Focus on opportunities

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Should we congratulate St. Kitts and Nevis for being the most recent Caribbean nation to become a “high-income country, as defined by the World Bank? Recently, the President of the United States of America Barack Obama pointed out that it was his intention to terminate t...
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PM predicts economic growth, announces new taxes

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has presented Parliament with a EC$799.1 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) national budget outlining increased taxes and predicting economic growth for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2013. Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustac...
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PM says IMF not only solution to Jamaica’s problems

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says while an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will it some needed assistance, it is not however the solution to the problems facing the country. “The IMF will not solve the problems of Jamaica. We all have to make some ...
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Jamaica gives assurances to implement EPA agreements

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it has given approval for the necessary amendments to be made to the Customs Act as the island implements the tariff liberalisation aspect of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) countries a...
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Confronting CARICOM’s implementation deficit

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE recent announcement by the secretary general of the Caribbean Community, Irwin LaRocque, of fresh efforts to restructure the management of the regional economic integration movement would most likely raise new questions about the commitment of Heads of Government to implement...
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Venezuela urged to halt censorship, intimidation of media

WASHINGTON, CMC – A major human rights group here has urged the Venezuelan government to end censorship and intimidation of media that challenge the official line regarding President Hugo Chávez’s health and inauguration. Human Rights Watch said on Saturday that, in recent days, t...
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Venezuela: Chavez is responding to treatment

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's government says President Hugo Chavez is conscious and responding to treatment for a respiratory infection at a Cuban hospital. Information Minister Ernesto Villegas says the infection has been controlled, but Chavez is still suffering from respiratory deficienc...
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Chavez, PetroCaribe and the health of the Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The prognosis for the recovery from cancer of President Hugo Chavez is uncertain. If he is not able or does not assume the Venezuelan presidency, then it brings into question the continuation of PetroCaribe on which Caribbean countries are heavily dependent. The termination, phas...
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