KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer -THE Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) is breathing a sign of relief in the face of planned fiscal cuts by the Government.
The association said it has been assured that statutory incentives to its members will remain intact though the Government continues to grapple with fiscal consolidation.

"The obligations that the Government has already put in place will not be broken, however, discretionary incentives will come under greater scrutiny in an effort to ensure transparency," the association reported.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – More than a week after former leader Fidel Castro was quoted in Cuban media as saying Venezuela’s cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez was “much better,” the Communist Party newspaper published a different, toned down version of his comments yesterday. The transcript n Granma, said to have been “reviewed and updated” by Castro, left out the more positive assessments of Chavez’ condition, but did say he was recovering. Castro, who spoke with reporters when he went to vote in Cuba’s National Assembly election, was quoted in Feb.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Standard & Poor’s has downgraded Jamaica’s sovereign credit rating from B- to selective default in response to the Government’s debt exchange programme. Selective default occurs when a borrower elects to delay the repayment of some of its financial obligations while fully honouring others. Standard & Poor’s says it sees the move by Jamaica as a default of its debt.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Stabroek News - It is something of a truism of United States politics that a president makes his own foreign policy. Yet instances arise that project American secretaries of state into a position of obvious influence that induce the citizens of that country, as well as of other countries, to make a distinction between the thinking of the president and that of the secretary of state.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - Minister of Transport and Works and Parliamentary Representative for Christ Church South, John Boyce, is of the belief that the town of Oistins could soon be a serious contender for the next UNESCO World Heritage Site in Barbados. Making these comments at the recent unveiling of a commemorative plaque to pay tribute to the fishermen who have lost their lives at sea, Boyce noted that the history of Oistins is very significant.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), a civil society alliance for combatting chronic diseases, has praised Suriname for its strong anti-tobacco legislation that outlaws smoking in public. “The HCC extends congratulations to the citizens of Suriname with the passing of the Anti-Tobacco Law by parliament on February 7. This is an important step in the fight against the ill-effects of tobacco and will have a positive impact on the health of the people of Suriname,” it said in a statement Tuesday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - When international financial institutions (IFIs) tell it like it is as they assess the problems/challenges confronting comparatively small and disadvantaged economies, there is a tendency for some governments to suggest external political considerations or prejudices.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves Tuesday dismissed suggestions that he used insider information to get his family to withdraw funds financially troubled Building & Loan Association (BLA) and accused Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace of engaging in “nasty politics.” “I did not utter a single word to them. Judge me not by your standard.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, CMC – Voters in the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hills constituency will elect a new parliamentary representative on February 22 in a by-election that could possibly result in a change of government in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Following the November 1 elections last year, the Progressive National Party (PNP) held a one seat majority over the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) but a court ruling last week, meant that both parties now held eight seats each in the Parliament.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Head of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Representation Office in Haiti, Ambassador Earl Huntley, says Haitians may have a valid case if they go before the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) challenging the need for a visa to visit member CARICOM countries. “In fact I suspect that if they were to the challenge this at the CCJ in terms of the treaty they could probably win it,” Huntley said.