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Europe’s changing relationship with the Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Last week, St Lucia's Prime Minister, Kenny Anthony, issued a warning about Europe's future relationship with the Caribbean. Speaking in his capacity as outgoing chair of CARICOM, he suggested the possibility of a reassessment as a result of the EU's changing development policy towards middle-ranking economies. Speaking to CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti, Dr. Anthony suggested that such changes may lead to Europe, as well as CARICOM, having to determine not just the diplomatic, but also the political value of the existing relationship.

No, no, Mr Bailey!

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Who is this special advisor from Britain, Shaun Bailey, and what is his real purpose here in Jamaica? Those of us who are of the pre-independence era, and who have emerged through the delivery of our country from colonialism to independence, must ask the above question with sadness.

CARICOM supports Ja hosting SIDS regional meeting

KINGSTON, Jamaica - CARICOM has supported Jamaica's hosting of the regional meeting of the Conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in June this year. The meeting is part of the preparatory process for the third summit of SIDS to be held in Samoa next year.

If President Chavez goes, what future for PetroCaribe beneficiaries?

KINGSTON, Jamaica - AILING President Hugo Chavez has returned to Venezuela, but that is not synonymous with a return to active service as leader of the country. His arrival in Caracas is not likely to silence political opponents salivating at the prospect of his demise, nor will it end the rampant speculation that his precarious health could force him to resign from office. He has been president for 14 years during which time he has been a populist in domestic policy and a nationalist in foreign policy.

Caribbean security firms see niche market

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (UPI) -- Caribbean security industry operators are seeing business growth in response to both prosperity of an emerging wealthy class and a rise in crime risks to rich individuals and business organizations. Vigorous armed pursuit of organized crime in Latin America, in particular in Colombia and Mexico, has driven criminal drug gangs and syndicates toward potential rich pickings in the Caribbean. Governments have responded by building up security services, often with British or U.S. help.

EDITORIAL - Be done with the pussyfooting on energy

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Unintentionally, perhaps, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) was less than generous with the facts, or the interpretation thereof. But through its wool and waffle we discern an effort to finally get on with the job of delivering new, cheaper electricity-generating capacity to the country and to give the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and its parents a fair shot at the effort. This newspaper supports the move because Jamaica has dilly-dallied for too long on the energy question.

EDITORIAL - The other side of the IMF agreement

KINGSTON, Jamaica - SHORT OF Jamaica quitting its borrowing habit cold turkey, this newspaper is convinced that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the only game in town. We also believe that given our situation, the deal that has been struck with the IMF is on the best terms that we could get. They are tough, but could have been much worse.

World Bank commends Jamaican Gov’t

WASHINGTON, DC, USA — The World Bank has commended the Jamaican Government on recent economic initiatives, including the National Debt Exchange (NDX), to secure the recent staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "I have been listening keenly to the development in Jamaica over the last couple of days and I think what has transpired is a move in the right direction. This will help to improve the economy of Jamaica and the World Bank stands ready to assist in whatever way we can," executive director of the World Bank Marie Lucie Morin said.

Keep The Queen - Advisor to British PM urges Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica -JAMAICA should step cautiously in its attempt to remove the Queen of England as head of state, as it could have adverse consequences, a special advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Shaun Bailey, a budding, black politician who is of Jamaican heritage, told Jamaica Observer executives and journalists yesterday at the newspaper's weekly Monday Exchange, that it would not be in Jamaica's best interest for The Queen to be removed as this north Caribbean island's head of state.

PSOJ warns of massive job losses

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling on the Government to immediately review and make changes to aspects of its new tax regime, which it said could do more harm than good to the economy. "The PSOJ is urging the Government to immediately review and change its tax treatment of certain raw material inputs under the new waiver caps imposed by the proposed IMF agreement," said the group in a release on the weekend.

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