BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Caribbean countries have been warned that they should not lose sight of the bigger goal of economic transformation and development even as they remain pre-occupied with overall economic growth.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams Wednesday denied making statements that the emails purporting to show that members of the Trinidad and Tobago government were engaged in efforts to undermine the judiciary, the DPP and the media, were false.
Williams told a news conference that he was “actually astonished by such a publication because there was no way in the discussion that i would have made any reference to fake emails”.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada police Wednesday said they would adopt a zero policy stance regarding the wearing of camouflage clothing in public and warned both visitors and locals to desist from doing especially as the island gears up for the annual Carnival celebrations next month.
“The law is pretty clear about person wearing military clothes but yet Customs release them,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Edvin Martin, who also noted that not all attire being sold in shops here had entered the island through an authorize port of entry.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday warned Government against any “under the table” deals in any disposal of assets within the CL Financial portfolio.
“Such disposal should be done openly and transparently, getting the best price on the open market,” he said. “It must stand full public scrutiny,” he declared.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua- LIAT, Wednesday, apologised to customers for its “numerous” flight delays and cancellations over the past few weeks and sought to give explanations.
A press statement quoted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LIAT Ian Brunton as saying the disruptions were caused by a combination of factors and that the airline is taking “urgent and decisive” steps to address its issues.
BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – The Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIM) and four Mayan communities in the Tamesh National Park have gone to the court seeking to prevent a United states-based oil company drilling within the national park.
SATIM and the other groups claim that US Capital Energy has started exploration work within the park and has also included the Belize government in its legal challenge.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - The regional think tank, Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), is urging Caribbean governments to diversify the incentives being offered in the renewable energy market.
Presenting an update on its renewable-energy research that it expects will influence policies and inform potential investors on the way forward in the sector, CaPRI's renewable energy programme manager, Dr Suzanne Shaw, said the research has revealed that the region should be aiming for greater diversification of incentives in the renewable energy market.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua- Antigua & Barbuda’s representative to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has expressed the importance of gathering data to measure the true picture of the obesity situation in Antigua & Barbuda.
“There needs to be a national survey to determine the true figure as it relates to obesity in Antigua & Barbuda,” Edward Emanuel said.
He noted that although national data is not available, information collected at clinics in 2012 indicated that among adults 20 years and over, 29. 3 per cent were overweight and 36.5 per cent were obese.
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica’s President Eliud Williams Wednesday urged nationals residing overseas to contribute to the growth of the local economy.
Delivering the traditional Throne Speech ahead of the budget presentation by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Williams, a former senior public servant, said that one of the challenges facing the country is the creation of sustainable jobs.
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Wednesday presented an EC$474.7 million (One EC dollar= US$0.37 cents) take free budget to Parliament predicting economic growth and improvements in the main revenue earning sectors.
Skerrit, who is also Finance Minister, said that budget presented does not include any new taxes or unrealistic promises and that it is based on the theme “Building On the Gains We Have Made”.