BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Less than a week after he led the Barbados labour Party (BLP) into its second consecutive defeat, Owen Arthur, has been replaced as leader of the party. Mia Mottley, a former attorney general, who in 2010 lost the leadership of the BLP, was named as the new leader, by BLP executive member Gline Clarke flanked by 13 parliamentary members. The BLP lost the 2013 general election by a 16-14 margin.

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, CMC – Leader of the main opposition Nevis reformation Party (NRP), Joseph Parry, is accusing the new administration here of victimisation and sending home at least 100 workers since it took up office following the January 22 Nevis Island Administration (NIA) election. Parry said the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) government of Premier Vance Amory is intent on “dismantling every programme that we developed during our term of office. “Under the guise of saving EC$250,000 (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) monthly- over 100 persons have been sent home without a job. Mr.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - Community Development Minister Wayne Scott says government has ruled out giving the green light to same-sex marriages. Government said earlier this month it proposed to amend the island's Human Rights Act by adding sexual orientation to the list of prohibited categories of discrimination in the areas of the provision of goods, services and accommodation. But, he said, the changes will not go any further and same-sex marriages are not on the government's agenda.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC - The United States Peace Corps says it is phasing out its operations in St. Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda after five decades of successfully meeting the their needs for trained people in education, health, agriculture, environment, youth and development, and community economic development.

MIAMI, CMC - A Jamaican national convicted of killing a Florida state trooper with a pipe bomb has been granted a temporary reprieve one day before he was to be executed by lethal injection. A United States federal district on Monday stayed the execution of Paul Augustus Howell, 47, allowing defense attorneys more time to appeal his case. Michael Ufferman, one of Howell’s attorneys, speculated however that prosecutors may appeal the judge’s ruling. Howell was convicted of killing Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jimmy Fulford in February 1992.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – A radio station has paid EC$206,122.37 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) to Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, representing the full payment for a defamation judgement the prime minister won following statements made by a radio host almost 10 years ago. “All the money was paid, but we paid in two tranches,” said social activist Junior Bacchus, who helped raise the money on behalf of Nice Radio.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica said Monday it would continue to strengthen its relationship with Venezuela noting that the island had benefitted significantly over the past years. “You would be pleased to know that Venezuela continues to be a major source of development assistance for the Commonwealth of Dominica and therefore relations with your country remain a matter of high priority in Dominica’s foreign policy,” said President Eluid Williams as he accepted the credentials of newly appointed Venezuelan Ambassador Hayden Owanda Pirela Sanchez.

WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) says it has launched a mortgage programme that will help up to 4,000 families in Haiti. OPIC said the initiative will combine loans from OPIC and grants from other groups and the money awarded will include US$1,000 mortgages. Financing will also be given for home repairs. Haiti is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless.

GENEVA, CMC - Antigua and Barbuda will once again raise its ongoing cross-border gambling services dispute with the United States when the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization meets here on Wednesday. According to the agenda distributed ahead of the meeting, Antigua and Barbuda will make a statement regarding the implementation of the recommendations and rulings adopted by the DSB in the dispute.

ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada says it has paid in full the arrears owed to the United Nations and as a result has regained its voting rights at the international body. Grenada was listed among three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments owing the United Nations, according to a January 15 letter UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent to the President of the General Assembly. Grenada is said to have owed US$40,100 while while St. Lucia is in arrears to the tune of US$35,727 and Dominica US$7, 231.