News

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC - The effects of climate change on agriculture and its impact on food security were among matters discussed between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque and the Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) José Graziano da Silva.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Caribbean countries are being urged to not only update their list of deportees, but also to share that vital information with regional counterparts.
The call came from National Security Minister Dr Errol Cort, who said deportees who are not Antigua & Barbuda citizens are able to gain entry into the twin-island nation – a major concern for law enforcers here.
He said local authorities do not have adequate mechanisms to monitor such individuals, due to a lack of detail on their previous history and the offences they’ve committed.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC –The Trinidad and Tobago government says it is pleased with the performance of the local economy and welcomed recent ratings by the US based rating agencies regarding the economic outlook for the oil-rich twin island republic.
Finance Minister Larry Howai, wrapping up debate on the Finance Bill on Monday night, Howai said that the government’s economic policies are working in spite of criticism from the opposition.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) will hold a meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in March to examine energy issues in the region, according to Energy and Energy Affairs Minister Kevin Ramnarine
Ramnarine addressing the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference said that the March 1 COTED meeting would “bring together ministers with responsibility for energy for one day to discuss a way forward for the Caribbean with respect to energy”.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday revised downwards the estimate of economic growth for 2012 in St. Kitts and Nevis.
An IMF delegation, which has ended a one week visit to the island, downgraded the growth from minus 0.7 to minus 0.9 percent, reflecting a decline in tourism in the third quarter.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Tuesday urged the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) to accept the latest wage offer for public servants as the government concluded agreements with teachers and police officers.
Skerrit has also warned that his administration would most likely trigger legislation that would allow for the establishment of a tribunal to deal with the impasse.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - RBC Capital Markets, in conjunction with RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited, has successfully placed a US$300-million amortising bond issue for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to bolster regional development and stimulate economic growth.
The 15-year fixed-rate bond bears interest of 4.375 per cent annually until maturity in 2027, and represents a significant investment inflow into the region, RBC said in a statement out of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad yesterday.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada government says it welcomes the new Multi-Purpose Identification System (MPID) for citizens of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
A government statement said that the system provides a cost-effective, incremental approach to integrating existing identity systems across the nine-member OECS and will offer a unique, inter-operable, best practice means of identifying each OECS stakeholder.

UNITED NATIONS, CMC – The United Nations Security Council is urging all political actors in Haiti to work constructively on priorities, including credible 2013 elections and security sector reform.
The UN has also re-affirmed its commitment to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country as it seeks to complete its peacekeeping mission in the earthquake battered country.

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC - A new study says micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can play a “fresh and significant role” in boosting relations between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union (EU).
The study titled “Building SME Competitiveness in the European union and Latin America and the Caribbean : Policy Proposals by the Private Sector” was discussed during the weekend summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and European Union (EU).