News

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - BARBADOS’ LARGEST BEVERAGE CONGLOMERATE Banks Holdings Limited (BHL) recorded a $1.1 million decline in profit for the 2012 financial year despite export growth and improved operational performance. But it has seen significant improvement in results for the first three months of the 2013 financial year. That’s according to statements recently published by the company.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - FINALLY, AND within a day of each other, the respective manifestoes for the February 21 general election will be available to the public from the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP). Therefore, as has often happened elsewhere within our Caribbean Community, the Barbadian electorate have a week to read, compare and determine which of these two traditional contestants for control of state power deserve to be victorious.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - Students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus could soon see a 100 per cent increase in their amenities fee. Pro-vice-chancellor and principal Professor Sir Hilary Beckles made this revelation Wednesday night while delivering UWI’s 50th anniversary public lecture at the Errol Barrow Centre For Creative Imagination. The fee, which is paid by all students, is used to cover food services, provide full health insurance, sporting and recreation facilities as well as aid in the personal and professional development of the students.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government and environmentalist Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh appear headed for another confrontation after Works and Infrastructure Minister Emmanuel George described as “good news” an unsigned report by an independent committee on the controversial seven billion (One TT dollar = US$0.37 cents) highway south of here.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Following Tuesday’s announcement of a J$15.9 billion (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.01 cents) tax package, Finance Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips has stated that the additional tax package should not have come as a surprise as several signals had already been given. Phillips, was responding to those who have taken him to task over the timing of the announcement and for not holding consultations.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Lawyers for former deputy prime minister Sam Condor and the leader of the main opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), Shawn Richards, are expected to outline their case on Monday preventing Jason Hamilton from performing his duties as Attorney General and also to prevent the appointment of Senators approved by Parliament earlier this month. The matter came up for hearing on Thursday but was adjourned after the High Court approved an application filed by the claimants to amend their original motion.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Speculation is rife here that opposition parliamentarian Terry Lister will announce his resignation from the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) during Friday's sitting of the House of Assembly. Unconfirmed reports say Lister, a former cabinet minister, will sit as an independent. He has twice put himself up for the PLP leadership but failed on both occasions.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says a constitutional referendum planned for the 40th anniversary of independence has been re-scheduled to November. Bahamas gained its political independence from Britain on July 10, 1973. Prime Minister Perry Christie told parliament a request from Constitutional Commission for an extension of its report which must be debated by all nationals before the referendum, has been granted.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Gleaner - This newspaper endorses the suggestion by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states introduce a visa regime similar to the Schengen visa of some European Union members. The system would allow seamless travel by visitors across the Community after clearing immigration/customs at their initial port of entry. Such a system was in place for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, but lapsed thereafter.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - TOP CARIBBEAN TOURISM OFFICIALS are supporting calls for Great Britain’s air passenger duty (APD) to be scrapped after an economic impact study by audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) showed abolishing the tax would help the region’s tourism sector. The study shows that getting rid of the APD could bring a lasting boost to Britain’s economy, generating a net tax gain for the Treasury and creating almost 60 000 new jobs by 2020.