News

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Haitian President Michel Martelly briefly stepped back in time last weekend, doing his old “Sweet Micky” stage name proud as he sang alongside Spanish heartthrob Julio Iglesias at a glittering fundraiser in the Dominican Republic. The celebrity-studded concert was staged to help raise money for impoverished Haitian children, with proceeds going to the Pink and White Foundation, a charity run by Martelly and his wife Sophia. The Haitian president publicly thanked Iglesias for dedicating a concert of his "1 World Tour 2012" to Haiti's children.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The New Year started with yet another welcome affirmation from the British Government of the importance of the 54-nation Commonwealth.
Hugo Swire, who was appointed Minister of State for the Commonwealth last summer, published an Opinion in the Daily Telegraph in London on January 2 in which he said that the Commonwealth “is an important institution” that can “through dedication and reform become stronger and speak with a louder voice than ever before”.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Opposition Leader Shawn Richards has criticised the St. Kitts-Nevis government of wasting much needed funds in hosting the Annual Prime Minister’s New Year’s Gala at a time when the twin-island federation could ill afford to do so.
The gala was held over the weekend and with American actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover and Citigroup’s chief executive officer Izzat Dajani the guest speakers

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) said it is in the “dark” regarding plans by the coalition People’s Partnership government to table legislation later on Monday providing for more autonomy for Tobago. “It is a high point of vulgarity, lack of class, and crassness that washes this country when you see a government calling the Parliament to session to lay in the Parliament a bill to give Tobago internal self-government in the height of an election.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - There are no issues more core to the integrity of the unitary state of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago than the terms of association between the islands of this republic. It is therefore a great pity that the Government has chosen the hectic and pugilistic period of an election campaign for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to take legislation to Parliament that proposes to alter this fundamental relationship.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - Governor George Fergusson has reappointed three existing independent senators to complete the 11-member Upper House team.
Carol Ann Bassett, who was Senate President in the last parliament,  will be again joined by Joan Dillas-Wright, who was Vice-President and James Jardine.
They will join the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) Government team of Michael Fahy, Nalton Brangman, Alexis Swan, Jeff Baron and Lynne Woolridge.

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC - The Tobago Council of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Friday condemned what it termed “the cynical and vulgar manner” in which the coalition People’s Partnership government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is dealing with the issue of self-government for the sister isle.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The year 2012 was a challenging one for equity investors in CARICOM. Despite solid gains on manufacturing, conglomerate and banking stocks, returns were depressed by declines on tourism, real estate, insurance, investments and retail stocks.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – With Grenada gearing for a general election later this year, the Parliamentary Elections Office (PEA) says 13,900 names have been included on the official Voters List released here on Thursday.
The PEA said that people with complaints have until January 11 to submit them. 
In his New Year’s message, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas urged voters to ensure that they are properly registered to contest the polls constitutionally due no later than October.

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, CMC – Premier Joseph Parry has announced January 22 as the date when voters in Nevis could go to the polls to elect a new Nevis Island Administration (NIA).
“At this the start of 2013, we hold the future of our beloved island truly in our hands,” said Premier Parry in a nationwide radio and television broadcast.
Premier Parry agreed to a snap poll instead of holding a by-election in the St. John’s constituency after the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that the victory of his former deputy Hensley Daniel was null and void last year.