PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Without wanting to seem ungrateful and unmindful of the 40-plus years of Mr Patrick Manning’s service to this country as MP, energy minister, finance minister and Prime Minister, after being on sick leave for a year from the Parliament, it is time that he gives definitive word that he may be unfit to finish this term of office. In doing so, he would be clearing the way for a by-election and a fully capable MP to attend to the needs of constituents of San Fernando East.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Despite initially confirming that he would attend the ongoing CLICO commission of enquiry, former head of CLICO Lawrence Duprey is now backing out. According to the Trinidad Guardian, the 79-year-old business magnate has written a letter to the commission, which was received yesterday by its secretary Judith Gonzalez, to say he is unwilling to appear before the commission chaired by British QC Sir Anthony Colman to give evidence.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - BARBADOS will be the first country in this region to carry out a study on its population’s salt intake.
According to Senior Health Officer, Dr. Kenneth George, the study – being carried out under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the National Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Commission – is trying to estimate the quantity of salt in the average Barbadian diet.
George made this announcement during a press conference to launch new advertisements promoting healthy lifestyles on Wednesday afternoon.

drought KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - The Portia Simpson Miller led administration is taking steps to prevent an increase in the price of agricultural produce as the country braces for a severe drought.
Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, said the dry spell has started to affect farming areas and this could have implications for the availability as well as the cost of ground produce. But he insists that there was no need for alarm.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Ministry of Education here has expressed concern about reports that known sex offenders can be found teaching in schools across the island.
Education Minister Franka Bernardine made the disclosure on Wednesday, during a leadership workshop for female candidates contesting the upcoming general election. .
“From speaking with a former Chief Education Ffficer he said there is at least one in every school.”

NASSAU, Bahamas, – The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) has flagged a potentially crippling development within the United States tax legislation that could have far reaching implications for hoteliers and tourism attractions across the Caribbean.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona will be putting the spotlight on regional development at its annual research exposition scheduled for Thursday, February 7 and Friday, February 8 on the Mona Campus. Under the theme, 'Pathways and Opportunities for Regional Development', Research Days 2013 will highlight various ways in which the university is using its diverse research efforts to identify innovative solutions to major developmental challenges.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - CANADA'S High Commissioner, Robert Ready, has denied suggestions that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is withdrawing from Jamaica. Ready said that since his arrival in Kingston last year, he has heard arguments that there is an impression that CIDA is pulling out of Jamaica. "I am here to tell you that is not an accurate impression_ CIDA is still very much engaged in and with Jamaica," he told a meeting of the Rotary Club of Liguanea Plains, at Eden Gardens, Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston, last Thursday.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC-The OECS Secretariat and the European Union have entered into arrangement to among other things boost Private Sector competitiveness in the OECS Economic Union. The Castries based Secretariat and the European Delegation in Barbados have signed a funding Protocol to provide financial support to OECS Member States under the aegis of the 10th European Development Fund. OECS Director General Dr.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC - Rescue teams have recovered four bodies in the aftermath of Tuesday’s incident which two boats collided along the Mazuruni River . In the latest report on the tragedy, the police said two bodies were found on Thursday and two others were recovered on Wednesday and Tuesday. The rescue teams including members of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) ,the Coast Guard and Infantry Troops. They have been searching the area since late Tuesday when the boats with at least 20 people on board collided at Crab Falls, 25 miles from Bartica.