Month: February 2013
-
Cuba tones down Castro’s positive words on Chavez health
HAVANA, (Reuters) – More than a week after former leader Fidel Castro was quoted in Cuban media as saying Venezuela’s cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez was “much better,” the Communist Party newspaper published a different, toned down version of his comments yesterday. The transcript n Granma, said to have been “reviewed and updated” by Castro, left out the more positive assessments…
Read More » -
S&P downgrades Jamaica’s credit rating
(Jamaica Gleaner) Standard & Poor’s has downgraded Jamaica’s sovereign credit rating from B- to selective default in response to the Government’s debt exchange programme. Selective default occurs when a borrower elects to delay the repayment of some of its financial obligations while fully honouring others. Standard & Poor’s says it sees the move by Jamaica as a default of its…
Read More » -
Hillary Clinton moves on
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Stabroek News – It is something of a truism of United States politics that a president makes his own foreign policy. Yet instances arise that project American secretaries of state into a position of obvious influence that induce the citizens of that country, as well as of other countries, to make a distinction between the thinking of the…
Read More » -
SURINAME-HEALTH-Caribbean health watchdog group applauds Suriname’s’ tobacco law
PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), a civil society alliance for combatting chronic diseases, has praised Suriname for its strong anti-tobacco legislation that outlaws smoking in public. “The HCC extends congratulations to the citizens of Suriname with the passing of the Anti-Tobacco Law by parliament on February 7. This is an important step in the fight against…
Read More » -
PM distances himself from insider trading
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Tuesday dismissed suggestions that he used insider information to get his family to withdraw funds financially troubled Building & Loan Association (BLA) and accused Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace of engaging in “nasty politics.” “I did not utter a single word to them. Judge me not by your standard. I don’t…
Read More » -
TURKS&CAICOS ISLANDS-POLITICS-Date for by-election announced
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, CMC – Voters in the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hills constituency will elect a new parliamentary representative on February 22 in a by-election that could possibly result in a change of government in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Following the November 1 elections last year, the Progressive National Party (PNP) held a one seat majority…
Read More » -
HAITI-MIGRATION-CARICOM official wants region to re-visit visa restrictions for Haitians
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Head of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Representation Office in Haiti, Ambassador Earl Huntley, says Haitians may have a valid case if they go before the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) challenging the need for a visa to visit member CARICOM countries. “In fact I suspect that if they were to the challenge this…
Read More » -
LEAD-JAMAICA-IMF promises to work with Jamaica on economic programme to deal with high debt
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday said it would continue to work “assiduously” with the Jamaican authorities” on an economic programme that would help address the challenges caused by high debt and low growth. “Over the last three decades, the Jamaican economy has experienced very low economic growth, declining productivity, and reduced international competitiveness. An important…
Read More »