News

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers asked yesterday why the FBI had failed to spot the danger from one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, and they complained it was one of a series of cases in which someone the agency had investigated had later taken part in attacks.
House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul wrote to the FBI and other officials asking why Tamerlan Tsarnaev did not raise suspicions after Russia asked the bureau to investigate him two years ago.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua & Barbuda is in line to benefit from a US $42 million fund to protect marine and coastal habitats.
It comes under a project called “the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI)” – led by the Nature Conservancy (TNC) – which seeks to have 20 per cent of near shore areas in Caribbean islands set aside as marine protected sites by the year 2020.
Countries are first required to create National Conservation Trust Funds and show how they will sustainably finance them. The funds will be used strictly to create and manage marine protected areas.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC-Leader of the Opposition Stephenson King has written to Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, concerning the long-standing issue of Value Added Tax (VAT) on medication.
In a letter, King brought to the attention of the prime minister the number of citizens who complain about their inability to purchase medication in a timely manner due to the additional burden brought on by the tax.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), bargaining agents for the 117 Caribbean Airlines Services (CAS) workers will be meeting with management today following a sick-out by workers yesterday.
ABWU General Secretary David Massiah told OBSERVER media CAS management and employees have long been at an impasse over negotiations for a new collective agreement.
“We were not satisfied with the positions that were put forward by the company and we have responded, and they have responded likewise. So it has been a counter and back-and-forth,” he said.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - The financial woes of LIAT and Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) featured in the news this past week.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace says a lack of confidence in the finances of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government is responsible for the EC$40 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) 10-year bond issued last month being significantly undersubscribed.
Eustace said over the years, he has been complaining about the declining finances in the country.

GRAND TURK, Turk and Caicos Islands, CMC – The head investigator in a British Government’s probe of corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands says former Premier Michael Misick will stand trial.
Helen Garlick of the Turks and Caicos Special Investigation and Prosecution Team, said Misick will join 10 others, including four of his cabinet ministers, in defending allegations that they illegally sold government lands for profit and cut other sweetheart deals to enrich themselves during their tenure in office.

Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states will be represented at the 5th Summit of the Heads of State and/or Government of The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), to be held in Haiti this week.
Sustainable tourism, trade, air and maritime transport and disaster risk reduction are some of the issues to be discussed at the Summit, themed_ “Revitalizing the Vision of the Association of Caribbean States for a Stronger and More United Greater Caribbean.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica - There is much anxiety today among Jamaicans at home and abroad concerning Jamaica's economic future. Those who have been brave enough to look over the economic precipice often return to the fold with grossly disturbing news.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Dr Rufus Ewing, Premier of the Turks and Caicos, has echoed a call by T&T’s Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz for regional leaders to put tourism high on the agenda. Premier Dr Ewing, speaking at the final press briefing on the last day of the 14th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-14) on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency, said “tourism has to be led in front by leaders.” He was agreeing with Cadiz who said support from leadership is critical.