Year: 2013

  • March 21, 2013
    755

    Urgent meeting to discuss new threat to banana industry

    CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC-Agriculture Ministers from the Windward Islands will be meeting here on Thursday to prepare for another major threat to the still vital regional banana industry. The industry is grappling with the Asian banana disease, described as a new and formidable enemy, which authorities describe as being worse than Black Sigatoka. Officials say the disease is fairly new…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    761

    Jamaica pointed to cheap solutions to internal trade barriers

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica faces external non-tariff barriers to trade mainly from the United States, followed by Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda. But a new report also cites Jamaica for throwing up its own internal blockades to trade flows, which hamper exports. The new International Trade Centre (ITC) report on non-tariff barriers (NTMs) in the Caribbean indicates that export inspections…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    736

    IMF programme held up

    KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says “contingency discussions” involving various international financial institutions have held up its programme for approval by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips told legislators that the discussions involve the IMF, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the World Bank “regarding the extent of the commitment from each institution to…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    777

    Cabinet retreats again!

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – FOR THE fifth time since forming the Government in January 2012, the Portia Simpson Miller-chaired Cabinet is to go into retreat. Sandrea Falconer, minister with responsibility for information, said the Cabinet retreat will take place this Sunday. “Cabinet ministers will discuss the growth agenda, including job-creation strategies, human-capital development, social inclusion, improved security and safety, fiscal prudence,…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    796

    PM underscores need for sustainable energy programme

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer Wednesday underscored the need for Antigua and Barbuda to develop a sustainable energy programme in light of ever increasing oil prices on the global market and the need to deal with the impact of climate change. Addressing the national stakeholder consultation in the build up of the legal framework for the…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    784

    Clearance cancelled

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Shanique Myrie was actually cleared to enter Barbados when she first arrived in the country two years ago. But that clearance was cancelled moments later, after it was determined by Immigration Department officials at the Grantley Adams International Airport that the Jamaican woman had misrepresented information regarding who would be her host during her proposed 15-day stay…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    791

    Regional countries urged to collaborate more to take advantage of trade agreements

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Foreign Affairs Minister Maxine McLean Wednesday urged Caribbean governments to capitalise on opportunities to work together to chart a path towards regional economic development. Addressing the two-day colloquium hosted by the Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) McLean highlighted the importance of trade to counteract “perceived weaknesses” across the region. “This is a critical…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    792

    Immigration Officer denies existence of policy to treat CARICOM nationals badly

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A veteran immigration official Wednesday denied that Barbados had been treating Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals harshly in contravention of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of people across the region. Senior Immigration Officer Merlo Reid told the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that passengers entering Barbados have to satisfy…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    768

    Crime and regional transportation affecting Caribbean trade

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Wednesday warned that crime and difficulties surrounding regional air transportation were major stumbling blocks towards making greater progress in regional trade.  Addressing the two-day colloquium hosted by the Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) Gonsalves said  high crime levels in several countries were not only…

    Read More »
  • March 21, 2013
    808

    World Bank suspends funds to Grenada

    ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The World Bank has suspended disbursements to Grenada after seven loan defaults in February. The Washington based financial institution said no new loans would be issued to Grenada unless the island makes good on the overdue payments amounting to US$750,000. The payments were due on February 15 February and the World Bank has written to…

    Read More »
Back to top button