ST JOHN’S, Antigua – An individual, rather than regional, solution must be established to combat cancer in the Caribbean. This is according to leading gastrointestinal oncologist, Dr Marcia Cruz-Correa, who was a facilitator at the Cancer Research in the Media workshop, supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
UNITED NATIONS, CMC – Sri Lanka has established formal diplomatic relations with St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry said the relations have been established with a view to promote trade and sports. The joint communique was signed by Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Palitha Kohana and his Vincentian counterpart, Camillo Gonsalves.
(Trinidad Guardian) - Local farmers may soon be getting more opportunities to export produce to the region, Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj said yesterday when he oversaw the export of 1000 kilos of paw paw to Barbados. Maharaj and a team from the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (Namdevco) arrived at the Servis terminal at Piarco shortly before 6 am for the loading of paw paw grown by Wallerfield farmer Nita Hinds. Maharaj said he was glad to see T&T’s farmers enter the Barbadian market after almost a decade.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Twenty-Fourth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held in Port-au-Prince, Republic of Haiti, from 18-19 February 2013. His Excellency, Michel Joseph Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti, presided.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is mourning the death of Ambassador Henry Gill, former Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM).
In a message of condolence, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM, recalled Ambassador Gill’s astuteness, tenacity and diplomacy in leading the Regional team in trade negotiations, as well as his nurturing and friendly disposition that endeared him to staff and colleagues alike.
The full text of the message reads_
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia government says it expects to accrue major benefits for the island following the decision of Castries to join the Venezuelan oil initiative, PetroCaribe. “This will make it possible for the country to receive a regular supply of petroleum products from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangements that are currently being utilized by several other nations in the Caribbean,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Energy.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - BY the time you read this column, the official results of yesterday's general election in Grenada should have been publicly declared. Grenadian voters had trekked to polling stations aware that, according to forecasts by credible pollsters, the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas was facing defeat by former prime minister Keith Mitchell's New National Party (NNP).
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says he has received the support of his fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders amid reports that an investor had left a bag containing money at his office. “I put my faith and trust in the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Caribbean. … I have nothing to hide,” Gonsalves said on WE FM radio in one of his several calls to two radio stations here about the allegation.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Caricom has backed Antigua & Barbuda’s latest move in its World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute with the US. CARICOM, at the end of its 24th Inter-Sessional Meeting in Haiti on Tuesday, released a statement saying it affirmed its full support for Antigua & Barbuda. Heads of government called on the US to settle the dispute by honouring its obligations and respecting international rules in compliance with the WTO’s decision.
Port au Prince, (Prensa Latina) The leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) demanded the United States (U.S.) more control over firearms as part of security efforts in the region, the press reported today. During a closed-door meeting with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, area leaders explained the damage that causes the arms trade to the Caribbean and requested the signing of an international treaty on the subject. "Small arms and munitions are the ones that cause more damage in CARICOM", said Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.