"The People of Trinidad and Tobago should be proud of their outstanding achievements, and of the indelible contributions to the Caribbean region and the world." - CARICOM Secretary-General
Antigua and Barbuda has reported a 7% increase in tourist arrivals in July as the country continues to record a “steady rebound” in visitor arrivals in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had forced the closure of borders.
The Ministry of Tourism said during July, Antigua and Barbuda welcomed 24,673 visitors, an increase of 23,405 from the corresponding period last year and the 2019 record of 23,031.
Effective August 19, consumers in Barbados will be paying less for gasoline and diesel as Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the price of fuel at the pump will be capped for the next five months.
Gasoline will cost BDS$4.48 (US$2.24) per litre, while diesel will be BDS$4.03 (US$2.01) until January 31, 2023. Mottley also said that the cap on the Value Added Tax (VAT) on gasoline and diesel, which was put in place five months ago, would be kept in place.
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has issued a provisional registration to PayWise Limited as an electronic money (e-money) issuer. The provisional registration authorises PayWise to issue e-money in Trinidad and Tobago from September 1, 2022, becoming the first entity, apart from banks and non-bank financial institutions, so authorised.
PayWise will also be allowed to enlist new customers. PayWise is registered as a payment service provider since 2019 by CBTT.
The importance of investing in youth, including treatment and rehabilitation for those who are using and addicted to alcohol and other drugs, was underscored at the Official Opening of the Regional Adolescent Training Workshops on 4 February 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago. To this end, partnerships, relevant policies and adolescents’ prevention programmes, among others, were emphasised by speakers who represented the CARICOM Secretariat, Delegation of the European Union, Organisation of the American States (OAS) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has initiated a regional fact-finding study to document the record-breaking influx of Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean Sea in 2018, and the impacts this phenomenon has been having on countries in the region since 2011.
The fact-finding survey is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), that has coordinated official development assistance from Japan to CARICOM States for over two decades.
A new framework for dialogue among CARIFORUM, FCORS and OCTs is closer to being completed following a consultation that was held in Barbados over the past few days.
More than 20 representatives from government ministries and non-governmental organisations in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are attending a regional workshop to develop a draft Model School Drug Policy. The workshop opened on 21 January 2019, in Castries.
The use of licit and illicit substances, including alcohol; inhalants; and marijuana has been increasing, particularly by students across the Region.
The Caribbean has made progress in responding to the HIV epidemic, but an evaluation done last year has found that the impact of the prevention response has been inadequate, particularly among key populations.