(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has enlisted India as another of the Community’s advocates to highlight the deleterious effects of the `graduation’ of small, highly-indebted Member States away from access to badly needed international development assistance on a concessional basis.
America GEORGETOWN, Guyana - With Nicolás Maduro’s narrow victory in Venezuela’s presidential election still being contested by the Venezuelan opposition, even though he has already been sworn in as president, there is a growing feeling that, with a majority of only 50.7 per cent of the popular vote, the self-styled ‘son’ and heir of Hugo Chávez may well be in for a rough ride.
LONDON, CMC – The London-based human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has urged United States authorities to urgently end indefinite detention at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, following reports that more than half the detainees are now on hunger strike.
According to Amnesty International, it has been confirmed that 84 of the 166 detainees held at the US naval base are on hunger strike. The detainees began their protest in early February to protest against what they said were abusive cell searches and deteriorating conditions.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Chris Gayle's astonishing 175 not out in the IPL is still being widely talked about. The innings itself is astonishing enough_ 175 from 66 balls with 17 sixes is unheard of, and the admission by Chris that he "slowed down" in the middle is mind-boggling.
We celebrate the innings and, indeed, the man now, but the real significance of what Chris Gayle and his flashing blade might come to mean for cricket down the road might be lost on most of us.
CASTRIES, St.Lucia, CMC-Leader of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Stephenson King, says he is ready to make a claim for re-election to the leadership of the party as it prepares for its July convention.
The former Prime Minister’s announcement came in the wake of a declaration by his former Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet that he is giving serious thought to mounting a challenge to King’s leadership.
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Police were searching for the killers of Canadian priest who was shot outside a bank minutes after he withdrew US$1,000 on Thursday.
Police said 62-year-old Richard E. Joyal had just withdrawn the money from the bank when two men on a motorcycle approached and grabbed a bag he was carrying. The passenger shot him three times in the back.
Police inspector Aladin Jean-Louis said the authorities later found the money in Joyal’s wallet and the contents of his billfold included a driver’s license showing he was from Quebec.
WASHINGTON, CMC– The World Bank says a ground-breaking initiative has created thousands of jobs for young Jamaicans in the virtual global economy.
On Wednesday, the Washington-based financial institution announced that Digital Jam 2.0 - a digital job and market fair, has created employment for over 4,000 young people on online platforms. It has also established funds to support start-ups in the app economy and the commercialization of apps.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - George Lamming, whose name is synonymous with our Caribbean literary history and a most eloquent, persistent voice in defence of this region’s political and cultural sovereignty, will this evening be presented with the Clement Payne Appreciation Award, an event that coincides with next Monday’s annual celebration of National Heroes Day.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Brian Challenger has been appointed as Antigua & Barbuda’s non-resident ambassador to Latin America.
Ambassador Challenger will serve as the country’s representative to a number of countries to include the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Venezuela.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony is warning of the difficult task ahead as he gets ready to present his administration’s budget statement to Parliament later on Friday. As debate on the estimates began on Thursday, Anthony, who is also finance minister, said the fiscal deficit was at least nine per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and noted that for the first time since the island attained political independence from Britain in 1979, the fiscal package has been reduced to reflect a serious downturn in the local economy.