News
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The competitive imperative
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – There is an obvious irony in the hemispheric choice of Trinidad and Tobago as the venue for the eighth Americas Competitiveness Forum in October 2014. The most recent World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report moved T&T from 86 out of 133 countries in 2010, to 81 out of 142 countries in 2012. On the Global…
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New world trade supremo
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Brazil’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, is to be approved by acclamation, as the Geneva-based organisation’s new director-general, at next Tuesday’s meeting of its general council. Dr Azevêdo is only the WTO’s second leader from the developing world in its 18 years of existence. The fact that, this year, the majority of the…
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State visits amplify Obama focus on Latin America, Caribbean
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Keeping a keen eye south of the border, the Obama administration is intensifying its engagement with Latin America, hosting leaders from a pair of presidents at the White House and sending Vice President Joe Biden to visit two others. Peru’s President Ollanta Humala and Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera will travel to Washington in June to meet with…
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Venezuela leader, rivals take battle on the road
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his Argentine counterpart and ally, Cristina Fernandez, announced new energy and food agreements yesterday, then Maduro cheered supporters of Argentina’s president with a rousing speech at a football-stadium rally. Maduro said their two countries are more closely aligned than ever despite the deaths of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and of…
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Incoming WTO director to restore credibility
GENEVA (Trinidad Guardian) —The incoming head of the World Trade Organisation says his first priority will be to try to rescue its credibility as a forum for trade negotiations. Brazilian Ambassador Roberto Azevedo told a packed room of reporters at Brazils WTO mission Wednesday that “the negotiating pillar of the WTO is clearly stuck.” At the WTO, diplomats and officials…
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UNC will expel Jack
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Jack Warner would face expulsion from the United National Congress (UNC) if he contests the by-election as an independent candidate. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said the party’s constitution does have certain sanctions and provisions that prevent a member from contesting a seat as an independent candidate. “The…
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IMF says Antigua made “excellent progress” in restoring debt sustainability
WASHINGTON, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Antigua and Barbuda has made “excellent progress” towards achieving its goal of restoring debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability. An IMF mission headed by Geoffrey Bannister has recently completed a review of the 2010 multi-million dollar Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) to the island. “On the fiscal side, the fiscal outturn for March 2013…
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Is Governor Rambarran being too optimistic?
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Once again Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran is predicting a level of growth in the economy which seems unrealistic. On the release of the April 2013 monetary report on Tuesday, the Governor projected a 2.5 per cent growth in gross domestic product for 2013. This comes after his projection last year that the economy would…
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