Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - All Barbadians will breathe a huge sigh of relief now that there has been a settlement in the LIME dispute, and all parties at the negotiating table should be commended for their willingness to sit down and calmly, if perhaps a little belatedly, look at the issues and search for compromise. Our Prime Minister deserves kudos for using the prestige and respect due to his office to bring the parties together so that he could assist them in searching for compromise and settlement in the national interest.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -THE CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (CXC) is taking steps to reduce incidents of fraud.
Speaking to the DAILY NATION after a service to mark the organisation’s 40th anniversary at St Matthias Anglican Church yesterday evening, senior assistant registrar for examinations and security Susan Giles reported that they were introducing an audit system.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - ONE of the things that we would like to wish for Barbados in 2013 is that the energy policy that is being put in place should start to bring substantial benefits for the island and its people.
Energy is one of those commodities that stand to build or break a country depending on what place the country lies on the radar of energy usage and availability. Over the past decade the price of oil has risen astronomically and there are no indications that the situation would get any better unless sources of energy are found.

BRIDGETOWN—Caribbean Community (Caricom) rum producing countries are holding high-level talks with the United States on resolving issues surrounding the rum industry in the region, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced. A government statement said that Prime Minister Stuart made the announcement as he addressed a ceremony unveiling a commemorative plaque for Mount Gay Distilleries’ New Aging Bond earlier this week.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Yesterday, the institution launched their year-long activities under the theme “Path to Prosperity”.
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal, recalled that the Campus came into being first as a College of Arts and Science in 1963 with a mere 118 students huddled together in a temporary structure at the Bridgetown Harbour.

The Permanent Representative of Barbados to the Organization of American States (OAS), John E. Beale today assumed the Chair of the Inter- American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), the main body of the hemispheric organization with decision making power in matters of partnership for integral development.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart is not happy about the recent large subsidies given to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in relation to rum production, which has left Barbados and other Caribbean islands at a serious disadvantage.
But he says the Government is fighting back and will take this grievance to the highest international world trade entity if need be.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, arrived in Jamaica Wednesday night. Moreno who was met by Finance Minister, Dr Peter Phillips is here to attend the IDB’s second Annual Caribbean Governors Meeting. It will be held today and tomorrow at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Minister of Agriculture, Dr. David Estwick, says that the benefits to be derived from the production and wide utilisation of cassava flour as a substitute for wheat will not only be economical, but health-related as well. Estwick, who is also a medical practitioner, made the comments during a press conference where it was announced that manufacturers in this country will be involved in trials to determine the possibility of using cassava flour as a substitute for wheat flour in locally-baked goods.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Asking what the fuss was all about, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart insisted last night that elections would be called when he says so and that the date had been fixed in his mind since the St John by-election two years ago.
Giving his “unequivocal and emphatic endorsement” to Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Michael South East Patrick Tannis at the opening of the latter’s constituency office in Marsden Road, The Pine, Stuart also said the Opposition Barbados Labour Party’s boycott of Parliament Tuesday was a happy one.