Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around the Republic, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. Here's a look at some of this week's Mexico headlines, plus Puerto Vallarta news, community announcements, and this weekend's events.

Jamaica and Mexico to Deepen Relations

This year, Jamaica and Mexico commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in March 1965. Relations between the two countries will be further strengthened at the 8th Meeting of the Mexico-Jamaica Binational Commission in Mexico City in May 2016. "The relationship between the countries has been very friendly and very fruitful over the decades," Mexico's Ambassador to Jamaica, Martha Cecilia Jaber, said. According to Jaber, a comprehensive cooperation program for 2016-2017 will be signed at the May meeting. "There are different projects that will be considered in the two-year program," she said. "There are different Mexican companies that are already working in Jamaica and we are trying to work together with the Jamaican Government to increase the presence of Mexican companies in Jamaica," she added. Ambassador Jaber further disclosed that the program will include partnerships between the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Mona campus focusing on research and development, the social sciences, bio technology and gender studies. Additionally, she informed that plans are underway to start a Spanish Language training program in Jamaica.

Vallarta Garden Club Readies for 2016 Bugambilia Fest

The Puerto Vallarta Garden Club is busy making sure that the 2016 Vallarta Bugambilia Festival will be chock-full of fun and exciting events for the entire family. The PV Garden Club's goal is to make Puerto Vallarta "The Bougainvillea Capital of the World," so, every year they host a Bugambilia Festival to promote Mexican culture through the delicate world of flowers. This year's event will take place from April 28th through May 3rd, featuring four days of artistic, cultural, ecological and musical events in the heart of Puerto Vallarta. Come out and enjoy free family fun that includes a maritime parade on Banderas Bay; theater, dance and musical performances; interesting workshops; an artisan pavilion where you can watch Huichol and other artists creating their works; a culinary expo and sale; a parade along the boardwalk featuring a Charro demonstration, and more. Floral festivals, like Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival, are well known tourism magnets. Since tourism is Puerto Vallarta's biggest industry and this festival can draw many more visitors to our part of Mexico, all local schools, businesses and the public in general are welcome to participate in this year's Vallarta Bugambilia Festival. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

US Border Patrol Allegedly Looting Mexican Deportees

Federal immigration agents may be looting or failing to return personal belongings to immigrants before deporting them back to Mexico, leaving them vulnerable to extortion without their identification cards or money, alleges a new complaint from various human rights and immigrant advocacy organizations. The complaint, which was submitted on behalf of 26 migrants deported from the El Paso Border Patrol sector in 2015 and 2016, accuses U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials of confiscating items of "great personal value and necessity," including U.S. dollars, Mexican pesos, identity cards, legal papers, cell phones, clothing, prescription eyeglasses, and prescription drugs. The complaint follows a systemic pattern of mass dispossession and rights violation among border agents, particularly in the El Paso region. A 2013 study found that along the El Paso sector, at least 65 percent of people deported reported that the government failed to return at least one of their possessions.

Purr Project's Summer Travel Project

Purr Project's Marilyn Khan recently visited with Pamela Thompson of Healthcare Resources Puerto Vallarta and dropped off a big bag of hotel toiletries the "Purr People" collected in their travels last year. Pamela will distribute them to patients at the Regional Hospital and to other needy charities in Puerto Vallarta. This year, in your world travels, how about visiting your local dollar store and picking up some of the items on Pam's wish list: Hotel size soaps, shampoos, creams, deodorant; Combs/small hairbrushes; "Onesies" (for newborns); Baby bottles; Receiving blankets; Washcloths; NIDO/NANO powdered baby formula; Baby booties/caps; Toothbrushes and toothpaste - stuff them in your suitcase and bring 'em down! For more information and a complete list of needs, email Pamela at pamela(at)healthcareresourcespv.com.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
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• Rockin' Under the Stars for Corazón de Niña

• Saturday Shopping at the Old Town Farmers Market

• Guayafest Brings Volkswagen Lovers to Riviera Nayarit