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Fourteen countries collaborate on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Thirty-six delegates representing 14 countries throughout the Caribbean are gathered at Jolly Beach for a five-day seminar hosted by Antigua & Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) and organised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The IMO-organised Regional Seminar on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic (FAL) runs from June 4 to June 7with focused discussions emphasizing trade facilitation.

LIAT employees provide an essential service, PM Gonsalves says

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Dr Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent & the Grenadines, one of the three LIAT shareholder governments, said the airline’s employees are essential workers, echoing controversial sentiments made by LIAT’s chairman last month. “(Work) in the aviation business, certainly in LIAT, is an essential services. If you don’t accept that you don’t live in the real world today,” he said. “It is as essential as being the worker in the electricity services or as in water.”

Economic growth and development high on agenda for OECS heads

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The 57th Meeting of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority concluded yesterday with sub-regional heads of governments promising to put economic growth and development high on the agenda going forward. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, recently installed as chairman of the OECS Authority, said he and his counterparts received a presentation on the Draft OECS Development Strategy, which focused on developing the tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and ICT industries in the region.

Two CARICOM countries given extension to meet CFATF guidelines

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have until November to meet the stipulations outlined by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). The CFATF met in Nicaragua last week and according to Dominica’s Attorney General Levi Peters the island has been given “certain deadlines to comply with certain recommendations by the plenary”. Peters said that Dominica had been able to pass certain pieces of legislation within the last few months including the Suppression of Financing Terrorism Proceeds of Crime Amendment.

Our unity in diversity

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -TODAY I wish to reflect on two aspects of our post-independence political culture that need to be systematically purged across our Caribbean Community in favour of cultivating attitudes and improving decision-making for more civilised, healthy, productive norms in nation-building.

CARICOM must exploit US, China geo-political rivalry

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CLR James once described Caribbean peoples as being amongst the most modern, they having been at the centre of the 19th century industrial revolution in Britain. Over the last week, the Caribbean was again centre stage to an evolving international environment as the super power of the 20th century, the United States, and the emerging power of the 21st century, the People’s Republic of China, came to Port-of-Spain and by extension the Caribbean (English, Spanish, French and Creole-speaking) to undertake strategic geo-political jockeying for positions.

Regional delegation to discuss CARICOM Strategic Plan

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A Caribbean Community (CARICOM) delegation begins a series of consultations on Wednesday examining the 2014-19 Strategic Plan for CARICOM. Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert Morris, said the island is one of the pilot countries for the consultation process which was agreed upon at a meeting last month in Trinidad and Tobago.

Emailgate probers to get foreign help

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Although his meeting with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan did not pan out yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mervyn Richardson said the investigations into “emailgate” were “at pace” and foreign help was on the way. Richardson was appointed to conduct the probe into the e-mails disclosed by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley during his motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister on May 20.

Former government minister spared jail term

SCARBROUGH, Tobago, CMC – Former government minister Rennie Dumas was spared a jail term on Monday after he was found guilty in April of common assault and grievous body harm arising from an incident in 2011. Magistrate Nanette Forde-John said the Offences against the Person Act allows for a fine of TT$3, 500 (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents) or nine months in jail, while a conviction under the grievous body harm results in a fine of TT$15,000 or two years in prison.

Opposition Leader critical of supplemental bill seeking millions for airport

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC - Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace Monday said a bill asking Parliament to approve EC$208 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) in further loans to help finance the EC$652 million Argyle International Airport “nearly shocked the life out of me”. Eustace expects the bill for the loans to be approved when it goes before the Finance Committee, which comprises government and opposition legislators on Tuesday. “Of course, the Finance Committee is majority government.

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