One of the industries hardest hit by the global COVID pandemic was tourism and hospitality. Leading one Caribbean nation out of this dark time is Marsha Henderson, the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Urban Development, for Saint Kitts and Nevis. Speaking to ICRT - Tim Berge, Henderson says after practicing law for nearly two-decades, last August she was elected to parliament, and immediately was offered two portfolios in the new Prime Minister cabinet. Henderson says positive government policies, her experiences growing up, and her legal career have shaped her as a leader.

Who does not like to go out for a good meal. And this month we will be talking to a young woman is bringing the tastes of the Caribbean to Taizhong. Jennifer Parsons is a relatively new arrival to Taiwan, coming here just a few months ago to build a career in the culinary industry.

Parsons held from Guadeloupe, which is located in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles. As matter of fact, Pasons was born in United Sates, but as a small child, her parents fell in love with the Caribbean and moved the family to Guadeloupe.

This month in Talking Tropics we chat with Kamara "Keido" Foster, who comes from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, but today calls Taiwan his home, as he pursues a masters degree from National ZhengZhi University.

For Keido... he is a master of languages... having earned degrees already in Spanish and French from the University of the West Indies. After university, he returned to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for some work in academia... but his love for expanding his knowledge brought him to Taiwan, as well as his zeal for Soca music, which he shares with music lovers across Taiwan.

Not all of Taiwan's Caribbean allies are tropical islands. Belize is located in Central America, just South of Mexico and on the Caribbean Sea. And unlike many of its neighbors in Central and South America, it's a former British colony and is English speaking. This month, we're honored to speak with Stephanne Hamilton, a female politician and member of the Belize city council. For Hamilton, Women played an important role in her development, most notably her mother and grandmother, who taught her the importance of service.

Throughout many parts of the world, this last week has seen Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations timed just before the start of Lent.

Carnival is also a very important celebration in Caribbean nations, although many time their festivities for different parts of the year to give visitors a chance to catch all the fun.

This month we're going to chat with Davian Baxter, who originally hails from Jamaica, and learn more about his life in Taiwan and what carnival means to Caribbean peoples. As a young child Davian moved to the United States with his family, but the Caribbean still played an important role in his development.

This month we are honored to talk to Samuel Bataille, a young man from Haiti who is building a multi-faceted career in Taiwan. He arrived over a decade ago to study Mandarin, continued to university to study computer science, and today works for a Taiwanese hardware and software company with global operations. But, Bataille is much more than that. Through a chance opportunity in university, he discovered he also has a knack for acting, and over the years he has appeared on the silver screen and TV. Looking to the future, he hopes to expand into the entertainment realm and world of business, to bring a bit of Haiti to Taiwan and far beyond.

Welcome to Talking Tropics, a look at the nations of the Caribbean, their culture, their stories, and the issues which are affecting the the region. In this episode we have a very special guest and one who is leaving his mark on Taiwan. Keril Victor arrived in Taiwan about a decade ago to study Mandarin and Economics, but today he is a celebrated singer and entertainer, serenading fans at concerts, events, and on local TV. Keril hails from Saint Lucia, and is better known to local audiences by his Chinese name, Wei Zhe, but no matter what you call him, he is posed to be an entertainment powerhouse in Taiwan in the near future.

In this episode, we are taking a look at the culture, arts and education in Haiti, in a chat with Jean Elie Gilles. He is a historian, poet, author, literature professor, cultural conservationist and public intellectual. From an early age, Gilles was surrounded by art and culture, and he hails from the town of Jacmel, located in the southeast of Haiti. Jacmel is famous for its French colonial architecture, and was once home to a thriving coffee trading industry. For Gilles the city's rich heritage shaped his development and career.

Dr. Ernest Hilaire has a rich and impressive background. After graduating from the University of the West Indies, he said his aspirations on international politics and on helping to address and provide solutions to global problems, which then prompted him to join the foreign service. Later, he was elected to the Saint Lucia Parliament in 2016.

Leading to his current portfolio, Dr. Ernest Hilaire says along the way, sports played an important role in shaping his personality and getting him involved in community activism. For Saint Lucia, Tourism is an important revenue source, but for Dr. Ernest Hilaire, he hopes to build a more sustainable tourism sector and create greater appreciation for the Saint Lucia's way of life.

Today we're honored to have with us Anthony Mahler, the Belize Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. Tourism is a major industry in Belize, and reviving an industry that has been ravaged by the COVID pandemic was a major responsibility. Belize, a combination of natural factors, including an inviting climate, the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest coral reef system in the world, and over 450 offshore cayes. You can enjoy free diving, kayaking, helicopter touring, as well as many Maya sites support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry in Belize.