News

Who says magical realism is dead? In Latin America, where that form of imaginative literature was born, the absurd is the stuff of everyday headlines. Events that defy belief are just another aspect of the daily routine of life in the region. Or, to put it another way, you can’t make this stuff up.
Venezuela

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Late Chairman Mao Tse-Tung of China reportedly once said that without the loneliness and desolation of winter one would not appreciate the warmth and splendour of spring. This seems not to be the case with Egyptians and North Koreans.
After initial flashes of goodwill from the new leadership in North Korea and Egypt, the situation appears to be going from bad to worse. In the case of the former, the march of folly and intransigence in the pursuit of nuclear weapons continues. 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jan 30, CMC – One of the five members of a Commission of Inquiry probing the activities that led to the 1990 attempted overthrow of the Trinidad and Tobago government by members of the radical Muslim group, the Jamaat Al-Muslimeen, has asked to be excused after one newspaper queried his qualifications.
The Trinidad Guardian newspaper said that Dr Hafizool Ali Mohammed had “obtained his doctorate of science (DSc) in international relations from Atlantic International University (AIU), which is described by various Web sites as a diploma mill.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - n recent messages to Cuba marking 40 years of diplomatic relations, the Government of Guyana and many of its CARICOM counterparts spoke of a partnership based on principles of solidarity and strategic partnership.  Notably absent from these messages were references to Guyana’s and CARICOM members’ most cherished national principles of democracy and human rights.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says it has held talks with Trinidad and Tobago on the future development of the country’s oil and gas sector.
Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud travelled to Port of Spain where he met with Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Kevin Ramnarine “to further bilateral discussions” a government statement said.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - Politically, things are heating up across the region, as many countries have announced election dates, while others have already done so over the past few months.  Once again, citizens are being given the opportunity to choose individuals who would best represent their interests and needs. Our sister isle Barbuda is no exception.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Opposition Leader Stephenson King is (warning) the St. Lucia government against joining the Venezuelan oil initiative, PetroCaribe, saying it could bring the island into further debt.
"Let's not get involved in this matter, this is not one for the government, as it’s not a situation where fuel is being sold to the country at a cheaper rate. The fuel is being sold at the very rate that we are currently purchasing it from Trinidad or elsewhere," King said.

St. John’s Antigua- “Extract your pound of flesh” from America and then start on the path to building Antigua & Barbuda’s decimated gaming industry outside of the United States.
This advice to government comes from Attorney Hugh Marshall Jr. who said the nation should not kowtow to pressure from the US in the ever-escalating World Trade Organization (WTO) trade dispute.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Less than 24 hours after Bahamians voted overwhelming to reject the legalisation of web shop gambling and a national lottery, the government has called on all operates of such games to close down their businesses with “immediate effect”.
“Failure to do so will leave all such web shop owners, operators and web shop gaming patrons exposed to arrest and criminal prosecution without further notice or warning,” Prime Minister Perry Christie said in a brief statement.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana has welcomed a vote in the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development which supports the extension of the current quota provisions until 30 September 2020.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has described the decision to extend the sugar quota from 2015 to 2020 as a “welcomed decision.