006.[46]
- February 22 – The USCGC Thetis seizes 6,000 pounds of cocaine from three ships in 43 days.[47]
- February 25 – The Cayman Islands is one of four countries added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list of places that are only partially in compliance with international efforts against financing terrorism and money laundering.[48]
March to June
- March 1 – While COVID-19 infections are slowing worldwide, Caribbean states, including Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are seeing a surge. Vaccine rollout has been slow[49]
- March 2 – A boat with partially decomposed bodies of six migrants, one with a passport from Guinea, is found Cayo Las Palomas, Nicaragua.[50]
- June 10 – Two passengers on cruise ship test positive for COVID-19. They will stay in Sint Maarten until they test negative.[51]
Scheduled and programmed events
Elections
See main article: List of elections in 2021.
Holidays
January and February
- January 1 –New Year's Day
- January 2
- January 6 – Epiphany, Christian and children's holiday
- January 11 – Majority Rule Day, the Bahamas[55]
- January 18 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, official holiday in Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands[56] [57]
- January 21
- January 25 – Juan Pablo Duarte′s Birthday, Dominican Republic
- February 8 – Independence Day (Grenada) (from the UK, 1974)[60]
- February 15 – Heroes′ Day, Puerto Rico; President's Day, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- February 15–16 — Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
- February 22 – Independence Day, Saint Lucia (from the UK, 1979)
- February 27 – Independence Day, Dominican Republic (from Haiti, 1844)
March and April
- March 2 – American Citizenship Day, Puerto Rico
- March 15 – Joseph Chatoyer Day, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[61]
- March 22 – Emancipation Day, Puerto Rico
- March 31 – Transfer Day, U.S. Virgin Islands.[62]
- April 2 – Good Friday, Christian feast celebrated in Cuba, Dominica,[63]
- April 5 – Easter Monday, Christian holiday celebrated in Dominica,
- April 28 – Barbadian National Heroes Day, Barbados
May and June
- May 1/3 – Labour Day and International Workers' Day
- Labour and Agriculture Day, Haiti
- May 18 – Flag and Universities Day, Haiti
- May 20 – Independence Day (from the United States, 1902), celebrated by Cuban exiles.[64]
- May 24
- May 31 – Memorial Day, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- June 3 – Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrated in Dominican Republic, public holiday in Grenada, Haiti Saint Lucia,
- June 4 – Randol Fawkes-Labour Day, the Bahamas[66]
July and August
- July 3 – Emancipation Day, U.S. Virgin Islands[67]
- July 4 – Independence of the United States, celebrated in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- July 5–6 – Vincy Mas (Carnival), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- July 10 – Independence Day, the Bahamas (from the UK, 1973)
- July 14 – Bastille Day, celebrated in French territories.
- July 25–27 – Commemoration of the Assault on the Moncada Barracks, Cuba
- August 2
- August 3
- August 6 – Independence Day (Jamaica) (from the UK, 1962)
- August 15 – Assumption of Mary, Roman Catholic feast celebrated in Haiti
- August 16 – Restoration Day, Dominican Republic
September and October
- September 6 – Labor Day, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- September 16 – Heroes' Day, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- September 20 – Independence Day, Saint Kitts and Nevis (from the UK, 1973)
- September 24 – Feast of María de las Mercedes (English: Our Lady of Mercy), celebrated in Dominican Republic
- October 4 – Thanksgiving Day, Saint Lucia
- October 10 – Independence Day (from Spain, 1868), Cuba
- October 11
- October 17 – Jean-Jacques Dessalines Day, Haiti
- October 18 – Heroes' Day, Jamaica
- October 25 – Thanksgiving Day, Grenada[70]
- October 27 – Independence Day, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (from the UK, 1979)
November and December
-
- All Saints' Day, Roman Catholic and Vodou holiday in Haiti
- All Souls' Day, Roman Catholic and Vodou holiday in Haiti
- November 3 – Independence Day, Dominica (from the UK, 1978)
- November 4 – National Day of Community Service, Dominica[73]
- November 5 – Constitution Day, Dominican Republic
- November 11 – Veterans Day, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- November 18 – Battle of Vertières Day, Haiti
- November 19 – Discovery Day, Puerto Rico
- November 25 – Thanksgiving (United States), celebrated in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- November 30 – Republic Day, Barbados[74]
- December 9 – V.C. Bird Day, Antigua and Barbuda[75]
- December 13 – National Day, Saint Lucia (feast of Saint Lucy)
- December 25/26/27 – Christmas Day
- December 26/27/28 – Boxing Day, celebrated in the Commonwealth and British Dependencies.
Deaths
January to March
- January 5 – Gordon "Butch" Stewart, 79, Jamaican businessman (Sandals Resorts)[76]
- January 9 – Vivalyn Latty-Scott, 82, West Indies cricketer (Jamaica national team, West Indies national team) and coach.[77]
- January 17 – Carlo Nayaradou, 63, French-Martinican comic book author.[78]
- February 6 – Ezra Moseley, 63, Barbadian cricketer (Glamorgan, West Indies cricket team, national team); traffic collision.[79]
- March 2 – Bunny Wailer, 73, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter and percussionist (The Wailers); complications from a stroke.[80]
April to June
See also
Notes and References
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cuba/ CIA Factbook: Cuba
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/dominica/ CIA Factbook: Dominica
- Web site: Junta Electoral de República Dominicana proclama a Luis Abinader, presidente electo . CNN . July 16, 2020 . July 15, 2020.
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/haiti/ CIA Factbook: Haiti
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/trinidad-and-tobago/ CIA Factbook: Trinidad and Tobago
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-kingdom/ CIA Factbook: United Kingdom
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/ CIA Factbook: Antigua and Barbuda
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/barbados/ CIA Factbook: Barbados
- News: Dame Sandra Mason nominated to be first Barbados President . October 18, 2021 . Caricom Today . August 23, 2021.
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/grenada/ CIA Factbook: Grenada
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jamaica/ CIA Factbook: Jamaica
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-kitts-and-nevis/ CIA Factbook: Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Web site: Cenac resigns as Governor General of St Lucia Loop St. Lucia. August 3, 2021. Loop News. en.
- Web site: Prime Minister Pierre sworn in. August 3, 2021. Saint Lucia - Access Government.
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/ CIA Factbook: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- http://www.commonwealthofnations.org/commonwealth/head-of-the-commonwealth/ Head of the Commonwealth
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/anguilla/ CIA Factbook: retrieved 16 Feb 2020
- https://www.internetworldstats.com/list1.htm#NA The Americas
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bermuda/ CIA Factbook: Bermuda
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/british-virgin-islands/ CIA Factbook: British Virgin Islands
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cayman-islands/ CIA Factbook: Cayman Islands
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/montserrat/ CIA Factbook: Montserrat
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/turks-and-caicos-islands/ CIA Factbook: Turks and Caicos Islands
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/france/ CIA Factbook: France
- Web site: World Statesman.org. Guadeloupe. February 17, 2020.
- Web site: World Statesman.org. February 17, 2020. Martinique .
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-barthelemy/ CIA Factbook: Saint Barthélemy
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-martin/ CIA Factbook: Saint Martin
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/ CIA Factbook: The Netherlands
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/aruba/ CIA Factbook: Aruba
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/curacao/ CIA Factbook: Curaçao
- https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-president-inaugurates-forward-project-in-curacao FIFA President inaugurates Forward project in Curacao
- https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sint-maarten/ CIA Factbook: Sint Maarten
- Web site: Central Government intervenes on St. Eustatius . Government of the Netherlands . 5 February 2018 .
- News: Soufrière St. Vincent volcano (West Indies, St. Vincent): actively growing lava dome . January 5, 2021 . volcanodiscovery.com . Volcano Discovery . January 5, 2021.
- News: McLaughlin . Kelly . A member of Congress says she chose to risk running into Capitol rioters over sheltering with maskless colleagues during the insurrection . January 15, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Business Insider . January 14, 2021.
- Web site: These tiny Caribbean islands got the COVID-19 vaccine thanks to their 'mother countries' . news.yahoo.com . 8 January 2021 . Miami Herald . January 9, 2021.
- News: Borger . Julian . Trump administration to deport man to Haiti who has never been there . January 18, 2021 . The Guardian . January 18, 2021.
- News: Inman . DeMicia . Rep. Mondaire Jones prevents Trump deportation of constituent to Haiti . January 21, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . The Grio . January 21, 2021.
- News: Evans . Martin . Huge cocaine shipment destined for streets of Britain is seized off the coast of Barbados . January 28, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . The Telegraph . January 28, 2021.
- News: Colombia reports almost 700 migrants stranded in Caribbean region . January 29, 2021 . Reuters . 29 January 2021 . en.
- News: Crisis en Haití: el Gobierno aseguró haber frustrado un intento de golpe de Estado . February 7, 2021 . infobae . February 7, 2021 . es-ES.
- News: Campos . Rodrigo . Rough road ahead for Latam and Caribbean economies, says IMF . February 8, 2021 . msn.com . Reuters . February 8, 2021.
- News: Neumann . Sean . How Virgin Islands Del. Stacey Plaskett Made History Arguing for Donald Trump's Impeachment . February 14, 2021 . People . February 11, 2021 . en.
- News: Lawless . Jill . G-7 vows 'equitable' world vaccine access, but details scant . February 19, 2021 . AP News . 19 February 2021.
- News: French Caribbean fights to keep pesticide case alive . February 19, 2021 . AP News . 17 February 2021.
- News: Filosa . Gwen . A Coast Guard crew seized $82 million worth of cocaine while on patrol in the Caribbean . February 22, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Miami Herald . February 22, 2021.
- News: Ganley . Elaine . Senegal, Morocco, Caymans added to terror finance watch list . February 25, 2021 . ABC News . AP . February 25, 2021 . en.
- News: Chappell . Kate . Marsh . Sarah . As pandemic eases elsewhere, some Caribbean states face worst outbreaks yet . March 1, 2021 . news.yahoo.com . Reuters . March 1, 2021.
- News: Nicaragua finds boat with bodies of 6 migrants in Caribbean . March 4, 2021 . AP News . 2 March 2021.
- Web site: Lonas . Lexi . Two passengers test positive for COVID-19 on first Celebrity Millennium cruise since 2020 . The Hill . June 11, 2021 . en . June 10, 2021.
- Web site: National Holidays in Cuba in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 2021 . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Haiti in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Saint Lucia in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Majority Rule Day (in lieu) in Bahamas in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Puerto Rico in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Public Holidays in US Virgin Islands in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Bank Holidays in Barbados in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Dominican Republic in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Grenada in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Transfer Day in US Virgin Islands in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Dominica in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Cuban Independence Day . United States Department of State . January 5, 2021 . en . May 20, 2020.
- Web site: National Holidays in Jamaica in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en . 4 September 2020.
- Web site: National Holidays in Bahamas in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: V.I. Emancipation Day in US Virgin Islands in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/bahamas/bahamas-national-heroes-day Heroes′ Day
- Web site: Thanksgiving in Grenada in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: D. Hamilton Jackson Day in US Virgin Islands in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: National Day of Community Service (in lieu) in Dominica in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- Web site: In Barbados, parliament votes to amend constitution, paving the way to republican status. September 30, 2021. ConstitutionNet. October 18, 2021.
- Web site: V.C. Bird Day in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021 . Office Holidays . January 5, 2021 . en.
- News: Caribbean hotelier Gordon "Butch" Stewart dies at 79 . January 5, 2021 . AP News . AP . 5 January 2021.
- https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1971518 Cricket West Indies pays tribute to Vivalyn Latty-Scott
- https://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/actualite/culture/disparition-brutale-de-carlo-nayaradou-l-un-des-pionniers-de-la-bd-martiniquaise-569422.php Disparition brutale de Carlo Nayaradou, l'un des pionniers de la BD martiniquaise
- https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ezra-moseley-former-west-indies-fast-bowler-dies-in-accident-aged-63-1250571 Ezra Moseley, former West Indies fast bowler, dies in accident aged 63
- News: Bunny Wailer, reggae luminary and last Wailers member, dies . March 2, 2021 . AP News . AP . 2 March 2021.
- https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/pesar-por-muerte-del-escritor-marcio-veloz-maggiolo-MG25544877 Pesar por muerte del escritor Marcio Veloz Maggiolo