Netherlands Antilles, Dutch Nederlandse Antillen, Papiamentu Antianan Hulandes, group of five islands in the Caribbean Sea that formerly constituted an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The group is composed of two widely separated subgroups approximately 500 miles (800 km) apart. The southern group comprises Curaçao and Bonaire, which lie less than 50 miles (80 km) off the Venezuelan coast. The northern group is made up of Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Sint Maarten (the southern part of the island of Saint Martin; the northern part, Saint-Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France). Although the northern islands are locally referred to as “Windward,” they lie within the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles chain. The capital and largest city was Willemstad, on Curaçao. Read More

Renaissance Aruba’s glistening shores invite you to revel in the serene beauty of our luxurious resort. Here, you’ll be swept away by a soothing rhythm that takes you beyond the ordinary directly into the heart of authentic Aruban culture, to a tropical oasis located in the center of downtown Oranjestad. Our breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea set against the sparkling cityscape provide an exceptional setting for you to craft your unforgettable getaway. Visit the site

You spend hours crafting a great job application, highlighting your skills, abilities and experience. When you’re asked to attend an interview, it seems to go well — and you’re quietly confident that you may be asked to return for another meeting, or be offered the role. But when weeks turn to months and you still haven’t heard back, you question whether you are competent at all. Many of us have faced silence while waiting to hear back from a prospective employer, only to end up hearing nothing at all. "Ghosting" — a behaviour usually associated with dating in which someone suddenly disappears — is becoming more common among professional recruiters, research suggests. And it’s having a seriously detrimental impact on job applicants. Two-thirds (65%) of the UK public have been ghosted by a recruiter, according to a survey of 2,000 job-seekers by the recruitment software company Tribepad. Three in four men (72%) have been ghosted during the job-seeking process, in comparison to three in five women (58%). Ghosting isn’t just rude, but it can have a significant impact on people’s mental health. Job applications are often time-consuming and complex, with multiple written tasks and tests, as well as interviews. Read More

A fantastic Caribbean spa holiday destination on a 135-acre private island in the south of The Grenadines, boasting five unspoiled beaches, meandering nature trails, complimentary watersports and 45 luxuriously-appointed guest lodgings. LOCATION : THE GRENADINES , PALM ISLAND AMENITIES ALL-INCLUSIVE PRIVATE BEACH SPA SWIMMING POOL TENNIS WATER SPORTS PRICE PER PERSON FOR UK DEPARTURES Read more

I Indisputably, Halcyon House is one of the finest beachfront estate homes in the exclusive gated community of Old Fort Bay. This stunning seven bedroom home has eight bathrooms and four powder rooms creatively spread throughout with over 13,000 square feet of interior living space. Halcyon House commands a premier location on the 225 feet of powdery white sand beaches and is one of the largest lots in the community majestically situated on its 1.816 acre property.

The Health & Wellness Forum is co-hosted by Industry Specialist Maureen Simon.

The Education Forum is co-hosted by Industry Specialist Maureen Simone.

The Leadership & Personal Development Forum is hosted by Industry Specialist Ionie Liburd Willet.

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself, or the opinion you have about yourself. Everyone has times when they feel a bit low or find it hard to believe in themselves. However, if this becomes a long-term situation, this can lead to problems, including mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Some of the symptoms of low self-esteem can also be a sign of these problems. Self-esteem is often the result of a lifetime of experiences, and particularly what happened to us as children. However, it is possible to improve your self-esteem at any age. Understanding Self-Esteem Some people think of self-esteem as their inner voice (or self-dialogue) – the voice that tells you whether you are good enough to do or achieve something. Self-esteem is actually about how we value ourselves, and our perceptions about who we are and what we are capable of. People with good self-esteem generally feel positive about themselves, and about life. This makes them much more resilient, and better able to cope with life’s ups and downs. Those with poor self-esteem, however, are often much more critical of themselves. They find it harder to bounce back from challenges and setbacks. This may lead them to avoid difficult situations. That can, however, actually decrease their self-esteem still further, because they feel even worse about themselves as a result. A lack of self-esteem can therefore influence how people behave, not to mention what they achieve in their lives. Improving Your Self-Esteem There are a number of ways in which you can improve your self-esteem. 1. Identify and Challenge Your Negative Beliefs The first step is to identify, and then challenge, your negative beliefs about yourself. Notice your thoughts about yourself. For example, you might find yourself thinking ‘I’m not clever enough to do that’ or ‘I have no friends’. When you do, look for evidence that contradicts those statements. Write down both statement and evidence, and keep looking back at it to remind yourself that your negative beliefs about yourself are not true. 2. Identify the Positive About Yourself It is also a good idea to write down positive things about yourself, such as being good at a sport, or nice things that people have said about you. When you start to feel low, look back at these things, and remind yourself that there is plenty of good about you. In general, positive internal dialogue is a big part of improving your self-esteem. If you catch yourself saying things like ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I’m a failure’, you can start to turn things around by saying ‘I can beat this’ and ‘I can become more confident by viewing myself in a more positive way’. To begin with you will catch yourself falling back into old negative habits, but with regular effort you can start to feel more positive and build your self-esteem as well. 3. Build Positive Relationships—and Avoid Negative Ones You will probably find that there are certain people—and certain relationships—that make you feel better than others. If there are people who make you feel bad about yourself, try to avoid them. Build relationships with people who make you feel good about yourself and avoid the relationships that drag you down. 4. Give Yourself a Break You don’t have to be perfect every hour of every day. You don’t even have to feel good about yourself all the time. Self-esteem varies from situation to situation, from day to day and hour to hour. Some people feel relaxed and positive with friends and colleagues, but uneasy and shy with strangers. Others may feel totally in command of themselves at work but struggle socially (or vice versa). Give yourself a break. We all have times when we feel a bit down or find it harder to maintain our self-belief. The key is not to be too hard on yourself. Be kind to yourself, and not too critical. Avoid criticising yourself to others, because this can reinforce your negative views—and also give other people a (possibly false) negative opinion of you. You can help to boost your self-esteem by giving yourself a treat whenever you succeed in doing something hard, or just for managing a particularly bad day. 5. Become More Assertive and Learn to Say No People with low self-esteem often find it hard to stand up for themselves or say no to others. This means that they may become over-burdened at home or at work, because they do not like to refuse anyone anything. However, this can increase stress, and make it even harder to manage. Developing your assertiveness can therefore help to improve your self-esteem. Sometimes acting as if you believed in yourself can actually help to increase self-belief! 6. Improve Your Physical Health It is much easier to feel good about ourselves when we are fit and healthy. However, people with low self-esteem often neglect themselves, because they do not feel that they ‘deserve’ to be looked after. Try taking more exercise, eating well, and getting enough sleep. It is also a good idea to make time to relax and to do something that you want to do, rather than something that someone else expects you to do. You may find that simple changes like this can make a huge difference to your overall outlook. 7. Take On Challenges People with low self-esteem often avoid challenging and difficult situations. One way to improve your self-esteem can actually be to take on a challenge. This doesn’t mean that you need to do everything yourself—part of the challenge might be to seek help when you need it—but be prepared to try something that you know will be difficult to achieve. By succeeding, you show yourself that you can achieve. This challenges your negative beliefs and will therefore improve your self-esteem. Read More

Centuries ago, Martinique was inhabited by indigenous Indians who called Martinique “the island of flowers”. Martinique was later discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage in 1502. During the course of the 17th Century Martinique was colonized by the “Compagnie des Iles d’Amerique”. Their encampment was on the north occidental coast on the site that was to become the historic capital Saint-Pierre. 31st October 1636, King Louis the 13th signed a decree authorizing the use of slaves in the French Antilles. Thus began an intense period of colonization which would eventually bring the French into conflict with the Caribbean natives. Sugar Cane plantations were built further and further into the natives' territory until the indigenous people were eradicated in 1660. The English Empire occupied the island for almost the entire period from 1794 to 1815 during which time the French Revolution occurred. Amongst the more famous battles between the French and English in the Caribbean was the battle of Rocher du Diamant The Rocher du Diamant o Diamond Rock is a picturesque volcanic island, 176 metres high, off the southern point of Martinique facing the later named Diamond Beach. A sheltered habitat for many varieties of marine bird and renowned for its sea life it is above all remembered for events in its not too distant history.In 1804 landed 120 English sailors who constructed a rock fort, barracks and armory. They named the outpost after a famous British warship, “The Diamond Rock”.For almost a year and a half the English harassed the French navy with cannon fire and surprise attacks as the French attempted to traverse the passage.The situation eventually forced the French to resort to an unorthodox plan. The French Admiral for the Caribbean sent a Sloop laden with Rum to the island. The English sailors, their discipline eroded by time and their own isolation, consumed the rum and by default allowed the French to retake the strategic outpost. The island was officially returned to the French in 1845, when after the Napoleonic War, the French Empire entered a period of relative stability. Throughout this period the trade in slaves had continued. Even during the revolutionary phase, when other islands such as Guadeloupe abolished the practice, the influx continued resulting in several revolts, the most notable being in 1816 and 1848. In 1848 Victor Schoelcher, French Minister for foreign territories, abolished slavery in the French Antilles, convincing the government to grant a Proclamation of Emancipation. Martinique has one other truly significant event in its history, the eruption of Mt Pelee on the 8th March 1902. The island’s capital and what was then the most advanced city of the Antilles, Saint-Pierre, was entirely destroyed by one of the most devastating natural disasters to have occurred in the Caribbean, killing all of its 30 000 inhabitants. The capital was relocated to Fort De France where it remains today. In 1946 Martinique was granted the status of official French territory and has been considered a French Region since 1982.

How about your own private island in the Caribbean? Take a look at the beautiful Young Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

1493. The Caribs and Arawaks inhabited the island when Christopher Columbus claimed it for Spain and named it Santa Maria de Montserrat. 1632. The island fell under British control and the first colony was established by Irish Catholics forcibly moved there from St. Kitts. 1660s. African slaves were brought in. Late 1770s. Thanks to the labor of African and Irish slaves, the colony developed, with an economy based on sugar, rum, arrowroot and cotton. 1782. Montserrat was captured by the French during the American Revolutionary War, but returned to Britain under the Treaty of Paris in 1783. 1834. Slavery was abolished, leading to the decline of the sugar industry. 1869. British philanthropist Joseph Sturge and family established the Montserrat Company Limited; planted lime trees; started commercial production of lime juice; allowed natives to buy and own much of the island. 1871 to 1956. Montserrat became part of the Leeward Islands Colony of Great Britain. 1956. The island became a colony in its own right. 1958 to 1962. Montserrat joined the West Indies Federation, but returned to dependency on Britain when the Federation ceased to exist. 1979. The Beatles producer George Martin opened AIR Studios. World-famous musicians recorded there and enjoyed the island’s tropical beauty. 1989. Hurricane Hugo wrought havoc on Montserrat and the studio closed. 1995. The Soufriere Hills Volcano awoke, and is still considered active. Read More

Manchester Villa is situated on the finest piece of canal front property in Lyford Cay offering panoramic views of the marina and waterways. With 3.29 acres of landscaped gardens including wonderful Bahamian and mature trees on four prime lots, it is a coveted peninsula. This massive estate, with room to spare, comprises over 12,000 square feet of interior space. It underwent a refresh and addition, which were completed in 2019 and now features a main villa, carriage house, captains cottage and guest apartment. Highlights of the property include a tennis court, beach volleyball court and extensive dockage that wraps almost the entire length of the seawall of the property.

Definition Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget. A key factor that distinguishes project management from just 'management' is that it has this final deliverable and a finite timespan, unlike management which is an ongoing process. Because of this a project professional needs a wide range of skills; often technical skills, and certainly people management skills and good business awareness. APM - Association for Project Management Read More

Christopher Columbus landed on Guadeloupe on November 4, 1493. Though originally called Karukéra (Island of Beautiful Waters) by the Carib Indians, Columbus named the island after the famous sanctuary of Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Estremadura. Lacking gold and silver, the island was not of great interest to the Europeans until the17th century. For a brief period the Spanish had tried to settle Guadeloupe but were stopped by the ferocious Carib Indians. Then around 1635, the French began to colonize the island. With the institutionalization of slavery in 1644, the trade of spices, sugar, tobacco and rum prospered between France, Africa and the Antilles. Guadeloupe was officially annexed by the King of France in 1674. As the island prospered, it became the scene of great battles between the French and the British, who occupied it from 1759 to 1763. That year it was restored to France in exchange for all French rights to Canada. But the tug-of-war continued on and off until 1815, when the Treaty of Paris designated Guadeloupe as French. In 1848, thanks to the efforts of Victor Schoelcher, slavery was abolished. Guadeloupe was represented for the first time in the French Parliament in 1871. It became a French Départment on March 19, 1946.

An adults-only resort in the Dominican Republic has held its grand opening in Punta Cana. The new all-inclusive Live Aqua Beach Resort Punta Cana, the first-ever Live Aqua Resort outside of Mexico, includes signature Live Aqua brand elements, such as freestanding bathtubs, specialty beds, a collection of swim-up suites and rooms with their own private pools; a Feel Harmony Spa and a state-of-the-art fitness center, among other amenities. The property is set around a central linear pool and a private beach. Source

There are luxury villas, and then there's Paradiso Del Mar. PM, as it's been dubbed by its creator, is more than an address. It's a statement in design that speaks to a contemporary tropical lifestyle that only a select few have ever dreamt of. We catch glimpses of such magnificence on the Gucci runway or late-night afterparties of Monaco and South Beach, but never before has it been captured in a Caribbean villa. Until now, in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Speaking to a packed audience with tears of both outrage, sadness and inspiration, and ending with a standing ovation, Leila Centner's presentation reveals the way the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 in schools, including masking, social distancing, and Plexiglass separations are inhumane, and need to be reverted before they cause irreparable harm to our beloved children. Leila Centner, co-founder of Centner Academy in Miami, FL -- a school which recently made international headlines for taking a stand against the experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccines -- presents at the Advanced Medicine Conference on May 30th, 2012, launching Stand for Health Freedom's national campaign to remove consent from the CDC's inhumane and harmful COVID-19 policies and guidelines for children in schools. Click Here To Watch The Full Video