BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Central Bank of Barbados Tuesday said that the local economy contracted by 0.4 per cent in the first three months of 2013 and urged the authorities to put “back on track” the fiscal consolidation strategy as well as a new medium term adjustment strategy to turn around the island’s economic fortunes.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate -The European Union (EU) is funding programmes and providing resources to ensure that young creative minds are given more opportunities to develop their craft.
Working with the government, the hope is to further enhance the resources within the Fine Arts Division at the Barbados Community College while calling on teachers to explore multiple intelligences and varied teaching styles to accommodate the diverse learning styles of students.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss says the Caribbean has to keep up with technological changes in order to take full advantage of doing business in a global village.
“I sense that the days of credit cards with magnetic strips may be going the way of the pay phone or the snail mail. We cannot afford to be left behind,” he stated.
BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – The main opposition People’s United Party (PUP) has rejected the latest move by Guatemala showing Belize to be part of the Central American country.
Guatemala plans to distribute four million new passports with the map showing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country as part of its territory over the next decade.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will give its ruling in the matter of Shanique Myrie against the Government of Barbados at a later date, which is yet to be announced.
The matter came to a close yesterday at the CCJ’s Headquarters in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, with President of the CCJ Dennis Byron adjourning the matter so the seven-judge panel can deliberate on the evidence provided in the case.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Former Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird believes that the late Margaret Thatcher was most befitting of the tag “Iron Lady” – a name she got for the way she operated as Britain’s prime minister. He told OBSERVER Radio that while she influenced world politics significantly, Britain’s past PM was very instrumental in retaining apartheid in South Africa.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas Monday joined the international community in paying tribute to Margaret Thatcher, described as Britain’s most dominant prime minister since Winston Churchill. Thatcher, 87, had been in declining health for some years, suffering from dementia. She died peacefully following a stroke. Observers said the death of Sir Denis Thatcher, her husband of 50 years and closest confidante, intensified her isolation in what had proved a frustrating retirement, despite energetic worldwide activity in the early years.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar Monday described the death of Britain’s former head of government, Margaret Thatcher as “ a profound sense of loss”. “The United Kingdom and indeed the world, has lost a woman who, throughout her life, has been a valuable contributor to local and global efforts to improve the well-being of those whom she served” she said in a statement. Thatcher, who was 87, had been in declining health for some years, suffering from dementia. She died peacefully following a stroke.