BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - HAD Government’s Medium Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) not been implemented, the fiscal adjustment which now has to be made of four per cent or close to $400 million, would be times higher.
This assertion from Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Chris Sinckler, who believes the shift being seen right now was reflective of what was happening in the global economy.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - History will be created in Barbados when the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC) grants institutional accreditation status to one of the island’s tertiary educational providers – the University of the West Indies Open Campus (UWIOC).
The Open Campus will receive this award, the first of its kind on the island, next Monday, July 8 at 10 a.m. at the Council’s Headquarters at NO 123 A, “Plaza Centrale”, Roebuck Street, St. Michael.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - In an effort to curb the growing level of obesity in this island, the Ministry of Health has started talks with several fast food restaurants with the intent of having healthier foods placed on their menus.
Senior Medical Health Officer (CNCDs), Dr. Kenneth George, made this revelation yesterday during Esso’s Help Us Help programme at the Hilton Barbados.
He said that the department was in the process of engaging the restaurants in creating healthier alternatives for its client base.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Gleaner - Despite a 3.1 per cent decrease in visitor arrivals this past winter, Jamaica is already reporting a rebound of nine per cent in one of its most important source markets - Canada.
This has been bolstered by an unprecedented growth of 10 per cent in the United Kingdom (UK) market over the past two months.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - The Baldwin Spencer led administration is boasting a 500 per cent improvement in the fiscal performance for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period last year.
Finance and Economy Minister Harold Lovell said this was largely due to an almost 24 per cent drop in expenditure from the previous EC$172.6 million.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill says funds are place to implement the transformational development projects slated for the resort towns of Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, as well as Port Royal in Kingston.
At Wednesday's weekly Jamaica House press briefing, McNeil disclosed that agreements have been signed and a total of J$550 million (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.01 cents) has been put in place to start the projects.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Guardian - Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) Victor Villalobos is endorsing a decision by International Labour Organization (ILO) head Guy Ryder to pay greater attention to the “rural economy” in the context of labour standards and rights. In an interview with T&T Guardian, Villalobos described the strategy as “very important,” since it would “help keep the best people in agriculture” and assist in promoting development in rural communities.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Chronicle - AS the days draw near to the largest single cultural event in the Region, the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Frank Anthony, yesterday, announced that Guyana would be taking the largest delegation to the festival, and the estimated budget will be $20M.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Guardian - Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell is calling for the removal of aliens’ landholding requirements for Caricom nationals. Mitchell made the appeal during his address at Wednesday’s opening of the 34th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s. He said it would be a significant first step towards the free movement of people and capital in the region.
(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday suggested a “regional think tank” be established to examine multiple security threats facing the region.
She was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 34th Caricom heads of Government conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. Fourteen heads of government of the region are attending the conference.
Such an approach, she said, would also identify ways of improving cooperation between governments and law enforcement agencies in countering illicit activity in the hemisphere.