ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Sir Paul Scoon, who served as Grenada’s first Governor General, died Monday. He was 78. Sir Paul, who had been ailing for some time, died at his home. He served as head of state from 1978-1992. The former school teacher worked with six prime ministers, as well as establishing an interim government following the collapse of the leftwing People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) of Maurice Bishop in 1983.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it is moving to reduce the cost of cancer treatment on the island and that talks are at an advanced stage with a Canadian hospital for the acquisition of equipment for the public health sector. Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson said that during a recent visit to Canada, he was able to make “significant progress” with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for the supply of two Linear Accelerator machines, which are used for radiotherapy treatment. “We are closer to achieving our objective of getting two Linear Accelerator machines.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart will meet with senior public servants later on Tuesday amid ongoing reports of retrenchment within the public service as the government comes to grip with a worsening economic climate. But ahead of the talks, Prime Minister Stuart is emphasizing that his administration, which introduced a number of cost cutting measures in the national budget last month, is not on a “crusade” to lay off public workers.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says it remains committed to the prevention of human trafficking, describing it as one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the country. National Security Minister Bernard J. Nottage addressing the launch of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Technical Skills Training in Human Trafficking said “human trafficking was an obscure activity with little known and little being understood, that was silently festering within our country.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - Climate change experts from across the Caribbean begin a three-day meeting here on Tuesday to discuss ways of reducing the impact of climate change on the region’s agriculture and tourism sectors. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat will host its third climate change seminar from September 3 that will also focus on “strategies and innovations in tourism and agriculture”.
The Caribbean Community considers the early election of a new Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) important and necessary in light of the current challenges the hemispheric body is facing.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer- EXECUTIVE Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) Dr Fritz Pinnock has plans to establish a trans-shipment port and logistics hub in Jamaica as the best business opportunities the country has ever seen.
He, however, urged the Government to devise a sustainable plan that would ensure that Jamaicans are trained to take on the specialised jobs the new business ventures will afford.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ended a one-day visit to Guyana on Saturday in a move that strengthens the relationship between the two countries that have had a long standing border dispute.
The two countries have agreed to ask the Jamaica-born academic, Professor Norman Girvan to continue as the United Nations (UN) good officer as they seek to settle their border dispute.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Chronicle - THE visit by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, despite being a short
one, from all indications seems to be a fruitful and productive one as several important agreements were clinched and it is evident that relations between the two South American neighbours will become closer and stronger, much to the benefit of their peoples.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Chronicle - THE Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA) is perhaps the greatest platform for showcasing the cultural diversity of the various Caribbean countries. It presents an excellent opportunity for networking and developing long-lasting relationships between the citizens of those countries.
The recently-concluded 11th edition of this festival is a complete manifestation of just that, as it was our neighbour’s, Suriname’s, turn to organize and host this auspicious event, which was nothing short of spectacular this year.