The recent High Level Caribbean Forum in Nassau was the latest in a series of discussions to develop a road map for the region’s long-term economic growth while addressing persistent debt and fiscal issues. A significant consensus about the path forward is clearly taking shape.
It’s time for decisive action, so that the region can build on hard-won social and economic gains.
The reasons are multiple.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The 93-year-old mother of Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has died after ailing for a short period.
Press Secretary Jadia Jn Pierre-Emmanuel confirmed that Andrazine Anthony passed away at the Tapion Hospital, on the outskirts of the capital on Tuesday.
The ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) said “Andraz”, as she was affectionately known, had “always been a tower of strength for her children.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE persistent sucking sound of beneficiary dependents who appear to have no intention of being weaned, and who don't seem to want to grow up and assume responsibility for themselves, could be heard at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
That, unfortunately, appears to be the mindset and policy of most Caricom states whose leaders used the occasion of the General Assembly, which provides an audience of global political leadership, to continue to ask for aid or to be reclassified among the world's poor countries.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - When the Caribbean Court of Justice hands down its decision in the case Shanique Myrie vs Barbados on Friday it will of critical regional importance. It has implications at the political level and more important, for the CCJ itself.
If the case goes against Miss Myrie, we have no doubt those opponents of the court in Jamaica, particularly within the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party and some members of the legal fraternity, will be shouting about why that country should not fully sign on to the CCJ.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Republic Bank says it now controls 40 per cent of the HFC Bank Ghana, after acquiring an additional 7.98 per cent shareholding in financial institution.
In a statement, the Trinidad-based bank said that it purchased 23,638,340 ordinary shares at a price of GHS 0.67 (US$0.31) per share, making it the single largest shareholder in HFC Bank Ghana.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Audley Shaw, the opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) spokesman on Finance has declared that he is the right man to lead the 70-year-old political party to victory in the next general election. On Sunday, the former Finance Minister officially launched his campaign to challenge current JLP leader – Andrew Holness. In an address to thousands of supporters in the central parish of Manchester, Shaw outlined his plans if he takes over the reigns of the party.
NEW YORK, CMC – A United States sustainability group says that it will build an orphanage and children’s facility in Haiti in honour of former US President Bill Clinton.
US Green Building Council (USGBC) president, chief executive officer and founding chair Rick Fedrizzi said the facility will be name in recognition of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) “longstanding work to engage and empower the global community to find innovative solutions to the world's most pervasive problems.”
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The Grenada government took an important forward step last week in announcing its intention to review and make “necessary changes” to legislation that raised fears of potential disadvantage to free expression. In response to criticism by local, regional and international media interests, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell also promised to consult with Grenadian and regional media people before final enactment of the Electronic Crimes Bill, already passed by both houses of the St George’s parliament.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - State carrier Caribbean Airlines has suspended one of its managers as an investigation continues into what has been described as a million-dollar fraud involving the use of bogus credit cards which has already cost CAL more than $12 million in losses.
Sources familiar with the airline’s operations say due to CAL not adequately addressing validation measures for local and European credit cards, scammers have managed to evade detection by CAL officials and have managed to get refunds from sales activities with the airline.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC - A High Court judge has reserved judgment in a case in which the St. Kitts-Nevis government is seeking to lift an injunction granted to opposition legislators wanting to stop the implementation of proposed changes to the constituency boundaries ahead of the next general elections. Justice Darshan Ramdhani over the weekend said he would need a couple of weeks to give his decision, ensuring that the conservatory order prohibiting the Governing General from signing the proclamation effecting constituency boundaries changes would remain in place.