BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Christopher Sinckler has likened the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate changes as a “sword of Damocles hanging over our development” and wants donor countries and financial institutions to adopt a more humane approach to middle income countries seeking funding to deal with climate change.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Barbados’ energy policy is currently being “finalized” and will soon be submitted to Cabinet. The above was disclosed recently by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Darcy Boyce, who noted that a central feature of this policy will be the greater use of renewable energy, for both base load and interruptible supply, in conjunction with increased energy efficiency, in the generation and use of electricity.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The conundrum brought on by the overthrow of the Muhammed Morsi government in Egypt represents the greatest test for democracy as we know it. It represents the limited power of the ballot as we know it and breeds perpetual disorder.
There seems a growing trend of taking to the streets to achieve political change, which is being seen across the world as a major challenge to the ideal of democratic change by the orderly process of the ballot box.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC - INTERPOL and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) will be hosting a two-day workshop to help the region develop capabilities to respond to a emergencies related to the accidental or deliberate use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) materials.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados economy contracted during the first six months of the year with the main foreign exchange sectors also suffering a decline, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) on Tuesday.
The CBB said that the local economy grew by just 0.6 per cent and among the priorities for the future will be to reduce spending “in the economy so as to balance the inflows and outflows of foreign exchange “and also “to revive economic growth led by tourism, international business, agro processing and alternative energy”.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) will soon sign a US$7.1 million agreement with Dominica.
CDF executive officer Ambassador Lorne McDonnough said that the organisation will continue to assist disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors within the Caribbean Community as they participate in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The CDF has since 2011 provided US$35.5 million in financial assistance to Belize, Dominica, St .Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -The great South African leader and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela must be celebrated in life and in his ultimate departure of death. As such, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, has asked that the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, to be constructed at University Drive, Cave Hill, be a place of “spiritual reverence and peace”, so all those who visit the Park can celebrate his legacy and what he stood for.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Local emergency services here have been placed on full alert as Tropical Storm Chantal races towards the Lesser Antilles. In preparation, the Department of Emergency Management plans to activate the emergency operations centre at 9:30 pm (local time) and also open Category One shelters from 6:00 pm to facilitate persons who wish to shelter there. Deputy Director, Kerry Hinds told reporters that a pre-strike meeting which involved all key emergency personnel was held at the Emergency Operations center on Monday morning.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - A report coming out of the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad & Tobago has indicated that regional leaders will be looking to expand the bloc to embrace more territories in the area. The impetus behind this suggestion is to seek ways to strengthen CARICOM, which, it has been acknowledged, is facing challenges. Despite these, the consensus is that the good far outweighs the bad. Some may suggest that it would be better to improve the sturdiness of the current structure before looking to add more weight, so to speak.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - SOME CRITICS of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) may wonder why it is that the Dominican Republic’s repeated request to access membership of our regional economic integration movement is yet to get a positive response.