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New options to deal with blackout

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago is to consider establishing another option to provide reliable electricity to customers following last weekend’s power outage that plunged the country into total darkness for more than eight hours.
Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, who is expected to submit a report to Cabinet on Thursday on the blackout, said “the time has come to examine whether we have too many eggs in one basket, the natural gas basket.

Antigua still looking for settlement with US on internet gaming

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says there has been no “substantial progress” with the United States with regards to the long standing internet gaming dispute despite recent rulings in its favour by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Baldwin Spencer government says it has sought to keep the trade dispute with Washington on “the front burner” of the WTO meetings even as it continues to seek an amicable solution to the matter.

Caribbean nations search for offshore oil amid spill fears

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - The turquoise waters that have long brought treasure seekers to the Caribbean now are drawing a new kind of explorer as countries across the region increasingly open their seas to oil exploration.
From the Bahamas and Cuba down to Aruba and Suriname, international oil companies are lining up to locate potentially rich offshore deposits in the Caribbean. The countries hope drilling could lead to a black-gold bonanza, easing demand for imported oil and diversifying their economies.

Ministry to focus on youth in agriculture

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Officials in the Ministry of Agriculture are seeking to formulate a national plan for youth to drive further development within the agricultural sector.
The mid-term plan will not only address the current needs of youth involved in the sector, but will also guide them in terms of future advancements.
Director of Agriculture Jedidiah Maxim told OBSERVER media the ministry would be working in tandem with regional organisations, to formulate a comprehensive programme addressing youth in agriculture over the next four to five years.

Prime Minister Stuart is new RSS Chairman

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of Barbados has taken over the chairmanship of the Regional Security System (RSS). He was selected to head the regional body at its just concluded meeting in St. John’s, Antigua. Mr. Stuart replaces Errol Cort, the National Security Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.
Coming out of that meeting, the new Chairman has re-emphasised this country’s commitment to the grouping that comprises the member states of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts, Grenada and Barbados.

Cyprus debt and Caribbean defaults

KINGSTON, Jamaica - In the last few days, the government of Cyprus has begun to implement the measures demanded of it by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In return for providing €10 billion (US$13 billion) in support, a sum small by international standards, Europe has taken steps down a route that may set a precedent for Slovenia and others in the Eurozone such as Italy and Spain, if they are unable to resolve their long-term economic problems.

Debt warning

warning BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Caribbean countries, including Barbados, they face an uphill battle fighting the debt crisis that has them in a stranglehold.
An IMF paper released yesterday, titled Caribbean Small States: Challenges of High Debt And Low Growth, said the average debt as a percentage of GDP for the region now hovered around 79 per cent with some individual nations’ ratios over 100 per cent and the global financial crisis had worsened the debt crisis.

Making it work

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Discussions surrounding movement of goods, services and of people throughout CARICOM should be at the forefront of a lecture tonight at the Grand Salle, Frank Collymore Hall. The lecture begins a series of events over the next few days to mark the inaugural National Services Week. Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert “Bobby” Morris and International Business Minister, Donville Inniss, will be among the headline speakers.

Diplomatic push for Middle East

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - UNITED STATES President Barack Obama scored a diplomatic coup last week on his whirlwind trip to the Middle East. At first there was much speculation that the tour would merely be a widow-dressing exercise, especially among the Palestinians.
However, there is now some scope for progress though somewhat tangentially. First there was the belated apology that came from Israel for the 2010 commando raid on an aid flotilla on a Turkish vessel carrying supplies to Palestine. This shows that diplomacy works but often requires patience.

BRICS plan development bank

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Leaders of five of the world's emerging economic powers agreed Wednesday to create a development bank to help fund their US$4.5-trillion infrastructure plans - a direct challenge to the World Bank that they accuse of Western bias.
But the rulers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — known as the BRICS group — were unable to agree on some basic issues. Foreign Minister Pravin Gordhan of South Africa told reporters that there were "different views" about how much capital such a bank would need.

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