WASHINGTON, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday said that St. Lucia has weathered the difficult post-crisis environment, becoming the largest economy in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
The ECCU comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, , CMC – The Trade Union Federation (TUF) is keeping up the pressure on the Kenny Anthony government for a six per cent increase in salaries for public servants who on Monday began the third week of their dispute with both sides sticking to their positions.
The TUF, which groups many of the public sector unions here, remains convinced that the government can meet its demand despite indicating that it could only afford a four per cent wage hike.
The TUF is schedule to meet with the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) this week.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) says it is moving ahead with plans to develop the yachting sector in the sub-region. A statement issued by the Str. Lucia-based OECS Secretariat Monday, said that a meeting was held late last month in the British Virgin islands to advance plans for the development of an action plan for the sector. The meeting was supported by the European Union under the 10th European Union Development (EDF) Economic Integration and Trade of the OECS region project.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Caribbean Community leaders were Wednesday paying tribute to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who died Tuesday after a prolonged battle with cancer.
St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony said that the significance of Chavez's death "looms very large" for several Caribbean states especially those that shared a close working relationship with his administration.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC - The Ministry of Transport and Aviation says a Haitian “sloop” confiscated during a recent drug enforcement operation had sunk in the harbour of Inagua on Sunday, spilling more than 200 gallons of a mixture of oil and diesel fuel into the water.
It said that incident occurred during the night when the 75 foot wooden vessel sank in adverse weather conditions.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIA) Monday called for an end to the industrial action by public servants who are demanding higher salaries from the Kenny Anthony administration.
CCIA executive director Brian Louisy urged both the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the unions representing teachers and public servants to return to the bargaining table.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua-based regional airline, LIAT, Monday announced it had been forced to suspend flights to St. Lucia where public servants have taken industrial action to force the government to increase their salaries and wages.
A brief statement from the cash-strapped airline did not say how many flights were being suspended but said that the suspension was due to the absence of fire services at the George F. Charles Airport on the outskirts of the capital.
“LIAT wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the statement added.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony Monday appealed to public workers to accept his government’s four per cent wage increase and prevent the island from “any further hardship” as workers stayed away from their jobs for higher salaries.
"Our country does not need mayhem, confusion and disagreement at this time, our people need to get together, we have a crisis on our hands to deal with and it is critical and crucial that we come together deal with it, but very clearly it has to be a shared responsibility across the board," Anthony said.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Public servants took to the streets in Castries on Friday in support of demands for higher wages that the government of Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony said it cannot afford.
The workers are seeking a six per cent wage hike with benefits or a nine per cent increase, but Anthony said the government could only afford a four per cent wage increase and warned of retrenchment within the public service if the increase is any higher.
CASTRIES, St.Lucia, CMC-Prime Minister Kenny Anthony says the negotiations between Government and Public Sector Unions have reached an impasse and has recommended that the issue be sent to arbitration.
In an address to the nation on Wednesday Anthony said the government is unable to improve on the 4% offered to the Trade Union Federation which is seeking an increase of 6 or 9.5% with conditions. As a result Dr. Anthony said the government’s option is either wage restraint or retrenchment.