Cuba

Cuban casas particulares turn home into a business

Booking a room at a “casa particular,” a Cuban bed and breakfast, is a way to see the island through the eyes of the people

CUBA

Cuban Americans in Congress want meeting with IKEA over Cuban prisoners

To ask if Cuban prison labor was used to make furniture for the Swedish giant

Haiti tourism

Haiti’s rebranding itself as tourism destination

As the Caribbean’s tourism market rebounds, Haiti hoteliers look to get a piece of the action.

Caribbean

Business plan competition launched for Caribbean, diaspora entrepreneurs

U.S. State Department launches $100,000 business competition to spur jobs in the Caribbean through partnerships with members of the Caribbean diaspora living the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Haiti

Haitians look at investment opportunities, challenges in Haiti

Haitians in South Florida and elsewhere spent the day at a Miami conference exploring investment opportunities for Haiti.

International trade

Commerce official: US on track to double exports by end of 2014

On a visit to Miami, Commerce Undersecretary Francisco Sánchez signed a document urging local trade organizations to work in partnership to boost U.S. exports

EMPLOYMENT

Santiago bustles with the work of Cuba’s new self-employed

As the communist government seeks to move massive numbers of people off state payrolls, Cubans are embracing self-employment — like it or not

Brazil

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff prepares for Washington visit

Her visit to Washington next week follows up on a trip President Barack Obama made to Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro last year.

Business leader offers advice on going global

Charlotte Gallogly is president of World Trade Center Miami and a director of the World Trade Centers Association.

Security

Fashionable bullet-proof wear finds growth abroad

Miguel Caballero started making bullet-proof clothing in Colombia 19 years ago. Latin America’s surging crime wave is creating new markets.

HAITI

Haiti rebrands itself, but getting there will cost more

While many welcome Haiti’s push to rebrand itself from Caribbean disaster zone to tourism Mecca, reviews are mixed over government’s plans to increase air travel tax and add a new tourism card for visitors

Colombia Mining

Where the gold is green, and so are the profits

For generations, Afro-Colombians have practiced environmentally friendly gold mining. Nowadays, it’s paying off big-time.

Real estate

Miami’s condo king takes on Brazilian real estate

Developers Jorge Pérez and Stephen Ross have launched Related Brasil in partnership with Brazilian real estate executive Daniel Citron

Anti-Money Laundering

Fighting money laundering a constant battle for banks

Some 1,200 bankers and other financial professionals, lawyers, regulators and government officials gather in Miami for an anti-money laundering conference.

Venezuela

Analysts: Venezuela to devalue bolivar next year

Economic analysts said they expect a devaluation of the Venezuelan currency regardless of who wins the Oct. 7 presidential elections.

Shadow Inventory 2011

COURTS

Promises of Costa Rican dream homes fueled a 'Ponzi-type scheme,' lawsuit says

She wanted a piece of paradise — a tropical retirement home where the temperature is warm, the air is clean and the crowds and stress of South Florida are far, far away.