News

February 15, 2018
1,267

CDB, UNICEF partner to improve quality of early childhood education in the Caribbean

Students of the Beacon Light of the Nazarene School, Antigua and Barbuda hand over newly launched Caribbean Early Childhood Development Good Practice Guide to (from left to right) Ms. Monica La Bennett, Vice-President (Operations), Caribbean Development Bank; Hon. Michael Browne, Minister Education, Antigua and Barbuda; Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, UNICEF Representative, Office for the Eastern Caribbean. (Photo via CDB) February 15,…
Read More »
February 15, 2018
1,217

Dominica hurricane damage survey likely to help reduce disaster risk worldwide

The biggest natural disaster to ever hit the Caribbean island of Dominica is now likely to provide guidelines for reducing the risk globally of disaster from hurricanes. Scientists led by disaster expert Dr. Richard Teeuw, of the University of Portsmouth, are surveying the damage to Dominica’s landscape, infrastructure and communities following the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Dominica…
Read More »
February 15, 2018
1,622

Commonwealth SG welcomes UN decision on Guyana-Venezuela border controversy

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Gutteres, to refer the long-standing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Secretary-General recalled that at the September 2017 meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, Ministers noted Guyana’s concerns that this longstanding controversy has impacted on the country’s economic…
Read More »
February 15, 2018
1,292

SIDS must never be denied concessional financing for climate resilience -SG

“It is crucial to increase the level of investment of climate finance for health.” – CARICOM Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has called for the scaling up of climate finance for resilience in the health sector. He also posited that small vulnerable countries must never be denied access to concessional financing in their quest for resilience against…
Read More »
February 9, 2018
1,266

Government Says No To Recreational Marijuana Use

Even though the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration is exploring its options in the production of marijuana for medicinal purposes, it is not currently prepared to legalize ‘weed’ for recreational purposes. “Unregulated consumption of recreational marijuana poses a number of risks and challenges that we do not currently have the data on which to make informed decisions, or the capacity…
Read More »
February 8, 2018
1,363

[Antigua] Lower House passes “ganja bill”

A bill to decriminalise up to 15 grammes of cannabis for personal use was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) bill had its first reading in the House in December, but was subsequently sent to a select committee to allow for more public consultations. That engagement was held on January 23 with recommendations…
Read More »
February 7, 2018
1,152

CARPHA launches regional system for Member States to report sub-standard falsified medicines

The health of the Caribbean people can be at risk if medicines are not safe, effective and of good quality. Medicines safety and monitoring systems are often limited in the Region, and there has been a call for regional pooling of resources, sharing of information, and coordination of activities, that can lead to stronger systems. Recently, the Caribbean Regulatory System…
Read More »
February 7, 2018
1,281

Saint Lucia adopts climate-smart cassava cultivation, encourages production of blended bread

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is spearheading a project which will not only increase the cultivation of cassava throughout the Region but also encourages the production of cassava blended bread as a healthier alternative to the traditional white bread. Cassava is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible, starchy, tuberous root which is…
Read More »
February 7, 2018
1,147

Jamaica Prime Minister tables report on CARICOM in House of Representatives

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, tabled a copy of the Report of the Commission to Review Jamaica’s Relations within the CARICOM and CARIFORUM Frameworks in the House of Representatives, today (February 6). The Commission was charged with evaluating the effects of Jamaica’s membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on the country’s economic growth and development, with particular reference to trade…
Read More »
February 7, 2018
1,280

CDB President announces up to US$800M for disaster recovery, amid strong Bank performance in 2017

President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Wm. Warren Smith, today announced that the institution is making USD700 to 800 million (mn) available to help Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) recover from the impact of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The funding, which the Bank is providing over the next five years, complements its ongoing work to build resilience in the Caribbean Region.…
Read More »