KINGSTON, Jamaica - Peter Phillips' public admission twice last week - of sovereign impotence in negotiating an economic support agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - should be powerful motivation for us to finally fix Jamaica's economy. Further, the shame of the circumstance should be another reminder of the need for, if not a catalyst towards, change in our overly divisive and tribalist political discourse.
News
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government is urging the private sector to support the initiative to develop the country’s global trans-shipment and logistics hub by taking advantage of the potential investment opportunities it provides. Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Anthony Hylton said the development presents diverse prospects for the growth and expansion of the local business environment, and Jamaica’s economy. “This initiative… is about positioning…Jamaica as a global asset, and the fourth node in the global logistics supply network.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - There is too much misinformation regarding the CLICO issue going across the country, said Prime Minister Freundel Stuart as he sought to debunk the myths. Speaking at Paragon in St. Michael South, Prime Minister Stuart said that the CLICO issue has been wrapped in myths by the Barbados Labour Party. He said that one of the biggest myths is that there are 30 000 policy holders in Barbados. “There are not 30 000 CLICO policy holders in Barbados. There never have been 30 000 CLICO policy holders in Barbados.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government has dismissed suggestions that the US-based airline, Delta Airlines was forced out of the country because former president Bharrat Jagdeo was subjected to baggage checks by the airline. President Donald Ramotar said that no time did his administration move to have Delta out of Guyana, but rather would like the airline to continue operating the Georgetown- New York route. “Guyana is asking them to stay… we would very much like them to stay, because it’s a reputable airline.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - Four weeks ago Minister of Tourism John Maginley sounded a positive note in announcing new aircraft leases for our embattled airline, LIAT. Our headline writers were positively euphoric in declaring “LIAT’s flying high again – Tourism Boss”. As encouraging as the news might have been, it is far too optimistic to assume that LIAT’s problems are over. This, of course, is typical of government enterprises in which the smallest bit of good news is promoted as the solution to all problems.
QUEENSLAND—Estimates of current rates of reef growth in the Caribbean have been described as “extremely alarming” by the leader of a team of international researchers conducting a study with Australia’s University of Queensland (UQ). According to an article published in Science Alert, UQ research indicates that many Caribbean coral reefs have either stopped growing or are on the verge of starting to erode with potential impacts to millions of people.
PANAMA CITY, Panama, CMC – Foreign ministers from three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries will attend the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on Friday, according to a statement from the Trinidad-based ACS Secretariat. It said that the foreign ministers from Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will attend the one-day meeting of the Council that is “the principal Organ for policy-making and direction of the Association whose purpose is to identify and promote the implementation of its policies and programmes”.
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has accused two journalists with the British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC) of accosting him Sunday on an airplane in Barbados and has said that he will write to the London-based media house to complain about the incident.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - The jury is still out about our Jamaican psyche. Yes, we are fun people but are we builders of civilisation, spectators or players, minstrels or masters? Are we in charge of our fate, or zombies? This IMF thing has unleashed a spirit of fear and some desperation. We seem beholden to the IMF, yet it asks no obeisance. We speak in hushed tones as if the Lord is nigh; are our leaders in thrall to a body which has no armies, navies or soldiers? no trinkets to buy us, or prisons to incarcerate us?
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Tourism, a mainstay for the majority of Caribbean economies for their foreign exchange and jobs, continues to be hit by major challenges, prompting the industry to issue an urgent call on governments to convene a summit by June to tackle key issues and ensure its long-term sustainable growth.