Antigua and Barbuda has reported a 7% increase in tourist arrivals in July as the country continues to record a “steady rebound” in visitor arrivals in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had forced the closure of borders.
The Ministry of Tourism said during July, Antigua and Barbuda welcomed 24,673 visitors, an increase of 23,405 from the corresponding period last year and the 2019 record of 23,031.
Effective August 19, consumers in Barbados will be paying less for gasoline and diesel as Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the price of fuel at the pump will be capped for the next five months.
Gasoline will cost BDS$4.48 (US$2.24) per litre, while diesel will be BDS$4.03 (US$2.01) until January 31, 2023. Mottley also said that the cap on the Value Added Tax (VAT) on gasoline and diesel, which was put in place five months ago, would be kept in place.
His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali,
Heads of Government of CARICOM have committed to reducing the Region’s large food import bill by 25% by 2025. The implementation of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Strategy in the Member States, is expected to help achieve this target, by giving special attention to priority crops and products such as poultry, corn, soya, meat (Goat, Sheep, Beef), rice and niche vegetables which are highly imported products in the region.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has taken steps to accelerate the use of the measures under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The Conference of Heads of Government in July 2017, approved the Implementation Plan for the CSME 2017-2019 which coincides with the CARICOM Strategic Plan (2015-2019).
The Plan is a comprehensive document which details the level of implementation of measures called for by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas or decisions taken by Community Organs.
CARICOM Finance and Planning Ministers were meeting in Barbados Tuesday to advance a number of development initiatives geared towards enhancing the use and operation of the Single Market and Economy.
It is the sixth Special Meeting of the Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) and was convened under the Chairmanship of Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr Gaston Browne.
Please see the latest edition of the CARICOM Business newsletter which comprises information culled from news entities in the Caribbean and beyond and includes a Foreign Exchange Summary, a Stock Exchange Summary and International Oil Prices.
Asserting our future, celebrating ourselves is the theme for the thirteenth Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XIII), which takes place in Barbados on August 17-27, 2017.