VIENNA, CMC – The Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) Monday appealed to Caribbean governments to follow through on commitments to repel archaic criminal defamation laws int heir respective countries. Representatives from the IPI and the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), the region’s umbrella media organisation, visited five Caribbean countries in April.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Two United Nations specialist agencies, the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), may this year separately agree a basis on which all carriers by sea and air will limit their carbon emissions. Aviation is reported to be contributing around two per cent of global carbon emissions, and maritime transport more than three per cent.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Today is decision day for the people of Chaguanas West. The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) is expecting 27,045 voters to visit the 14 polling stations today for the Chaguanas West by-election. While the single seat is being contested by five groups, several political pundits say the battle is a one-on-one between the United National Congress (UNC), with candidate Khadijah Ameen, and the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), led by former UNC chairman and MP for the area Jack Warner.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC -The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTC) has dismissed suggestions by the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) that it is planning “massive” layoffs.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it has completed payment on the first set of securities to be issued on the Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM) in 2006.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - In this country’s efforts to grapple with its challenging economic circumstances as well as build a platform on which to record growth and boost job opportunities for its people, some emphasis will have to be placed on making greater and better use of technology.
It is evident that a knowledge-based economy will be critical to our very survival. The application of sciences will be a key component in any such approach.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it will soon table legislation to protect children from people who use the Internet to molest them. “We are going to put in some laws, because there are older people who prey on children online. We are going to make it a criminal offence, and we are going to put you in prison if you trouble the young (child), who should be in school,” said Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The food and beverage sector can be used to diversify T&T’s economy, according to Trade, Industry and Investment Minister Vasant Bharath. In an interview, the minister said local manufacturers are either already exporting their products or are ready to export and the sector globally is a lucrative one which manufacturers should capitalise on. “It’s a very mature sector at this point in time.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson is expected to outline changes to the no-smoking regulations when Parliament meets on Tuesday following an executive council meeting of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) where government senator KD Knight was booed for his position on the smoking ban.
PNP general secretary, Peter Bunting, told reporters at the end of the National Executive Council meeting that Dr. Ferguson had delivered a comprehensive report on the issue.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE news that 14 countries making up CARICOM are about to launch a formal, concerted effort to lay out claims of reparations for slavery from Britain, France and the Netherlands immediately suggested to me that many of the leaders in our neck of the woods are either too taken up with pining for a lost love, or they simply want to invoke the thought processes of the academic theorists among them who are not solid pragmatists.