Jamaica
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No place for the politics of cronyism
KINGSTON, Jamaica – It is most unfortunate, but a number of Caribbean countries have been stained by corruption that has not gone unchecked in the international community. Drug trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, police killings, facilitating tax evasion, bribery of politicians, human rights abuses of every kind, corruption in governance, and lack of transparency in public procurement are but a…
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DPP says she can’t prosecute Cabinet at this time
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn Tuesday said her office cannot at this time properly initiate criminal prosecution against any member of the Jamaica government over the failure to submit certain information to the Office of the Contractor General (OCG). In a statement, the DPP said that she also made the decision not to…
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New study highlights non-tariff barriers to trade
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica is the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to have participated in a survey conducted by an international organization assessing enterprises in developing countries to help them better understand the non-tariff barriers to trade. The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint cooperation agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade…
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Another public sector union signs wage restraint agreement
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Teachers Association, (JTA) has become the latest public sector union to sign a wage restraint agreement with the Portia Simpson Miller led administration. Previously, the teachers’ union had stated that it could not make such an agreement and as a result did not join other public sector unions, which signed the agreement with the…
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Walking the walk
KINGSTON, Jamaica – THERE is an intriguing story in yesterday's Sunday Observer about a push by The Bahamas to make sports a major engine of growth for its huge tourism industry. Those who haven't read it, should. Much has been said in Jamaica about sports and its potential as a money spinner — especially since this island of 2.7 million…
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International economist warns Eastern Caribbean countries
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A senior economist with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is warning member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) that they face similar challenges now confronting the Eurozone countries. Alfred Schipke, formerly of the IMF Western Hemisphere Division, said the Eastern Caribbean Currency and Economic Union, may be the smallest of three economic and currency unions…
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EDITORIAL – PetroCaribe and Jamaica’s energy future
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Last week's death of the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, happened as the Jamaican Government was advertising its appointment of Dr Wesley Hughes, the former financial secretary, as manager of its PetroCaribe Development Fund. This, for Dr Hughes, must have been an unwelcome coincidence that would likely have concentrated his mind not only on the substance of the…
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The Caribbean after Chavez
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Seventeen countries of the Caribbean face a heightened period of economic uncertainty now that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died. Twelve of the 17 Caribbean countries are members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). They have become highly reliant on their oil supplies from Venezuela on a part payment-part loan scheme, called PetroCaribe, without which their difficult economic…
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Moody’s downgrades foreign currency credit rating
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The United States-based rating agency, Moody’s Investor Services has cut Jamaica's sovereign foreign currency credit rating to Caa3 from B3, citing the recent domestic debt exchange as a distressed event that still leaves the country with a high debt burden. Last month, Jamaica launched a National Debt Exchange (NDX) to alleviate the financing pressures of its…
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PM heads delegation to Chávez’s funeral today
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is heading a high-level team of Jamaicans who will travel to Caracas, Venezuela, today to attend the funeral for that nation's late president, Hugo Chávez. Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell and Foreign Affairs Minister A.J. Nicholson are accompanying the prime minister. Also joining the delegation are Senator Angela Brown Burke, mayor of Kingston…
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