KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - THE population of developed countries is ageing rapidly as people in those affluent societies live longer as a consequence of good nutrition and better health care, as well — a drop in the birth rate, reflecting more women in the workforce and the desire for fewer children. These twin trends have resulted in a major demographic shift in population structure with a higher percentage of these populations being over 60 years of age and a lower percentage of working age.
News
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - THE big storm heading for the United States Northeast is already disrupting air travel.
United Airlines said it has cancelled 900 flights for today in advance of the storm. Delta Air Lines Inc cancelled 740.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - In the effort to address the situation with CLICO, the leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is suggesting that Barbados should begin by focusing on its own people and attend to the needs of others after. At a spot meeting in Amity Lodge, Christ Church last night Owen Arthur responded to comments made on the political platform by Minister of Finance Christopher Sinckler at the presentation of the Democratic Labour Party ( DLP) candidates at Passage Road, St. Michael on Wednesday night.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - In the midst of the election fever heating up Barbadians, one noteworthy occasion passed with very little fanfare – World Cancer Day. Observed on February 4 every year, this year’s theme, “Together It Is Possible”, seeks to focus on screening and vaccination efforts across the globe.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Stabroek News - Obviously, when we focused, in last Friday’s editorial, on PJ Patterson’s cry from the heart and forthright warning about the perils of neglecting Caricom, we thought that his argument was well reasoned and very persuasive. We still do. He and we may, however, have missed a most important point.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The police in the central parish of Clarendon have four Haitians in their custody, two have been charged with illegal entry. According to reports here, two Haitian men were picked up on the weekend by the police as they carried out spot checks in the parish. It was then discovered that the men had illegally entered the country. The men were charged and taken to the police lockup in the parish capital of May Pen. While there, two women went to see them, during the visit it was discovered that they were also from Haiti.
UNITED NATIONS, CMC - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the United States and other countries have failed to properly screen Haitian migrants interdicted at sea to ascertain whether they have “a credible fear” of violence and persecution. “People should be screened for credible fear, rather than having the burden of having to shout their way to be noticed,” said Leslie Velez, UNHCR’s senior protection officer.
Government confident of accessing millions to complete new international airport KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Feb 8, CMC - The St. Vincent and the Grenadines government says it is confident it will this year raise the US$80 million needed to complete the international airport at Argyle. The EC$652 million (one EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) airport is scheduled to become operational by 2014 and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said he recently held talks with the Venezuelan government and it seems that the application for a US$10 loan “is progressing well.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada Thursday celebrated 39 years of political independence from Britain with Prime Minister Tillman Thomas telling citizens of the “significant strides” made and having “accomplished much in every sphere of life as a nation”. In an address delivered during the traditional Independence Rally at the National Stadium, Thomas, who is facing a general election on February 19, said despite the global economic crisis, Grenada has been able to withstand the shocks because of the policies of his administration over the past four years.
Grenada, CMC - As he gets ready to face an electorate in a general election on February 19, Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas is patting himself on the back as it relates to repealing legislation regarding criminal libel in his tiny Caribbean island.
“We are the only country in the Caribbean that has spoken about repealing the legislation and actually doing so,” he told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), citing the need for the media to “be able to carry out its function without much hindrance”.