News
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Regional diplomats appointed to key OAS bodies
WASHINGTON, CMC – Barbados Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), John Beale, has been appointed Vice Chair of a Working Group that will lead discussions on the Strategic Vision of the hemispheric body. The group, established by the OAS Permanent Council, is chaired by the Permanent Representative of Mexico, Emilio Rabasa Gamboa. The group will be responsible…
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Muslim leader blanks Commission of Inquiry
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prominent Barbadian jurist Sir David Simmons Monday called on the Trinidad and Tobago government to review the Commission of Inquiry legislation after the leader of the Jamaat-al Muslimeen group failed to appear before the Commission probing the circumstances that led to the failed 1990 coup against the then government of prime minister ANR Robinson.…
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Bermuda set to allow cruise ships to operate casinos in port
HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – While Bermuda wrestles with the thorny topic of introducing casinos to the island, cruise ship passengers could soon be allowed to gamble on board their vessels while in port. A bill to allow in-port gambling has been tabled in the House of Assembly. The legislation, long sought by cruise companies, would permit licensed vessels to run…
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Caribbean, Latin American leaders likely to discuss spying, development at U.N. meeting
BOGOTA, Colombia — Last week, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff cancelled a U.S. state visit over allegations that the National Security Agency listened into her conversations and spied on state-run oil company Petrobras. On Tuesday, as she kicks off the United Nations 68th General Assembly, she’s expected to vent those grievances to the globe by calling for more oversight and stricter…
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Prime Minister says amendments will be made to Electronic Crimes Bill
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada government said Monday that it would make the “necessary changes” to the Electronic Crimes Bill after the legislation was criticised by regional and international media groups as curbing free speech on the island. “I have agreed to make the necessary changes, after having discussions with members of the local and regional media, so…
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Business group wants reduction in VAT in order to spur economic activity
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia Employers Federation (SLEF) is calling on the government to lower the near one-year old Value Added Tax (VAT) so as to provide “some breathing space” to local business in the face of job losses and business closures. “This reduction will provide members some breathing space as the slowdown in the economy continues…
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‘Plant on unused Caroni lands’
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Take back Caroni lands that are lying fallow and use them to produce food, says Independent Senator Subhas Ramkhelawan. Speaking during the budget debate at the Senate sitting yesterday, Ramkhelawan said in the national budget, some $1.3 billion was allocated toward agriculture. He noted that since the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd, there were close…
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Haiti: Deaths Continue to Rise Three Years After Cholera Outbreak
New statistics have been released showing that the cholera epidemic that affects Haiti, which has infected more than 600,000 people, has reached a death toll of 8,190 three years after its outbreak in 2010. Infected peacekeepers from the United Nations are thought to have brought the disease to Haiti. In a report produced by Yale University it is suggested that…
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On the occasion of our coming of age
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Republic Day has huge significance in the history and development of T&T, but how many people appreciate and understand it? Republican status was the next big step after independence, when the country really became a sovereign nation. But that fact does not seem to be widely acknowledged or celebrated. President Anthony Carmona said as much…
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