SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, CMC - The United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) agency says it has collaborated with the US Coast Guard (USCG) in apprehending 84 undocumented Haitian migrants after they landed in Desecheo Island, 13 miles west of the mainland of Puerto Rico. The USCBP said a USCG on patrol had been able to see a group of 70 to 80 suspected illegal migrants and that for safety concerns the rescue of the group was postponed until daylight. It said the 84 undocumented migrants, included 57 males and 27 females.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says it does not condone, incite or support cruel and inhumane treatment of people and that it is working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in processing asylum seekers. In a lengthy statement, the Perry Christie government said it wanted to clarify events relating to the detained Cuban nationals in the country as well as “explain the way forward”. It said that the work with the UNCHR is being undertaken in accordance with United Nations treaties, customary international law, and the laws of the Bahamas.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has come out in support of the Amaila hydro project that the Guyana government said would result in a 40 per cent reduction in the importation bill for fuel and provide more disposable income in the pockets of consumers.
The Guyana government has been critical of the opposition parties in Parliament, after they used their one seat majority to block passage of legislation to finance the project.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Britain does not regard Dominica’s move to join the appellate jurisdiction of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as an act of “anti-Privy Council”, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said here on Wednesday.
Skerrit said that his administration would be sending an official letter to London “by the end of this week” outlining his administration’s desire to join the CCJ, which was established in 2001 to replace the Privy Council as the region’s final court.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Express - China’s Ambassador to T&T, Huang Xingyuan, has updated Beijing’s upbeat prospects for relations with the Caribbean, with T&T identified as the centrepiece of related arrangements. It was this country that Chinese President Xin Xinping chose for an historic state visit involving meetings here with Caribbean leaders.